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

Underwater photography ... Rob Spray

Acknowledgements and thanks to ... Bob Collis, Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum / Geoff and Mark Mandale, son and grandson of

P-2123 crew member  Sgt Jimmy Mandale

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

In 2022 whilst diving off Salthouse beach Rob Spray of SeaSearch east encountered 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 off Salthouse, this being the twin engined Hampden P-2123. On Rob's first dive on the site he had only located one engine. If this was the P-2123 where was the second engine?  Despite additional searches of the area by Rob the second engine could not be located. Approximate measurements of the site had shown themselves to be consistent with those of a Hampden.  Further research  revealed that in 1975 an engine had been  recovered from an aircraft off Salthouse beach, this being that of the P-2123. The engine is now held and in turn displayed at the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum.  This therefore answered the question, where was the second engine??  Of note ...  There have been reports over the years of divers coming across the wreckage of an aircraft off Salthouse, this being more than likely to have been the Hampden P-2123.

Further information ...  In 2024 NWR was contacted by Bob Collis of the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum who  kindly provided various images and newspaper articles relating to the discovery and salvage of the P-2123 as can be seen below.

Below ... Newspaper article (1975) reporting the discovery of P-2123 and the recovery of one of the aircrafts engines by John Wise. (Courtesy of Bob Collis, Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum)

Below ... John Wise standing alongside the P-2123's engine in 1975. Courtesy of Bob Collis, Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum.

Circumstances of loss ...  On the 31st August P-2123 departed from RAF Waddington for a raid over Berlin. On the aircrafts return journey the 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. Prior to ditching the  the crew jettisoned all of the aircrafts guns and ammunition in order to lighten the load and in turn conserve fuel. On hitting the water Sgt Jimmy Mandale, the P-2123's lower mid gunner stated that the aircraft fully submerged upon impact and then popped back up again enabling the crew to exit the aircraft.

Rescue ... The Sheringham lifeboat (Foresters Centenary) was launched at 6am in response to reports from the naval authorities at Cromer of a downed aircraft in the sea between Blakeney and Sheringham. 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 aircraft survived the ditching 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 Stewart. Records state that the Foresters Centenary salved gear and wreckage from the site and then returned to their station at Sheringham.

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 P-2123's recovered engine  as photographed in 1977 at the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum. Courtesy of the Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum (Bob Collis)

Below ... Exhaust collector ring (2024) Salvaged 1975

Below ... Remains of forward wing spar port side of engine (2024) Salvaged 1975

Below ... Remains of forward wing spar starboard side of engine (2024) Salvaged 1975

Below ... On display at the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum,  P-2123's engine that was recovered off Salthouse in 1975. As can be seen the thirty five years spent on the seabed prior to recovery and a further forty nine years exposed to the elements have taken their toll on the aluminium propeller blades, these now being very much rotted away. Courtesy of Rob Spray (2024)

Below ... The logbook of Sgt Jimmy Mandale, crew member (lower mid gunner) of the 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 ... Cutaway diagram of a Hadley Page Hampden

Below ... Youtube footage by Rob Spray and Dawn Watson.

Below ... Selection of images taken by Rob Spray (2023)

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