HC Deb 05 December 1928 vol 223 c1232W
Mr. DAY

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, during the recent gales, any naval seaplanes have broken away from their moorings at Portland Harbour and been wrecked: and can be state the loss entailed?

Sir S. HOARE

I have been asked to reply. The aircraft damaged at Portland in the gale of 23rd November were three Royal Air Force flying boats. One of these, a wooden-hulled boat, parted from her moorings, was wrecked against the breakwater and is, I fear, a complete loss except for the engines, which have been salved and are being repaired. The other two, which are metal-hulled boats, collided with one another and sank, but their hulls and engines have been salved and are now also undergoing repair.