Firefly disappearance '53/'54

[Colin Clyne]

[email protected] incident occurred during 1953-4, whilst in the Royal Navy and stationed at Sea Eagle in Derry.

One day, shortly after leaving the dockside aboard an RN Air to Sea Rescue Launch delivering mail to submarines awaiting exercises at the entry to Lough Foyle, a Firefly flew across Lough Foyle in a shallow dive to land at Eglinton, but instead, never straightened, and dived straight into the lough ahead of us, in full view of the launch commander, crew and myself. It had totally disappeared into the mud, leaving no trace bar a muddy patch of water. I was told not to talk about this, as it was (quite rightly), none of my business.

It was indubitably a Firefly, but "to assume is to err," and I now concede it may possibly have been of a different type, such as a Gannet (normal crew complement of 3 compared to the Firefly's 2).

Having preyed on my mind for 60 years, and in spite of all my recent efforts (still under fading investigation), I have been unable to trace any record of the aircraft or its crew. Since no crash goes unrecorded, it remains a mysterious disappearance.

The reason for this diatribe, and for gate-crashing PPRuNe in spite of not being a pilot, is a last ditch attempt to see if anyone out there can shed light upon this crash.

Sincerely,

Colin Clyne.:ugh:

[DaveReidUK]

A possible candidate would be Firefly T.2 MB566, which went into Lough Foyle on 8th March 1954.

[GANNET FAN]

I stand to be corrected but I don't think Gannets had arrived at Eglinton. If you are looking for an alternative, it might have been an Grumman Avenger which were based there at the time.

[Aerials]

Colin, I remembered reading something about this some time ago on here. Perhaps this archived thread will shed some light, it seems to confirm Dave Reid's post above that a Firefly did indeed, crash.

http://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/236012-corsair-wreck-lough-foyle.html

[g0akc]

[email protected] incident occurred during 1953-4, whilst in the Royal Navy and stationed at Sea Eagle in Derry.

One day, shortly after leaving the dockside aboard an RN Air to Sea Rescue Launch delivering mail to submarines awaiting exercises at the entry to Lough Foyle, a Firefly flew across Lough Foyle in a shallow dive to land at Eglinton, but instead, never straightened, and dived straight into the lough ahead of us, in full view of the launch commander, crew and myself. It had totally disappeared into the mud, leaving no trace bar a muddy patch of water. I was told not to talk about this, as it was (quite rightly), none of my business.

It was indubitably a Firefly, but "to assume is to err," and I now concede it may possibly have been of a different type, such as a Gannet (normal crew complement of 3 compared to the Firefly's 2).

Having preyed on my mind for 60 years, and in spite of all my recent efforts (still under fading investigation), I have been unable to trace any record of the aircraft or its crew. Since no crash goes unrecorded, it remains a mysterious disappearance.

The reason for this diatribe, and for gate-crashing PPRuNe in spite of not being a pilot, is a last ditch attempt to see if anyone out there can shed light upon this crash.

Sincerely,

Colin Clyne.:ugh:
Assuming it is indeed the incident of 8th March 1954, Fairey Firefly, I've been looking into this crash as part of some family history research - my wife (maiden name Tallon) is a niece of the pilot, Lt. Thomas Adrian Tallon (known as Adrian) that was killed. He was from Leicester, our home town. His body was apparently never found although the Observer's remains were recovered. He left a widow, daughter and unborn son and distraught parents. His widow remarried and moved to the USA. His son later returned to live and work in London.

There were various newspaper reports at the time, several of which we've been able to download from online archives to compliment some clippings held by the family.. An official report is held at Kew.
There are some other links and references online. I realise this is a late update but it might help someone.
We're grateful for Colin posting his eyewitness report which helps the family with closure.

[QuePee]

Assuming it is indeed the incident of 8th March 1954, Fairey Firefly, I've been looking into this crash as part of some family history research - my wife (maiden name Tallon) is a niece of the pilot, Lt. Thomas Adrian Tallon (known as Adrian) that was killed. He was from Leicester, our home town. His body was apparently never found although the Observer's remains were recovered. He left a widow, daughter and unborn son and distraught parents. His widow remarried and moved to the USA. His son later returned to live and work in London.

There were various newspaper reports at the time, several of which we've been able to download from online archives to compliment some clippings held by the family.. An official report is held at Kew.
There are some other links and references online. I realise this is a late update but it might help someone.
We're grateful for Colin posting his eyewitness report which helps the family with closure.


Interestingly, I have seen two different aircraft identities quoted for the loss on 8th March 1954. Firstly as Dave Reid suggests Firefly T2 MB566 of 766 Squadron. Other sources also quote a Firefly FR1 MB763. The crew lost on that date is listed as the same for both aircraft. I have not found any "official" sources listing which is actually correct.

QP

[g0akc]

Interestingly, I have seen two different aircraft identities quoted for the loss on 8th March 1954. Firstly as Dave Reid suggests Firefly T2 MB566 of 766 Squadron. Other sources also quote a Firefly FR1 MB763. The crew lost on that date is listed as the same for both aircraft. I have not found any "official" sources listing which is actually correct.

QP
There do seem to be some anomalies. I've seen the incident listed with 820 squadron FAA as well as the details you've given. There's a useful record on aviation safety dot net (I can't post URLs). The 'official' record seems to be this at Kew: National Archives (PRO Kew) - Aircraft Accidents: Firefly T2 MB 566 on 8.3.54 at RNAS Eglinton: File ADM 1/25323 - Aircraft Accidents: Firefly TB MB 566 on 8.3.54 at RNAS Eglinton. Includes 1 photograph depicting: Firefly T Mk 2: damage to mainplane Rib 11. Dated 1954 Unfortunately it's not digitized so it can't be easily downloaded. One cannot currently visit the records office due to Covid lockdown but I may try and get a paper copy - but my wife has satisfied her curiosity as to what happened to her uncle. The newspaper articles/records are available on the BNA (British Newspaper Archives) and give reliable details of the crew, search for remains and so on.

[DaveReidUK]

Interestingly, I have seen two different aircraft identities quoted for the loss on 8th March 1954. Firstly as Dave Reid suggests Firefly T2 MB566 of 766 Squadron. Other sources also quote a Firefly FR1 MB763. The crew lost on that date is listed as the same for both aircraft. I have not found any "official" sources listing which is actually correct.

It couldn't have been MB763 - that was a Spitfire, written off in 1944.

[Planemike]

[email protected] incident occurred during 1953-4, whilst in the Royal Navy and stationed at Sea Eagle in Derry.
I was told not to talk about this, as it was (quite rightly), none of my business
Sincerely,

Colin Clyne.:ugh:

I would have said it was your business, you had just witnessed the accident.......!!

[QuePee]

It couldn't have been MB763 - that was a Spitfire, written off in 1944.
Fat finger syndrome, I am sorry I meant to type MB563.

QP