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Martlets  FN284 & FN288  878 Sq -   Harray & Finstown - 04/06/1943
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​On 4th June 1943 three Grumman Martlet MkVs from 878 Sq Hatston were on a night flying exercise in preparation for joining HMS Illustrious on 8th June. Visibility that night got poor and in the early hours while on the return leg the Martlets circled hopelessly looking for a break in the cloud to pinpoint their position.
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​At around 2.50am a HF/DF radio Operator called Arthur `Tiny` Small was roused from his bed to try and contact the 3 aircraft in trouble, he hurridly made his way to the Radio Station at Yonbell and managed to contact one of the aircraft who`s callsign was Newport Blue Three and managed to get him safely down, alas though the two other aircraft FN284 flown by Lt Stanley George Brett of Newmarket, Suffolk and FN288 flown by Lt Lonsdale Hollis Wiren a New Zealander from Lyall Bay,Wellington,NZ were to crash to the ground as they ran out of fuel, FN284 hit lower slopes of Hindera Fiold in Harray and FN288 crashed in a field just off the A965 to the west of Finstown, both pilots failed to bale out and were killed. 

FN288: Lt Lonsdale H.Wiren RNZNVR
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​Lt Lonsdale H.Wiren RNZNVR. 
 
Photo: Mr Trevor Wiren Via Gregor Lamb.





​
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​The field where FN288 crashed. Photo: Dave Earl
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​This Plate was picked up by a Mr Willson, at that time a Schoolboy some two days after the crash.(K Heath) 

FN284 Pilot:  Lt S.G.Brett. RNVR.
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​Above: The small hill in Harray where FN284 crashed.  Photo: Dave Earl. 
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Local man Billy Clouston of Harray remembered the crash in Harray and visited the scene soon after war where he found bits of the engine which he is seen holding here.  Photo: Dave Earl.

Graves
Above:  Graves of the two airmen Lt's Wiren & Brett in St.Olaf`s Cemetery,Kirkwall. Photos: Dave Earl.

​In May 2011, the group having obtained the necessary Licence and permission from landowners, excavated the two Martlet sites at Stymilders & Harray,  very little remained at the two sites but among the finds were the engine data plate and ignition lead from FN284 at the Harray site, battery data plate, instrument panel (Minus instruments) fuel tank access door and some inspection covers, one unidentified data plate from a motor, and a piece of alloy poss cowl with the serial number FN288. All will be cleaned and stored and hopefully put on display at the Vintage Rally in August.
 
Some photos from the two Martlet sites and parts found:


FN288 at SYMILDERS

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​Above:  FN288 Site at Symilders  22 May 2011.  Photo: Dave Ramsey

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​Battery container data plate. Engine start button cover and and instruction plate from cockpit instrument panel    Photo: Dave Ramsey. 

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The instrument panel from FN288  Photo: Dave Ramsey& how it looked in aircraft.




FN284 in HARRAY 

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​Above: ARGOS members L to R:  Geoff Bland, Dave Ramsey and Magnus Ritch at the site of FN284 in  May 2011.  Photo: Dave Earl.

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​Above: Engine data plate from FN284   Photo: Dave Earl.





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All rights reserved. Due to the immense amount of research that enabled us to build this site we would like to point out that all material on this website is owned by A.R.G.O.S  though photos are credited to their respective owners. Anyone wishing to use material for their own website or any other purpose are requested to contact us first expressing their wishes. Permission will usually be granted to none profit making ventures, i.e. websites for educational and/or historical purposes, though a link to this website and acknowledgement to the original owners of any photographs will usually be requested.     
 

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  • Home
  • About Us
  • ORKNEY
    • UNDERWATER SITES >
      • Wildcat JV751 Scapa Flow
      • Avenger JZ159 Scapa Flow
      • Vickers Warwick BV417
      • Fairey Barracuda II DP983
      • Airspeed Oxford BG555
      • MYSTERY AIRCRAFT IN SCAPA FLOW
      • Buccaneer XW540
      • The mystery of Wellesley K7734
      • Kirkwall Spitfire BL253
      • Kirkwall Wildcat JV526
      • Kirkwall Tarpon (Avenger) FN899
      • ORKNEY LOST AT SEA
      • ORKNEY INLAND WATER SITES
    • ORKNEY PROJECTS >
      • Seafire's MB362 & MB369
      • Martlets FN284 & FN288
      • Spitfire X4108
      • Spitfire TB914
      • Miles Martinet MS617?
      • B 24H Liberator 42-50331
    • EARLY HISTORY
    • HISTORY OF CIVIL AVIATION
    • ORKNEY LAND SITES
    • ORKNEY HIGH GROUND
    • ORKNEY AIRFIELDS
    • CALDALE CAMP & AIRSHIPS
    • THE BLACK BUILDING
    • BARRAGE BALLOON SITES
    • COASTAL DEFENCE BATTERIES & SEARCHLIGHTS
    • FALCOETTE TARGET DRONE
  • SHETLAND
    • SHETLAND HIGH GROUND SITES
    • Shetland Underwater Aircraft Crash Sites
    • SHETLAND LAND CRASH SITES
  • FAIR ISLE
    • Radar and Anti Aircraft defences on Fair Isle
  • ORKNEY & SHETLAND AVIATION MEMORIALS & MONUMENTS
  • BOOKS
  • LINKS