Consolidated Catalina Mk.IVB JX273 of No.302 Ferry Training Unit flew into Theiseabhal Beag on Vatersay on the 12th May 1944

 

David Johnston Robertson Clyne Warrant Officer Pilot Killed
Edmand Ainsworth Kilshaw Sergeant Co-pilot Survived
P. Lee Sergeant Navigator Survived
Roy Beavis Sergeant Flight Engineer Survived
R. Whiting Sergeant Flight Mechanic Survived
Patrick William Noel Hine Sergeant Flight Mechanic / Air Gunner Killed
Alfred Ronald Anstey Sergeant Wireless Operator / Air Gunner Survived
Frederick James Bassett Sergeant Wireless Operator / Air Gunner Killed
G. Calder Sergeant Wireless Operator / Air Gunner Survived

 

The crew of JX273 were on a night navigation training flight from Oban. Having taken off from there the pilots set course for the first turning point at Barra Head on Berneray, the southern most of the Outer Hebridies. At close to their expected time of arrival at Barra Head the navigator checked the course they were flying and realised they were to the north of track. He instructed the pilots to commence a climb to avoid high ground on the islands they were approaching. Before the aircraft had gained much height it struck the ground close to the summit of Theiseabhal Beag on the eastern side of the island of Vatersay. Three of the crew were killed in the crash or died of their injuries soon afterwards. The remaining crew were attended to by residents of Vatersay until the assistance came by lifeboat from the neighbouring (now causewayed) island of Barra. The three who died were buried in their home towns.

Wreckage at the crash site of Consolidated Catalina Mk.IVB JX273 on Theiseabhal Beag, Isle of Vatersay
Looking out to sea from the area where JX273 flew into Theiseabhal Beag, scattered in the foreground are small parts of the aircraft
Wreckage at the crash site of Consolidated Catalina Mk.IVB JX273 on Theiseabhal Beag, Isle of Vatersay
The same collection of wreckage looking up hill, the summit of the hill is to the top right of the photograph.

The task of clearing the crash site fell to No.56 Maintenance Unit at Inverness, who during July sent a 12 man party to the site to break up the wreckage. After arriving in Castlebay they used a private boat and the lifeboat to reach Vatersay. Over the next three weeks they broke up the wreck, recovering the armament and much of the radio & radar equipment along with the engines. The hull and wings were cut up and dragged down the hill being weighed down with boulders below the road on the island where much of it still remains.

Wreckage near to the crash site of Consolidated Catalina Mk.IVB JX273 on Theiseabhal Beag, Isle of Vatersay
Wreckage from the aircraft dumped between the road on the island and the shoreline.
Wreckage close to the crash site of Consolidated Catalina Mk.IVB JX273 on Theiseabhal Beag, Isle of Vatersay
A further view of the larger items from the aircraft at the foot of the hill where they were left by the recovery party from No.56 MU.
Memorial on the Isle of Vatersay near to the crash site of Consolidated Catalina JX273
Along side the wreckage at the foot of the hill is a memorial listing all of the crew of the aircraft.
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