The mystery of Wellesley K7734
At 23.50 on the 23rd February 1938 two Vickers Wellesley aircraft of the RAFs Long Range Development Unit took off from Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire. for an endurance flight around Britain. One of these was Wellesley K7734 crewed by:
Pilot : F/Lt Frank Steight `Stait` Gardner
Observer : F/O George James Douglas Thomson
W/Op: Sgt. George Higgs
Everything seemed to be going ok and the aircraft flew to Lands End then north up to the west coast of Scotland, then across to Orkney before flying home down the east coast. At 08.00 on the 24th February a radio message was sent saying K7734 was 50 miles east of Wick heading for Shetland. This was the last anyone heard from the Wellesley.
Pilot : F/Lt Frank Steight `Stait` Gardner
Observer : F/O George James Douglas Thomson
W/Op: Sgt. George Higgs
Everything seemed to be going ok and the aircraft flew to Lands End then north up to the west coast of Scotland, then across to Orkney before flying home down the east coast. At 08.00 on the 24th February a radio message was sent saying K7734 was 50 miles east of Wick heading for Shetland. This was the last anyone heard from the Wellesley.
A massive Air/Sea search was mounted over the areas the aircraft should have flown and messages were broadcast on the BBC and in newspapers asking anyone who may have any information to come forward, and a farmers wife and her daughter from Hillswick, on the north-west of Mainland Shetland told the Scotsman newspaper that they had heard an aircraft engine to the south-west over St Magnus Bay but the weather was hazy and no aircraft was seen. Other people claimed to have heard the aircraft at 06.40 over Longhope Orkney heading east & another hearing a large engined aircraft over Lyness Orkney.
Lerwick Coastguard HQ made enquires of all their coast watching stations, also those on Foula and Fair Isle but no aircraft had been seen.
A large search took place in the Cheviot Hills after wreckage was reported being seen to the east of Langholm but this proved not to be from the long range bomber.
There were suggestions in a national Sunday newspaper that maybe this aircraft of ''secret design'' had been stolen. This was even brought up in Parliament but dismissed by Lt Col Muirhead ,
''I did hear something about that report. I can only say that, so far as we are concerned, there is no suggestion that there is any foundation for it at all''
On the 1st of March the Scotsman newspaper reports that oil had been seen off the coast of Caithness near Wick, and two 5 gallon oil drums washed ashore at Clyth, five miles south of Wick, are thought to have come from K7734.
Lerwick Coastguard HQ made enquires of all their coast watching stations, also those on Foula and Fair Isle but no aircraft had been seen.
A large search took place in the Cheviot Hills after wreckage was reported being seen to the east of Langholm but this proved not to be from the long range bomber.
There were suggestions in a national Sunday newspaper that maybe this aircraft of ''secret design'' had been stolen. This was even brought up in Parliament but dismissed by Lt Col Muirhead ,
''I did hear something about that report. I can only say that, so far as we are concerned, there is no suggestion that there is any foundation for it at all''
On the 1st of March the Scotsman newspaper reports that oil had been seen off the coast of Caithness near Wick, and two 5 gallon oil drums washed ashore at Clyth, five miles south of Wick, are thought to have come from K7734.
The final clue to what may have happened to K7734 came from Norway. On the 22nd March 1938 a Dunlop tail wheel was found floating off Karmo, 25 miles north of Stavanger. The wheel was identified as coming from a Wellesley aircraft by the numbers 47633 on the tyre, 24626-39 on a plate on the wheel and the symbols S29 CA2 stamped into the wheel. No other Wellesley aircraft were unaccounted for so this must be from the Long Range Development Flight.
Whatever happened to K7734 must have been very quick as no MAYDAY was sent.
The Air Ministry issued the following statement:
''Investigations which have been made concerning the loss of a Wellesley aircraft of the Long Range Development Unit on February last indicate that the aircraft was lost in Scottish waters, and that certain parts of the aircraft, which were subsequently found near the coast of Norway on 22nd March, drifted from the Scottish coast during the intervening period. The aircraft appears to have struck the water with some force.''
Whatever happened to K7734 must have been very quick as no MAYDAY was sent.
