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News published in the  newspaper Diário de Lisboa on the day the aircraft ditched.

The aircraft left Portreath at dawn for the Middle East, with stops in Gibraltar and Malta. This was a movement that involved the entire 217 Squadron.

During the voyage, one of the Beaufort's engines began to have problems and the crew had to moor off Ericeira, about two miles from what was then known as the fort and beach of Milrego.

The most sensitive documents were placed in a metal box and thrown into the sea. The aircraft sank in about four minutes and the crew got into a rubber dinghy and began rowing for land. Shortly afterwards they received help from three local fishing boats belonging to José Santos Reis, José Alves Serra and António Carlos Machado.

In Ericeira, the crew were first taken to the doctor at the Casa dos Pescadores to be treated for minor injuries. They were also given food and dry clothing before being taken to a police station - probably the Border Guard - where they had to hand over the revolvers.

They were taken to Lisbon and placed in the care of the British Embassy. They were housed at the Suisse Atlantic Hotel and the following day they were taken to Caldas da Rainha with other English crews who had also made emergency landings in the country, namely on Farol Island, in the Algarve, and at Portela de Sacavém Airport.

On 12 July they arrived in England after leaving Lisbon by sea, with a stopover in Gibraltar.

Salisbury was reported missing on 30 September 1942 whilst flying with 42 Squadron. He is remembered at the Runnymede Memorial.

Carlos Guerreiro