Rescued airmen at Tiree pier in 1944
Photograph of rescued airmen at Tiree pier in 1944.
Courtesy of Mr Geoff Pringle
On 21 November 1944, one of starboard engines of Halifax LL510 from RAF Squadron 518 caught fire shortly after takeoff from Tiree airfield on weather reconnaissance duties. The flames were so intense the skipper decided to ditch in the Atlantic rather than risk returning to base.
Despite a thirty foot swell, the aircraft was safely ditched and the nine crewmen clambered aboard the inflatable dinghy with only minor scratches. To add to their danger, the water surrounding the Halifax was a sea of petrol, in the middle of which a fuel tank was bobbing about with flames issuing from a hole.
An Air-sea Rescue aircraft from Tiree dropped a second dinghy, then HMS ‘Flanders’ arrived to pick up the very much relieved airmen. They were given hot food, dry clothes and liberal amounts of Navy rum. The photograph pictures the crew safely back on Gott Bay pier.
Black and white photograph of the rescued aircrew of Halifax at Tiree pier.
The rescued aircrew of Halifax from RAF Squadron 518 standing at Tiree pier in November 1944. Far left: F/Sgt Ozzie Ozaist (Met Air Obs, Polish); forth from left: Flt Lt Freddy Green.
Black and white photograph of the aircrew of Halifax LL123 from RAF Squadron 518.
The aircrew of Halifax LL123 from RAF Squadron 518, probably on Crossapol beach. 3rd from left: F/Sgt Ozzie Ozaist (Polish Met Air Obs).
Minidisk recording of Professor Melvyn Howe talking to Maggie Campbell on 6/7/2007.
Professor Melvyn Howe talks to Maggie Campbell in July 2007 about his short stay at RAF Tiree during World War II, mainly on weather reconnaissance duties.
Black and white photograph of the RAF mess buildings at Tiree after a snowstorm in March 1944.
The RAF Officers`, Sergeants` and Airmen`s Mess buildings at Tiree after a snowstorm in March 1944.
Black and white photograph of the crew of Halifax P for Peter in 518 Squadron in January 1944.
The crew of Halifax P for Peter taken just before their first operational flight for 518 Squadron in January 1944. L-R: Flying Officer Freddy Green RAF (2nd Pilot), Flight Sergeant Maurice Foster RAAF (WAG), Flight Sergeant Jerry Bruce RAAF (WAG), Flight Sergeant John `Taffy` Jones RAF (Flight Engineer), Squadron Leader Young RAF (1st Pilot), Flight Lieutenant Winston Dimond RAAF (Navigator), Flight Sergeant John Friend RAF (Met Observer), Flight Sergeant Lyn Steer RAAF (WAG).
Black and white photograph of Nissen huts at RAF Tiree in February 1944.
Group of Nissen huts at RAF Tiree in February 1944.
Black and white photograph of four airmen from 518 Squadron in March 1944.
Four airmen from 518 Squadron in March 1944. L-R: Flight Sergeant Maurice Foster (WAG), Flight Lieutenant Fred Green (Pilot), Flight Sergeant John `Taffy` Jones (Flight Engineer), Flight Sergeant John Friend (Met Observer).
Black and white photograph of three airmen from 518 Squadron in February 1944.
Three airmen from 518 Squadron in February 1944. L-R: Flight Engineer John ‘Taffy’ Jones, WAG Lin Steer, WAG Maurice Foster.
Black and white photograph of of a Nissen hut at RAF Tiree in March 1944.
The Nissen hut at RAF Tiree where Flying Officer Maurice Foster lived for his twenty-two month posting. The photograph was taken in March 1944.
Black and white photograph of a Halifax from 518 Squadron in 1944.
Halifax P (Mk 2-1A LK966) of 518 Sqadron on Tiree just before take-off on its historic flight on 1st June 1944. The weather report from that flight was responsible for delaying D-Day from the 5th to 6th June.
