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Loss of Fokker T-VIIIw AV964 (Martaré) 1940-07-26

Crash site: Celtic Sea 7 miles SSE of Govan's Head, Pembrokeshire, GB, the coastal point directly South of Pembroke.

Crash cause: unknown; at 12.15 hours the aircraft dived into the sea from low altitude, five minutes after leaving the convoy and heading for base. The return home was radioed in by the wireless operator. Nothing was heard after that. We can assume sudden engine failure whilst flying low.

Two bodies were salvaged from the floating wreck. The wreck was towed by the fishing boat King Edward to Burry Port, to the East of the crash site, where is was scrapped. The Dutch vessel SS Prima took over the bodies and delivered these to Cardiff. Both men were, and still are, buried at Pembroke Dock Llanion Cemetery. The two other crew remained missing-in-action.

Name

4. Martaré, Edward


E. Martaré Source: @St.M.Vl.P. 1939-50

Pembroke Dock 050619

Rank

Off Vl 1kl MLD, F/O., Pilot

Decorations

None known

Born

21/03/1904

Place

's-Gravenhage, Zuid-Holland, NL

Squadron

RAF 320 (Dutch) Sqn Coastal Command

Ops/hr

Aircraft

Fokker T-VIIIw Nr. AV964, formerly R-10, that escaped from NL

Base

RAF Pembroke Dock

Mission

Convoy escort

Status

MIA, flying accident presumed; at 12.15h the aircraft dived into the sea on the way home

age

29

Killed

26/07/1940

Place

Celtic Sea 7 miles SSE off Govan's Head, Pembrokeshire, GB

Buried

Llianon Cemetery, Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, UK, grave T/195

Known to

OGS

yes

CWGC

no

Other crew

1. Off Vl 3kl J.C. den Hollander, Obs - MIA

2. Sgt Maj Vltgmkr A. de Knegt, Ag - MIA

3. Korp Telegr MLD J.G. Ras, Wop - KIA

Memorial

Soesterberg

yes

Memorial

Other

yes

Mill Hill Memorial Table, London, GB

Mill Hill Martaré

GB arrival

22/05/1940 from France after he, in a group of 24 aircraft, mostly Fokker trainers, had escaped from Holland on 14/5/1940

Remarks

Data confusion


Name

3. Ras, Johannes Gerardus


Rank

Korp Telegr MLD, Cpl., Wop

Stb.Nr. 12062

Decorations

None known

Born

24/04/1911

Place

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, NL

Squadron

RAF 320 (Dutch) Sqn Coastal Command

Ops/hr

Aircraft

Fokker T-VIIIw Nr. AV964, formerly R-10, that escaped from NL

Base

Pembroke Dock

Mission

Convoy escort

Status

MIA, flying accident presumed; at 12.15h the aircraft dived into the sea on the way home

age

29

Missing

26/07/1940

Place

Celtic Sea 7 miles SSE off Govan's Head, Pembrokeshire, GB

Known to

OGS

yes

CWGC

no

Other crew

1. Off Vl 3kl J.C. den Hollander, Obs - MIA

2. Sgt Maj Vltgmkr A. de Knegt, Ag - MIA

4. Off Vl 1kl MLD E. Martaré, Pilot - KIA

Memorial

Soesterberg

yes

Memorial

Other

Mill Hill Memorial Table, London, GB

Mill Hill Ras

GB arrival

22/05/1940 from France after he, in a group of 24 aircraft, mostly Fokker trainers, had escaped from Holland on 14/5/1940

Buried

Born Amsterdam, Amsterdam Municipality, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Buried: Llianon Cemetery, Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, UK, grave T/196

Data confusion

OGS: died Irish Sea on board aircraft floatplane R10


Name

2. Knegt, Aart de

Rank

Sgt Maj Vltgmkr KM, F/Sgt., Ag

Stb.Nr. 11780

Decorations

None known

Born

02/07/1902

Place

Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, NL

Squadron

RAF 320 (Dutch) Sqn Coastal Command

Ops/hrs

Aircraft

Fokker T-VIIIw Nr. AV964, formerly R-10, that escaped from NL

Base

RAF Pembroke Dock

Mission

Convoy escort

Status

MIA, flying accident presumed; at 12.15h the aircraft dived into the sea on the way home

age

38

Missing

26/07/1940

Place

Celtic Sea 7 miles SSE off Govan's Head, Pembrokeshire, GB

Known to

OGS

yes

CWGC

no

Other crew

1. Off Vl 3kl J.C. den Hollander, Obs - MIA

3. Korp Telegr MLD J.G. Ras, Wop - KIA

4. Off Vl 1kl MLD E. Martaré, Pilot - KIA

Memorial

Soesterberg

yes

Memorial

Other

not known

GB arrival

22/05/1940 from France after he, in a group of 24 aircraft, mostly Fokker trainers, had escaped from Holland on 14/5/1940

Remarks

Data confusion

OGS: died Irish Sea on board aircraft floatplane R10


Name

1. Hollander, Jan Cornelis den


J.C. den Hollander, May 1940 Source: @St.M.Vl.P. 1939-50

Rank

Off Vl 3kl, P/O., Obs

Decorations

None known

Born

06/07/1918

Place

Zwijndrecht, Zuid-Holland, NL

Squadron

RAF 320 (Dutch) Sqn Coastal Command

Ops/hrs

Aircraft

Fokker T-VIIIw Nr. AV964, formerly R-10, that escaped from NL

Base

RAF Pembroke Dock

Mission

Convoy escort

Status

MIA, flying accident presumed; at 12.15h the aircraft dived into the sea on the way home

age

22

Missing

26/07/1940

Place

Celtic Sea 7 miles SSE off Govan's Head, Pembrokeshire, GB

Known to

OGS

yes

CWGC

no

Other crew

2. Sgt Maj Vltgmkr A. de Knegt, Ag - MIA

3. Korp Telegr MLD J.G. Ras, Wop - KIA

4. Off Vl 1kl MLD E. Martaré, Pilot - KIA

Memorial

Soesterberg

yes


Memorial

Other

yes

His name is on the Memorial at the Raadhuisplein, Zwijndrecht, Zuid-Holland, NL

GB arrival

22/05/1940 from France after he, in a group of 24 aircraft, mostly Fokker trainers, had escaped from Holland on 14/5/1940


Briefing on a Fokker T-VIIIw float at Pembroke Dock, 1940. Left to right: Off Vl 3kl H.C. Prager, Ltz 1kl J.M. van Olm, Kpl Telegr J.G. Uljee, Sgt Vltg maker J.E. Hermes, and Kwartiermaker C.L. Kost. Source: P. Baeten & P. Staal, "320 321 vliegtuigsquadrons 50 jaar", Sittard, 1990. Pembroke Dock Fokker T-VIIIw 3

Map 2. Celtic Sea off Govan's Head, Pembrokeshire, GB

St. Govan's Chapel in the cliff rock of St. Govan's Head, Pembrokeshire, GB. Govans Head 050619-2

St. Govan's Head carries a Coast Guard Observation post. The area is still military terrain. This view looks to the crash site, 7 miles Southeast. Govans Head 050619-9


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