A team of Greek technical divers have discovered the wreck of a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Martin Baltimore aircraft. The light bomber, lost during a mission in late-1943, was found at a depth of 61m off the island of Antikythera.
The wreck was discovered by AegeanTec, a group of Greek technical divers, led by Marinos Giourgas.
The wreck was initially found in the summer of 2024 but has now been formally identified as Baltimore FW282 by the Australian Department of Defence. It’s assumed to be the final resting place of three of the four crew of the aircraft:
The crew of Baltimore FW282 were:
- Pilot: Flight Lieutenant (FLTLT) William Alroy Hugh Horsley (RAAF), captured
- Navigator: FLTLT Leslie Norman Row (RAF), missing
- Wireless Operator/Air Gunner: Pilot Officer Colin William Walker (RAAF), missing
- Wireless Operator/Air Gunner: Warrant Officer John Gartside (RNZAF), missing
The aircraft was operated by the RAAF’s No 454 Squadron out of bases in British controlled Egypt. Baltimore FW282 was intercepted by enemy fighters returning from a patrol, sustaining heavy damage, the aircraft was forced to ditch off the island of Antikythera, halfway between Crete and the Greek mainland.
Only Flight Lieutenant Horsley was able to escape the wreckage. He swam to shore before being handed over to the German authorities and would spend the rest of the war as a POW in Germany.
Martin 187 Baltimore
The Martin 187 Batimore was a twin-engined light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft built by the Glenn L Martin Company in the United States. Even though it was designed and built in the US it was never adopted by them and was exclusively used by Commonwealth forces. Over 1500 aircraft were built and supplied under the Lend-Lease Act.
The aircraft was fast and flexible, able to be configured for reconnaissance, maritime patrol or as a light-bomber, it was valuable aircraft in the battle for the Mediterranean and North Africa.
Final Thoughts
“This aircraft discovery is significant and offers the chance to provide closure to families,” said Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Stephen Chappell.
“The efforts of groups such as AegeanTec are critical for us in accounting for those 3143 Australian aviators with no known grave from the Second World War and the Korean conflict.
“I am pleased, alongside my colleagues from the RAF and RNZAF, to this week to be able to announce the find and for us to acknowledge, collectively, the bravery of this combined crew of aviators from our three nations.”
There are no plans to recover the wreck but the RAAF intends to coordinate a memorial service for the crew.
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