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Sunderland Flying Boat

Old 30th Aug 2008, 10:10
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WHBM,You are correct Sir, my error,as you say finished in 58. Ive eliminated JM715 and ML814 as they were at this time flying with either RNZAF or Ansett.ML814 is now in Florida with Kermitt Weeks amd JM715 with Solent Sky Museum. Howard Hughes bought three Solents,one of which is still in San Francisco.Could it have been them in transit back to USA?
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Old 31st Aug 2008, 11:53
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Error by me as well in saying the French boats were gone by this time, because I was just thinking of the French-manufactured boats. But the French Navy bought 19 Sunderlands from Shorts in the early 1950s and operated them until the early 1960s, so it could have been one of these roaming the Atlantic. Can't find a photograph of one on the web to see if they were white.
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Old 31st Aug 2008, 13:56
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WHBM

Yes the French Navy Sunderlands were all white. Ref. page 138 of Chaz Bowyer book The Short Sunderland. ML 824 being escorted to Pembroke Dock by 201 Sqn Shackletons.
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Old 11th Sep 2008, 21:49
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The two Antilies Air Boats were ferried to the Caribbean in 1974 from Rose Bay in Sydney, not NZ.
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Old 19th Sep 2008, 08:19
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Ahhh . . . as Uncle Roger (Bacon) put it as caption to many timepieces in his Straight and Level page in "Flight International" . . . The sweet nostalgia of the never forgotten moment.

When VH-BRC Beachcomber was part of the fleet at Rose Bay, Sydney, I was an apprentice sheetmetal worker, mainly learning the trade on VH-BRF as it was converted from Sunderland to "Sundringham". Many times I'd sit up in BRC's wheelhouse, eating my lunch sangers and fantasising I was co-pilot to one of the gods who skippered these boats. Great shots, thanks Old Hairy.

Incidentally I'm in touch with Bryan McCook who is putting the finishing touches to his memoir of flying Cats and Sunderlands and HU-16s. He was with Antilles Air Boats at the time of Charles Blair's death and the later demise of the company.
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Old 20th Sep 2008, 10:34
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My pleasure fantome. Would welcome any information of how to obtain a copy of Bryan McCook's memoirs,when its published
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Old 20th Sep 2008, 20:43
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flying boat engineers

I seem to recollect some years (?) ago there was a short series of articles in Aeroplane by an engineer who had worked down the route in various locations, very interesting reading, are the old Aeroplane mags available anywhere, were the articles ever made part of an autobiography?

As many people have commented, this thread has been brought alive by the many personal memories.
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Old 21st Sep 2008, 19:22
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About 35 years ago, an old Sunderland Flight Engineer told me a story.

He was in the Med during the last war when the Sunderland he was flying in was attacked by a Vichy French Fighter. The aircraft was damaged and the fighter broke of the attack. The Sunderland set down on the sea and managed to get a tow back to a friendly port.

After the war, the French were taking Sunderlands and the Flight Engineer was now an Instructor. He was instructing some French pilots and noted that one of them had the Croix du Guerre. Being intersted, he asked the pilot how he had got it. The pilot was somewhat emabarassed, but eventually admitted that it was for shooting a Sunderland down.

The air changed and the Frenchman became very uneasy. Not wishing to create an International situation, the Flight Engineer asked where and when he shot the Sunderland down. The Frenchman confirmed the date and location and it transpired that it was the same Vichy pilot who has shot him down in the Med during the war.

The Flight Engineer then checked his log book for the aircraft serial number and then took an element of pleasure in informing the French pilot that the aircraft he shot down that day was the same one he was being instructed to fly.


The Flight Engineers name was Reg Baldwin, great guy.

My dad was a Fitter on Sunderlands, he told me of the tool belts they had so that they could tie their tools to them to reduce the chance of losing them in the water. It was said that long after the Flying Boats had gone, the old guys used to still wear their belts so that the others could tell that they had 'done their time' on Flying Boats.

Temps

Last edited by Tempsford; 21st Sep 2008 at 19:45.
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Old 22nd Sep 2008, 20:50
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Thank you, Old Hairy. Your stories have made my evening. Like many relative youngsters I missed that era, and your every word has increased my respect and affection for you and your compatriots.

God Bless You.
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Old 23rd Sep 2008, 03:16
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I'm quite sure you were aware.
I was replying to the person earlier who asked when in the 1960's were they ferried from New Zealand.
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Old 29th Sep 2008, 13:17
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fantome.
Here is a blast from the past for you! Have a look at some of these photo's,you may recognise some of your work at Rose Bay.

