Amy Johnson

[Mangoboom]

I've just been reading an interesting report in the Guardian (Oct 2003) about divers who believed they had found the wreckage of Amy Johnson's aircraft. Does anyone know if they were successful? Or if they weren't, is the search still continuing?

I've also read some conflicting reports of how she came a cropper. Anyone know the accurate version?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1066587,00.html

[cringe]

It would appear that the news of the find was a little too optimistic.

http://www.divernet.com/news/stories/amy211003.shtml

[donpizmeov]

She was warned to not leave the kitchen. Some chics just don't listen.

Don

[Saab Dastard]

Mangoboom,

See the RAF sub-aqua team site for what seems to be the definitive story:

http://www.rafsaa.org/johnson/diving.htm

SD

[uncivilservant]

I once read that she was believed to have been shot down by the Naval escorts of a convoy that she inadvertantly flew over in bad weather, when it was being attacked by the Luftwaffe ... but of course that may have been a vicious rumour perpetrated by the RAF.

[Blacksheep]

I remain suspicious; It didn't need a convoy to be under attack for RAF (or RN) aircraft to get fired upon by the Royal Navy. Royal Navy gunners were famously enthusiastic about shooting at anything with wings and RAF Pilots learned to keep well away from RN ships. Indeed, some pilots said it was safer to fly over an Axis convoy than an Allied one.

For example, I was just reading an account of Operation Pedastal where a Royal Navy aircraft landing on HMS Victorious was fired upon by the 40mm batteries at the stern of the ship. Although they were lousy shots and the pilot survived, he was was not amused (nor was he disciplined for his post-flight actions).

[henry crun]

Indeed Blacksheep, I too have read many instances of the RN firing at anything that flew, regardless of whose side it was on.

The one that sticks in my mind was when WSC was going to the USA or Canada in a battleship with a load of senior military and political advisors.

First evening out they were all at dinner when the AA guns opened up, so they all stopped talking, wondering what was going to happen next.
A short time later an RN junior officer came in and said "Captains compliments sir, not cause for alarm, it is one of ours". :)