CRASH OF A MILES MARTINET
IN JERVIS BAY, NSW
ON 27 MARCH 1945

During the test flight from RNAS Bankstown to RNAS Jervis Bay of an unidentified Miles Martinet, of 723 Squadron, HMS Nabbington, the aircraft dived into the sea in Jervis Bay soon after take-off to return to RNAS Bankstown, killing the crew of two as follows:-

• Lieutenant (A) RNVR Christopher Richard Pemberton-Bartlett
• Naval Air Mechanic 1st Class Donald William Rutty L/FX109553

They were lost at sea and they are both commemorated at the Lee-on-Solent Memorial, Bay 6, Panels 2 and 3.

        UPDATE:- I have details of a crash mentioned in the ORB for 107 Squadron RAAF as follows:- 

        On 26 March 1945, at approximately 1600 hours, the British Royal Navy reported that one of their aircraft had crashed into the sea off Point Perpendicular. Flight Lieutenant Gell carried out a search of the area, but sighted no wreckage         or survivors. Flight Lieutenant Gell's aircraft took off within 15 minutes, which was considered a good show by AOREA. Ef/C Thompson, Royal Navy of Jervis Bay, rang, and expressed his thanks to 107 Squadron for their cooperation         and promptness.

       Could they be the same incident?

REFERENCES

"The MONAB Story - A history of the mobile airfields of the Royal Navy"

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Jonathan Rollason for his assistance with this web page.

Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 20 November 2023

This page last updated 5 November 2026