FAA crashes in Norfolk
 

Hi all:
I have been looking into a couple of incidents and was wondering if anyone could help. The first involves a Fairey Albacore of 826 Naval Air Sqn Bircham Newton. On 26/27 June 1940 this crew were sent out minelaying in the Dutch canals but on return their aircraft suffered engine failure and crash landed in the dunes at Waxham, Norfolk. The pilot was Anthony Tuke. Would anyone happen to know the serial number of this aircraft or the full crew?

The other incident involved a Fairey Swordfish of 811 Squadron also from Bircham Newton. On 18th September 1942 811 Sqn received orders to attack a convoy heading towards the Friesian Islands but it was out of range. They flew to Ludham to refuel to give them the necessary range. One of the Swordfish piloted by John Godley ran out of fuel,on return shortly after crossing the Norfolk coast but he managed to land his aircraft in a field. The aircraft was badly damaged but the crew were uninjured. Does anyone have a serial number and/or location for this incident?

Hope you can help.

TIA,

BC

Re: FAA crashes in Norfolk
 

Hi Bob

Another year gone by and we still haven't had that sherry!!

L7084/4M of 826 Squadron was the machine: Sub-Lt(A) Anthony Tuke unhurt; Sub-Lt(A) George Dormand slightly injured; N/Air Alex Japp unhurt.

Hope this helps.

Cheers
Brian

Re: FAA crashes in Norfolk
 

TVM for the gen Brian. Sherry? Yak! Macho-men like me drink beer. Any info on the 811 Sqn Stringbag would be helpful. No mention of either in the Norfolk CD files.

How's the Blue stuff going, looks as though every second post on here is a FF incident these days?

Regs,
BC

Re: FAA crashes in Norfolk
 

Bob, Brian

I have the full names of the two officers as;
Anthony Montague Tuke and George Scott Dormand.
However can anyone confirm the Christian name for Japp ? Was it Alex or Alexander ? I cannot find it anywhere.

Regards,

Martin.

Re: FAA crashes in Norfolk
 

If the reference to Godley is from the book "Stringbag: The Fairey Swordfish at War" then it says on p. 39 that it was another 811 Squadron pilot who made the crash landing?

Regards,
Leendert

Re: FAA crashes in Norfolk
 

Leendert, you are spot-on. I was misinformed by the person who made the original inquiry. Thanks to all who responded on this one.
BC