My grandfather joined the RAF in early '39, just before war broke out. He was a front gunner in Sunderlands throughout the war and mainly served with 204 squadron (1939-1946). He had quite a few stories to tell (attacked by 109's, attacking u-boats, ditching in the Irish Sea due total engine failure [fuel blockage] etc...) and said he was one of the fortunate ones to survive - he lost his first crew (39-42) after 3 yrs when he was given a weekend pass to visit my new born mum. He was based in a few places -Lossiemouth, Pembroke and Freetown, West Africa. He was the perfect grandfather and I feel very lucky to have known him and he was one of the unsung heroes - he didn't claim his campaign medals at the end of the war - said he didn't need or want them - my mother has honoured that sentiment by not applying for them (we lost him to dementia 18yrs ago).
Thank you Chris, my father was on Sunderlands here in his home town of Plymouth until he was posted, prior to the arrival of the Aussies, to Abbotsinch, training on Catalinas. He had previously been on Walrus and London flying boats, but the Sunderlands captivated him, but he grew fond of the Catalina and spent the rest of the war on them in Mombasa in Kenya, attaining the rank of Flight Sergeant.
Thanks David for your kind feedback. You may like to check out my channel I have made several films about the Walrus aircraft. Chris. ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
One of the unsung heroes of the Battle of the Atlantic among other campaigns. Endless patrol hours staring at empty sea to deter or find U-boats. Even drop life saving equipment to torpedoed sailors. Very rarely the thrill of a successful kill of a predator. Not surprised nobody in this Country could afford the upkeep of such a magnificent and complicated machine. Hope she survives for many more decades to come. Keep the videos coming.
A few years ago now I did some work for a lady in Salisbury. On a small table on her landing was a solid wooden model Canberra. I asked ,is that a Canberra, and she said yes quite surprised that I had recognised it correctly. I told her of my interest in aircraft and she went on to tell me her late husband had flown it from Boscombe down when he worked at The Empire Test Pilot school there. She then took me into her late husbands study which blew me away. Models and photographs of various aircraft he had flown along with the Sunderland he flew as part of the defence of the channel approaches. I must have spent a happy half hour talking to her and listening to her about her husbands flying career. A very interesting afternoon.
This brought back Memories of my RAF "career", back in 1948 at RAF Calshot, the coldest place on "Gods Earth ". The round tower top, pictured with a crowd on top, is where our Electrical Section was based, with the battery charging room in the basement. I will always remember the long trek along the causeway from the camp, with the wind blowing either from the left, Southampton water, or from the right, the Solent to our work place in the castle tower. My 96 year old memory still shudders at the thought. We were often awoken; eariy mornings, by the Queen Mary or other Liners leaving Southampton Docks, and blowing their ships horns, those were the days!
As a young child remember a trip in a Sunderland (civilian version) around around 1942/43 Took off from Lake Naivasha or Victoria and ended in Durban. Also remember circulating a herd of Elephants. The central African plateau as around 5000Ft and flight altitude 7000FT(?)
I am from Uruguay, 85. Sunderlands were used here commercially in the 50s and 60s by the local airline CAUSA on the route MVD/ BUE/ MVD. Never flew on one, but saw them operating at the port. My uncle Mario who lived in BUE was a regular customer
fantastic video,my Grandfather served with 201 squadron Raf Coastal Command on Short Sunderland MK2's from 1942-45 based at Castle Archdale Northen Ireland,ive still got 2 of his original squadron plaque's & a painting done by one of his squadron mates of a Sunderland taking of at Castle Archdale,again great video of a unsung heroe
Thanks Steve you maybe interested in a couple of films on my channel about the Supermarine Walrus. Chris. ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
Wonderful to see a video about the magnificent Sunderland. Even as a kid I was fascinated by these beautiful ladies. Also, as an Aussie, it is great to hear something about an Australian squadron. Thankyou.
Memories come back of the stories my uncle Tommy told back in the fifties. He piloted them at the start of the war, then moved to Scotland then to the far east. The other boys in the family flew Hurricanes in the Battle of Britain and instructed then Mosquito Recce. All bar one were volunteers, the eldest being a serving RAF pilot before the war. My late father enjoyed flying the Catalina but always swore the Mosquito outshone and probably kept him alive. Just Boys and young men, hard to believe now.
When I look at a Sunderland in a museum I am amazed at the size of the thing, and find it amazing that those four small engines could get it into the air.
I can still remember as a child was on our front lawn, 1965-67 This horrible noise in the sky, so loud, when i looked up It was like all these bottom of boats going across the sky. My mother was at the front door with the movie camera. That was the final fly past of RNZAF, 5 Squadrons last 3 Sunderlands being withdrawn from service. We also had one use our jetty & lay over in our bay to shelter from a bad storm. Couldn't land at Hobsonville, choppy seas & gale winds, came in further up harbour & brought it into our bay. We had a long concrete jetty & ramp bottom of embankment back of our property. Can remember being in the lounge of house and this big white tail sticking up over the tree tops. Lots of men in uniforms. Big truck ( I was 3 any trucks big) & cars all over the front lawn. Boat came next day and could see it being towed out of the bay. (learned yrs later, it was coming back from Fiji the storm was supposed of passed, but hung around, Squadron leader was local & friend of family, knew the waters, 2 fly overs, brought her in, motored & tied up to jetty unload, let her go down in the soft mud over night & then had towed back down to Hobby on next out going tide. My older brother would of been 9-10 thought it was the coolest thing ever.
Thanks Patrick that is very interesting not a gentle landing, with that weight it must have been quite a thump, I wonder more crew were not injured. Chris. ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
The Sunderland factory in Rochester Kent was called Short Brothers. It lay on the banks of the Medway river and the road is the Esplanade. It is now a large private housing complex. The launch ramp from road to river is all that remains.
