The main theory put forward and accepted in some circles is that the two aircraft crashed into each other after they launched within six minutes of each other, and were en route to the same area.

[1] The squadron was engaged on search and patrol duties for its assigned area, and upgraded to the Shackleton MR2 variant in June 1953.

42 Sqn, took off from RAF St Eval at 10:14 for a 15-hour patrol around the area of the Atlantic Ocean south west of Ireland known as Fastnet.

[5] A ground radio controller tried to contact the pilot of the second aircraft at 20:58, with a barometer reading that he had requested, but received no reply.

Initially, the loss of contact was not viewed too seriously as this was a common occurrence when the aircraft were operating at their normal height above sea-level.

Another Shackleton from St Eval was launched to try and contact the two aircraft via either radio or morse code.

The trawler had been working between the Skellig and Bull lighthouses, which was some 75 miles (121 km) north of the original search area.