The Air Ministry issued the following statement:
''Investigations which have been made concerning the loss of a Wellesley aircraft of the Long Range Development Unit on February last indicate that the aircraft was lost in Scottish waters, and that certain parts of the aircraft, which were subsequently found near the coast of Norway on 22nd March, drifted from the Scottish coast during the intervening period. The aircraft appears to have struck the water with some force.''
Newspaper Reports
Yorkshire Evening Post - Friday 25 February 1938
BOMBER STILL MISSING
3 Men on Board
SEARCH BY 100 PLANES
Soon after dawn to-day ‘planes from seven R.A.F. stations were co- operating in a search for a Royal Air Force long-range Vickers Wellesley bomber, not seen since it was reported near Braemar yesterday morning. About ’planes are searching for the missing machine. The missing bomber was one of two which left on Wednesday ht to carry out a long-range training flight to the Orkneys and back. One returned just before noon yesterday to Upper Heyford. having flown approximately 1,600 miles in 12 hours. 20 minutes later, is the missing one. The other, which left Upper Heyford The last heard from it was at 7.15 a.m. yesterday,
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Daily Mirror - Friday 25 February 1938
BRITISH RECORD FLIGHT 'PLANE VANISHES ON TEST TOUR:
3 ON BOARD
SECRET British 220-m.p.h. bomber, designed to wrest the world long-distance flight record of 6,306 miles from the Soviet, is missing. Incessantly last night radio men at R.A.F. bases and coastguard stations, were tapping out the alarm : " G.E.Z.H.Y. . . R.A.F. 7734. . . . Where are you. . . . Answer. . . . Answer. . . . G.E.Z.H.Y. . . ." But no reply came. The radio of the huge Vickers-Wellesley bomber was silent. Sighted off Rothbury, Northumberland, at six o'clock in the morning mist yesterday, there was no news of the monoplane, making a practice flight around Britain with three men on board, until 12.30 a.m. to-day.
Then Sutherlandshire, Scotland, police told the Daily Mirror that a bomber similar to missing 'plane was sighted over Alpnaharra, Sutherlandshire, at 2 p.m. yesterday. Radio Appeal Alpnaharra is in the centre of the Highlands. Not more than ten people live in the village, which is 230 miles north of Rothbury. The B.B.C. last night broadcast this appeal: " Anyone who can give information about the missing aircraft is asked to communicate with the Air Ministry, who especially invite the co-operation of people living in hilly country along eastern and north-western coasts. The route which it was intended to follow was Upper Heyford to Land's End, north to the Orkneys, down the east coast to Aldeburgh, and back home, but the Daily Mirror was told at its base last night :—" We don't know where she intended flying to after the message from Rothbury, in Northumberland.
" Everything 0.K."-6 a.m. " That 6 a.m. call said : Everything U.K. After that we heard nothing. The two officers on board were Flight- Lieutenant F. S. Gardner and Flying-Officer G. J. D. Thomson. The third man was Sergeant George Gibbs. All were members of the twelve men being specially trained to fly bombers 7,300 miles non-stop to Singa- pore this spring. Mrs. Dawson, manageress of the County Hotel, Rothbury, told the Daily Mirror that she saw an aeroplane circling over the village yesterday morning. " It was tilting on one side and seemed to be trying to land," she said.
BOMBER STILL MISSING
3 Men on Board
SEARCH BY 100 PLANES
Soon after dawn to-day ‘planes from seven R.A.F. stations were co- operating in a search for a Royal Air Force long-range Vickers Wellesley bomber, not seen since it was reported near Braemar yesterday morning. About ’planes are searching for the missing machine. The missing bomber was one of two which left on Wednesday ht to carry out a long-range training flight to the Orkneys and back. One returned just before noon yesterday to Upper Heyford. having flown approximately 1,600 miles in 12 hours. 20 minutes later, is the missing one. The other, which left Upper Heyford The last heard from it was at 7.15 a.m. yesterday,
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Daily Mirror - Friday 25 February 1938
BRITISH RECORD FLIGHT 'PLANE VANISHES ON TEST TOUR:
3 ON BOARD
SECRET British 220-m.p.h. bomber, designed to wrest the world long-distance flight record of 6,306 miles from the Soviet, is missing. Incessantly last night radio men at R.A.F. bases and coastguard stations, were tapping out the alarm : " G.E.Z.H.Y. . . R.A.F. 7734. . . . Where are you. . . . Answer. . . . Answer. . . . G.E.Z.H.Y. . . ." But no reply came. The radio of the huge Vickers-Wellesley bomber was silent. Sighted off Rothbury, Northumberland, at six o'clock in the morning mist yesterday, there was no news of the monoplane, making a practice flight around Britain with three men on board, until 12.30 a.m. to-day.
