Norwegian Seaplane Boardwalk Stonehaven Scotland
Dr Andrew Orr obtained the following information on the Sea Plane which was a Type MF11, register number 346, used by the Norwegian Navy Air Branch. Between 9th April and 7th June, 1940, Norway was at war with Germany and this plane was on operations when it became separated from its squadron at Eidford Voss and ended up in Stonehaven. The pilot was Stein Gustavvson Abildso and the plane touched down in Stonehaven Bay on or about 25th April 1940. This was witnessed by local boy Sam Jolly, who saw it taxi-ing up on to the beach, before it was towed back to the harbour. It stayed only very briefly in Stonehaven before flying on to Helensburgh. In June 1940, a Lieutenant Torstein Diesen, who wanted to continue to fight against the Germans, flew the plane to Finland where it later fell into German hands."
Some further details have come to light courtesy of Alan Stewart of the British Resistance Archive:
"F346, the number of the plane actually arrived on the 25th of April 1940 at Peterhead Harbour a few weeks earlier. It flew from Norway and is detailed in the Press and Journal on 27th of April 1940. The crew members that arrived were Olav Johansen, Stein Abildso and Johannas Storlid. Their photo is in the Press and Journal on the 27th April 1940
The event is also captured in the Peterhead War Diary for the Naval Commander at Peterhead Harbour.
The aircraft never actually fell into German hands, it was flown to Norway and suffered enemy damage before being repaired and flown to Finland since Norway surrendered on 10th of June 1940, where the aircraft flew to Finland. With the intention of having a flight training school there, it didn’t work out so the planes were used by Finland in the war with Russia. The aircraft remained in service until 1948, but chopped up in 1950 as nobody wanted them."
Norwegian Seaplane Boardwalk Stonehaven Scotland
Dr Andrew Orr obtained the following information on the Sea Plane which was a Type MF11, register number 346, used by the Norwegian Navy Air Branch. Between 9th April and 7th June, 1940, Norway was at war with Germany and this plane was on operations when it became separated from its squadron at Eidford Voss and ended up in Stonehaven. The pilot was Stein Gustavvson Abildso and the plane touched down in Stonehaven Bay on or about 25th April 1940. This was witnessed by local boy Sam Jolly, who saw it taxi-ing up on to the beach, before it was towed back to the harbour. It stayed only very briefly in Stonehaven before flying on to Helensburgh. In June 1940, a Lieutenant Torstein Diesen, who wanted to continue to fight against the Germans, flew the plane to Finland where it later fell into German hands."
Some further details have come to light courtesy of Alan Stewart of the British Resistance Archive:
"F346, the number of the plane actually arrived on the 25th of April 1940 at Peterhead Harbour a few weeks earlier. It flew from Norway and is detailed in the Press and Journal on 27th of April 1940. The crew members that arrived were Olav Johansen, Stein Abildso and Johannas Storlid. Their photo is in the Press and Journal on the 27th April 1940
The event is also captured in the Peterhead War Diary for the Naval Commander at Peterhead Harbour.
The aircraft never actually fell into German hands, it was flown to Norway and suffered enemy damage before being repaired and flown to Finland since Norway surrendered on 10th of June 1940, where the aircraft flew to Finland. With the intention of having a flight training school there, it didn’t work out so the planes were used by Finland in the war with Russia. The aircraft remained in service until 1948, but chopped up in 1950 as nobody wanted them."