Date:	Saturday 18 May 1940
Time:	01:50
Type:	Supermarine Walrus Mk I
Owner/operator:	700 Sqn FAA RN
Registration:	P5647
MSN:	-
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 3
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	Malangen Fjord, 32 miles south west of Tromsø, -   Norway
Phase:	Combat
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	Cruiser HMS Devonshire.
Destination airport:	Cruiser HMS Devonshire.

Narrative:
700 Sqn. Fleet Air Arm, Royal Navy, Supermarine Walrus P5647, was launched on an anti-submarine patrol, late night on 17th May from the Cruiser HMS Devonshire, stationed off the Norwegian coast. The aircraft was intercepted and shot down at 01:50 hrs 18th May by a Luftwaffe Aufklärungsgruppe, 1(F)/122, Heinkel He 111, based at Stavanger-Sola Airfield, Rogaland county, Norway. The Walrus crashed into Malangen Fjord, 32 miles south west of Tromsø. The Pilot, Lieutenant, Ronald William Benson-Dare was killed and lost with the aircraft, the wounded Air Gunner, Leading Airman, William Henry Hill and observer Midshipman David Corkhill were rescued by local Norwegians. Naval Airman 1st Class William Hill later died in hospital of his injuries.

Lieutenant R W Benson-Dare, RN: report of death; aircraft engaged by the enemy; 18 May... | The National Archives
Walrus I  P5647 [Royal Air Force Aircraft Serial and Image Database] RAFCommands.com
700 Naval Air Squadron - Wikipedia
Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Flying Personnel 1939 - 1947 (aircrewremembered.com)
Royal Navy casualties, killed and died, May 1940, including Norway (naval-history.net)
HMS Devonshire (39) - Wikipedia
World War 2 - FAA No. 700 Squadron, May/June 1940 (epibreren.com)

Other occurrences involving this aircraft

20 May 1939	L2308	712 Sqn FAA RAF	1	The Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Maine,		w/o
31 October 1939	L2261	711 Sqn FAA RN	3	Missing off South Africa		mis
13 December 1939	K8341	718 Sqn FAA RN	0	off the River Plate, South America		w/o
13 December 1939	K8343	718 Sqn FAA RN	0	off the River Plate, South America		w/o
18 January 1940	P5648	712 Sqn FAA RN	2	Bishop Briggs, 3 miles north of Glasgow, Scotland,		w/o
24 April 1940	L2316	700 Sqn FAA RN	3	At sea off Fair Isle, Dunrossness, Shetland Islands, Scotland,		w/o
9 May 1940	L2225	765 Sqn FAA RN	1	The Solent/Southampton Water, Hampshire, England,		w/o
7 September 1940	-	765 Sqn FAA RN	2	English Channel, 8 miles south of Anvil Point, Swanage, Dorset,		w/o
25 September 1940	L2247	9 Sqn RAAF	3	South Atlantic Ocean off Dakar,		w/o
1 March 1942	L2319	9 Sqn RAAF	4	6 miles NE of Tanjung Pujut, Java		w/o
9 August 1942	P5715	9 Sqn RAAF	0	7 miles SE of Savo Island, Central		w/o

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
22-Jan-2021 22:41	Peter Clarke	Added