HMS Biter was in the Clyde/Gareloch area during March 1944 when the experimental flying boat Scion Senior L9786 crashed on he 15th killing one passenger. The pilot and scientist James Hamilton (Later Sir James Hamilton) from RAF Helensburgh survived and were rescued by HMS Biter.. Biter also salvaged the Scion wreckage. Does anyone know why Biter was there that date? I know it was a regular visitor between convoys and later caught fire at Greenock.
Slight discrepancy in timings as Scion crashed early morning on the 15th when Biter must have been leaving for Liverpool. Thank you alieneyes
I doubt Biter ever went to Liverpool at that time, instead remaining on the Clyde between operations. While convoys may have nominally left from Liverpool, in reality they were made up of elements joining from / leaving for different ports. Between a point off Northern Ireland and the ports there would be a local escort. The Ocean escort would join / leave off Northern Ireland being based at Londonderry, Belfast or Greenock. It was the same for escort carriers forming part of the escort. But Biter was operating with Support Groups from early April, joining and leaving convoys in mid-ocean to add to their escort. So having arrived back on the Clyde on 12th March it is highly probable that she remained there until leaving for her next support mission. So although the next entry on the Royal Navy Research Archive Page links her to OS73/ KMS47 leaving Liverpool on 13th April she was already at sea by then. HMS Biter, British escort carrier, WW2 It is also worth noting that her squadron, 811, remained aboard between 12 Jan and 10 June 1944. That implies any port visits were intended to be short, otherwise they would have spent time ashore. Sometimes visits were just long enough to refuel and restore over the space of a few days. So it is entirely possible that Biter was on the Clyde on 15 March to rescue the crew of the Scion.
Thanks Scott. Biter was in the Gareloch, or Clyde estuary, on March 15, confirmed to me by Sir James Hamilton (now deceased).He was the scientific officer taken on board Biter after the crash. Also this date confirmed in person by Aircraftman Len Townend. He cleared morning ice off the Scion wings. He was sure ice was not to blame (to the day he died). Thanks for the feedback as I am working on an article for Helensburgh Heritage web site
