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    • Home
    • Where to go
    • WW2 Sunderland crash site
    • Operation Frankton
    • Carter Family Smugglers
    • Rinsey Head-Weal Prosper

  • Home
  • Where to go
  • WW2 Sunderland crash site
  • Operation Frankton
  • Carter Family Smugglers
  • Rinsey Head-Weal Prosper

Crew of Praa Sands WWII plane crash remembered

"Courtesy of BBC News".

BBC site.

WW2 Sunderland Flying Boat  nicknamed the "Flying Porcupine" was shot at by 8 German fighter planes and the brave crew manage to leave the fight and crashed on here on Praa Sands on 2nd June 1943 killing 1 of the crew.  Locals took the crew into their homes for shelter. Please see below more information in video and text.      Although the Spitfire, Lancaster and the Harrier were iconic planes this plane's capabilities were very much underestimated in the war, please take a look at the memorial

Video

The Mk5  flying boat sprouted 18 guns, the greatest number carried by any regular British military aircraft during the war.   It boasted a toilet and a galley with a cooker and a chart table for the long 10 to 12 hour patrols.  It carried Depth Charges, Bombs and Dinghy to rescue downed airman.  

Video

There are some photos of the Crash site on the bureau of aircraft accident archives    https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-short-s25-sunderland-iii-praa-sands-1-killed


There is some good technical information on the Sunderland on   https://uboat.net/allies/aircraft/sunderland.htm


and this tells more about the crew and their bravery against the odds.   https://aircrewremembered.com/walker-colin.html

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