History / Rare sight as Catalina flying boat lands in Sumburgh
A SECOND World War Catalina flying boat has landed in Shetland as it marks the 80th anniversary of Victoria Crosses (VC) being awarded to two Catalina pilots.
The plane landed at Sumburgh Airport at midday (Wednesday) after flying up from Aberdeen.
Earlier today it performed a flypast over the home of 104-year-old John Cruickshank in Aberdeen. He was awarded a VC in 1944 after flying a Catalina out of Sullom Voe to attack and sink the German submarine U-361.
During the engagement the Catalina had sustained damage and its navigator JC Dickson was killed. Cruickshank was hit in 72 places with two serious wounds to his lungs. He nevertheless brought the aircraft back to Sullom Voe, landed the aircraft and ran it ashore to stop it from sinking. Cruickshank is the last surviving WW2 Victoria Cross holder.
The Catalina plane – the only one in the UK still in operation, and which started its trip in Duxford, England – is also due to fly over the Lerwick new cemetery as well as the site of the former RAF base at Sullom Voe on Thursday.
The Catalina amphibious aircraft was a common sight during WW2, and several were stationed at the Scatsta RAF base. They were mainly used in anti-submarine warfare, convoy escort and search and rescue missions especially at sea.
The second VC being commemorated was awarded posthumously to Flt Lt David Hornell who, flying out of Wick, sank the German submarine U-1225 on 24 June 1944.
Despite the aircraft being on fire Hornell managed to land it on a heavy swell with the crew taking to the only serviceable dinghy. By the time they were rescued 21 hours later flight engineers DS Scott and St Laurent had died and Hornell died shortly afterwards.
Hornell and Dickson are both buried at the Lerwick graveyard. Wreaths are planned to be laid in Lerwick as well as at the Sullom Voe memorial on Wednesday afternoon, while the overfly of Lerwick and Sullom Voe is planned for Thursday.
The organiser of the trip is Jeffrey Boyling, a director of the company that owns the last Catalina.
The plane is also expected to fly over a number of RAF coastal command stations in Scotland including in Wick and Oban. Boyling is also still raising funds to make the ‘Operation Shetland 2024’ trip possible.
Donations can be made via this GoFundMe page.
More photos to follow …
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