A Short Sunderland N9209 of 230 Sqn RAF was detailed to carry out a ten-hour anti-submarine patrol in protection of a convoy between Alexandria and Port Said. The aircraft left Alexandria at 16:00 hours on 1 January 1943. Messages were received from the aircraft until 17:30 hours and at 20:45 hours it was reported in the vicinity of Port Said. Nothing further was heard from the aircraft from 02:30 hours to 08:30 hours on 2 January 1943. Wreckage was discovered off Port Said and at 11:00 hours the remains of the captain identified but could not be recovered from the sea. The cause of the accident is not known, but it is assumed that the aircraft dived to investigate a suspicious spot, and failing to pull out in time crashed into the sea.A Short Sunderland N9209 of 230 Sqn RAF was detailed to carry out a ten-hour anti-submarine patrol in protection of a convoy between Alexandria and Port Said. The aircraft left Alexandria at 16:00 hours on 1 January 1943. Messages were received from the aircraft until 17:30 hours and at 20:45 hours it was reported in the vicinity of Port Said. Nothing further was heard from the aircraft from 02:30 hours to 08:30 hours on 2 January 1943. Wreckage was discovered off Port Said and at 11:00 hours the remains of the captain identified but could not be recovered from the sea. The cause of the accident is not known, but it is assumed that the aircraft dived to investigate a suspicious spot, and failing to pull out in time crashed into the sea.