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What more did you want?

Posted by Ross McNeill on Thu Feb 13, 2003 03:36:12 AM

In reply top Anyone know any more? posted by Tony on Wed Feb 12, 2003 02:01:45 PM

Wellington HZ262
Took off for a fighter affiliation exercise. At about 12:30 hrs the Wellington was sighted at 2,500 feet over the golf course. The starboard wing suddenly came off and the aircraft crashed into Lossiemouth Harbour. The aircraft hit the sea about 250 yards from the Stotfield Hotel. (Chorley)

Crashed 1 mile east of Covesea Light, partly submerged.

Lost wing and crashed into sea 0.5 miles north east of Lossiemouth (Air Britain)

Wreck Files (HO Department).
H4734/63 20/01/64
Position obtained from Decca Co-ords (Lt Cdr J Ralph RNR Fishing Skipper).

H1310/84/40 15/11/84
Wellington bomber in Decca (N. SCOT) RED G 11.5, PURPLE B 61.5. (B. Greig). Plots in 574714N, 031904W, CINC Requested.
H2336/84 24/03/86
Examined 29/11/85 in 574707N, 031939W. NG Co-ords 321066E, 878025N. Trisponder ranges - Burghead CGB Light 13504 metres; Covesea Lighthouse 6778 metres; Tarbatness Lighthouse 28018 metres; Browlands Pillar 18390 metres. Decca (N SCOT) RED G 12.05, GREEN A 46.42, PURPLE B 61.43. Scattered wreckage, confirmed by underwater TV (HMS Cattistock) lying over area 20 x 22 metres. Nothing proud of seabed. Chart as foul. (Beagle. HI 246)

Dive Scotland 1860 (1992)
Described as "wreck of Wellington bomber" This is charted at 57 47 10N, 03 20 00W in about 62m of water. The propeller was fouled and lifted by a fishing vessel, but was then released some distance away from the wreckage.

LOSSIEMOUTH, MORAYSHIRE.
At 12.30 in the afternoon of the 22nd of July, 1944, the coastguard reported that a British Wellington aeroplane had exploded in the air and crashed into the sea one mile east of Covesea Lighthouse. She was partly submerged. A light northerly wind was blowing, with a moderate swell. The auxiliary rescue-boat Snowdrop was launched and searched ten miles along the coast. She found the bodies of two of the seven members of the air crew. All seven had lost their lives. - Rewards, ?3 2s. 6d., with ?2 for anchor lost and ?1 for fuel used.
(Source: RNLI Records of Service 1939-46)

Regards
Ross

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