@@johnsmith-ht3syin the eighties I had the good fortune to get a tour of the Sunderland that was on the Medway, my metal working lecturer from my college days casually mentioned he had to go down and knowing my interest in aviation would I be interested to have a look, get up close and personal with one of my dream aircraft!, the only question was when, my lecturer, Bob Wollet had been a flight engineer on Sunderlands during the war and showed me round for an hour before saying he had to go, but I was welcome to stay and look further, three hours later I had run out of film!!. Thanks Bob that was something I have never forgot. The Sunderland had been converted to civil spec including a white burr walnut bar on the top deck, the stencilling behind a removed panel detailing the 303 ammunition storage validating it's active service heritage, just wish I had more film of it, a truly great experience.
Well, I finally realized there are no long Sunderlands. My dad was a PBY-5A mechanic in the Aleutians. I admired both planes, even if one was made short.
Thanks for the many rare unseen glimpses of the Sunderland. My dad flew with 461 RAAF out of Pembroke Dock in 1944. I have always had the suspicion that they were called stachelschwein because of the mass of radar aerials all over the fuselage.
Thanks you. I was lucky enough to fly in both of the Ansett boats as a kid - includes the one currently owned by Kermit Weeks, and the one in the Solent Air museum.
Great video! Thank you, great pictures, loved the one where to fuel a Sunderland they put a fuel truck in a landing craft!!! There are several st the bottom of Loch Ryan in Scotland, three were lost in storms while tied up during the war, and after the war, five were scuttled after having their engines removed, so I'm told. Kermit Weeks is a good man... he'll look after her!!!
Where on earth did you find his footage? There's stuff here I've never seen. I love the interwar, and later flying boats, have done since I made The Airfix Models as a very young man.
Thanks for your kind comments, hours of research and a lot of reading, please check out my channel. Chris. ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
My late father made several trips from Southampton to Lagos in Nigeria and back during the war. He used to say that whenever they saw a Sunderland near their convoys they felt safe and thought they were beautiful. He also saw them flying from the factory on Windermere where some were built.
There was one at Pembroke Dock where there is a small museum that is well worth a visit. It was taken to IWM in London. Sadly. Ganavan Sands maintenance depot slipway is still there: depot is a big car park now but if you squint you can see the ghosts of Sunderlands around Oban...
I was lucky enough to go for a flight when the last Sunderland was being restored at Calshot. We flew down the western Solent, then up Southampton Water to do a low pass over the runway at Southampton airport. At this point I was in the cockpit stood behind the pilot. An unforgettable experience.
Its well worth watching his crawl round the inside of the Sproat Lake Martin Mars's . The other videos on U tube of Sunderland interest are the ones that served in the Berlin Air lift ...and then flights that used to land at the Portuguese Azores islands Funchal . In the Southern Hemisphere the last regular service was to Lord Howe's Island.
My father flew in Short Sunderland equiped, 205 squadron out of Koggala, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), from 1945 to 1947. He was a Radar Operator with the squadron, and flew all across the Indian Ocean, including "Operation Seahawk", - a post-war goodwill flight, visiting Mauritius, Seychelles, Laurenco Marques (Mazambique) and Durban. He loved the Sunderland aircraft. I holidayed at Lake Windermere (White Cross Bay), where Sunderlands were also built and flew from, but only the slipway still remains.
I remember watching them, for some years as a small boy, landing and taking off from the old RAF Kaitak Hong Kong and the competition runs as they shot up inflammable floats to the delight of onlookers!
They lasted until 1960 in the RAF. I remember them going and I also remember the civil Solents of Aquila Airways flying into Southampton. Last one I saw flew over my daughter and I near Glastonbury late 1970s.
Thanks, I remember this aircraft. flew over Guildford on her transit flight where I lived in the nineties. Also where the flight engineer and his family lived. Ken Emmet the pilot was a friend of a friend in my vintage motorcycle club in Farnham . You said the Bristol Pegasus was a sleeve valve motor ..sorry not so ! Maybe the Hercules could have suited the Sunderland as in the Mk 3 Halifax. I accept abundance and relatively plentiful maintenance personnel on the American radials Was a critical,factor for shorts at the time and proven reliability. I did my engineering apprenticeship at CAV Rochester in the old Shorts factory making diesel pumps, Needless to say No industry there at all now sadly. I live in Devon now so enjoy your posts thanks.’’
I have another film on my channel about Sunderlands and also the Supermarine Walrus if you care to take a look. Chris. ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
I saw one (This one?) in the late 80's/90's fly over Lake Windermere. Some? were made there at White Cross Bay, the concrete slipways are still there. At the end of the war the workers temporary houses were used by refugees/orphans from Auswitz, there's an exhibition in Windermere library.
Thanks for your interesting feedback really appreciated. Do please check out my other channel films. Chris. ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
There Was A Regular Ansett Airways Sunderland Service From Rose Bay, On Sydney Harbour, To Lord Howe Island Until 1974! Rose Bay Had Been A Maritime Airport Since 1938, Primarily For The Empire Royal Mail Service, But Post-War, Flights To Great Britain, And Elsewhere. I Remember Very Well The Big Sunderland's At Rose Bay, And There's A Sunderland Avenue There, At The Site Of The Great Hanger On The Foreshore!! Rose Bay Is Probably The Most Beautiful Place On Sydney Harbour, And The Sunderlands Certainly Did Not Detract From That Aspect!!
Really appreciate your interesting feedback from across the world, do please consider subscribing. Chris. ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
Cheers mate. My boyhhood memory of seeing the Sunderlands at Rose Bay is indelibly etched into my mind. It was love at first sight for me around age 10. How I miss old Sydney.
I was born and bred just a mile or so from Shorts Belfast Habour Airport, and being a military enthusiast fell in love with the Sunderland. Mt Grandfather was based there with the Coastguard, and used to tell me about all the different planes that were either made or assembled there. It's not widely known that at the outbreak of war, Scottish Coastal Command used Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland for its early base to cover the Western Approaches. The problem quickly arose that acces to the Approaches meant flying north beond the coast before turning to the west - all to avoid the Irish Border. It was then a secret air passage was arranged between The British and Irish Governments to lessen the mileage. IThe base was thence moved to Castle Archdale, Lough Erne, just inside the border. Just a couple of miles away was Killadeas, new home for the PBY's doing the same WA journey via this secret corridor. Airmen from the Commonwealth and US worked together in both aircraft - one learning the British art of navigation and flying Sunderlands, the other doing the same on PBY's. Apart from the very long flights, the life at the bases was by all accounts quite idyllic. The area is certainly very pretty, but the low hills made approaches very difficult. Today, there are still a few remnants of the Sunderlands' time, with the larhe petrol booms still in situ, the old ramps and a few anchor blocks. There is also a museum there telling the story. Thanks for the upload - very enjouable.
