Walrus Pick up 16th April 1943

[Steve Smith]

Hi,

A Walrus picked up a crew of five on April 16th 1943. Trying to ID the crew picked up and the crew of the Walrus. Not much info, but that's all I have.

Any help appreciated.

Steve

[Larry]

Steve,

I guess you could state which sea the pick up was achieved? North Sea, Channel or the Med etc?

[Chris Goss]

If UK waters, a trawl through 276, 277 278 ORBs. I found a Do 217 pilot that way but no mention of his name in the ORB

[Steve Smith]

Originally Posted by Larry

Steve,

I guess you could state which sea the pick up was achieved? North Sea, Channel or the Med etc?

Hi, At the time of post that was all I had. I now know off the coast of St Eval.

Steve

[Buckeye30]

Could be No.276 they had detachments around Cornwall and covered this area, and flew rescue sorties on the 16th.

Couldn't read their ORB for the 16th though (on pp.7-8).


Regards
Nick

[RSwank]

I tried reading the 276 Squadron Summary of Events for 16 April 1943. My best guess on what it says (the text is hard to read):


Harrowbeer 16.4.43
Walrus ordered off from Harrowbeer on search 225 degrees 33 miles Bolt Head. Aircraft wreckage found on arrival at spot. Walrus landed among debris but only yellow oxygen bottles and lower half of an Irvin suit picked up. In the pocket of the Irwin suit 6 Bomb pins were found. Two boats seen 12 miles west of the position. Later in the afternoon, Walrus from “C” Flight Portreath ordered off on search 240 degrees 45 miles from Scillies. After searching, a dinghy containing 7 aircrew was found. Owing to rough seas?? and the fact that the Walrus would be unable to take off again with such a load, ?O? (SOS?) markers were dropped and the Boats were guided to the position. Walrus remained in position over the dinghy until all aircrew were transferred to the Rescue launch. This Walrus had previously been employed in the search which “B” Flight found the wreckage earlier in the day. At 21.00 hours this evening the Walrus from “B” Flight was airborne in a search for W/C O’Brien (Portreath Wing) who had been seen in his dinghy near the French coast. At 21.33 the Walrus from Portreath was ordered off on the same search and carrying out the search made landfall at Ouessant near Brest. Both these searches were uneventful, but W/C O’Brien was picked up by the M/G Boats early next morning.



The W/C O'Brien would appear to be the man discussed in this thread:

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...-April-16-1943

[Leendert]

O???? = Ouessant near Brest.

W/C O'Brien = W/C Peter O'Brian of 412 (RCAF) Squadron, shot down in his Spitfire.

Regards,
Leendert

[Chris Goss]

Portsmouth should read Perranporth or Portreath I believe?

[RSwank]

Chris, thanks for the tip, I think it is Portreath, (now corrected). Leendert thanks for Ouessant, (also fixed).