Lockheed Hudson Mk.I N7310 / L of No.220 Sqn RAF, flew into Withi Gill on the island of Hoy, Orkney on the 19th March 1941.

Lockheed Hudson at the Royal Air Force Museum

 

Richard Douglas Harris Sergeant Pilot Killed
Gerald Edward Towe Sergeant Co-pilot Killed
Howard Collard Street Sergeant Wireless Operator / Air gunner Killed
Wilfred Wood Sergeant Wireless Operator / Air gunner Killed

 

No.220 Squadron was stationed at RAF Thornaby near Middlesbrough with a number of detached Flights at other coastal air stations, one was at RAF Wick in Caithness. At 05:50 on the 19th March N7310 with its four crew took off from Wick to carry out a convey escort patrol. Low level visibility was reported to be fairly good but there was also extensive low cloud which the aircraft soon climbed in to. The crew were to fly the Hudson west over the Pentland Firth and from shortly after takeoff were receiving radio direction finding assistance to aid navigation but they had already flown further north than planned. At 06:20 while in cloud at 1,000ft the aircraft flew into Withi Gill, a remote hill in the centre of the island of Hoy.

Given the remoteness of the crash site it is slightly surprising that the crash was immediately noticed and parties sent to the site from No.20 Balloon Centre which was stationed on the island at the Royal Navy’s base there. The bodies of the crew were recovered quickly from the crash site to Lyness where they were buried on the 21st March in the island’s naval cemetery. 

 

 

Large quantity of wreckage at the crash site of Lockheed Hudson N7310 on Withi Gill, Isle of Hoy
Large amounts of N7310 still lie on Withi Gill where they fell. This photo shows where both wings were dumped, the port wing is visible, the starboard wing is lying facing downhill, the edge of it can be seen to the left of the port wing. The starboard wing was entirely burnt out and is in poor condition.
Port wing at the crash site of Lockheed Hudson N7310 on Withi Gill, Isle of Hoy
The upturned port wing from the aircraft a short way down the hill from where the crash occurred.
Fuselage section from Lockheed Hudson N7310 near the crash site on the Isle of Hoy
Some distance away lie two pieces of fuselage, this one is part of the skinning from the rear port side of the fuselage with the serial number on it.
Graves of the crew of Lockheed Hudson N7310 at Lyness Naval Cemetery, Isle of Hoy
All four of the crew were laid to rest side by side in Lyness Naval Cemetery on the Island of Hoy.
Grave of Sergeant Richard Douglas Harris, Royal Air Force, at Lyness Naval Cemetery, Hoy, Orkney
Sergeant Richard Harris’ grave at Lyness Naval Cemetery.
Grave of Sergeant Gerald Edward Towe, Royal Air Force, at Lyness Naval Cemetery, Hoy, Orkney
Sergeant Towe’s grave at Lyness Naval Cemetery
Grave of Sergeant Howard Collard Street, Royal Air Force, at Lyness Naval Cemetery, Hoy, Orkney
Sergeant Street’s grave at Lyness Naval Cemetery
Grave of Sergeant Wilfred Wood, Royal Air Force, at Lyness Naval Cemetery, Hoy, Orkney
Sergeant Wilfred Wood’s Grave at Lyness Naval Cemetery.