Saluting the bravest of the brave, Catalina pilot Jeff Boyling and crew took Duxford-based Miss Pick Up on a pilgrimage to honour Coastal Command’s two Victoria Cross winners
With my love of Catalinas, Shetland, home of epic Coastal Command actions of World War Two, is a natural draw for me. In May 2023 I had the opportunity to visit the area’s wartime sites and, among the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) headstones at Lerwick New Cemetery, two stood out. Side by side are Ft Lt David Hornell VC and Fg Off John Dickson. The latter was in the crew of Fg Off John Cruickshank VC, the world’s last surviving World War two Victoria Cross holder. With 2024 being the 80th anniversary of the award of these two VCs to RAF Coastal Command pilots flying Catalinas, I felt the need to commemorate their bravery. The question was, how? I decided to start a pilgrimage project that would take our Catalina, Miss Pick Up, to honour the bravest of the brave.
John Cruickshank is alive, so I focus on him initially. He lives in Aberdeen so that city had to be on our destination list. In 1944 he flew out of Sullom Voe, the water landing strip for Catalinas and Sunderlands, so that is also added. The action that sank U-361 saw his navigator Dickson killed, so Lerwick New Cemetery was another ‘must’ for the 80th anniversary.
What of Flt Lt David Hornell VC? His decoration was the result of action on June 24, 1944. Sadly, he perished, as did two of his crew. The fact that he was rescued before he died from hypothermia explains why he is buried in Lerwick New Cemetery. He and his 162 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron, RCAF crew, although based in Reykjavik, had been deployed to RAF Wick – now John O’Groats Airport – so that was another location added to my list.
The aircraft
Cruickshank was flying a Catalina of 210 Squadron RAF whereas Hornell was flying a Catalina (Consolidated Canso A amphibian) of 162 (BR) Squadron RCAF. The aircraft I have the privilege of flying is G-PBYA, built under licence by Canadian Vickers at Carterville Quebec and operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1943 until 1961. ‘She’ is really a Canso A and, as the only Catalina still flying outside of the Americas, is the obvious choice for Operation Shetland. The aircraft is CAA approved for day and night operations in visual (VFR) and instrument flight (IFR) conditions.
The route
G-PBYA is based at Imperial War Museum Duxford, just outside Cambridge, where the commemorative exercise would start and finish. Hornell and Cruickshank were part of RAF Coastal Command so what bases were there in 1944? Aircraft crew chief David Legg provided the details. A preliminary route was drafted but at over 12 hours flying it was felt impractical. The aircraft could do it in one go but not the crew and in particular with stops to lay wreaths an important aspect. Five days were thought ideal.
A small and experienced crew was chosen to assist me in conducting Operation Shetland. Catalina shareholder pilots selected were David Barlow, Angelo Cunningham and John Harmsworth. David Legg, who has been associated with the aircraft for over 39 years, would be our crew chief, assisted by Humphrey Truswell, a Catalina shareholder.
The preparation
I dealt with the planning in terms of route, airports, fuel, transport and accommodation. G-PBYA was available during July and a decision was made as to which days were to be significant. The only factor outside of the crew’s control was the weather.
Day 1 was to be Tuesday July 16. The crew had assembled the day before with one exception. Sadly, Angelo Cunningham had to pull out because of COVID-19. The planned departure from Duxford of 1000hrs was delayed because of a weather system sitting over The Wash. We were airborne at 1153hrs, but the delay meant our original plans to overfly Mildenhall, Lakenheath and Marham were prevented by a busy military programme. The former RAF Coastal Command stations at Bircham Newton, Langham, Docking, North Coates, Strubby, Thornaby, Leuchars and Woodhaven were overflown.
Avoiding bad weather over The Wash meant a greater likelihood of poor weather further north which proved true at Leuchars and Woodhaven as visibility steadily decreased. Plans for a visual approach into EGPD Aberdeen changed to a radar vectored ILS approach. David Barlow in the left seat broke clear at 700ft for a smooth landing. ‘The Cat’ was soon parked on the far end of runway 23 with local media there to greet us. By the time the crew had laid a wreath at the Aberdeen International Airport RAF Memorial, the airport had closed to all traffic due to the weather but, most importantly, we were in position for the next phase.
Day 2, Wednesday July 17
Dave Barlow had departed back to work and we had been joined by Gp Capt Bob Kemp (ret’d). Bob lives in Aberdeen and regularly speaks with John Cruickshank. The weather had cleared but there was a lot of commercial traffic trying to sort itself out. The plan had been to get airborne at 1000hrs but we delayed so that ATC could clear all the traffic. It meant that once airborne off RWY 16 with John Harmsworth in the left seat we could fly south for a couple of minutes to orbit the home of John Cruickshank 80 years to the day that he and his crew left Sullom Voe on the mission that would result in John’s VC award. Bob could see John sitting outside waving!