My old man was RAF a groundcrew mechanic in WW2 and worked on Catalinas and Sunderlands flying from Stranraer in Scotland. On one occasion getting to fly in a Sunderland he was working on. Sadly, during the test flight out over the North Atlantic, someone managed to fall out of an open bomb bay door at great height, never to be seen again. RiP dad.
One of the best books wriiten about the Austrailian squadrons work with Sunderlands was Ivan Southall's "Fly West". The title comes from the only orders given to the aircrews - fly west! Now long out of print, but second hand copies can be found on the internet. There is a (non flying) Sunderland on display at RAF Museum Hendon.
Thank you for your kind feedback, hopefully the Mount Batten parts were interesting. Do please have a subscribe. Chris. ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
31 years ago (?!) I was heading home in Whitby (east of Toronto) and cruising along the northern edge of Lake Ontario was the Sunderland. Quite the sight!
Hello Chris . I had an Airfix Sunderland in the day and it was indeed a huge aircraft . I think 20 years have passed since Kermit's Sunderland flew . He has an enormous collection of aircraft, spends a fortune restoring them , flies them but quickly lose's interest and they just deteriorate outside or in hangers . A Spitfire and Mosquito are two that he no longer flies . I believe he inherited an oil field ......thanks Chris
@@GULLPERCHFLYER You are welcome mate. You pictures and videos are always good. Especially when you bring forgotten or little known types. Always unsung and/or underappreciated types..
I recall seeing this aircraft parked on Southampton water in the early 1980s, I made several trips to the I.O.W. during this time. I took several photos but they are lost to time!
My father was at Mountbatten on the air -sea rescue launches . After the Plymouth blitz he was transferred to Stranraer in Scotland where he was aircrew on Sunderlands patroling the Atlantic . 🇬🇧
Very interesting Johnny many thanks for the feedback. Chris. You may like to check out my other channel films ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
Another fascinating historical gem Chris, thanks. I was transfixed by an Airfix model as a kid and always had a bit of a soft spot for the marque. I often wondered what it would have been like in the U boat surface attack role if they'd have swapped the .303 for .50 cal Browning machine guns and stuck another four fixed firing on the nose similar to the B25 Mitchell configuration. I've had the pleasure of visiting this aircraft in Kermit Week's 'Fantasy of Flight' collection in Lakeland Florida. Sadly it is now closed to the public but at least it has been preserved in something that 'may' take to the skies again. Cheers.
Good point about the forward guns Steve, they fitted that 57mm Molins gun to the Mosquito which gave it a hefty punch. Amazing that you have visited Fantasy of Flight. Chris.
Personal memory driving down Burgess Road in Swathling in Southampton towards Eastleigh Airport and seeing the Sunderland fly across the airfield a memory will never forget Michael from Southampton
I flue on a Sundland in the mid 1970s about 76. I was in Bournemouth on my summer holidays and my family was on the beach and my father who was in the RAF during the 2nd World War i the met office as a weatherman and Navigator who drew up weather charts and maps and went up in a Wellington with Sona aerials on top and looked out the glass dome and side windows at cloud formation and serviced in the Middle Eastern out of Egypt over the deserts Med Sea and in the Car East from India and met Mountbatten. Dad was sitting in his deckchair looking out at sea with his binoculars at the ships and planes and all of sundown across the bay a Sunderland flue past and dad fell out of his chair. Well about an latter another flue past in the other direction. It turned out that there were 2 of them operating out of Portsmouth on tourist flights across the bay. So dad and I went to Portsmouth the next day and boarded the plane and flue across the bay and back again and the best part was the takeoff and landing in water and the flight across the bay was fantastic. I will never forget it was great, was it this plane I think it was
Rich how interesting your feedback is amazing, from research this particular Sunderland landed in Calshot on 21st May 1981. Best Regards. Chris. ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
Very interesting video on a giant and famous seaplane. What a shame the last flying one went to Florida, USA but there is the huge, white Short Sunderland at the RAF Museum in Hendon, North London which you can go inside and see. Would be wonderful to see one flying again here in the UK, but how many are left that and could be returned to flight?
Thanks Mr Tufty Nut, I guess its a bit like the Supermarine Walrus where there are none left flying, there is one at Duxford under restoration to flight, please subscribe to my channel and check out my Walrus films. Chris. ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
Although some footage no mention of R.A.F. Pembroke Dock, in west Wales (Pembroke in England is mentioned!) It was flown over Pembroke Dock on its way to Florida. The beautiful example at Hendon also came from P.D. by way of France.
Sorry about that Frank my focus was mainly on RAF Mount Batten as that is close to where I live. Do please ponder subscribing Thanks Chris. ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
Yes David, Short Sunderland flying boat which saw wartime service with the RAF being restored at Chatham Historic Dockyard in preparation for a fly past , G-BJHS Chris. ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
Thank you. I understand that, legally, Kermit Weeks cannot use the aeroplane for fee-paying flights because it is still, officially, a Sunderland, having not undergone a factory conversion to passenger specification. He said this, in a video, several years ago.
Many thanks you may like to take a look at my channel I have several films on the Supermarine Walrus. Chris. ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
Amazing aeroplane. I'll never forget when I went inside the example at Hendon RAF museum seeing how huge the airframe is and that the bombs are loaded from the centre fuselage. As you walk through an ashtray is provided to extinguish your cigarette. I presume this was a 1940's safety rule to stop you blowing up any bomb stores with a stray dog end!
From Sunderland…..a ship building city who produced ships over many years. As a kid I was always surprised that we didn’t have a RN ship holding its name. But the more I read and see about the ‘Sunderland’ and its exploits I am ok with that. Great plane and brave aircrew. Great presentation thank you.
