Shorts Sunderland NJ175, Co. Donegal, August 1944
The Shorts Sunderland was a familiar sight around the shores of
Ireland during the second world war, indeed, it was the very
first aircraft type to 'breech' Irish neutrality when one landed
off the coast of Dublin the very first day of the war. By
the autumn of 1944, six of the large flying boats, W3988, W3977, DD846, G-AGES and DD848 had crashed on or
very close to Irish territory, resulting in some involvement of
the Irish defence forces in recovering dead and wounded, all too
often just the former. Many more had come down off shore
but had not been observed by Irish personnel.
The Sunderland was used by a number of RAF and RCAF Squadrons
based at Castle Archdale on Lough Erne, in Fermanagh, Northern
Ireland, including 201, 228, 422, 423 Squadrons. 422 Squadron of
the Royal Canadian Air Force had moved to Lough Erne in November
1943.
Flight Lieutenant E C Devine is noted as having been posted in
'with crew' on the 28th June 1944. The crew members, not
even the officers, are not listed in the ORB at that
point. The first operational mission flown by Evan Devine
was on the 15th of July with Devine and Platsko acting as 2nd
and 3rd pilot to Squadron Leader W C Kent, this was likely a
screening flight where Kent was observing the actions of the new
crew. Not present on this flight Wilkinson, Locke or
Clark.
The Campbell crew flew a second operational mission on the 8th
of August, this time, Wilkinson and Locke were not present in
the crew.
It would be expected that they would have flown many more non
operational flights between the three operational missions,
technical flights, navigation exercises, perhaps fighter
affiliation flight etc.
The third and final fateful mission took place on the afternoon
of August 12th. The ORB reported the days events.
Three operational sorties were carried out today by this
squadron. F/L Devine and crew who had just taken off on
an operational trip at noon, crashed twenty minutes after take
off at Belleek, County Donegal, Eire. The aircraft flown
by F/L Devine as captain was T/422 N.J.175 and had taken off
from C.A. at 1225 hours and shortly afterwards they
contacted flying control by R/T that oil pressure was high on
starboard outer engine and requested permission to jettison
D.C.'s in Lough area. D.C.'s were however jettisoned
over land but apparently aircraft could not maintain height on
three engines as the outer engine had seized. The second
pilot advised by R/T that a crash landing was being
made. The landing area selected was probably the best in
the vicinity being a reasonably level and boggy area.
The aircraft struck a small knoll almost immediately on touch
down ad turned over breaking in two. The A/C burst into
flames and entire forward section including most of mainplanes
burnt completely beyond recognition. CAN.J.5705 F/L E.
C. Devine, pilot and captain, CAN. J.28705 F/O R.T. Wilkinson,
second pilot and CAN. R.66674 Sergeant Forrest, J., were
killed instantly. First Pilot CAN. J.24784 F/O M.A.
Platsko, Navigator, CAN. J.24911 F/O G.W. Allen, F/ENG
CAN.R.75336 Sgt Jeal, H.R., A/G CANR.217572 Sgt. Colbourne,
G.A. were seriously injured, FME/AG RAF1694120 Sgt Clark,
J.F.S., F/ENG CAN.J.86728 P/O R.C. Parker, A/G CAN.R.26461
Sgt. Singer, C.H. were slightly injured and WOP/AG CAN.
J.85165 P/O A.L. Locke WOM/AG CAN.R.161807 Sgt. Oderkirk, D.V.
were uninjured. F/L Devine and crew had only been with
the squadron a short time but had become a very popular crew
and the unfortunate members who were killed will be
greatly missed by the squadron as a whole.
The following day the 13th August the ORB recorded the
following:
News received this morning from Shield Hospital,
Ballyshannon, Eire, where injured members of the crew of
yesterday's crash are at the present time, is that the boys
are doing as well as can be expected. Sgt Jeal is on the
dangerously ill list while F/O's Platsko, Allen and Sgt
Colbourne are listed as seriously ill. F/O Locke
reported to the Flight Commanders office this morning and
appears to be alright.
