What happened
The aircraft was operating on a Search and Rescue (SAR) mission over the Atlantic Ocean. The objective was to locate the crew of an RAF Boeing B-17 registered FA704, which had been shot down by a German submarine approximately 200 km northwest of the Faroe Islands.
During operations, the seaplane executed a hard landing for unknown reasons. This impact caused significant damage to the bow, leading the aircraft to sink within fifteen minutes. All nine occupants managed to escape into two life rafts before the hull was lost.
Severe weather conditions delayed rescue efforts significantly. The USS Symbol did not arrive at the scene until June 17 at 0250 local time, six days after the incident. Upon arrival, only one survivor could be evacuated. The remaining eight crew members had died from exposure to the elements while awaiting assistance.
Findings
The immediate cause of the loss was a hard landing that resulted in structural failure and rapid sinking. The high casualty count was primarily attributed to the delayed rescue caused by stormy weather, which led to fatal exposure for most of the crew.