Then Sutherlandshire, Scotland, police told the Daily Mirror that a bomber similar to missing 'plane was sighted over Alpnaharra, Sutherlandshire, at 2 p.m. yesterday. Radio Appeal Alpnaharra is in the centre of the Highlands. Not more than ten people live in the village, which is 230 miles north of Rothbury. The B.B.C. last night broadcast this appeal: " Anyone who can give information about the missing aircraft is asked to communicate with the Air Ministry, who especially invite the co-operation of people living in hilly country along eastern and north-western coasts. The route which it was intended to follow was Upper Heyford to Land's End, north to the Orkneys, down the east coast to Aldeburgh, and back home, but the Daily Mirror was told at its base last night :—" We don't know where she intended flying to after the message from Rothbury, in Northumberland.
" Everything 0.K."-6 a.m. " That 6 a.m. call said : Everything U.K. After that we heard nothing. The two officers on board were Flight- Lieutenant F. S. Gardner and Flying-Officer G. J. D. Thomson. The third man was Sergeant George Gibbs. All were members of the twelve men being specially trained to fly bombers 7,300 miles non-stop to Singa- pore this spring. Mrs. Dawson, manageress of the County Hotel, Rothbury, told the Daily Mirror that she saw an aeroplane circling over the village yesterday morning. " It was tilting on one side and seemed to be trying to land," she said.
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Daily Herald - Monday 28 February 1938
LOST RAF BOMBER RADIO MYSTERY
New Search By Air In Cheviot Hills
BY OUR AIR CORRESPONDENT
NEW search for the lost R.A.F. bomber began yesterday after the Air Ministry had learned of a mysterious radio message picked up by an amateur. The purport of the message, believed to have been sent out by some passing aeroplane, was that the wreckage of machine would be found on the Cheviots near Langholm, Dumfriesshire. Three planes from Usworth Aerodrome, Durham, scoured the hills yesterday and will resume the search dawn today.
PILOT'S DOUBT
The conviction that the machine is near Langholm strengthened by the news that large aeroplane resembling the missing Wellesley was seen near Alston, Cumberland, on Thursday morning. The man who sighted says that the pilot appeared to be uncertain as to his course, and finally flew off towards Langholm. The lost bombing plane, with three men on board, disappeared while on a round-England practice flight in readiness (or the attempt on the world's long-distance record next month. It had set out from Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire, and had been in the air for seven-and a-half hours when its last wireless message was received from the North of England. For two days, an intensive Air Ministry search was made, but on Saturday evening it was called off. Flight-Lieut. F. S. Gardner, an Australian, Flying Officer G. J. D. Thomson, a native of Natal, and Sergeant George Higgs, an Irishman, were " presumed dead"
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Daily Herald - Monday 28 February 1938
LOST RAF BOMBER RADIO MYSTERY
New Search By Air In Cheviot Hills
BY OUR AIR CORRESPONDENT
NEW search for the lost R.A.F. bomber began yesterday after the Air Ministry had learned of a mysterious radio message picked up by an amateur. The purport of the message, believed to have been sent out by some passing aeroplane, was that the wreckage of machine would be found on the Cheviots near Langholm, Dumfriesshire. Three planes from Usworth Aerodrome, Durham, scoured the hills yesterday and will resume the search dawn today.
