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Location
At the site of the crash on Chessel Down, and at St Mary's Church, Brook, Isle of Wight Description Tree and Plaque marking the crash of Aquila Airways Short Solent flying boat G-AKNU at Chessell Down, near Brook in November 1957. The plaque was unveiled on 12 October 2008 in commemoration of those who died in the crash. There is also a plaque in St Mary's Church, Brook. The plaque, in a magnesium alloy similar to that used in the construction of the flying boat, was designed by Dick Davis, and was manufactured by Oldland PLC of Bristol. The Church also holds a manuscript scroll listing those who died. |
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Memorial
Photo © Isobel Huggins 
Photo © Isle of Wight County Press 
Photo © Isobel Huggins 
The grave stone of Richard and Helen Jephson Carisbrooke (Mount Joy) Cemetery Photo © Geoff Allan 
The grave stone of Brian and Thelma Irving at Birks Fold Jewish Cemetery (click to enlarge) Photo © Nigel Grizzard 
Mrs Thelma Irving [from the Sunday Review (Dublin) Sunday 17th November 1957] 
Harold and Marcelle Bevan, photographed as part of a Ministry of Information series taken by Jack Smith entitled "War bride : Everyday life in wartime London, March 1943". The photo is captioned "A head and shoulders portrait of newly-engaged couple Miss Marcelle Lestrange and Flying Officer Harold Lackland Bevan on a street in London." The couple had actually married in Marylebone 5 years previously. Image courtesy of the IWM collections, used under creative commons licence. © IWM D 12845. F/O Bevan was later awarded the D.F.C. for gallantry while serving as a bomb aimer / observer with 150 Sqn, flying Vickers Wellington aircraft. |
Inscription
IN MEMORY OF THE 45 PASSENGERS AND CREW WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THIS PLACE. VICTIMS OF THE FLYING BOAT CRASH OF 15.11.1957 In lasting memory of the forty-five passengers and crew who lost their lives in the crash of flying boat G-AKNU 'Sydney' at Shalcombe near Brook on 15th November 1957. In gratitude for the selfless courage and dedication of all who rescued and helped care for the thirteen survivors Further Information
See Aviation Safety Network report on the crash.
Those who died - Crew
Those who died - Passengers
Those who survived - Passengers
These images (click on them to enlarge) are taken from the The Madeira Story Centre in Funchal, which has a display about the flying boat service and Aquila Airways: See http://www.storycentre.com/
"As the (20th) Century progressed, new means of transport to Madeira were introduced.
Aquila Airways began operating flying boats between Southampton and Funchal Bay.
Hythe and Solent-type flying boats offered a much faster journey time than cruise liners.
A regular scheduled timetable was instigated between Southampton, Madeira, Las Palmas and Lisbon.
With two shuttle services operating per week, tourists and Madeirans alike used the Airways.
The flying boats offered a touch of glamour and luxury to the Atlantic journey.
During the 10 years of service, Aquila Airways carried dignitaries and stars including Winston Churchill
and the cast of Moby Dick.
Flying boats continued to fly to Madeira until 1958. However, a crash on the Isle of Wight in 1957 and
problems replenishing aircraft stock contributed to the end of the Aquila era."
Acknowledgments : Nigel Grizzard for the photo of the Irvings' headstone. Michael Fisher (nephew of Finbarr Smyth) for the Funchal display photos (© Michael Fisher) and the Irish newspaper photos. Martin Saul for further information and pointers to the Bevan family information. Isobel Huggins (in 2024) for photographs of the crash site memorial and the list of names at Brook Church, plus clarifications and additions to the names of those who died, in particular the previous omission of Radio Officer Douglas Basson (her mother's cousin) from the lists of crew members who died. The Public Inquiry report identified Douglas William Arthur Basson as the Radio Officer and Radio Officer Combrinck was under training. Douglas Basson held a First-Class Radio Telegraphy Operator's Licence. He also held a Private Pilot's Licence. He had joined Aquila in December 1955. Before that time Douglas served in the Royal Navy 1939-1946, then as Radio Officer for Seaman of Merchant Navy. He had been a Radio Operator at Landsend radio station 1954-55. Page status : Page last updated : 12 June 2024 (added photos and infromation from Isobel Huggins) |
Short Solent G-AKNU taking off from Funchal Original Photo © J Arthur Dixon, via Wikipedia 
Muriel Hanning-Lee with Jack Hawkins Photo © Muriel Hanning-Lee / Hodder & Stoughton  Major P W Colan, Mr Finbarr Smyth, Mr Cosmo Meldrum [from the Sunday Review (Dublin) Sunday 17th November 1957]  Mr. Finbarr Smyth [from the Sunday Review (Dublin) Sunday 17th November 1957] |
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