The Sunderland Flying Boat tragedy

During World War II, Sunday 24th January 1943 was a typical west coast stormy evening.

The flying-boat MK111 DV of 246 Squadron Coastal Command, based at Bowmore, attempted to return from a lengthy patrol over the North Atlantic to the Glenegadale airbase (the site of the present-day airport) on Islay. It was known that the Sunderland was carrying depth charges and reported by eye-witnesses that it circled for some time on its approach to the loch.

Sadly the flying-boat crashed as it attempted to land and according to David Woodrow, the local authority Official in Islay, "the aircraft undershot the landing area and struck the ground at the water's edge." Tragically, although most of the crew escaped the initial crash, they returned to the wreckage to free the rear gunner, trapped in the wreckage – just at the moment the depth charges aboard exploded, killing all nine present. Only the captain and two comrades survived, having sustained injuries in the crash, they had made their way to the slopes below the beach

An article by Rona MacKenzie was published in the Museum of Islay Life's 'An Islay Miscellany'.

More information on visiting the area can be found here.