Southampton ditching
The following was told to me some years ago by an AC2 'erk' type
who had worked on Sunderlands during WW2.
He told me that one day while working on a Sunderland moored in Southampton waters a small motor launch approached to tie up alongside to discharge a small jolly looking Air Commodore
or similar high rank who alighted from the launch and climbed up into
the Sunderland as smart salutes were exchanged - The A/Comm
then 'wandered around and had a little poke around here and there' and
then made ready for his departure. Again smart salautes were exchanged
as the A/comm backed down the ladder.
Unfortuneatly he was not aware that his launch had moved away -
and one red faced no longer smiling A/comm was fished out of
Southampton water.
Brian ex G BCVI