Sunderland saves Spanish Airmen Jul 1942

[andy bird]

Have a newspaper cutting dated 11 July 1942.

Reads:

Six Spanish airmen were saved by a Sunderland out on patrol. Their aircraft was seen to crash in flames into the sea. The captain and crew of Sunderland alighted and picked up 3 officers and 3 sergeants who were struggling in the water with no buoyancy aids.

They were taken to 'The Rock' and given medical attention, a bath, clean clothes, food before being sent back to Spain.

Does anyone have any info on either crews, sqdn or incident, as I've not come across it before.

Kind Regards

Andy Bird

[fran]

Hello,

It may be the Cant Z.506 coded 53-1 near Cabrera island (Majorca). Developed problems in left engine and shorly after a fire started.
Officers crew names I have are Maj. Ansaldo and Cap.Alcalá del Olmo both were OK

Regards
Fran

[udf_00]

Seems the Cant Z.506B were initially coded 73-1 to 73-4
http://www.aviationcorner.net/galler...t_type_id=1951

On the 15th of July 1942 73-2 (by then renumbered as 53-2)
http://www.network54.com/Forum/39472...s+extranjeros-

comandante Ignacio Ansaldo Vejarano, Z.506B, 15 JUL 1942,
http://fotosantiguasdemallorca.blogs...ollensa-y.html
https://m.facebook.com/notes/aviador...3769053009246/

Sunderland O/202, P/O Lauwrence, 15 JUL 1942 off Majorca (Short Sunderland in WWII, Andrew Hendrie, p.62.)
John Thornett LAWRENCE (104428)
http://www.bbm.org.uk/LawrenceJT.htm

When a date is given, it's always the 15 JUL...

[andy bird]

Thank you for the messages posted in reply to this.

Andy