Pricing Change
New pricing for orders of material from this site will come into place shortly. Charges for supply of digital images, digitisation on demand, prints and licensing will be altered.
Short Sunderland Flying Boat: Cromarty Firth
Aircraft (20th Century)
Site Name Short Sunderland Flying Boat: Cromarty Firth
Classification Aircraft (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Invergordon; Saltburn; Firth Of Cromarty
Canmore ID 101921
Site Number NH76NW 8013
NGR NH 7331 6842
Datum Datum not recorded
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/101921
- Council Highland
- Parish Maritime - Highland
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Maritime
- Former County Not Applicable
NH76NW 8013 7331 6842
N57 41.2833 W4 7.5167
NLO: Invergordon [name: NH 708 683]
Cromarty Firth [name centred NH 69 67].
Formerly entered as NH76NW 8428.
Horizontal Datum = OGB
General water depth = 14
Surveying Details
-----------------------------
23 November 1978. The wreck of an aircraft is reported to lie near the British Aluminium Co pier, with an unknown quantity of unexploded ordnance in and around it.
16 January 1979. The wreck was located by the Cromarty Harbour Authority using side scan sonar in August 1978 after a ship was reported to have struck an obstruction while berthing at the British Aluminium Pier. The clearance diving team identified a mass of twisted wreckage and several "bomblets". No accurate position or measurements were taken. Wreckage is scattered over 50 metres. The charted depth in this position is approximately 11 metres. Local knowledge has it that this was a Sunderland flying boat with several bombs and depth charges. None were found by the divers.
17 Janaury 1979. The wreck was located on 17 Janaury 1979 at 57 41 17N, 004 07 31W. The least echosounder depth was 8.8 metres (lowest astronomical tide). The wreck stands about 5 metres high on a steeply sloping bottom.
Report by Cromarty Firth Harbour Master.
11 February 1980. Ordnance has been found near the wreck and removed. Divers were unable to enter the wreckage as it is entirely shrouded with fishing nets.
25 February 1986. The aircraft is reported to have been blown up by the Royal Naval Ordnance Disposal Team.
Report by Cromarty Firth Port Authority, 30 January 1986.
24 June 1986. The wreck was 'blown up' on 9 January 1986. The area is now completely clear and not foul.
Report by Cromarty Firth Port Authrity, 5 June 1986.
Hydrographic Office, 1995.
The Royal Air Force seaplane and flying boat base on the Cromarty Forth (NH66NE 52.00: RAF Alness) was centred around NH 6512 6790.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 30 June 2011.
