SHORT SINGAPORE III CRASH  15 FEB 1935

Extended Description
The four flying boats which left Pembroke Dock on January 15 1935, in charge of No. 210 (F.B.) Squadron for delivery to No. 205 (F.B.) Squadron at Singapore, had been detained at the island of Nisida, near Naples, first by engine trouble and then by an outbreak of influenza among the crews. On February 15 1935 this boat, accompanied by K. 3592, started from there bound for Kalafrana in Malta, which was not in the original itinerary. This plane had parted from the formation due to thick fog over Sicily. The flying boat was seen by a peasant to emerge from the clouds over the Peloritana Mountains, called the Mandrazzi and seemed to sweep the mountain side with its lower wing, exploded, burst into flames and struck earth near Messina, Sicilyat 11-15a.m. A piece of the framework of the burnt out machine was taken to the carabinieri at San Filippo On board the plane were nine persons. Eight RAF personnel who are listed below and one civilian a Mr Reginald John Penn who took the place of Major Penny just before the machine left Naples. He was a civilian air expert attached to RAF Farnborough.
The place where the accident happened was at the height of 4,000 ft and the last 2,00ft or so consists of a rocky summit. The bodies were carried for four miles up the mountain by the Carabinieri and laid side by side in a cave formed by protecting rock to protect them from the rain. On the 16th the bodies were carried down the mountain side to a church in Messina where a mortuary chapel had been prepared. The bodies were place in coffins.
HMS Durban left Malta for Messina with Squadron Leader E.B. Grenfell, A.F.C. to return with the bodies to Malta on the Sunday evening, 17th. Arrangements have been made for the funerals to take place at Malta on Monday morning at Bighi Naval Cemetery.

This cemetery was closed in the early 1970’s and the occupants were reinterred in Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta.

D652 Cyril Norton ALLEN, Leading Aircraftsman 562415, Royal Air Force, native of Glamorgan. Crew member of Royal Air Force flying boat K.3595 which crashed on a hillside near Messina Sicily, killing all on board, 15th February 1935. The plane was flying from Naples to the RAF Base at Calafrana, en route to Singapore aged 23 years. His was wedding was planned for June Aged 28 he had already served 13 years in the Royal Air Force over five of them in India and Iraq. In a letter delivered to his home on Saturday morning, he wrote. We are leaving Naples this weekend and hope to get there without further trouble.
At rest in Plot D Grave 652 Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta.


D653 Leslie WOGAN. Aircraftman 1st Class 564901 Royal Air Force, native of Glamorgan. Killed 15 February 1935, Singapore III (K3595) Short Sunderland Flying Boat, charge of No.210 Squadron, being delivered to No.205 Squadron
At rest in Plot D Grave 653 Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta.


D654 Roland Dennis James REES. Aircraftsman 363239,Royal Air Force. Born 15th December 1906 at St Mary's Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, Wales to George and Martha Rees of (1911) Rocky Park Green, Pembroke. Died 15th February 1935 He was due to marry his fiancee , Elsie Haley after his return from Singapore.
At rest in Plot D Grave 654 Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta.


D655 Stephen Thomas BAILEY Corporal 359103 Royal Air Force, native of Frome, Somerset. Killed 15 February 1935, Singapore III (K3595), on charge of No.210 Squadron, being delivered to No.205 Squadron Corporal, Royal Air Force.
At rest in Plot D Grave 655 Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta.


D656 Herbert James WILLIS Sergeant Pilot 560464, Royal Air Force, native of Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. Killed 15 February 1935, Singapore III (K3595), in charge of No.210 Squadron, being delivered to No.205 Squadron
At rest in Plot D Grave 656 Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta.

D657 Reginald John PENN. Senior Technical Officer, civilian with the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough. passenger - Killed 15 February 1935, Singapore III (K3595), on charge of No.210 Squadron, being delivered to No.205 Squadron.
Wills and Admin, Ancestry - His residence in England was Kenwyn Church Avenue, Farnborough, Hampshire. Killed on date stated at Messina, Sicily. His effects went his wife Margaret Isabella Penn and Charles Coates, commercial traveller.
At rest in Plot D Grave 657 Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta.


D658 John Alexander Charles FORBES, Flying Officer, Royal Air Force, native of Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. Killed 15 February 1935 at San Filippo, Sicily in the crash of a Short Singapore III (K3595), on charge of No.210 Squadron, being delivered to No.205 Squadron, crashed into mountainside near Messina in bad weather. This was one of four aircraft which had left Pembroke Dock on 15 January 1935 en route to Singapore.
At rest in Plot D Grave 658 Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta.


D659 Henry Longfield BEATTY Flight Lieutenant . (half brother to naval hero, Lord Beatty) Born 1901 at Bilton, Warwickshire to David Longfield and Anita Georgina Edith Beatty nee Studdy. Killed 15 February 1935 at San Filippo, Sicily in the crash of a Short Singapore III (K3595), on charge of No.210 Squadron, being delivered to No.205 Squadron, crashed into mountainside near Messina in bad weather. This was one of four aircraft which had left Pembroke Dock on 15 January 1935 en route to Singapore .
Wills and Admin, Ancestry. His residence in England was Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire. Died on dated and place stated. His effects went to Anita Edith Lett, wife of Harold Arthur Lett. 1901 census shows his father retired army Captain, now land owner.
At rest in Plot D Grave 659 Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta.


L196 WILLIAM PATRICK WALLACE Leading Aircraftman 36552 , Royal Air Force, killed in a Flying Boat Disaster at Messina, Italy 15th February 1935 aged 26. He was native of Limerick, Ireland and may have been the son of William and Florence of 6 Henry Street, Limerick.
At rest in Plot L Grave 196 Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta.

Reginald John Penn
Click on below link for further information.


British Pathe film

The Short Singapore was a British multi-engined biplane flying boat built after the First World War. The design was developed into two four-engined versions: the prototype Singapore II and production Singapore III. The latter became the Royal Air Force's main long-range maritime patrol flying boat of the 1930s and saw service against the Japanese with the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the Second World War.

 

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Short Singapore Flying Boat Accident 1935
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