Along with many other poster's, used to have an Imperial Airway's Flying Boat poster on my wall. The most upper-class in 1st class Atlantic Air Travel. Along with Madness The Specials The Beat Toyah & many other 80s kid's poster's LOL
No matter how sound, A float plane has contact with water, And as rare as this plane is it deserves static display. One day it will have one flight too many, and we will never be able to see the plane again.
If you look into the service records of many of the flying boats you'll see how brief, in reality, they were. Many retired and scrapped after less than ten years - sometimes far less than that - due to 'uneconomic hull damage'.
AEC Matador, they were normally 4x4 but the RAF tankers were 6x6, Airfix do a nice model in their RAF refuelling set, along with a Bedford QL 4x4, ideal for conversions for your railway layout😊.
It takes a lot of maintenance to keep an aircraft flying. It takes a huge amount of maintenance to keep a ship seaworthy. It takes an impossibly massive amount of maintenance to keep a flying boat, airworthy. 😂 To keep it flying that longer after the war, is absolutely astonishing.
We used to climb around one parked out onerahi beach front when we were kids , they smashed it into pieces and buried it in a land fill at riverside ! Ludacris! Don’t you think?
Thanks for your feedback, it has taken me many weeks of research to compile this film and mistakes will slip through. I am sorry you find my voice annoying and the reason was I am recovering from a severe cold. Do check out some of my other films to see if they are any better for you. Chris. ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
Bit harsh, this is clearly a labour of love and very informative, far from spoiling the video it reminds you that it is the product of an enthusiast not a robot voice of an AI program. You can't please some people can you?
Superb video just to add a lot of these gals had various additions for guns done at depot level look at the hundreds of photos bloody guns everywhere lol
Remenber the flying boat filying in pool 1970s could not believe it went in to the pub and next to me was the flight engneer He was from oz this aircraft is now in southampton museum Also i was in dorset the landloard of the pub was talking to me he was a sunderland pilot showed me a photo of his plane its letters began RN it was in singerpore he told me all the matelots called it their sunderland happy days i am 67 now
I am ex RAF airframe tech and think its outrageous that a BRITISH plane was allowed to leave its own country to NEVER bee seen again in America in some guys personal fantasy collection. THAT is not preserving a valuable aircraft. The government in UK should bring in a LAW that valuable British hsitorical artifacts should NEVER be allowed to leave the country. The Sunderland was a GREAT aircraft.
Yeah . Interesting . My father in law was with his wife we’re on the Strand in Townsville NQ when a Sanderlands crashed on take off killing all aboard during WW2 . Have a nice. Day Andrej Kondisenko Cairns Australia 🇦🇺
My grandfather joined the RAF in early '39, just before war broke out.
He was a front gunner in Sunderlands throughout the war and mainly served with 204 squadron (1939-1946).
He had quite a few stories to tell (attacked by 109's, attacking u-boats, ditching in the Irish Sea due total engine failure [fuel blockage] etc...) and said he was one of the fortunate ones to survive - he lost his first crew (39-42) after 3 yrs when he was given a weekend pass to visit my new born mum.
He was based in a few places -Lossiemouth, Pembroke and Freetown, West Africa.
He was the perfect grandfather and I feel very lucky to have known him and he was one of the unsung heroes - he didn't claim his campaign medals at the end of the war - said he didn't need or want them - my mother has honoured that sentiment by not applying for them (we lost him to dementia 18yrs ago).
What an interesting account Anthony many thanks. Chris.
Thank you Chris, my father was on Sunderlands here in his home town of Plymouth until he was posted, prior to the arrival of the Aussies, to Abbotsinch, training on Catalinas. He had previously been on Walrus and London flying boats, but the Sunderlands captivated him, but he grew fond of the Catalina and spent the rest of the war on them in Mombasa in Kenya, attaining the rank of Flight Sergeant.
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Thanks David for your kind feedback. You may like to check out my channel I have made several films about the Walrus aircraft. Chris.
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Many thanks Chris.
My Dad was also on the Sunderland’s during the war. But based in Kent. His family moved to Plymouth after the war. I still live here now.
I
One of the unsung heroes of the Battle of the Atlantic among other campaigns. Endless patrol hours staring at empty sea to deter or find U-boats. Even drop life saving equipment to torpedoed sailors. Very rarely the thrill of a successful kill of a predator.
Not surprised nobody in this Country could afford the upkeep of such a magnificent and complicated machine. Hope she survives for many more decades to come.
Keep the videos coming.
Many thanks appreciate your kind feedback. Chris.
A few years ago now I did some work for a lady in Salisbury. On a small table on her landing was a solid wooden model Canberra.
I asked ,is that a Canberra, and she said yes quite surprised that I had recognised it correctly. I told her of my interest in aircraft and she went on to tell me her late husband had flown it from Boscombe down when he worked at The Empire Test Pilot school there. She then took me into her late husbands study which blew me away. Models and photographs of various aircraft he had flown along with the Sunderland he flew as part of the defence of the channel approaches. I must have spent a happy half hour talking to her and listening to her about her husbands flying career. A very interesting afternoon.
Wow what interesting feedback. Chris.
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This brought back Memories of my RAF "career", back in 1948 at RAF Calshot, the coldest place on "Gods Earth ".
The round tower top, pictured with a crowd on top, is where our Electrical Section was based, with the battery charging room in the basement. I will always remember the long trek along the causeway from the camp, with the wind blowing either from the left, Southampton water, or from the right, the Solent to our work place in the castle tower. My 96 year old memory still
shudders at the thought. We were often awoken; eariy mornings, by the Queen Mary or other Liners leaving Southampton
Docks, and blowing their ships horns, those were the days!
How interesting John thank you for sharing your memories. Chris.
As a young child remember a trip in a Sunderland (civilian version) around around 1942/43 Took off from Lake Naivasha or Victoria and ended in Durban. Also remember circulating a herd of Elephants. The central African plateau as around 5000Ft and flight altitude 7000FT(?)
@@nigelslade5276 I was born just too late to see the Flying Boats come into Naivasha on their way to South Africa.
