1944
Shetlopedia - The Shetland Encyclopaedia
January
- 10th
Five people, including three children, killed in house fire at Gloup, North Yell. - 18th
William Arthur Bruce (2), the last Laird Bruce residing in Symbister House, died.
March
- 5th
A German JU88 bomber was hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed in the sea near to the Holm of Beosetter, north of Bressay. Three survivors were picked up.
- 20th
A Norwegian Sunderland flying boat, disappeared with a crew of 11, on a patrol from Sullom Voe.
April
- M/B Fei arrived Shetland from Bømlo,Norway, with 2 refugees.
- 16th
The Norwegian submarine Ula (Lt.Valvatne) leaves its base at Lerwick; torpedoed and sank near Karmsund U 974 (Oblt.z.S. Wolff) on 19th and near Lister the German steamer Bahia (4117 BRT) on 22nd.
May
- 16th.
M/B Gangar (ST119NF), skippered by Harald Dyrø, arrived in Lerwick with 22 refugees.
June
- 18th.
M/B Start (H79O), arrived in Fair Isle, after 5 days in heavy weather, with 2 refugees.
July
- 12th.
M/B Lom (M216HØ), arrived in Shetland with 6 refugees. - 14th.
M/B Signal (M41HØ), arrived in Shetland with 5 refugees. - 15th
Robert Hamilton, MP for Orkney and Shetland since 1922, dies. - 17th.
M/B Sylvia (ST5SD), skippered by Arne Ratchje, arrived in Shetland with 6 refugees. - 29th
On return from a patrol, Conso A, 11062, of the 162 Sqn RCAF, with a crew of eight, crashed into a high hill on Foula. Only one man, Flight Sergeant J.H Knight, survived.
The dead crewmen were: F/O Abram Hildebrand, F/O Willis Hilson Lloyd, F/O George Gordon Bradshaw, P/O James Edwin Bowler, WO2 Robert Densmore Harvey, P/O Elliot Courtney Watson and F/O Robert Wilford Ernest Townsend. They are all buried at Lerwick Cemetery
August
- 17th.
M/B Snedig (H79HB), skippered by Martinius Grindheim, arrived in Lerwick with 8 refugees.
September
- 2nd.
M/B Hjas (H133O), skippered by Hardy Pedersen, arrived in Lerwick with 5 refugees.
October
- 9th.
A Junkers JU88 aircraft of the German Luftwaffe is recorded as having crashed in to the sea in the vicinity of Orkney or Shetland. The exact location is unknown, as the record only contains the following physically impossible statement: "in Scapa Flow, 80 miles ENE of Herma Ness, Unst. - 24th.
R/S Fritjof Wiese (a rescue ship), arrived in Lerwick with 5 refugees. - 29th.
M/B Dreggen (B57B),skippered by Hans P. Lauvik, arrived in Lerwick with 7 refugees. - 31st
Shetland receives a legacy of £7000 from the estate of the late John Anderson of Australia for the purpose of teaching Shetlanders to swim. At 2005 values, this equates to £206,000.
November
- 22nd
Returning from target marking an ill-fated raid on U-Boat pens in Trondheim, Norway, low on fuel and in poor visibility the De Havilland Mosquito Mk VII, DZ642 of 627 Squadron Royal Air Force hit Royl Field, north west of Sandwick, at approx 23.00. Some of the more substantial pieces of wreckage still remain lying on site, and there is a memorial stone erected nearby to the event and to the crew. Pilot - Flight Lieutenant John A. Reid. RAF 48900 and Navigator - Flying Officer Wesley D. Irwin. RCAF J14115.
December
- 5th
A Mosquito from 143 squadron crash landed at Sumburgh Aerodrome whilst trying to land on one engine. The pilot was killed but the navigator survived.
