Clandestine fligths UK-Norway

[Oyvind]

Bringing agents to/from Norway and UK during the war by means of airplanes, were either by Norw. 333 sqn. Catalinas landing along the coast, or parachuting from "bomber"planes.
However a source tells me that late 41/early 42 one or two fligths were performed using seaplane(floater).
One of the fligths were carried out between Inverness and Stavanger area (east of Stavanger behind an island) in the shadow of a bombingraid at Sola airpoirt. Weather was clear and full moon.
The crew apparantly didn't seem to speak Norwegian so if it was the ex Norw. He115, they used apparantly non-Norwegian crew at times.
If it wasn't the He 115 what could it then be for a floatplane ( Modified Blackburn Roc to extend range (4 were built as floaterplanes), Ar 196 in RAF service, if that existed, or?)

The source seems more to remember it in fact it was a single engine aircraft and seems sure it had floaters.
Does anyone have any clues?

If landing in Inverness or nearby was the case, were there any military facilities or bases in Inverness or nearby accomodating seaplanes?

[Seaplanes]

It was not an ex. Norwegian He 115, as their movements in UK and elsewhere are well documented.

[Oyvind]

Thanks..that rule out the He115 and as I mentioned the source was more inclined to think it was a single engine..but what can that have been?.

[Graham Boak]

Swordfish would an obvious suspect, but what is the range? I suspect most of the floatplanes, including the Swordfish, simply didn't have the range to fly that sort of mission. At least, not with passengers.

Another potential floatplane could be the Fokker T.VIIIW, which is of course a twin, and I suspect not available that late.

[vingtor]

One of the ex Norwegian He 115 seaplanes were eventually scrapped at 333 Squadron's base at Woodhaven. This is well documented by photos.

This doesn't answer your question though.

Nils

[Larry]

How about the Northrop N-3PB. These were ordered by the Norwegian Government and briefly used in RAF markings by by 330 Sqn in 1941-42

[Oyvind]

Hi,
My understanding is that all the Northrop N3PB's were transported directly to Iceland from US and solely used in that theater by 330 sqn until early 43.
The remaining planes were brougth to UK /Oban spring of 43 and was occasionaly used in non-offensive roles.
But the idea you launched has struck me and I did some checking which ended with the above story. But if somebody knows something different from this it would be great to know.
The 3 cunning foxes (Norw. He 115's) I have also ruled out. It appears that their full story has been uncovered. At least the logbooks of Skavhaugen and Offerdal doesn't show any trips to Norway, but on the other hand there were other (foreign) crews flying them I understand.
It is still a puzzle what sort of military bases there were in Inverness/vicinity as to accomodate seaplanes. So if anyone has input on this i would appreciate that

[Seaplanes]

The ex. Norwegian He 115's only flew two operational sorties and that was out from Kalafrana, Malta. Haakon Offerdal flew one sortie and a Free-French crew flew the last which ended in the aircraft being lost on the return flight back to Malta. This is now well documented in the SOE/SIS archives in the National Archives in Kew.

As to the Northrop N3PB. Only two aircraft returned to UK in May 1943. All other remaining aircraft were disposed off in Iceland. One aircraft was taken on strength by 330 Sq. but used only occasionally. The other was transferred to Felixstowe for storage. Both returned to Norway in summer of 1945.

The Inverness area had quite a few airfields during the war: Longman (Inverness), Leanach, Dalcross, Brackla and Black Isle.

If a SOE/SIS flight of some kind was made from Scotland to Norway during the war, except for the Norwegian Catalinas, it should be possible to trace this. Otherwise I would lean to the conclusion that it is another good story that has "matured" over the years.