Again on the 14th the men's progress was reported on:
F/O Platsko, F/O Alen, Sgt's Jeal, Singer, Colbourne and F/Sgt
Clark were all removed from Shield Hospital, Ballyshannon,
today by Air Ambulance from the St. Angelo landing field to
R.A.F. Hospital, Halton, England; where more care can be given
them. All members of the unfortunate accident appeared
in good spirits, but Sgt. Jeal was in more serious condition
that the others. F/L Kester, M.O. from 423 Squadron
accompanied them in the absence of F/L Stewart, No. 422 M.O.
who is in hospital himself at the present time.
The crash resulted in an investigation being carried out by the
Squadron and No. 15 Group. The results of this
investigation would be strongly disputed by the survivors of the
crash in later years, all of whom felt that their Captain was
wrongly blamed for the accident.
Researcher, Joe O'Loughlin, Beleek, Fermanagh based in
Beleek, Fermanagh, is one of those who was able to correspond
with some of the veterans and he wrote about the crash on his
website and in the books he published. His website can be
read at this link:
Sunderland
NJ175 by Joe O'Loughlin
Another Northern Ireland researcher, James Stewart, also wrote
about the crash, this time on the WW2Talk Message forum in 2009,
and included first hand accounts from survivors of the crash
including Colbourne and Platsko. The thread can be read
here, though an account may be needed to see the survivors
attachments.
NJ175 Which crashed near Belleek 12th July
1944
F/L Evan Campbell 'Cam' DEVINE J/5705 RCAF +
He
was posted into 160 (BR) Squadron on the 20th May 1943 at Sea
Island, BC flying Boeing Canada built Canso flying boats, the
locally built version of the Catalina. He is listed in the
Squadron Nominal Roll for their movement to Yarmouth, Nova
Scotia. The ORB mentions him as the Acting Squadron CO on
July 30, 1943 while the Commanding Officer was away from the
unit.
On August 2nd 1943 he flew Canso 9817 with four navigators and
took photos of the results of depth charge dropping
excersizes. Six days later he set off on a US cross
country trip. In the following weeks, he and his crew
carried out many long patrol flights. Sadly the ORB does
not list crew names other than the pilot at this time. His
last operational light with that unit was on 17th Dec
1943. He went on Special Christmas leave on the 24th
December, and again was on isolation and embarkation leave for
21 days from 6 January 1944. The ORB again does not list
his crews names in the notice of their posting on the 28th
December.
On 28th June 1944, the ORB records that: F/L E C Devine and crew
reported to the Squadron tonight on posting from 4 O.T.U. for
operational flying duties. On the 29th June, he flew a
familiarisation flight with W/C Frey.
6 July he flies as 2nd pilot to J D M Patton crew.
Mentioned as having flown a night flying excersize on 11 July
1944 with his crew.
15th July, flying with S/L W C Kent is:
F/O Martin 'Alex' Alexander PLATSKO J/24784 RCAF
Martin was born on 26 January 1921 in Sifton,
Manitoba to Ignatius Hnat and Sophie Platsko. He enlisted
in Winnipeg in January 1942. After initial ground training
he was posted first to 6 EFTS in September 1942 and then to 10
SFTS on 21 November 1942. There he was commissioned on 19
March 1943 and sent to 1 GRS, on 26 March 1943. His first
service posting was to 160 (BR) Squadron in June 1943 and he is
listed in the Squadron Nominal Roll for that units movement to
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in July 1943.
He was promoted to Flying Officer in September 1943. Along with
his captain and crew he was also posted to “Y” Depot on 27
January 1944 prior to going to England. He travelled to England
around the 14 February 1944 along with the others.
He was still with 422 Squadron in March 1945 with Mills crew and
noted on April 6th to have been a coronet player in a musical
evening, and a few days later he was forming a bugle band.
His service file records his repatriated in September 1945 and
his released for duty on 6 November 1945. He moved to
America in 1946 and settled in California where he became a
physician.
