EPISODE · Jun 2, 2018 · 27 MIN
26: The disappearance of Lionel Crabb
from The Unseen Podcast · host The Unseen Podcast
On the 19th April 1956, former Royal Navy diver Lionel Crabb went on an MI6 operation to investigate a soviet cruiser docked in Portsmouth harbour. After 2 hours under the water Lionel had still not emerged and the operation was aborted. Around 14 months later, a body was discovered wearing a diving suit but was missing its head and hands. Was this the body of Lionel Crabb and if it was him what had happened to him? The mystery of his disappearance is still ongoing and continues to baffle those who hear about it. Important information provided by: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-nicholas-elliott-1370833.htmlhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6089952.stmhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/south/series11/index_mobile_phones_bugging.shtmlhttps://web.archive.org/web/20071111015318/http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/legal/article3143239.ecehttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7097646.stmhttps://www.theguardian.com/books/2005/jun/11/featuresreviews.guardianreview14http://spartacus-educational.com/SScrabb.htmhttp://time.com/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/5068860.stmhttp://www.mcdoa.org.uk/Buster%20Crabb%20Enigma.htmFurther reading:Knowles, Sydney (2009). A diver in the dark : Experiences of a pioneer Royal Navy clearance diver (1st ed.). Bognor Regis: Woodfield Publishing. pp. 21–22\. ISBN 1846830826.Houghton, Harry (1972). Operation Portland. Hart-Davis. pp. 49–50\. ISBN 0246105488.Hale, Don (2 November 2007). The Final Dive: The Life and Death of Buster Crabb. NPI Media Group Ltd. p. 288\. ISBN 978-0-7509-4574-5.Wright, Peter (1987). Spycatcher. New York and London: Viking Penguin Inc. ISBN 0670820555Find us on Social Media: Twitter- @theunseenpodFacebook- The Unseen PodcastInstagram - TheUnseenPodWebsite www.TheUnseenPodcast.com
What this episode covers
On the 19th April 1956, former Royal Navy diver Lionel Crabb went on an MI6 operation to investigate a soviet cruiser docked in Portsmouth harbour. After 2 hours under the water Lionel had still not emerged and the operation was aborted. Around 14 months later, a body was discovered wearing a diving suit but was missing its head and hands. Was this the body of Lionel Crabb and if it was him what had happened to him? The mystery of his disappearance is still ongoing and continues to baffle those who hear about it. Important information provided by: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-nicholas-elliott-1370833.htmlhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6089952.stmhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/south/series11/index_mobile_phones_bugging.shtmlhttps://web.archive.org/web/20071111015318/http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/legal/article3143239.ecehttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7097646.stmhttps://www.theguardian.com/books/2005/jun/11/featuresreviews.guardianreview14http://spartacus-educational.com/SScrabb.htmhttp://time.com/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/5068860.stmhttp://www.mcdoa.org.uk/Buster%20Crabb%20Enigma.htmFurther reading:Knowles, Sydney (2009). A diver in the dark : Experiences of a pioneer Royal Navy clearance diver (1st ed.). Bognor Regis: Woodfield Publishing. pp. 21–22\. ISBN 1846830826.Houghton, Harry (1972). Operation Portland. Hart-Davis. pp. 49–50\. ISBN 0246105488.Hale, Don (2 November 2007). The Final Dive: The Life and Death of Buster Crabb. NPI Media Group Ltd. p. 288\. ISBN 978-0-7509-4574-5.Wright, Peter (1987). Spycatcher. New York and London: Viking Penguin Inc. ISBN 0670820555Find us on Social Media: Twitter- @theunseenpodFacebook- The Unseen PodcastInstagram - TheUnseenPodWebsite www.TheUnseenPodcast.com
NOW PLAYING
26: The disappearance of Lionel Crabb
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
Dec 5, 2025 ·50m
Oct 9, 2025 ·33m
Oct 3, 2025 ·40m
Sep 11, 2025 ·31m
Aug 27, 2025 ·39m
Aug 18, 2025 ·54m