Incident Overview
Date: Tuesday 28 November 1944
Aircraft Type: Short Sunderland III
Owner/operator: Royal Air Force – RAF
Registration Number: JM673
Location: off the East coast of Ceylon –
ÿ Sri Lanka
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Aircraft missing, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 10 / Occupants: 10
Component Affected: Sunderland JM 673 of 330 Sqn RAF aircraft.Sunderland JM 673 of 330 Sqn RAF aircraft.
Category: Accident
A Sunderland JM 673 of 330 Sqn RAF initiated an anti-submarine patrol off the East coast of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) at 06:45 hours, scheduled to return at 20:00 hours. Due to adverse weather conditions, the patrol was deemed impracticable, leading to a continuous wireless call at 12:41 hours and subsequent inactivity. No response was received from the aircraft.A Sunderland JM 673 of 330 Sqn RAF initiated an anti-submarine patrol off the East coast of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) at 06:45 hours, scheduled to return at 20:00 hours. Due to adverse weather conditions, the patrol was deemed impracticable, leading to a continuous wireless call at 12:41 hours and subsequent inactivity. No response was received from the aircraft.
Description
Sunderland JM 673 of 230 Sqn RAF took off from Koggala at 06:45 hours for an anti submarine patrol off the East coast of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). The aircraft was due to return at 20:00 hours. Due to weather conditions in the area making the patrol impracticable, the aircraft was called by wireless transmission at 12:41 hours and from then on continuously until 22:57 hours, but without result, with no answer being received from the aircraft. No signals were received from the aircraft from time of takeoff, and no trace of the aircraft or crew found from subsequent searches.
Source of Information
http://www.awm.gov.au/catalogue/research_centre/pdf/rc09125z019_1.pdfhttp://www.awm.gov.au/catalogue/research_centre/pdf/rc09125z019_1.pdfPrimary Cause
Severe weather conditions hampered the patrol.Severe weather conditions hampered the patrol.Share on:
