Sunderland W4026

Eagle's Rock, Caithness, Highland

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Acknowledgments

Many thanks to Alex Norton for kindly providing information for this page.

Many thanks also to Steven Spink for kindly providing photos of aircrew graves at Oban (Pennyfuir) Cemetery and of the 18 Group Coastal Command Memorial at Oban Ganavan Sands.

Many thanks also to Richard Mackay for kindly providing photos of the memorial to HRH the Duke of Kent, the aircraft wreck, and the crash site.

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All photos remain the property of the original authors, and may not be reproduced elsewhere without their prior written permission.

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Aircraft Type Photo

BELOW: An RCAF Short Sunderland seaplane or flying boat similar to the type featured on this page.

a short sunderland flying boat of the rcaf taking off

Photo: Pre 1949.

Aircraft Type and Background

Short Sunderland Mk. III / W4026 "DQ-M"

V.I.P. Transport for H.R.H. Prince George, the Duke of Kent

The Short Sunderland was derived from the C Class 'Empire' flying boats used by Imperial Airways¹in the 1930's.

Capable of carrying a crew of ten, the first Sunderlands Mk.I's were assigned to 230 Squadron at Singapore. When war broke out in 1939, three squadrons of Coastal Command had been equipped with the heavily-armed Sunderlands. These Sunderlands were used extensively over the Atlantic in the war against the U-boats, and also as search and rescue aircraft for seamen and downed aircrew.

The Mk.II version of the Sunderland was equipped with four Bristol Pegasus XVIII supercharged engines and improved turret arrangments. The Mk.III introduced in 1941 had a more streamlined hull to improve take-off. The Mark III is the type featured on this page.

Other version of the Sunderland up to Mk.V were introduced. This version had four Pratt and Whitney R1830-90 Twin Wasp engines.

Footnote:

¹ Imperial Airways (IA). Imperial Airways was formed in April 1924 from the merger of The Instone Air Line, Daimler Airway, Handley Page Transport, and British Marine Air Navigation. Imperial Airways was the 'State' or 'National' airline until, in November 1939, it was absorbed by British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC).

Aircraft Accident Details

Short Sunderland flying boat W4026 of 228 Squadron RAF had been (re-) positioned from its base at RAF Oban to RAF Invergordon (Alness) on the Cromarty Firth to pick up H.R.H. Prince George the Duke of Kent and members of his personal staff.

The Sunderland then departed from Invergordon heading for RAF Reykjavik in Iceland. The Duke of Kent was making a visit to Reykjavik in the course of his official duties. He held the rank of Air Commodore and was a Staff Officer in RAF Training Command.

In addition to the personnel on board, the aircraft was carrying equipment, spares and alcoholic refreshments for the base at Reykjavik.

Shortly after its departure from Invergordon, the pilot of the Sunderland encountered bad weather and very poor visibility. Then, because of a strong on-shore wind, the aircraft began to drift from its intended course and began heading over hilly ground before gaining sufficient altitude to clear this terrain. Consequently, the Sunderland struck a hill known locally as 'Eagle's Rock', exploding on impact.

Inquiry Summary

The official inquiry came to the conclusion that the accident occurred as a result of navigational error. The crew had failed to make sufficient allowance for a strong on-shore wind and had allowed the aircraft to drift over high ground before it had gained enough height to clear this hilly terrain.

According to the Hansard Report of October 7th 1942, blame was apportioned to the captain of the aircraft, "Who changed flight plan for reasons unknown and descended through cloud without making sure he was over water, and crashed."

Aircraft Crew / Passenger Casualties

Fourteen people died in this accident and one survived. Those who died were:

Royal Personnel:

Air Commodore HRH Prince George, The Duke of Kent (39)

Military Personnel (HRH The Duke of Kent's Staff):

Lt. John Crowther, RNVR, (Private Secretary).
P/O The Hon. Michael Strutt.
LAC John Walter Holes, (Batman).