VH-BRF Short S-25 Sandringham
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Old 24th Nov 2008, 06:04
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Ident anyone?

Following on from the start of this thread, I recently found these 2 pictures in my Mum's albums. These pics could have been taken in Lagos, but judging by the chronology of the albums, they were more likely in Cairo (?).

Can anyone tell me anything about this particular aircraft?

Dave




Last edited by whirlwind; 26th Nov 2008 at 03:30.
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Old 28th Apr 2009, 14:35
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Sunderland over Corregidor

I've just come back from a day trip to Corregidor in Manila Bay and while looking for some pictures, I stumbled on this great shot, which should appeal to Sunderland fans.



The Marlin is from VP 10 based in the Philippines, with an RAAF Neptune and an RNZAF Sunderland. In the foreground is Caballo Island and in the background is Corregidor.

The picture comes from a very nice site with pictures of Marlin operations in the Philippines and Vietnam http://home.earthlink.net/~patron40/
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Old 28th Apr 2009, 22:57
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Also for Sunderland fans

Sunderland fans may also appreciate this new website, dedicated to the members of 95 Squadron:

RAF 95 Squadron Gambia
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Old 30th Apr 2009, 14:59
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On the Marlin website I referred to, there is a Sunderland link which takes you to

205/209 Squadron Sunderlands RAF Seletar pictures from aviation photos on webshots


286 pictures of Sunderland ops at Seletar.

Last edited by India Four Two; 30th Apr 2009 at 15:23.
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Old 13th Mar 2010, 00:12
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Corsairoz

Corsairoz,

Please check your PMs.
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Old 13th Mar 2010, 12:59
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Unless I've missed it somewhere, I'm surprised no-one has mentioned the Sunderland at IWM Duxford.

There is also some good if brief footage of a Sunderland in the film ' Yangtse Incident ', about HMS Amethyst.

As for the Sandringham - whatever Kermit Weeks has now, I remember it well at Calshot, made quite a stir among us yachties when it came out down the Solent for a run !

The sailing photographer Beken of Cowes took plenty of shots.

Old Hairy ( I'm guessing your callsign involves a certain rock near Studland ) you really should write a book, no joking, I think a lot of people here would agree.

Now something very sad, sorry about this but I think worth mentioning; sometime, I would guess late 1940's or 1950's, a number of Sunderlands ( so the story goes ) were in derelict state on moorings in Poole Harbour.

I cannot reason why, as the scrap value even then must have been significant, but they were towed out and scuttled in the relatively deep waters of Poole bay.

I'd think due to it being a lee shore and subject to strong tides, any salvage attempt would only find bits, but the area is very popular with divers so I'd have thought they may have something to add.

My dad was ashore from his boat at Studland in the mid 1980's and he ( lifelong aircraft engineer ) found a large aircraft wheel washed up...

On a happier note, a Sunderland is being recovered from where it sank at it's mooring in Wales, and another has been said to be found at the bottom of Loch Ness; a spray of WD40 and she'll be a flyer ?!

Last edited by Double Zero; 13th Mar 2010 at 18:47.
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Old 14th Mar 2010, 18:33
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Double zero,

Just curious as to which part of Loch Ness the Sunderland has been located in.....any confirmation of the location at all please?

In the late 80's I participated in " Operation Deepscan".

Operation Deepscan

Consequently, I am intrigued as to the possible location as I say because as well as the operation being a bio / ecological survey, it was pretty comprehensive in the area it covered......and Loch Ness is one very deep bit of water.
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Old 15th Mar 2010, 15:40
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Krystal,

My apologies - I think brain-fade has set in, the stretch of water concerned may be Windermere, as I think Ambleside was mentioned.

The writer was very cagey about the exact position for obvious reasons, I'll try to find his post on Pprune a few months ago.

Discovery of a Wellington too was mentioned, which is probably where I got Loch Ness from; may be another in Windermere !

A side-scan image did seem to show a large aircraft, with as I recall one engine looking as if was drooping badly.

Like Loch Ness, I should think Windermere was quite appealing ( especially for a flying boat ) for a forced landing compared to the surrounding terain...

There was also mention of a Sunderland factory on the shore opposite Ambleside ?

So it may have sunk through something happening ( or neglect ) while in boat mode...
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Old 15th Mar 2010, 21:40
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This might shed some more light onto the subject: Sunderlands on Windermere - Key Publishing Ltd Aviation Forums
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