Short Sunderland RN288 - crash on alighting off Eastbourne 04.06.55

[pomme homme]

Perhaps the largest military aeroplane to crash in (or, to be accurate, off the coast of) Sussex during peacetime was 201 Squadron Short Sunderland RN288. It crashed whilst alighting on the sea 1 mile from Eastbourne Pier at 09.30 on Saturday 4 June 1955. It was making a goodwill visit to the town on the occasion of the RAFA Annual Conference, attended by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, which was being held there that year. Four of the crew were killed - including one Sussex airman - but there were ten survivors. Their details are as follows:

Killed   

Flt Lt T R Gush, Pilot, Haslemere, Surrey
F/O A E Doran, 2nd Navigator, Egremont, Cumberland
T Body, Master Engineer, Hull
LAC J K Rothwell, Peacehaven, Sussex

(2 were drowned and 2 died as a result of multiple injuries)

Survivors   

Flt Lt D F Taylor, Burton, Beds.      Seriously injured
F/Sgt G Doherty, Donegal         Seriously injured
Sgt J C Benn, Christchurch         Injured
F/Sgt E Webb, Fulham                 Injured
SAC J P Lynch, Acton                 Injured
SAC J Doyle, Holloway                 Injured
F/O M J Owttrim, Birmingham
Sgt G G Bovis, Fareham, Hants.
Sgt H Cottrell, Newcastle-under-Lyme.
   
Also on board and injured was a Norwegian officer serving with NATO.

I have a Pathé newsreel reporting the RAFA Conference and showing the semi-submerged Sunderland and the rescue endeavours but I don't know if I can post it - by virtue of the file size - or, if so, whether I do so just as I would a jpg attachment.

Finally I understand that four of the cockpit levers are or were on display in the Redoubt museum at Eastbourne. Can anyone confirm this?

[chasg]

There is a survivor's account of this crash at http://eastbournernli.org.uk/SunderlandAirCrash.html

[Pete]

Don't know about the controls but Newhaven Museum had several photos.

[John]

A newspaper cutting showing RN288 in flight.

[Andy Saunders]

The incident was witnessed by my late father and I also have a number of photographs.

When I find them I will post them.

[John]

The incident was witnessed by my late father and I also have a number of photographs.

When I find them I will post them.

Looking forward to seeing them  

[alkhamhills]

An interesting, though tragic story. There is mention of another Sunderland sinking in Milford Haven/Pembroke. Pembroke was a large Sunderland base, and there is currently efforts to explore and bring up parts of a sunken Sunderland--don't know if this is the same one  

[rbgeorge]

Perhaps the largest military aeroplane to crash in (or, to be accurate, off the coast of) Sussex during peacetime was 201 Squadron Short Sunderland RN288. It crashed whilst alighting on the sea 1 mile from Eastbourne Pier at 09.30 on Saturday 4 June 1955. It was making a goodwill visit to the town on the occasion of the RAFA Annual Conference, attended by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, which was being held there that year. Four of the crew were killed - including one Sussex airman - but there were ten survivors. Their details are as follows:

Killed   

Flt Lt T R Gush, Pilot, Haslemere, Surrey
F/O A E Doran, 2nd Navigator, Egremont, Cumberland
T Body, Master Engineer, Hull
LAC J K Rothwell, Peacehaven, Sussex

(2 were drowned and 2 died as a result of multiple injuries)

Survivors   

Flt Lt D F Taylor, Burton, Beds.      Seriously injured
F/Sgt G Doherty, Donegal         Seriously injured
Sgt J C Benn, Christchurch         Injured
F/Sgt E Webb, Fulham                 Injured
SAC J P Lynch, Acton                 Injured
SAC J Doyle, Holloway                 Injured
F/O M J Owttrim, Birmingham
Sgt G G Bovis, Fareham, Hants.
Sgt H Cottrell, Newcastle-under-Lyme.
   
Also on board and injured was a Norwegian officer serving with NATO

Just come across this report which revived early memories.  Tim Gush the pilot of the Sunderland was on my course (47 Entry) at Cranwell.  He was at least 6' 3" and very bright - on graduating from the College he won the Kings Medal (top in course academics) and the Abdy Gerrard Fellows Memorial Prize (not sure what that was for - probably a thesis).  He was a very likeable, modest chap.  We all thought he was destined to be an Air Marshal.  A sad end.  I was in Australia at the time of the accident so never got to know the details until now.  Thank you pomme homme.

bruceg

[pomme homme]

If I can help you with any more information, Bruce, please let me know. I have a small file on this incident and know of others who, I believe, have more extensive resources.

[helcion]

Unless I missed something in the rather technical stuff in earlier posts, there is footage of the salvage of the Sunderland on the Pathe news site at    -

http://www.britishpathe.com/video/tragedy-mars-r-a-f-a-conference/query/sunderland+eastbourne


Cheers

Helcion

[Torberry]

I am the daughter of Tim Gush who was the pilot on that fateful day. I have a few press cuttings but little else, I do have my fathers log books etc from previous flights. If anyone can give me information as to why the crash happened I would be pleased to read them I only have the inquest to my fathers death that says it was not pilot error.
Looking at the crew list could someone tell me who the navigator was the person I thought it was is not on your lists