Two RAF 42nd Squadron Aircraft Missing off Irish Coast in 1955
Disappearance
Friday 7th, January 2022
On the 11th of January 1955 two Avro Shackleton aircraft (WG531 and WL743) from the Royal Air Force (RAF) 42nd Squadron departed on a routine patrol and search exercise off Fastnet Rock, off the Irish coast from RAF St Eval. The 42nd Squadron was primarily tasked with maritime reconnaissance.
It has been reported that the two aircraft departed St. Eval at 10.14am (George Board) and 10.20am (Woods) respectively tasked with a 15 hour patrol and search exercise. The two aircraft adjusted their separation distance after takeoff to approximately 85 miles between one another, this was indicated by radio message received from the two pilots.
The communications to indicate the separation distance of 85 miles were received around 8pm that evening but by 8.58pm all contact was lost with both pilots.
A three day search operation commenced for the two aircraft and their pilots but no wreckage or signs of the two pilots were ever found and it was assumed that the two aircraft had collided.
In 1966, 11 years after the loss of these two aircraft and their occupants, the starboard outer engine of Woods aircraft was trawled up off the southwest Irish coast, some 75 miles from the assumed collision point.
No further wreckage or evidence has been found to date and the assumed cause of the loss of both aircraft remains a mid air collision.
There were 18 souls lost between the two aircraft, 9 onboard WG531 and 9 onboard WL743
It has been reported that the two aircraft departed St. Eval at 10.14am (George Board) and 10.20am (Woods) respectively tasked with a 15 hour patrol and search exercise. The two aircraft adjusted their separation distance after takeoff to approximately 85 miles between one another, this was indicated by radio message received from the two pilots.
The communications to indicate the separation distance of 85 miles were received around 8pm that evening but by 8.58pm all contact was lost with both pilots.
A three day search operation commenced for the two aircraft and their pilots but no wreckage or signs of the two pilots were ever found and it was assumed that the two aircraft had collided.
In 1966, 11 years after the loss of these two aircraft and their occupants, the starboard outer engine of Woods aircraft was trawled up off the southwest Irish coast, some 75 miles from the assumed collision point.
No further wreckage or evidence has been found to date and the assumed cause of the loss of both aircraft remains a mid air collision.
There were 18 souls lost between the two aircraft, 9 onboard WG531 and 9 onboard WL743
