Short Sunderland found well maybe
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Lost Windermere Sunderland (again!)
Over the years I've heard a number of stories about a Sunderland at the bottom of Windermere. The obviously faked pictures of three to four years ago did nothing to add veracity to this story and available evidence seems to point to there being no such wreck.
However, locals persist in saying that at least one incomplete Sunderland was scuttled at the end of the War. In a sonar search for Kaiser Wilhelm II's lost steam yacht, 'Elfin' I picked up a sonar target which one knowledgable local says is one of these Sunderlands. The location is right (I've removed coordinates and depth from the sonar scan to protect this wreck) and I certainly wouldn't have expected any divers to have come across this wreck before becasue of the depth. The target is approx 70-80 feet in length and is a side view.
I'd greatly appreciate any views or comments about the identification of this wreck, which is bigger than any known wreck in Windermere.
However, locals persist in saying that at least one incomplete Sunderland was scuttled at the end of the War. In a sonar search for Kaiser Wilhelm II's lost steam yacht, 'Elfin' I picked up a sonar target which one knowledgable local says is one of these Sunderlands. The location is right (I've removed coordinates and depth from the sonar scan to protect this wreck) and I certainly wouldn't have expected any divers to have come across this wreck before becasue of the depth. The target is approx 70-80 feet in length and is a side view.
I'd greatly appreciate any views or comments about the identification of this wreck, which is bigger than any known wreck in Windermere.
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Ah, nice to have this one back again
I've spent some considerable time and effort trying to bottom out this story and, despite wanting to believe it, have finally come to the conclusion that it does not exist. There is nothing tracable in records anywhere, everybody I've interviewed who worked there swears none were sunk, a previous search of the lake failed to find anything Sunderland sized . . . and yet the rumour won't die.
I'd be very keen to hear more about this - I understand you not wanting to share the location in public. Would you be so kind and drop me a line and I'll share more about why I'm convinced it is not there.
All the best
Allan King
I've spent some considerable time and effort trying to bottom out this story and, despite wanting to believe it, have finally come to the conclusion that it does not exist. There is nothing tracable in records anywhere, everybody I've interviewed who worked there swears none were sunk, a previous search of the lake failed to find anything Sunderland sized . . . and yet the rumour won't die.
I'd be very keen to hear more about this - I understand you not wanting to share the location in public. Would you be so kind and drop me a line and I'll share more about why I'm convinced it is not there.
All the best
Allan King
Last edited by Pondskater; 17th Dec 2009 at 17:51.
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Just an update on the sonar picture I posted above. Having exchanged e-mails with Pondskater, it's clear that the Sunderland is just local myth and nothing else, however hope to get some good sonar pictures of the Sunderland moorings in Wray Bay for him next time I can get the boat out. I've just got some new (and much more reliable) measuring software, which also puts this target firmly out of the Sunderland category, as it's 160 feet in length, more than twice the length of any known wreck in the Lake, although I do have some theories about this, which I can pursue.
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Scuttled Sunderlands
If you want a Sunderland to recover, there is a strongly held belief that several were scuttled in Poole Bay, Dorset, after being towed out of the harbour where they had lain.
The good news is that it's relatively shallow, easily diveable, the bad news is that it's a rough bit of open sea with significant tides and an uneven seabed.
My father, a lifelong aircraft engineer, once found a large aircraft wheel washed up on nearby Studland beach - which is against prevailing winds but easily possible by the tides in the area.
I should think the local dive boats / clubs would know of anything substantial left...
Anyone know anything about it, or shall I do some mild research into the diving fraternity ?
DZ
The good news is that it's relatively shallow, easily diveable, the bad news is that it's a rough bit of open sea with significant tides and an uneven seabed.
My father, a lifelong aircraft engineer, once found a large aircraft wheel washed up on nearby Studland beach - which is against prevailing winds but easily possible by the tides in the area.
I should think the local dive boats / clubs would know of anything substantial left...
Anyone know anything about it, or shall I do some mild research into the diving fraternity ?
DZ
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There is a Sunderland 1 that is hopefully going to be raised soon, in Milford Haven, Pembrokshire.
Details here - Pembroke Dock Sunderland Trust
Details here - Pembroke Dock Sunderland Trust