Martin passed away in 2011 in California
F/O Roy Thomas WILKINSON J/28705 RCAF +
Reported
to the Squadron on 15 Mar 1944 for pilot duties.
He was sent to RAF Calshot on attachment for test duties on 4th
May 1944 with Wallace, Webster, Pye & Allington.
He remained on this temporary duty for the entire summer of
1944, being stationed at Gosport, Wig Bay, . Flies one
mission on 9th August but doesn’t appear to be mentioned between
4th May and that date.
Promoted to T/F/O in the June 1944 ORB.
F/O George Willoughby ALLEN J/24911 NAV RCAF – On lots of
An trees
George was born in March 1913, the son of Lena
and Theodore Allen. George married in 1937 in Taber, to
Anna Mae Powell. . He joined up in early 1942 in
Calgary and after periods of ground instruction was posted to 5
B&GS in September of that year. He was
quickly posted on to 10 AOS in late November, and its thought
graduated about the 19 March 1943. A month was spent at 1
GRS before being posted as a Pilot Officer to 160 BR
Squadron. His dates of posting to Europe match those of
Cam Devine and his movements in the UK would most likely match
also.
His first operational mission was on 6 Jul with the Duggleby
crew, flying as 2nd Nav.
Casualty lists record him being from Tabor, Alberta. He
was sent to East Grinstead for treatment for burns treatment and
thereafter he was repatriated home on the 27 November 1944,
along with Jeal, Singer and Colburne.
He and Anna lived together until his death in 1997. She
passed away in March 2012.
P/O Robert Clifford ""Bob"" PARKER C/86728 RCAF
Have S/R
Robert Parker was born on 30th July 1915 in Winnipeg, to
Margaret and Fred Parker.
He was deemed fit for duty on August 30th but given two weeks
leave for recuperation. Seems to have returned to flying
duties on 19 Oct 1944 with the F/L A D Mills crew.
Promoted to T/F/O in Jan 1945 per the ORB.
He married Miss Joan Griffiths in Calgary on 1st March
1946. Robert passed away on 28 Dec 1985 in British
Colombia.
Sgt Harold Roger JEAL R/75336 RCAF
Harold
was born in 1922 to
His marriage was recorded in the Winnipeg Tribune of May 4th
1943, the only mention of military service being that he was a
Corporal.
He was mentioned in a March 1944 article in the Globe and Mail
along with J R Forrest, as being part of a draft of Ontario men
posted to England for combat duties after serving on coastal
patrol duties at home in Canada.
After the crash he was repatriated home on the 27 November 1944,
along with Allen, Singer and Colburne.
The Winnipeg Free Press of December 13th 1944 reported that:
“Flt. Sergt. Roger Jeal, on leave from Christie Street hospital,
returned from overseas last weekend. He was injured and
returned to Canada for treatment.”
Sgt Joseph Frank S CLARK 1694120
Sgt J F S Clark held the trade of FME/AG, Flight Mechanic
Engines/Air Gunner and he was the only Royal Air Force member of
the crew. His service number 1694120 identifies him as a
member of the RAFVR. The former website of 422 Squadron
had been informed of his death taking place on the 4th January
1993. This matches up to a death register index
death of a Joseph Frank S Clark in Claro district, North
Yorkshire.
This J F S Clark was born in 1908 and married in 1930. In
the 1939 Register, he is to be found living with his wife Edith
and their two sons at 2 West View Terrace, Halifax in
Yorkshire. His occupation was that of a Textile Store
Clerk and he also was an Air Raid Precaution Warden.
His name appears on a 1 March 1944 Nominal Roll of 422
Squadron. As NCO, there is no mention of his posting into
422 Squadron nor is it understood what his duties were from
March to August. He had flown only once before on an
operational with F/L E C Devine on the 8 August 1944.
He corresponded with a local researcher in the 1990’s.
P/O Arthur Leslie LOCKE J/85165 RCAF
Arthur
came from Lockeport, Nova Scotia, born in 1922 to Guyon and
Myrtle Locke.
