Plaque to commemorate those who perished in a Catalina crash on Vatersay Island, Hebrides Scotland. SCO 6888
First flown in the United States in March 1935, the PBY was intended as a long-range patrol aircraft. Originally equipped with two 850hp Pratt and Whitney engines, these were replaced in later versions with 1200hp Twin Wasp 14-cylinder radial engines. The aircraft had a maximum speed of 179mph. The Catalina here (JX273) was built by Boeing of Vancouver, Canada. Sometime after its delivery to the UK, this aircraft was assigned to 302 Flying Training Unit, then operating from RAF Oban (a flying boat base). On the evening of the crash, the Catalina took off from Oban on the west coast of Scotland, fully loaded and with depth charges under each wing. The aircraft was on a night training exercise with a complement of nine persons, including the pilot and co-pilot. The intended course was via Barra Head. However, the aircraft was flying well off-course, and was no longer above the sea, as the pilot believed. Realising the navigational error, the pilot endeavoured to gain height. However, when he had reached about 213m (700ft), the Catalina—which, by now, was over higher ground—crashed into the side of Heishavel Beag on Vatersay. Of the nine personnel on board, three were killed and the remaining six were injured. Those who died were: •Flt Sgt David Clyne, Captain •Sgt R. (Fred) Basset, Wireless OP-AG •Sgt Patrick Hine, Rigger (mechanic)-AG Those injured were: Sgt E. Kilshaw, 2nd Pilot Sgt P. Lee, Navigator Sgt G. Calder, Wireless Op / Mechanic-AG Sgt Roy Beavis, Engineer Sgt Ron Anstey, Wireless OP-AG Sgt R. Whiting, Flight Mechanic
Size: 5620px × 3733px
Location: Vatersay Island hillside, Hebrides, Western Isles Scotland.
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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