The photos of Clifton show her after the crash of 18 January 1944. The one of the starboard side shows the hole made during alighting - whether she hit something or whether it was just water pressure that made the hole has never been resolved definitively. What is known is that her Captain, Alf Ashley, in attempting to prevent her digging in after the nose was holed inadvertently hauled her into the air. Clifton stalled and impacted heavily on her nose and starboard wing, hence the extensive crushing damage to the nose.
Clifton sank but not until after being towed into the shallows near the Rose Bay Flying Boat Base. During the night, while Coriolanus was hurriedly being re-floated so that Clifton could be brought ashore, a naval launch rammed Clifton's port wing despite being told to keep away. This is the big 'cut' in the port wing leading edge that you can see.
Clifton was finally brought ashore but the damage, particularly to the port wing, plus the onset of corrosion, made repair impractical and she was broken up.
Last edited by Philthy; 26th Apr 2013 at 13:31.