PILOT'S DOUBT
The conviction that the machine is near Langholm strengthened by the news that large aeroplane resembling the missing Wellesley was seen near Alston, Cumberland, on Thursday morning. The man who sighted says that the pilot appeared to be uncertain as to his course, and finally flew off towards Langholm. The lost bombing plane, with three men on board, disappeared while on a round-England practice flight in readiness (or the attempt on the world's long-distance record next month. It had set out from Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire, and had been in the air for seven-and a-half hours when its last wireless message was received from the North of England. For two days, an intensive Air Ministry search was made, but on Saturday evening it was called off. Flight-Lieut. F. S. Gardner, an Australian, Flying Officer G. J. D. Thomson, a native of Natal, and Sergeant George Higgs, an Irishman, were " presumed dead"
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Orkney Herald 2nd March 1938
Bomber Disappears on Flight to Orkney
There is still no news of the R.A.F plane, a Vickers Wellesley bomber with three occupants, which disappeared on Thursday morning while making for Orkney on a 16,000-mile non stop flight round Britain. The machine set out from Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire on Wednesday night, and its position was logged by wireless. Its last signal was at 7.15 a.m. on Thursday from a position near Braemar on its way to Orkney. R.A.F. machines have made systematic search flights, and were seen over Orkney on Saturday. Pilots on the air lines operating to Orkney, and local coastguards have been asked to keep a look out for traces of the machine.
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Belfast News-Letter - Wednesday 23 March 1938
MISSING BOMBER Wreckage Found Off Coast of Norway
The Air Ministry believe that the aeroplane wreckage reported to have been found near Karmo, Norway, yesterday, is that of the Vickers-Wellesley long-distance Royal Air Force bomber which disappeared oh February while on an experimental flight around Britain. A statement issued by the Ministry last night says: Numbers the part reported found identify them as having come from a Wellesley type aircraft. As the only aeroplane of this type that is unaccounted for is the one belonging to the Long Range Development Unit, which has been missing since 24th February, It is, therefore, probable that the wreckage belonged to that aeroplane. The bomber’s flight was practice for the attempt on the present world long-distance non-stop record 6,750 miles which the Royal Air Force plan to make on the Australia route this spring. The crew were Flight- Lieutenant P. S. Gardner. Flying-Officer G. J. D. Thomson, and Sergeant George Higgs.
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Evening News (London) - Thursday 24 March 1938
OUR MISSING BOMBER
To the Editor of ‘’The Evening News’’.
Your account of the finding off Stavanger, in Norway, of one wheel of the lost RAF. Wellesley long-distance machine has reminded me of experiences which, perhaps, only tend to confirm a great tragedy. Early in the War I had often to cross the Pentland Firth, and | know how it can be lashed by some of the worst seas in the world. Tidal waves of a sort are common, and if these wonderful airmen of ours struck the Pentland in an angry mood, they more than met their match. The steamship Ola, in which I used to cross it, more than once stood upon her beam-ends. Some years previously I had lived in the Isle of St Kilda. in the open Atlantic outside the Outer Hebrides. We had been isolated there for eight months and food was running short, when one of the old inhabitants decided to send a letter to the mainland calling for help. He shaped two wooden boats, about a foot long, and in the hollow of the boats he sent his appeal sealed in a piece of sheepskin. Waiting for, as he thought was a suitable wind, he threw them into the sea. About a month later they were picked up in Norway, and were (as is recorded officially at the Scottish Office) forwarded through the British Consul, one to my home and one to the Scottish Office in Edinburgh I was engineer at St Kilda for the Scottish Office —Ernest Matthews (Major, retired), MC. RE. late deep-sea diver of Royal Engineers submarine miners, Secretary. Institute of Registered Architects, Dartmouth Street, S.W.1.
Bomber Disappears on Flight to Orkney
There is still no news of the R.A.F plane, a Vickers Wellesley bomber with three occupants, which disappeared on Thursday morning while making for Orkney on a 16,000-mile non stop flight round Britain. The machine set out from Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire on Wednesday night, and its position was logged by wireless. Its last signal was at 7.15 a.m. on Thursday from a position near Braemar on its way to Orkney. R.A.F. machines have made systematic search flights, and were seen over Orkney on Saturday. Pilots on the air lines operating to Orkney, and local coastguards have been asked to keep a look out for traces of the machine.
