Bay of Biscay. C. 1943-05. The dinghies containing the Whitley crew and the crew of a crashed ...

Bay of Biscay. C. 1943-05. The dinghies containing the Whitley crew and the crew of a crashed Sunderland aircraft which had crashed when alighting in an attempt to rescue the Whitley crew were lashed together awaiting rescue by the second RAAF flying boat of No. 461 Squadron RAAF. The second Sunderland alighted and rescued those in the dinghies. The survivors were transferred to the Fighting French destroyer and the Sunderland was severely damaged on take-off in the heavy seas and had to land on Angle airfield on return to base. The crew of the second Sunderland were: Captain 400841 Flying Officer (FO) G. O. Singleton of St Kilda, Vic; Navigator 401356 FO H. E. Winstanley of Geelong, Vic; Rear Gunner 407210 FO G. Viner of Adelaide, SA; WOM Warrant Officer H. Church, RAF; 1st Wireless Operator 405228 Flight Sergeant J. Lewis of Brisbane, Qld; 2nd Pilot 415195 F Sgt P. E. Taplin of Midland Junction, WA; Flight Engineer 9429 Sergeant H. Hall of Moonee Ponds, Vic.