Belleville, Ontario (parents)
4 Operational Training Unit. The crew of Sunderland aircraft DP 197 were engaged in a radar exercise when the aircraft flew into a hill and exploded at Helmsdale, Sutherlandshire, Scotland. F/Os R.S. Rawson, A.N. Unser, T.B. Wood, Flight Lieutenant R.L. Mercer, P/Os P.A. Whyte, R.W. Fulton, V.C. Stordy, Warrant Officer L.H. Ludington, FSs A. Di Pesa, N. Dlusy, Sergeant W. Korner, Warrant Officer R.E. Jackson (RAAF), FS R.C. Norton (RAF), and Sergeant D.R. Trask (RAF) were also killed.
Sargent, William Benedict (Flight Lieutenant)
Killed in Flying Accident 1944-August-15
Birth Date: 1914
Born:
Parents: John Gravers Sargent & Margaret Grant Sargent
Spouse:
Home: Belleville, Ontario (parents)
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: unkown date
Service
RCAF
Unit
4 OTU- Operational Training Unit (RAF)
Base
RAF Stranraer, Wigtownshire, Scotland (Flying Boat)
Rank
Flight Lieutenant
Position
Navigator
Service Numbers
J/9318
Canadian Virtual War MemorialCrew or Other Personnel
Sunderland DP197
Sunderland serial: DP197
Source: Harold A Skaarup Web Page (DND Photo)
Short Sunderland, coded Z, 15 Apr 1943
Short Sunderland, coded Z, 15 Apr 1943
The Short S.25 Sunderland was a British flying boat patrol bomber, developed and constructed by Short Brothers for the Royal Air Force (RAF). The aircraft took its service name from the town (latterly, city) and port of Sunderland in North East England.
Developed in parallel with the civilian S.23 Empire flying boat, the flagship of Imperial Airways, the Sunderland was developed specifically to conform to the requirements of British Air Ministry Specification R.2/33 for a long-range patrol/reconnaissance flying boat to serve with the Royal Air Force (RAF). As designed, it served as a successor to the earlier Short Sarafand flying boat. Sharing several similarities with the S.23, it featured a more advanced aerodynamic hull and was outfitted with various offensive and defensive armaments, including machine gun turrets, bombs, aerial mines, and depth charges. The Sunderland was powered by four Bristol Pegasus XVIII radial engines and was outfitted with various detection equipment to aid combat operations, including the Leigh searchlight, the ASV Mark II and ASV Mark III radar units, and an astrodome.
The Sunderland was one of the most powerful and widely used flying boats throughout the Second World War. In addition to the RAF, the type was operated by other Allied military air wings, including the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), South African Air Force (SAAF), Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), French Navy, Norwegian Air Force, and the Portuguese Navy. During the conflict, the type was heavily involved in Allied efforts to counter the threat posed by German U-boats in the Battle of the Atlantic. Wikipedia
Wikipedia Short Sunderland
Harold A Skaarup Web Page
YouTube Short Sunderland (1940-1949)