@@davidforbes7772 They also used Kisumu and Entebbe on Lake Victoria.
I am from Uruguay, 85. Sunderlands were used here commercially in the 50s and 60s by the local airline CAUSA on the route MVD/ BUE/ MVD. Never flew on one, but saw them operating at the port. My uncle Mario who lived in BUE was a regular customer
Thanks Ivan appreciate your feedback. Chris.
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fantastic video,my Grandfather served with 201 squadron Raf Coastal Command on Short Sunderland MK2's from 1942-45 based at Castle Archdale Northen Ireland,ive still got 2 of his original squadron plaque's & a painting done by one of his squadron mates of a Sunderland taking of at Castle Archdale,again great video of a unsung heroe
Thanks Steve you maybe interested in a couple of films on my channel about the Supermarine Walrus. Chris.
ua-cam.com/channels/Oh3lzlK4b9UtMzHagk7SaQ.html
@@GULLPERCHFLYER your welcome ill check those vids out
Wonderful to see a video about the magnificent Sunderland. Even as a kid I was fascinated by these beautiful ladies. Also, as an Aussie, it is great to hear something about an Australian squadron. Thankyou.
Glad you enjoyed it please have a subscribe. Chris.
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Memories come back of the stories my uncle Tommy told back in the fifties. He piloted them at the start of the war, then moved to Scotland then to the far east. The other boys in the family flew Hurricanes in the Battle of Britain and instructed then Mosquito Recce. All bar one were volunteers, the eldest being a serving RAF pilot before the war. My late father enjoyed flying the Catalina but always swore the Mosquito outshone and probably kept him alive. Just Boys and young men, hard to believe now.
Many thanks for your interesting feedback Chris.
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When I look at a Sunderland in a museum I am amazed at the size of the thing, and find it amazing that those four small engines could get it into the air.
That's a good point Colin its a heavy old aircraft.. Chris.
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Colinnartin -you could get over 80 people into a Sunderland-they did that evacuating Crete in 1941.
I can still remember as a child was on our front lawn, 1965-67 This horrible noise in the sky, so loud, when i looked up It was like all these bottom of boats going across the sky. My mother was at the front door with the movie camera. That was the final fly past of RNZAF, 5 Squadrons last 3 Sunderlands being withdrawn from service.
We also had one use our jetty & lay over in our bay to shelter from a bad storm. Couldn't land at Hobsonville, choppy seas & gale winds, came in further up harbour & brought it into our bay. We had a long concrete jetty & ramp bottom of embankment back of our property.
Can remember being in the lounge of house and this big white tail sticking up over the tree tops. Lots of men in uniforms. Big truck ( I was 3 any trucks big) & cars all over the front lawn. Boat came next day and could see it being towed out of the bay. (learned yrs later, it was coming back from Fiji the storm was supposed of passed, but hung around, Squadron leader was local & friend of family, knew the waters, 2 fly overs, brought her in, motored & tied up to jetty unload, let her go down in the soft mud over night & then had towed back down to Hobby on next out going tide. My older brother would of been 9-10 thought it was the coolest thing ever.
Wow Norman that is quite some event in your back garden what a wonderful memory.
Chris.
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My father was an RAF mechanic in WW2. He flew in a Sunderland and couldn’t believe the shock of the impact when it landed on the water.
Thanks Patrick that is very interesting not a gentle landing, with that weight it must have been quite a thump, I wonder more crew were not injured. Chris.
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The Sunderland factory in Rochester Kent was called Short Brothers. It lay on the banks of the Medway river and the road is the Esplanade. It is now a large private housing complex. The launch ramp from road to river is all that remains.
Thanks John appreciate your interesting feedback. Chris.
@@GULLPERCHFLYER I have been inside the Sunderland at Hendon Royal Airforce Museum at Hendon North London.
@@johnsmith-ht3syin the eighties I had the good fortune to get a tour of the Sunderland that was on the Medway, my metal working lecturer from my college days casually mentioned he had to go down and knowing my interest in aviation would I be interested to have a look, get up close and personal with one of my dream aircraft!, the only question was when, my lecturer, Bob Wollet had been a flight engineer on Sunderlands during the war and showed me round for an hour before saying he had to go, but I was welcome to stay and look further, three hours later I had run out of film!!. Thanks Bob that was something I have never forgot.
The Sunderland had been converted to civil spec including a white burr walnut bar on the top deck, the stencilling behind a removed panel detailing the 303 ammunition storage validating it's active service heritage, just wish I had more film of it, a truly great experience.
Well, I finally realized there are no long Sunderlands. My dad was a PBY-5A mechanic in the Aleutians. I admired both planes, even if one was made short.
Many thanks for taking the time to post your comments, please consider subscring to my channel. Chris.
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Yet another superb post Chris, great factual narrative, extremely informative.
Glad you enjoyed it Jack. Best Regards Chris.
Splendid, thank you
Many thanks. Chris.
Beautiful video on a fantastic plane! Thank you very much 👍
Greetings from the Netherlands 🇳🇱, TW.
Glad you enjoyed it Tonny. Chris.
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Thanks for the many rare unseen glimpses of the Sunderland. My dad flew with 461 RAAF out of Pembroke Dock in 1944. I have always had the suspicion that they were called stachelschwein because of the mass of radar aerials all over the fuselage.
I think you maybe right some of these nicknames are open to debate. Chris.
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A beast of an airplane, Chris, thank you for the amazing footage. What a superb spectacle it must have been to see her take off and fly 🤩 👏🏻👏🏻
Glad you enjoyed it Kevin having you watch along is appreciated. Chris.
Thanks you. I was lucky enough to fly in both of the Ansett boats as a kid - includes the one currently owned by Kermit Weeks, and the one in the Solent Air museum.
Appreciate your interesting feedback many thanks. Chris.
very interesting video,thank you for posting.
Glad you enjoyed it please check out my channel. Chris.
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Great video! Thank you, great pictures, loved the one where to fuel a Sunderland they put a fuel truck in a landing craft!!! There are several st the bottom of Loch Ryan in Scotland, three were lost in storms while tied up during the war, and after the war, five were scuttled after having their engines removed, so I'm told. Kermit Weeks is a good man... he'll look after her!!!
