Plane crashes in & around Parish of Tarbat, Portmahomack

By Douglas Gordon

Plane crashes in & around Tarbat Parish

1927 Captain De Courcy Ireland crash landed on Bindal farm Connolly was the pilot and they were spotting for the Navy also pulling drogues when the fuel pump seized, and they were having to hand pump the fuel hard work. They were based at Novar. Captain De Courcy Ireland later became commanding officer of HMS Owl or RNAS Fearn. (Information from Capt. de Courcy Ireland’s memoirs)

1941. Whitworth Whitley twin engine bomber was crossing Tarbat peninsular from Dornoch Firth to Moray Firth starboard engine caught fire as John Barnetson remembers looking up and seeing it, as he was getting redcurrants from school garden, they were growing over the wall it was a Sunday.

It was slowly losing height when between Rockfield and Tarrel in suddenly fell out of the sky straight into the Moray Firth did not see any parachutes.

Wellington twin engine Bomber landed in Moray Firth east of Ballone castle.

Whitley twin engine bomber crashed in field on right going up Brucefield farm road .

1941-1942 Whitley bomber twin engine crashed on sandbank at Arboll east of Inver.

1941 Blackburn Botha twin engine crashed in sea of Tarrel and crew were rescued by salmon fishers, front gunner was killed as gun hit his head when plane hit the water, his body was taken from plane before it sank.

1942. Handley Page Harrow, twin engine transport plane did a forced landing on knock Shortie somewhere, remembers it was same year film was made in Port. It was repaired and flown of.

They were needing someone to cook for airmen while plane was mended and Jean Forbes (cattleman’s wife) from Bindal Farm volunteered to cook for them. (Info from Isobel Forbes)

1956. 2 Hawker Hawks collided over Petley Farm both pilots baled out. Pilots names were Hadcock and Sherman, Sherman stayed with plane trying to get it away from buildings before baling out and landed 200 yards from his plane. A helicopter from Lossiemouth came shortly afterwards and picked up pilots.

I found another bit of Information on a Buccaneer crashing off Tarbatness I remember it happening as the commanding officer of Tain Drome was Lieutenant Paddy Dowser, who stayed in 4 Bindal cottage, he died last year I am still in contact with his widow Joanna. Paddy said it happened in a blizzard the pilot became disorientated and both ejected they were picked up by helicopter from HMS Fulmar Lossiemouth airbase.