Research .... Rob Spray (Seasearch East) and Paul Hennessey (Norfolk Wreck Research)

Photography ... Rob Spray

Location ... Salthouse

Position ... Withheld

Type ... British twin engined bomber

Construction ... Metal stressed skin

Engines ... x2 980hp Bristol Pegasus XV111 nine cylinder air cooled radial engines

Armament ... 303 Vickers K machine guns

Pay load ... 4000lbs bombs / mines or x1 eighteen inch torpedo

Crew ... x4

Casualties ... None

Of note ... There have been reports over the years of divers coming across the wreckage of an aircraft off Salthouse, this in turn being more than likely to have been that of the Hampden P-2123 as research has led to no further losses of aircraft being recorded in the immediate area.  In 2022 whilst diving out of Salthouse Rob Spray located the remains of an aircraft at an uncharted position and in turn asked if NWR had any information on aircraft losses in the area. After consulting NWR records only one aircraft came to light that could possibly be the aircraft Rob had located. From Rob's dives on the site it became obvious that the site was that of a two engined aircraft, however there was only one engine to be found? Further research revealed that at the time of the loss one of the aircrafts engines had in fact been salvaged. This in turn answering the question, where was the second engine??

Circumstances of loss ... Sheringham Lifeboat records list a call out on the 1st September 1940 in response to a downed aircraft between Sheringham and Blakeney. It is in turn highly likely that the aircraft in question was that of the Hampden P2123 of 44 Squadron. On the 31st August P-2123 departed from RAF Waddington for a raid over Berlin. On the aircrafts return journey it is reported that on the 1st September P-2123 ditched off Salthouse at 5.35am after being airborne for 9.5 hours, this being due to the aircraft having exhausted its fuel supply.

Rescue ... Sheringham lifeboat was launched at 6am in response to reports of a downed aircraft in the sea between Blakeney and Sherringham. When the lifeboat reached Salthouse they found aircraft wreckage a short distance off the beach along with oil on the waters surface that had leaked out of the aircraft. All four crew members of the Hampden P2123 survived the ditching of the aircraft and in turn made their way safely to shore with the use of the aircrafts rubber Dinghy. Crew members ... P/OD Romans DFC // SGT Mandale // SGT Logan // P/OD E Stewart.

Salvage ... In 1975 P-2123 was partly salvaged.  One of the Bristol Pegasus engines is now held at the Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum.

Below ... The logbook of Sgt Jimmy Mandale, crew member of Hampden P- 2123. Note the final entry by Jimmy (31st August) relating to the ditching of P-2123. This has been kindly provided by Jimmy's son Geoff Mandale and his grandson Mark Mandale.

Below ... Link to the Google book Through Footless Halls of Air. Chapter 1, David Albert Romans, a full account is given of P-2123's mission and ditching given by crew member Harry Logan. In addition also included are photographs of the crew members including Sgt Jimmy Mandale.

Below is a selection of photographs taken by Rob Spray (2023)

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