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Belfast News-Letter - Wednesday 23 March 1938
MISSING BOMBER Wreckage Found Off Coast of Norway
The Air Ministry believe that the aeroplane wreckage reported to have been found near Karmo, Norway, yesterday, is that of the Vickers-Wellesley long-distance Royal Air Force bomber which disappeared oh February while on an experimental flight around Britain. A statement issued by the Ministry last night says: Numbers the part reported found identify them as having come from a Wellesley type aircraft. As the only aeroplane of this type that is unaccounted for is the one belonging to the Long Range Development Unit, which has been missing since 24th February, It is, therefore, probable that the wreckage belonged to that aeroplane. The bomber’s flight was practice for the attempt on the present world long-distance non-stop record 6,750 miles which the Royal Air Force plan to make on the Australia route this spring. The crew were Flight- Lieutenant P. S. Gardner. Flying-Officer G. J. D. Thomson, and Sergeant George Higgs.
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Evening News (London) - Thursday 24 March 1938
OUR MISSING BOMBER
To the Editor of ‘’The Evening News’’.
Your account of the finding off Stavanger, in Norway, of one wheel of the lost RAF. Wellesley long-distance machine has reminded me of experiences which, perhaps, only tend to confirm a great tragedy. Early in the War I had often to cross the Pentland Firth, and | know how it can be lashed by some of the worst seas in the world. Tidal waves of a sort are common, and if these wonderful airmen of ours struck the Pentland in an angry mood, they more than met their match. The steamship Ola, in which I used to cross it, more than once stood upon her beam-ends. Some years previously I had lived in the Isle of St Kilda. in the open Atlantic outside the Outer Hebrides. We had been isolated there for eight months and food was running short, when one of the old inhabitants decided to send a letter to the mainland calling for help. He shaped two wooden boats, about a foot long, and in the hollow of the boats he sent his appeal sealed in a piece of sheepskin. Waiting for, as he thought was a suitable wind, he threw them into the sea. About a month later they were picked up in Norway, and were (as is recorded officially at the Scottish Office) forwarded through the British Consul, one to my home and one to the Scottish Office in Edinburgh I was engineer at St Kilda for the Scottish Office —Ernest Matthews (Major, retired), MC. RE. late deep-sea diver of Royal Engineers submarine miners, Secretary. Institute of Registered Architects, Dartmouth Street, S.W.1.
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UPDATE!
We received this e-mail today regarding the Wellesley pilot and note a discrepancy with his middle name, all Australian Air Force records say `Steight` as does the London Gazette so we are grateful to Mr Harry Stait-Gardner for bringing this to our attention and the news clipping & photo of Flight Lieutenant Gardner who at that time was a Petty Officer in the Navy. Dear Sir Please find attached a cutting that refers to one of the pilots in "The mystery of Wellesley K7734" . Frank Steight born 1909 was the son of William George Alexander Gardner born in Worcester England in 1864, England and Lucy Kearny born 1874 in Wellingrove, New South Wales, Australia and grand nephew of Commander Frank Gardner of Newcastle. I hope this is a small contribution to your great web site. By the way Frank Steight Gardner is in my family tree. His birth certificate shows Frank Stait Gardner. Regards Harry Stait-Gardner |
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The Vickers Wellesley
The Wellesley was the first aircraft to be built using the geodetic form of construction devised by Barnes Wallis. This offered a lightweight structure of great strength, it was adopted later for the Wellington and Warwick aircraft
Dimensions
Wingspan 22.73m
Length 11.96m
Height 3.76m
Wingspan 22.73m
Length 11.96m
Height 3.76m
The Long Range Development Unit
On the 1st January 1938 the LRDU was established at Upper Hayford, Oxfordshire and received five modified Vickers Wellesley 292 aircraft of which K7734 was one.
These were powered by a 1010hp Bristol Pegasus XXII radial engine and had added fuel tanks and took three crew.
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Above: The Long distance pilots look at a map. Photo: Crown Copyright.
In November 1938, two Vickers Wellesleys of the LRDU flew non-stop from Ismailia in Egypt to Darwin in Australia, a distance of 7,162 miles (11,526km) taking 48 hours 10 minutes.
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