RAF Aircrew buried on Bioko Island (formerly Fernando Po) in West Africa

Thank's for the photo MrD.Shaw. Great to see that the CWGC have done a great job!I

 

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission have recently restored the graves of the Sunderland crew on Bioko Island (Fernando Po).
http://www.cwgc.org/news-events/news/2013/6/commission-restores-graves-in-equatorial-guinea.aspx

 

Remembrance Day Malabo 2013

 

Hello All,

I'm new to the forums and found this thread very useful.

I am writing the First Edition of the Bradt Guidebook to Equatorial Guinea, due to be published in November 2015. In the history section, when talking about World War II, I would like to mention this crash. I will also add the grave site to the map. Please could people confirm that what I have drafted is accurate and has no serious ommissions?

Thanks!

Oz

On June 3rd 1944 a Royal Air Force Sunderland Flying Boat crashed on Bioko Island, en route from Lagos, Nigeria to Libreville, Gabon. Nine of the ten crew members died on impact, with one crash survivor, William Best, dying shortly thereafter. The aircraft, which was part of 302 Flying Training Unit, went down near Laka Baney, around ten miles east of Malabo. There are competing stories as to the causes of the crash: some claim it was shot down while observing German U-boat movements, others that it was brought down due to bad weather.

 

Oz,

I have been collecting information about this incident for some time now with a view to turning my notes into a narrative. I have been distracted from doing this by other things but will eventually get around to it.

Your information is all correct. However, I would say that the cause of the accident was almost certainly bad weather. I say this based on two things. Firstly, 270 Squadron Coastal Command based at Apapa went in search of this Sunderland. Their operational record book states that they had information provided to them by a reliable source on Fernando Po that the cause was a tornado. Secondly, there was only very limited U-boat activity in the area by that time. Coastal Command in West Africa were still flying reconnaissance missions to the island but this was probably only as a precautionary measure.

David Railton

 

Hi David,

Thanks for the comments. I'll be sure to update my text. Also, I'd be fascinated to read anything you do manage to put together on this topic.

Cheers,

Oz

 

Hi
I'm a new user my uncle was John Duffy who was part of the crew it is great to know the graves have been restored
I have often wanted to visit Bioko but have been put off by officials stating it is dangerous would like to know your views on this?

Johns sister ....my mother and his daughter are both alive and well and have many pictures and stories from the crash there is a photo of the funeral which was a very big event with a large attendance.......his daughter still lives in Norfolk and has considered visiting with me as none of his family have been to the grave.

I came on this site by accident but it's great to know people still care and have often wondered have any of the other families visited
The graves.....
Thank you for posts
EC

 

Hello EC,
I have collected together a fair amount of information about the loss of this Sunderland and the burial of the airmen from the postings on this thread, squadron records, Portuguese sources and elsewhere. Unfortunately I have not had the chance yet to pull all my information together into a narrative of the incident. When I do so I will post what I have to this thread of this web site.
I can't help you with first hand knowledge of the location but I would suggest that you show extreme caution. I also think that although not impossible travel to and from the island will be quite difficult. This is travel only for the intrepid adventurer. Initially I would suggest that you look at 2 sources of information:
Foreign Office Travel Advice - for some reason WW2 Talk is not allowing me to cut and paste a web address so I suggest that you Google 'Foreign Office Travel Advice' then go to the page for Equatorial Guinea. I would also suggest that it would be a good idea to talk to the relevant people at the Foreign Office before planning a journey.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission - they have, fairly recently, taken responsibility for looking after the graves. If you Google them you will find a page for these particular burials. Again, I would suggest talking to them before planning a visit.
Also, you will see a posting from 2 years ago on this thread from AlBlack10. I don't know if he is still on the island but it may be worthwhile trying to contact him.
If you do decide to venture to Bioko I would be very interested in hearing about your plans before you go. I will try to find time to write up my information which will hopefully be before you travel and I will then copy to you.
Regards
David Railton

 

Stanley William Rolph would have been my uncle. I too would love to visit his grave but have also been told it's not possible.
I also have photos of Stan and the rest of the boys and their funeral procession.

 

Does anyone have more photos of the crew as my great uncle was Maurice Munns and would love to see a picture of him. I'm also building a model of the aircraft these brace men flew so would be lovely to have a picture to go with the plane

 

would it be possible to scan me some pictures as my great uncle was Maurice Munns who perished in that incident