Thanks Nigel do please check out my channel. Chris.
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A fine video with outstanding footage. New subscriber sir!
Many thanks for your kind feedback. Chris.
Where on earth did you find his footage? There's stuff here I've never seen. I love the interwar, and later flying boats, have done since I made The Airfix Models as a very young man.
Thanks for your kind comments, hours of research and a lot of reading, please check out my channel. Chris.
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My late father made several trips from Southampton to Lagos in Nigeria and back during the war. He used to say that whenever they saw a Sunderland near their convoys they felt safe and thought they were beautiful. He also saw them flying from the factory on Windermere where some were built.
Appreciate that Jamie do please check out my channel. Chris.
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There was one at Pembroke Dock where there is a small museum that is well worth a visit. It was taken to IWM in London. Sadly. Ganavan Sands maintenance depot slipway is still there: depot is a big car park now but if you squint you can see the ghosts of Sunderlands around Oban...
Thanks for that Typhoon do please check out my channel. Chris.
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The one that was at Pembroke Dock is now in the museum at Hendon and looks magnificent.
I was lucky enough to go for a flight when the last Sunderland was being restored at Calshot. We flew down the western Solent, then up Southampton Water to do a low pass over the runway at Southampton airport. At this point I was in the cockpit stood behind the pilot. An unforgettable experience.
Thank you very much for sharing your experience. Chris.
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Great vid. Old Kermie is the saviour of many a rare aircraft, bless him.
Many thanks he is for sure. Chris.
Its well worth watching his crawl round the inside of the Sproat Lake Martin Mars's .
The other videos on U tube of Sunderland interest are the ones that served in the Berlin Air lift ...and then flights that used to land at the Portuguese Azores islands Funchal .
In the Southern Hemisphere the last regular service was to Lord Howe's Island.
My father flew in Short Sunderland equiped, 205 squadron out of Koggala, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), from 1945 to 1947. He was a Radar Operator with the squadron, and flew all across the Indian Ocean, including "Operation Seahawk", - a post-war goodwill flight, visiting Mauritius, Seychelles, Laurenco Marques (Mazambique) and Durban. He loved the Sunderland aircraft. I holidayed at Lake Windermere (White Cross Bay), where Sunderlands were also built and flew from, but only the slipway still remains.
How amazing Steuart. Chris.
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I remember watching them, for some years as a small boy, landing and taking off from the old RAF Kaitak Hong Kong and the competition runs as they shot up inflammable floats to the delight of onlookers!
Wow very interesting Robert. Chris.
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They lasted until 1960 in the RAF. I remember them going and I also remember the civil Solents of Aquila Airways flying into Southampton. Last one I saw flew over my daughter and I near Glastonbury late 1970s.
Very interesting John, may I ask you to check out some of my other channel films. Chris.
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Thanks, I remember this aircraft. flew over Guildford on her transit flight where I lived in the nineties. Also where the flight engineer and his family lived.
Ken Emmet the pilot was a friend of a friend in my vintage motorcycle club in Farnham . You said the Bristol Pegasus was a sleeve valve motor ..sorry not so !
Maybe the Hercules could have suited the Sunderland as in the Mk 3 Halifax. I accept abundance and relatively plentiful maintenance personnel on the American radials
Was a critical,factor for shorts at the time and proven reliability. I did my engineering apprenticeship at CAV Rochester in the old Shorts factory making diesel pumps,
Needless to say No industry there at all now sadly. I live in Devon now so enjoy your posts thanks.’’
Many thanks John I do try to research with some accuracy and sometimes I get it wrong. Chris.
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More on Sunderlands please. I love these birds. ❤
I have another film on my channel about Sunderlands and also the Supermarine Walrus if you care to take a look. Chris.
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I saw one (This one?) in the late 80's/90's fly over Lake Windermere. Some? were made there at White Cross Bay, the concrete slipways are still there. At the end of the war the workers temporary houses were used by refugees/orphans from Auswitz, there's an exhibition in Windermere library.
Thanks for your interesting feedback really appreciated. Do please check out my other channel films. Chris.
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There Was A Regular Ansett Airways Sunderland Service From Rose Bay, On Sydney Harbour, To Lord Howe Island Until 1974! Rose Bay Had Been A Maritime Airport Since 1938, Primarily For The Empire Royal Mail Service, But Post-War, Flights To Great Britain, And Elsewhere. I Remember Very Well The Big Sunderland's At Rose Bay, And There's A Sunderland Avenue There, At The Site Of The Great Hanger On The Foreshore!! Rose Bay Is Probably The Most Beautiful Place On Sydney Harbour, And The Sunderlands Certainly Did Not Detract From That Aspect!!
Really appreciate your interesting feedback from across the world, do please consider subscribing. Chris.
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Cheers mate. My boyhhood memory of seeing the Sunderlands at Rose Bay is indelibly etched into my mind. It was love at first sight for me around age 10. How I miss old Sydney.
I was born and bred just a mile or so from Shorts Belfast Habour Airport, and being a military enthusiast fell in love with the Sunderland. Mt Grandfather was based there with the Coastguard, and used to tell me about all the different planes that were either made or assembled there. It's not widely known that at the outbreak of war, Scottish Coastal Command used Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland for its early base to cover the Western Approaches. The problem quickly arose that acces to the Approaches meant flying north beond the coast before turning to the west - all to avoid the Irish Border. It was then a secret air passage was arranged between The British and Irish Governments to lessen the mileage. IThe base was thence moved to Castle Archdale, Lough Erne, just inside the border. Just a couple of miles away was Killadeas, new home for the PBY's doing the same WA journey via this secret corridor. Airmen from the Commonwealth and US worked together in both aircraft - one learning the British art of navigation and flying Sunderlands, the other doing the same on PBY's. Apart from the very long flights, the life at the bases was by all accounts quite idyllic. The area is certainly very pretty, but the low hills made approaches very difficult. Today, there are still a few remnants of the Sunderlands' time, with the larhe petrol booms still in situ, the old ramps and a few anchor blocks. There is also a museum there telling the story.