That done, we flew back in over the airport for a low approach (floats down but gear up) and go-around. A big thank you is due to ATC watch manager, Mike Simon, and his colleagues for facilitating that. Next, a left turn out to follow the Inverurie VFR route had ‘the Cat’ heading to RAF Lossiemouth. The station was also commemorating the anniversary day and a Catalina doing a low pass over the base was an added bonus.
Back under radar control from Aberdeen, we headed north to Sumburgh and a very warm welcome. However, the day was far from over. Although I had been to Lerwick New Cemetery and Sullom Voe before, the rest of the crew had not. First stop was the cemetery. On behalf of John Cruickshank, Gp Cpt Bob Kemp laid a wreath on the grave of his navigator Fg Off Dickson while I laid a wreath on the grave of Flt Lt Hornell VC. The rest of the crew laid remembrance crosses for the Australian, Canadian and British airmen buried there.
There was a crowd at the cemetery and a Britten-Norman Islander flew over and waggled its wings. The lucky pilot would join us the following day. The cemetery was emotional enough with interviews but onward we went to Sullom Voe for another wreath laying at the RAF Flying Boat Memorial. I shared wartime photos of the place provided by Terry Mayes with those gathered. There was a lot to learn and absorb.
Ninety-year-old Jim Nicolson pointed out where Cruickshank had beached his Catalina to save it from sinking. The slipway and hard standing still exist as do some of the buildings in Graven, the wartime base for crews. It had been a long day, but it finished on a high thanks to Bob Kerr, communications officer, Shetland Islands Council, suggesting a fish and chip supper. Judging by the photos, the locals appreciated all our efforts.
Day 3,Thursday July 18
Day three started with low cloud and mist but it began to clear. A local flight had been planned for a number of invited guests from the airport and community. Heading north, floats were lowered as we passed over Lerwick New Cemetery. Continuing north we overflew Hamnavoe on Yell where seven airmen are buried. They were killed when Catalina Z2148 crashed into high ground while diverting into Sullom Voe with engine trouble. We flew over the crash site before turning left to drop down over Sullom Voe. Garths Voe is adjacent and it was here that the aircraft were moored.
Several orbits were flown over it and Graven. It was 80 years to the day that John Cruickshank had beached his aircraft to save his crew. Continuing south, we returned to Sumburgh via Scalloway, a base for the clandestine ‘Shetland Bus’ boats. Having said our thank yous to the team at Sumburgh Airport, we departed for Wick via North Ronaldsay, Kirkwall and the former RAF Coastal Command bases of Castletown and Skitten. A big crowd had waited at Wick to greet the Catalina.
Day 4, Friday July 19
The Catalina crew stayed overnight as guests of Mackays Hotel. Owners Ellie and Murray Lamont were very generous. Ellie’s Canadian father had flown on Catalinas but she had never seen one up close before. The dense mist that prevailed on waking soon cleared which was fortunate as it was to be a busy day with four sectors to be flown. First stop was RAF Lossiemouth where the Officer Commanding Scotland, Air Cdre Bill Gibson, greeted us along with the outgoing and incoming base commanders Group Captains Jamie Lee and Sarah Brewin. Also present was Wg Cdr Jules Jakubowski, OC of Support Wing who had organised for the Catalina to land. Personnel from CXX and 201 Squadrons had the chance to see a maritime veteran up close. Of particular interest was the fact that there were Canadians present on exchange, training on the Boeing Poseidon fleet.
Bob Kemp departed back to Aberdeen and the crew were joined by Bill Gibson for the short flight to Inverness. There was a detour planned via the Tain Air Weapons Range, formerly RAF Tain Coastal Command. The only thing the Catalina dropped were her floats!
The last time I had been in Inverness with ‘the Cat’ was 2020 when she suffered an engine failure on Loch Ness, with David Legg again on board as crew chief. Kind people who had assisted back then had a local flight over Urquhart Castle, RNLI Loch Ness, as well as Alness and Invergordon (both former RAF Coastal Command Stations). We landed just before closing time at Oban after an orbit over the World Clipper Fleet which had just arrived in Oban harbour.
Day 5, homeward bound
All the major goals had been achieved but there were still four hours of f lying to return to IWM Duxford with the first half at low level over water due to the visibility. We briefly saw Jura and another Catalina crash site (AH533 of 210 Sqn) but had to bypass the former RAF Coastal Command stations of Wig Bay and Stranraer. By 1630hrs the Catalina was back at her base having completed 14 hours and 26 minutes of f light time. She had purred all the way but more importantly, the 80th anniversary of two Victoria Crosses awarded to Catalina pilots had been commemorated along with their crews and the wider Coastal Command community. A big thank you to the crew and all who supported Operation Shetland. Duty done “Lest we forget”.
The Catalina is owned by Catalina Aircraft Limited (CAL), operated by Plane Sailing Air Displays Ltd (PSADL), supported by The Catalina Society (www.catalina.org.uk) and is the last example flying outside of the Americas. To support the commemorative flight, donate via the crowdfunding campaign: https://gofund.me/9c48a414