Posted in on the 11 July 1944 for WOP/AG duties from 3 PRC.
He was till serving in March 1945 with F/L Frederick B Fallis
crew but no posting out of the unit was found in the ORB.
Arthur it seems died in a car accident on or around January 19th
1947 in Lockeport. His death certificate records him as
being a taxi driver and leads one to think he may have been
working at the time of the accident. Two other occupants
of the vehicle were injured, one badly.
P/O John Reginald 'Jack' FORREST J/92096 RCAF +
John
was born on the 5th April 1921 to Annie and William Henry
Forrest in Quebec. His parents were deceased at the time
of his entry to service, but he had two sisters and a brother
who was a Sergeant in the Canadian Army.
He enlisted in June 1940 in Montreal where he was then
resident. He was at that time working as a bakers helper
at XXX, though on other forms he lists working as a
messenger. He undertook his initial training at No 1 Air
Navigation School in late 1940 but had two periods of
hospitalisation after which followed a years’ service in a
ground role at 1 ANS when he again took up aircrew training this
time at 3 Wireless School from August 1942 to March 1943.
His eagerness to become an aircrew member was noted by the
reviewing officers in 1942 and he was allowed to remuster for
training again.
He trained at 5 Bombing and Gunnery School and it seems in the
same class as Delbert Oderkirk, their service records and
newspaper announcements confirming this. The graduation of
this course took place on the 28 May 1943. This next seen
him posted to RCAF Eastern Air Command and 160 Squadron in July
1943 where he remained until December 1943. This was a
newly formed Squadron and received an allocation of 22 Wireless
Operator/Air Gunners upon arrival at their new base at Yarmouth,
Nova Scotia. Sadly, the squadron records don’t mention any
but the crew captains names throughout this time, but John’s
posting out date matches that of E C Devine.
They arrived in Gourock on 24th February 1944 and were posted to
4 Coastal Operational Training Unit.
He was posted in to 422 Squadron on the 28 June 1944, which ties
in with the date of the Devine crew’s posting.
Posthumously commissioned, recorded in January 1945 in the ORB.
He was buried in the Roman Catholic cemetery
Sgt Delbert Venus 'Bert' ODERKIRK R/161807 RCAF
Delbert was
born in
He completed his air gunner training at Dafoe, Ontario with 5
Bombing and Gunnery School, graduating the 28th May 1943.
He appears to have been in the same class as J R Forrest.
On the 25th Feb 1945, the ORB records his being posted out to
‘R; Depot for appearance before a reselection board. It stated
also that he had been in a crash the previous year and had not
fully recovered from the shock.
The 1945 Voters List for Kingston City, shows Delbert living
with his parents Earl and XXX.
By 1972, he is resident in Braodview, Ontario with his wife Ella
and working as an aircraft supervisor.
Sgt Charles 'Chuck' Langford SINGER R/206461 RCAF
After the crash he was repatriated home on the 27 November 1944,
along with Jeal, Allen and Colburne.
Sgt Singers story is told on the Joe O'Loughlin website linked
above.
Sgt George Arnold COLBURNE or COLBORNE R/217572
George was the
son of XXXXX and was born in New Brunswick in Dec 17,
1924. He resided in Scarborough, Ontario and served in the
RCAF from Feb 9 1943 to April 20, 1945. His training and
service seen him pass through ground training in Quebec, Air
Gunner Training at 9 BG&S, Mont Joli, where he gained his
wings in December 1943, to 4 Aircrew Graduate Training School at
Valleyfield for escape and evasion and ground combat training in
the early part of 1944. He embarked for Europe in February
and was posted to 4 (C)OTU at RAF Alness in April 1944. He
recorded his service with 422 Squadron as being from June 30 to
the 12th August 1944.
After the crash he was repatriated home on the 27 November 1944,
along with Jeal, Singer and Allen.
Sgt Colburne passed away on the 29 July 2001.
Compiled by Dennis Burke, 2019.