Whitley Mk.V P5070 / WL-B of No.612 Sqn, RAF, crashed on East Scaraben to the north of Helmsdale on the 1st May 1941

 

Frederick Lyddon Arney Pilot Officer Pilot Died of Injuries
Henry Matthew Williams Sergeant 2nd Pilot Killed
Douglas John McPherson Sergeant (RNZAF) Observer Killed
Albert Skelhorn Sergeant Wireless Operator / Air Gunner Killed
Reginald Frank Skelton Smith Sergeant Wireless Operator / Air Gunner Killed
James Burnett McKenzie Sergeant Air Gunner Killed

 

The crew had taken off on an anti U-Boat patrol from Wick on the 30th April 1941 and were returning early from the flight in the early hours of the 1st May when their aircraft flew into the northern end of East Scaraben above Berridale Water between Helmsdale and Dunbeath.

Having failed to return as expected a search began, three other Whitleys from No.612 Sqn are recorded as having gone out on search flights during the morning of the 1st May but they all returned having seen nothing. At some point later in the day the crash site was located, it was found that all but the pilot had killed in the crash, he was found alive at the crash site but died as a result of his injuries the following day.

It was deemed likely that the wireless equipment had failed as no messages had been received from the crew during their return despite Wick having attempted contact.

Around the same time that P5070 crashed on East Scaraben another Wick based aircraft crashed in the region while returning, this was Lockheed Hudson Mk.I T9292 of No.269 Sqn which crashed near Brora after being abandoned.

Impact scar at the crash site of Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk.V P5070 on East Scaraben, Berriedale, Caithnes
The aircraft impacted about 30 feet below the summit of East Scaraben on its north eastern flank. A large patch of exposed rock contains burnt wreckage showing where at least a large section of the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Impact scar at the crash site of Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk.V P5070 on East Scaraben, Berriedale, Caithnes
Some of the pieces of wreckage in the scar.
Crater at the crash site of Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk.V P5070 on East Scaraben, Berriedale, Caithness
Slightly lower down the slope is a crater surrounded by, and containing, wreckage from the aircraft. It is likely that this crater was caused by the destruction of at one depth charge from the aircraft’s weapon load.
Crater at the crash site of Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk.V P5070 on East Scaraben, Berriedale, Caithness
A second view of the crater below the impact point of P5070.
Grave of Sergeant Douglas John McPherson, Royal New Zealand Air Force, at Wick Cemetery
The crew were all buried in different cemeteries in the UK, Sergeant Douglas McPherson was buried at Wick Cemetery.