Hello gentlemen this is probably a long shot but here goes..... I have recently discovered the probable remains of the above aircraft ,which crashed on take off 21/12/1941 at Plymouth and am very keen to learn if any of the few survivors survived the war or are still alive today: Pilot Sgt GF BOOTH Pilot Officer WW INCE Sgt HS LODGE Sgt A PENNY Any information on this tragic crash or the lives of the young crew would be very gratefully recieved. Many Thanks Danny
Transit flight from RAF Mount Batten. Took off at 04:20 hrs. (Form 1180 has 01:30 hrs) F/L D J Fletcher Sgt Booth F/Sgt H F Mitchell P/O Ince Sgt H L Southall Sgt Lodge Sgt Penny Cpl J H Martin AC1 R Cunningham LAC J W Douglas AC1 K W Bennett LAC J H Wallace AC2 W Watson AC2 J Robinson LAC J B Hides Posted to No.202 Sqn at Gibraltar. Crashed on take off 200 yards from the Breakwater Fort at Plymouth, Devon. F/L Fletcher is buried locally in Pennycomequick Cemetery, Plymouth, AC1 Cunningham in Knadgerhill Cemetery, Irvine, Ayrshire, F/Sgt Mitchell in St.Mary Magdalene Churchyard, Great Burstead, Essex, AC2 Watson in Dalston Road Cemetery, Carlisle, AC2 Robinson in Blackburn Cemetery, Lancashire and Cpl Martin in St.Teilo Churchyard, Bishopston, Glamorganshire. The remaining crewmen including LAC Douglas, a Canadian from New Westminster, British Columbia, are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Ross
Thanks very much for information so far. Before i do journey to Kew, would anyone have any knowledge on salvage efforts,if any,on W3998? I been informed that one of the survivors, Sgt Penny died in an aircraft accident in 1949. Many Thanks Danny Hello gentlemen this is probably a long shot but here goes..... I have recently discovered the probable remains of the above aircraft ,which crashed on take off 21/12/1941 at Plymouth and am very keen to learn if any of the few survivors survived the war or are still alive today: Pilot Sgt GF BOOTH Pilot Officer WW INCE Sgt HS LODGE Sgt A PENNY Any information on this tragic crash or the lives of the young crew would be very gratefully recieved. Many Thanks Danny
No information on salvage efforts but a couple of references to crew casualties. Cpl Martin was an Old Haltonian and is remembered here: M ROH 568015Martin, John Humphrey Cpl.21-Dec-41 22Bishopston (St. Teilo) Churchyard, Glamorganshire. 201 Squadron. Short Sunderland II W3998, ZM- . Fifteen air and ground crew posted to 202 Sqn. at Gibraltar. Crashed on T/o from Mount Batten at 04:20. More information on David Fletcher RAF Davidstow Moor - Crash Log 1941 24-12-1941 1400hrs the body of F/O David James Fletcher 41166 a crew member of a Short Sunderland I W3998 of 201 Squadron was found washed ashore on Whitsand Beach. The flying boat was lost in a take off accident in Plymouth Sound on 20th December 1941 he was one of 11 crewmen killed Cheers Mark
F/L David James Fletcher was another Australian serving with the RAF. .JPG] In Memory of Flight Lieutenant Pilot David James Fletcher 41166, 201 Sqdn., Royal Air Force who died on 21 December 1941 Age 28 Son of David Fletcher and of Esther Amy Fletcher (nee Witheford); nephew of Gertrude Fletcher, of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Of Australia. Remembered with Honour Ford Park Cemetery (Formerly Plymouth Old Cemetery) (Pennycomequick)
