160 Squadron

Appendix No. 19/45

Captain's Report on Ditching of Aircraft P/160 BZ828

At 0907 local time on March 21st, 1945, we ditched Liberator 'P' BZ828 in position 0915N 8205E, owing to lack of fuel. We ditched a mile ahead of a Merchant Vessel and about an hour later the whole aircraft crew was aboard the Dutch MV 'Tubian' (Captain Sante A. Jenker).

Six of the crew of eight had little trouble in getting out of the aircraft. The seventh member P/O J. H. Dorsey, 1st. W.O.P. had fallen down the hole left by the radar spinner, which had been knocked out. Dorsey was caught up among aircraft control cables and failed to make his way up through the hole and into the aircraft. In the meantime he was taking in a lot of sea water. Finally, he noticed daylight shining under the aircraft and managed to swim from under the aircraft to the surface. At this point he was practically exhausted. He was helped over the wing by F/O R. K. McCreadie, R.A.F., 164144, and thence McCreadie pulled him up on to the wing.

While this was going on, Sgt. Grundy, H the Flight Engineer, was trapped in the back o f the aircraft which was slowly sinking. He had a broken hip and a terrible gash across his face. He was calling for help and McCreadie went over to the aircraft, handed Grundy a knife with which he cut himself free. McCreadie helped him out then over to the wing. Grundy is a very weak swimmer. The rest of us got the dinghies into operation and paddled around picking everybody up until eventually the eight of us were in the two dinghies awaiting the lifeboat from the Merchant Ship. The Merchant Ship was in sight at all times, which was a great comfort to us.

McCreadie was the hero of the ditching. In my opinion he saved the lives of tow members of the crew.

Sgd. S. D. Turner, F/O

Captain

(ed. note F/O Turner, C4456 had just been transferred to 160 Sqn. from 354 Sqn on the 10th of Feb. 1945)