Date
Location
Force
Aircraft
From-To
Crew
06-03-1944
Mira
RAF 269 Sqn
Lockheed Hudson IIIA FK791
Portreath (GB) → Lagens Airfield (Azores)
W/O George Gordon Mclean Australia †
F/Sgt Potwalka Canada
S/L David Duncan McPetrie GB †
W/O Philip Arthur Gallop Canada †
The aircraft was on the way of the Azores, the new station for 269Sqn. Because of an electrical storm one of the engines started to have problems and around six in the morning the other also developed trouble.
The crew had to abandon the aircraft. Maclean and Gallop jumped with the parachute but the wind took them into the sea and they drowned.
Potwalka also fell into the water but a fishing boat nearby was able to save him. S/L Duncan was not seen leaving the plane.
The dead are buried in the St. James Cemetery in Oporto.
Resources:
* “Aviões da Cruz de Cristo” – Mário Cannongia Lopes
* Portreath ORB - National Archives - London Kew
* National Archives Australia