Thanks for the upload - very enjouable.
Thanks Reg really appreciate your interesting feedback, do ponder subscribing to my channel. Chris.
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My old man was RAF a groundcrew mechanic in WW2 and worked on Catalinas and Sunderlands flying from Stranraer in Scotland. On one occasion getting to fly in a Sunderland he was working on. Sadly, during the test flight out over the North Atlantic, someone managed to fall out of an open bomb bay door at great height, never to be seen again. RiP dad.
Very brave men. Many thanks for their service. Best Regards Chris.
One of the best books wriiten about the Austrailian squadrons work with Sunderlands was Ivan Southall's "Fly West". The title comes from the only orders given to the aircrews - fly west! Now long out of print, but second hand copies can be found on the internet. There is a (non flying) Sunderland on display at RAF Museum Hendon.
Thanks Warwick. Best Regards Chris.
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My father served 10 sqd '42 on to '45.
Nice program.
Thank you for your kind feedback, hopefully the Mount Batten parts were interesting. Do please have a subscribe. Chris.
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31 years ago (?!) I was heading home in Whitby (east of Toronto) and cruising along the northern edge of Lake Ontario was the Sunderland. Quite the sight!
A rare treat indeed Michael, do please take a look at my channel. Chris.
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Hello Chris . I had an Airfix Sunderland in the day and it was indeed a huge aircraft . I think 20 years have passed since Kermit's Sunderland flew . He has an enormous collection of aircraft, spends a fortune restoring them , flies them but quickly lose's interest and they just deteriorate outside or in hangers . A Spitfire and Mosquito are two that he no longer flies . I believe he inherited an oil field ......thanks Chris
I agree John Kermit is a quirky character for sure, he has some interesting films on his channel. Chris.
My Mum and Dad both worked at Short's building Sunderlands
Thank you and thank them. Chris.
Thanks Chris, very much an unsung hero.
Many thanks for your kind feedback. Chris.
@@GULLPERCHFLYER You are welcome mate. You pictures and videos are always good. Especially when you bring forgotten or little known types. Always unsung and/or underappreciated types..
Very well done!! Great footage !!
Thank you very much please check out some of my other channel films. Chris.
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I recall seeing this aircraft parked on Southampton water in the early 1980s, I made several trips to the I.O.W. during this time. I took several photos but they are lost to time!
Very interesting Tim do please check out my channel. Chris.
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@@GULLPERCHFLYER Hi Chris, I've been subscribed to your channel for a while now, you do make some fascinating content. 😁
My father was at Mountbatten on the air -sea rescue launches . After the Plymouth blitz he was transferred to Stranraer in Scotland where he was aircrew on Sunderlands patroling the Atlantic . 🇬🇧
Very interesting Johnny many thanks for the feedback. Chris.
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@@GULLPERCHFLYER Thanks, I'll give those a watch .
Another fascinating historical gem Chris, thanks. I was transfixed by an Airfix model as a kid and always had a bit of a soft spot for the marque. I often wondered what it would have been like in the U boat surface attack role if they'd have swapped the .303 for .50 cal Browning machine guns and stuck another four fixed firing on the nose similar to the B25 Mitchell configuration. I've had the pleasure of visiting this aircraft in Kermit Week's 'Fantasy of Flight' collection in Lakeland Florida. Sadly it is now closed to the public but at least it has been preserved in something that 'may' take to the skies again. Cheers.
Good point about the forward guns Steve, they fitted that 57mm Molins gun to the Mosquito which gave it a hefty punch.
Amazing that you have visited Fantasy of Flight. Chris.
Excellent video.
Thank you very much Philip. Chris.
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Personal memory driving down Burgess Road in Swathling in Southampton towards Eastleigh Airport and seeing the Sunderland fly across the airfield a memory will never forget Michael from Southampton
Thank you Michael appreciate your comments. Chris.
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Many years ago I knew a fellow who was licensed to fly flying boats, and he'd flown all types but his favorite was the Catalina.
Appreciate your feedback many thanks Chris.
I've been aboard this very aircraft at Fantasy of Flight!!! Only airplane I've been on that came equipped with a rope & ship anchor.
They sure were some machine, do have a subscribe to my channel it would be appreciated. Chris.
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I flue on a Sundland in the mid 1970s about 76. I was in Bournemouth on my summer holidays and my family was on the beach and my father who was in the RAF during the 2nd World War i the met office as a weatherman and Navigator who drew up weather charts and maps and went up in a Wellington with Sona aerials on top and looked out the glass dome and side windows at cloud formation and serviced in the Middle Eastern out of Egypt over the deserts Med Sea and in the Car East from India and met Mountbatten. Dad was sitting in his deckchair looking out at sea with his binoculars at the ships and planes and all of sundown across the bay a Sunderland flue past and dad fell out of his chair. Well about an latter another flue past in the other direction. It turned out that there were 2 of them operating out of Portsmouth on tourist flights across the bay. So dad and I went to Portsmouth the next day and boarded the plane and flue across the bay and back again and the best part was the takeoff and landing in water and the flight across the bay was fantastic. I will never forget it was great, was it this plane I think it was
Rich how interesting your feedback is amazing, from research this particular Sunderland landed in Calshot on 21st May 1981. Best Regards. Chris.
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Very interesting video on a giant and famous seaplane. What a shame the last flying one went to Florida, USA but there is the huge, white Short Sunderland at the RAF Museum in Hendon, North London which you can go inside and see. Would be wonderful to see one flying again here in the UK, but how many are left that and could be returned to flight?
Thanks Mr Tufty Nut, I guess its a bit like the Supermarine Walrus where there are none left flying, there is one at Duxford under restoration to flight, please subscribe to my channel and check out my Walrus films. Chris.
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Although some footage no mention of R.A.F. Pembroke Dock, in west Wales (Pembroke in England is mentioned!) It was flown over Pembroke Dock on its way to Florida.
The beautiful example at Hendon also came from P.D. by way of France.
