Re: F/Sgt Charles McCormac's rescue by RAAF Catalina 16/9/42
 

Brian,

Have you tried asking the question on the "Flying Boat Forum" (www.seawings.co.uk)?

At night, it could have been mistaken for an RAF Sunderland or a BOAC C-Class/G-Class. The only wartime RAAF Sunderland squadrons in 1942 were No.10/461 and both based in UK. So if the Sunderland reference is correct, the RAF or BOAC boat or RAAF/QEA boat not listed in previously mentioned ORBs.

...geoff

Re: F/Sgt Charles McCormac's rescue by RAAF Catalina 16/9/42
 

The only active RAAF Sunderland 'lookalikes' in the broad area and at that time seem to have been A18-13 'Coolangatta' with 11 Squadron and A18-14 'Clifton' with 33 Squadron.


Regards,


Leendert

Re: F/Sgt Charles McCormac's rescue by RAAF Catalina 16/9/42
 

Hi guys

I'm still researching McCormac's rescue etc, but on re-reading his book I have come across another interesting entry.

While in a small boat drifting off the Malayan coast a few days after the escape from Singapore (with 7 others - do we know a date? Probably circa April), the boat was strafed by two 'Zeros', and three occupants were killed/drowned.

The four survivors continued drifting for a couple of days or so, when suddenly a Dutch Do.24 alighted and picked the up. They were informed that the Do24 was on a special mission to Medan, where a number of VIPs were to be picked up, and the four escapees were deposited. McCormac recorded that about 60 people were ferried from the beach to the flying boat. Can we determine the date of this incident? Presumably the Do.24 came from Australia. Might it have been X-24/A-6?

The mystery deepens!

Cheers
Brian

Re: F/Sgt Charles McCormac's rescue by RAAF Catalina 16/9/42
 

Just a few snippets to map out Do-24 X-24's timeline.


A couple of extracts from Tom Womack's book: "The Dutch Naval Air Force Against Japan", indicating X-24s departure from NEI and arrival in Australia.


The front sheet of the RAAF Aircraft Card for Do24 A49-6 (ex-X-24) indicating the initial transfer to the RAAF, and the subsequent secondment to the Dutch Government for secret flights.


...geoff

Re: F/Sgt Charles McCormac's rescue by RAAF Catalina 16/9/42
 

There is a little more on X-24's secret missions in the Osprey Combat Aircraft volume-110.

- 1st mission - June 1942.

- 2nd mission - July 1942.

- Engine problems affect a number of missions.

- Next mission mentioned - 2 March 1943 (force landed prior to leaving Australia).
- April 1943; X-24 replaced by Dutch PBY (Y-45).


...geoff

Re: F/Sgt Charles McCormac's rescue by RAAF Catalina 16/9/42
 

Great stuff, Geoff

Another re-read of the book now allows some sort of dating:

McCormac captured on 15 February. He implies the escape from Singapore occurred some six weeks later, so about end of March. Therefore, it has to be assumed that the Do24 flight to Medan was made about then. I note that Medan fell to the Japanese towards the end of March - so all events seem feasible!

However, the mysteries remain.

Geoff, sorry to have been out of touch.

Cheers
Brian

Re: F/Sgt Charles McCormac's rescue by RAAF Catalina 16/9/42
 

A few more snippets from Osprey CA-110 on the Dutch and RAAF use of Do24 in Mar/Apr 1942.


Looking at a map, Medan in near the northern tip of Sumatra. Looks a lot closer to Ceylon/Sri Lanka than to Darwin or Port Moresby. It may have been more likely a high wing Dutch PBY evacuated to Ceylon, rather than an Australian based Do24. There's no mention of the name Medan in reference to the Do24 flights in the Osprey volume or in the "Dutch Naval Air Forces....." book with respect to Do24 or PBY evacuation operations.



No worries of being out of touch, Brian. I expect you've been busy preparing more books that I'll want to buy in future. :D

...geoff