Military Personnel (Aircrew):

Flt Lt Frank McKenzie Goyen, Captain.
Wg Cdr Thomas L Moseley (29), 1st Pilot, (English CO of 228 squadron)
F/O Sydney Wood Smith (24), RAAF, 2nd Pilot.
P/O (Obs) George Richard Saunders, RAFVR, Navigator.
Flt Sgt William Royston Jones (28), Flt Mechanic / AG.
Flt Sgt Charles Norman Lewis (27), Airframe Fitter.
Flt Sgt Edward James Hewerdine (24), WEM / AG.
Sgt Edward F Blacklock (30), RNZAF, W.oP / AG.
Sgt Arthur Rowland Catt (24), RAFVR, W.oP / AG.
Sgt (Flt Eng) Leonard Sweett (22), Fitter.

The sole survivor was:

Sgt Andrew S.W. Jack W.oP / AG.

Sgt Jack managed to crawl out of the tangled wreckage and staggered around the crash site injured, disorientated and in a state of shock. Ultimately, after about 22 hours, he was seen by a local girl while attempting to get through a farmland gate to find help. The girl led him to the family croft where her mother attended to Sgt Jack's injuries.

Andrew Jack passed away in 1976.

The Duke of Kent's remains were taken Dunrobin Castle at Golspie in Sutherland. Later, they were taken to London for burial.

Some members of the crew were taken to Oban and laid to rest in Pennyfuir Cemetery.

Memorial Photos

(Crash site photos follow below)

Aircrew Memorials

Oban (Pennyfuir) Cemetery

BELOW: The last resting place of some of the air crew. This cemetery is at Oban, Scotland, where the Sunderland was based.

Graves of some of the airmen who died in the Sunderland crash. This cemetery is at Oban where the Sunderland was based.

BELOW: Grave of Flt Lt Frank McKenzie Goyen, (Captain)

Grave of Flt Lt Frank Goyen (captain)

BELOW: Grave of Wing Commander Thomas L Moseley (29) (1st Pilot)

Grave of wg cdr thomas l mosely (29) (pilot)

BELOW: Grave of Sydney W Smith (24), RAAF, (2nd Pilot)

Grave of F/O Sidney W Smith (24), RCAF (2nd Pilot)

BELOW: Grave of Sgt Edward F Blacklock (30), RNZAF, (W.oP/AG)

Grave of Sgt Edward F Blacklock (30), (W.oP/AG), Royal New Zealand Air Force

18 Group Coastal Command Memorial

RAF Oban

BELOW: The Memorial at Ganavan Bay, Oban, to all the air and ground crew who served at RAF Oban (a seaplane base) from 1939 to 1945.

Memorial to all air and ground crew who served at RAF Oban from 1939 to 1945

BELOW: Closer view of engraved plaque on monument.

close-up view of engraved plaque on monument

The engraving on the plaque reads:

1939 - 1945

To the memory of all air and ground personnel

of 18 Group Coastal Command who served at R.A.F. Oban

No. 209 Sqn R.A.F.	No. 210 Sqn R.A.F.
No. 10 Sqn R.A.A.F.	No. 228 Sqn R.A.F.
No. 422 Sqn R.C.A.F.	No. 330 Sqn R.N.A.F *
No. 423 Sqn R.C.A.F.	No. 524 Sqn R.A.F.
No. 302 Ferry Training Unit

"Mus Diochuimhnich Sinn"

* R.N.A.F. Royal Norwegian Air Force, otherwise abbreviated R.No.A.F.

Crash Site Photos

BELOW: The memorial to H.R.H. the Duke of Kent at Eagle's Rock, close by the crash site.

memorial to duke of kent at eagles rock

BELOW: The burnt-out wreckage of the Sunderland flying boat at Eagle's Rock. As the aircraft exploded on impact with the ground, very little of the airframe remains intact.

the remains of the Sunderland flying boat at Eagles Rock