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Fairey Barracuda Ii: Scapa Flow, Orkney
Aircraft (20th Century)
Site Name Fairey Barracuda Ii: Scapa Flow, Orkney
Classification Aircraft (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Dp983; A/c Fairey
Canmore ID 287578
Site Number HY40SW 8008
NGR HY 42 03
Datum WGS84 - Lat/Long
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/287578
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish Maritime - Orkney
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Maritime
- Former County Not Applicable
HY40SW 8008 unlocated
NLO: Scapa Flow [name centred HY 36 00].
(Classified as Fairey Barracuda II: date of loss cited as 20 April 1944). DP983: this aircraft of 830 sqdn [FAA] carried out a forced landing in Scapa Flow. Registration: British.
(Location of loss cited as N58 55.0 W3 0.0).
I G Whittaker 1998.
The map sheet assigned to this record is essentially arbitrary, being derived from the apparently-unverified location that is cited by Whittaker.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 22 March 2007.
Reference (2011)
Whittaker ID : 7781
Name : A/C FAIREY
Latitude : 585500
Longitude : 30000
Registration : BRITISH
Type : BARRACUDA II
Loss Day : 20
Loss Month : 4
Loss Year : 1944
Comment : Crashed into Scapa Flow
Cargo : DP983 830 Sqn
Project (March 2016)
The project, commissioned by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) was to undertake an archaeological search and assessment survey of the remains of four submerged aircraft lost in Scapa Flow during World War II. One of the aircraft crash sites represents a war grave. All military aircraft sites in the United Kingdom, its territorial waters, or British aircraft in international waters, are controlled sites under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986. However, aircraft only become protected once identified, putting them at risk from accidental or deliberate damage.
This project aimed to identify the locations of the aircraft crash sites and record the extent of any surviving remains. The inspection surveys aimed to confirm the locations, identity, survival, character and condition of the remains in support of the HS Strategy for the protection, management and promotion of marine heritage 2012 – 15. The strategy aims to help advance knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of marine heritage, disseminating such information widely and to improve stewardship of key marine heritage assets.
The four missing aircraft included a Fairey Barracuda (DP983); a Miles Martinet (MS360); an Airspeed Oxford (MK1 BG555); and a Blackburn Skua (L2883). All of these aircraft were lost while on active duty in Orkney during World War II.
ORCA Marine and Aircraft Research Group Orkney and Shetland (ARGOS), March 2016
