Date
Location
Force
Aircraft
From-To
Crew
19-04-1943
Saint Vicente Cape- Algarve
RAF 1443FTF
Vickers Wellington X HZ255
Hurn (GB) → Gibraltar
Sgt W. "Bill" Mclhinney Irl
Sgt G. "Jim" Hutchison Canada
Sgt Reg V. France GB
Sgt Harry Heaps GB
Sgt W. "Bill" Buddle GB
The crew fought against a storm all night and the effort exhausted the fuel tanks. After the landing they spent some days in Lagos before going to Elvas.
The crew was repatriated on June, 23.
The pilot wanted to return to Portugal in 1988. The local authorities prepared a big party but Heaps died days before the voyage.
The aircraft was first part of the Portuguese Aeronáutica Militar and was later returned to the RAF.
Resources:
* “Aviões da Cruz de Cristo” – Mário Canongia Lopes
* Elisabte Rodrigues
* Letters from Harry Heaps
* Newspaper "London Times"
* Newspaper "Algarve Resident"
