Although not precisely located on the seabed, any wreckage assocaited with of this aircraft are designated as a Controlled Site under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986. For further information on this Act and its administration with regard to aircraft, please contact the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre, RAF Innsworth, Gloucester, GL3 1RZ.

Event and Historical Information:
This Fokker seaplane was evacuated to Britain from the Netherlands ahead of the German invasion (serial number R-10 when with the Royal Netherlands Naval Air Service). Pressed into RAF service and assigned to 320 Squadron. Manned by Dutch crews, it patrolled the western approaches from their base at Pembroke Dock. On 26 July 1940, it was was being flown by Off VI 1e Klas E Martare RNNAS, Off VI 3e Klas J C Den Hollander RNNAS, Kpl Telegrafist KMR J G Ras RNNAS (12062), and Sergt-Major VI A de Knegt RNNAS. The plane had taken off from Pembroke Dock at 10:31 and was escorting a convoy in the Irish Sea until 12:10. A message was received that the aircraft had left the convoy at position 51 35N, 05 31 W, its prudent limit of endurance. Five minues later it crashed into the sea. The Coastguard watch reported an unknown object drifting at sea about 7 mils SSE of St Govans Head with some ships nearby. A Saro Lerwick took off at 15:15 and headed for St Govans Head and from there southeasterwards. At 13miles east-southeast of St Govans Head, the fishing boat KING EDWARD was seen towing the wreckage of the plane. The Dutch vessel SS PRIMA delivered 2 bodies to Cardiff - that of Off Martare and Kpl Ras - these now rest in Llanion cemetery.

Sources include:
McNeil, R, 2003, Royal Air Force Coastal Command Losses of the the Second World War, pg51

WWW resources:
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/Personnel/SPVA/AviationArchaeology.htm

Maritime Officer, RCAHMW, March 2011.