Sorry about that Frank my focus was mainly on RAF Mount Batten as that is close to where I live. Do please ponder subscribing Thanks Chris.
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The aircraft in the intro (SE-F) was in my father's squadron (95 Sqn). His aircraft was SE-A.
Thank you Stewart. Chris.
In a previous life, I was on Sunderlands.
Interesting Nicholas many thanks. Chris.
My uncle died in 1935 in the crash of the Singapore III K3595 in Sicily while on their way to Singapore as a part of No. 205 Squadron.
That is very interesting David many thanks. Chris.
I remember late '80s there was a Sunderland under restoration in the Chatham Docks. Would that be this one?
Yes David, Short Sunderland flying boat which saw wartime service with the RAF being restored at Chatham Historic Dockyard in preparation for a fly past , G-BJHS Chris.
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I remember looking at that in 1983 from a window in Chatham barracks during a very very boring lesson on quantity surveying…
Thank you. I understand that, legally, Kermit Weeks cannot use the aeroplane for fee-paying flights because it is still, officially, a Sunderland, having not undergone a factory conversion to passenger specification. He said this, in a video, several years ago.
That's very interesting, Kermit has his own very good you tube channel. Chris.
@@GULLPERCHFLYER That is actually where I watched the video. I tried to keep my post concise.
I accidentally found on of these whilst out in my boat. Laying in about 40 feet
Wow what a find. Chris.
The film Yangse Incident features one.produced in 1949.
Thanks Brian loads more on my channel. Chris.
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1:14 Both of the aircraft, the TEAL Solent and RNZAF Sunderland survive today with the MOTAT collection in Auckland New Zealand.
Many thanks you may like to take a look at my channel I have several films on the Supermarine Walrus. Chris.
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My Father was on the Sunderland that flew under the Sydney harbour bridge and still have paper clipping!
Wow that is some amazing feat, Thanks for posting. Chris.
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Good stuff 👍
Glad you enjoyed John. Chris.
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Amazing aeroplane. I'll never forget when I went inside the example at Hendon RAF museum seeing how huge the airframe is and that the bombs are loaded from the centre fuselage. As you walk through an ashtray is provided to extinguish your cigarette. I presume this was a 1940's safety rule to stop you blowing up any bomb stores with a stray dog end!
Appreciate your feedback Ken. Chris.
From Sunderland…..a ship building city who produced ships over many years. As a kid I was always surprised that we didn’t have a RN ship holding its name. But the more I read and see about the ‘Sunderland’ and its exploits I am ok with that. Great plane and brave aircrew. Great presentation thank you.
Thank you for your kind feedback Rob. Chris.
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Nice video on a magnificent airplane.
Thank you it was very interesting to research. Chris.
Thank you Gary glad you enjoyed the film. Chris.
I was in Week’s machine a few years ago and it was in good shape. The engines are normally pronounced R eighteen thirty
Thank you Peter your comments are very welcome. Chris.
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I would have loved to be able to see one I have always liked the sunderland and especially flying boats
Catalina was also a favourite
They sure have a presence . Chris.
Is it true Sunderland at Hendon had its wing floats shortened to accommodate more coffee tables underneath?
Not from what I read David. Chris.
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I can go over tomorrow and have a look. They revamped the whole area.
Along with many other poster's, used to have an Imperial Airway's Flying Boat poster on my wall. The most upper-class in 1st class Atlantic Air Travel. Along with Madness The Specials The Beat Toyah & many other 80s kid's poster's LOL
That's quite a collection Jason. Cheers Chris.
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I want fly try a flying boat some day.
So beautiful, thank you
Thanks Kevin loads more on my channel. Chris.
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Very good.
Cheers
Many thanks be great if you can subscribe. Chris.
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Thanks for that. M
Happy it was of interest, please consider subscribing. Chris.
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No matter how sound, A float plane has contact with water, And as rare as this plane is it deserves static display. One day it will have one flight too many, and we will never be able to see the plane again.
Appreciate your feedback Brian. Chris.
If you look into the service records of many of the flying boats you'll see how brief, in reality, they were. Many retired and scrapped after less than ten years - sometimes far less than that - due to 'uneconomic hull damage'.
Nice pic of fuel tanker on a barge!
Interesting to see how they transfer fuel Gary. Best Regards Chris.
AEC Matador, they were normally 4x4 but the RAF tankers were 6x6, Airfix do a nice model in their RAF refuelling set, along with a Bedford QL 4x4, ideal for conversions for your railway layout😊.
The Sunderland was a hell of a flying boat .
Sure was James. Best Regards Chris.
It takes a lot of maintenance to keep an aircraft flying.
It takes a huge amount of maintenance to keep a ship seaworthy.
It takes an impossibly massive amount of maintenance to keep a flying boat, airworthy. 😂
To keep it flying that longer after the war, is absolutely astonishing.
Interesting many thanks. Chris.
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stunning sea plane
It was a hefty aircraft that is for sure. Chris.
My father was a radar expert in |WW2 who worked on these...........
Thanks Brian do please have a subscribe and check out some of my other films. Chris.
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I saw it at flight of fantasy before it closed
Looked tip top😊
Good timing rare chance to view the Sunderland. Chris.
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Pembroke England Hope you were never a navigator!
No not a navigator, the footage was a mix of RAF Mount Batten and RAF Pembroke. Chris.
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The German Fighter Pilots Hated it they had a number of Obscene names for it ..
It must have been a large target but hard to bring down. Chris.
We used to climb around one parked out onerahi beach front when we were kids , they smashed it into pieces and buried it in a land fill at riverside ! Ludacris! Don’t you think?
Thanks Ken . Chris.
Pembroke England!!!!
Thanks appreciate your fact checking, there was a mix of RAF Mount Batten and RAF Pembroke. Chris.
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The Brustol Pegasus was not a sleeve valve engine. Good video, a shame that it's spoiled by your breathing and mouth noises.
Thanks for your feedback, it has taken me many weeks of research to compile this film and mistakes will slip through. I am sorry you find my voice annoying and the reason was I am recovering from a severe cold. Do check out some of my other films to see if they are any better for you. Chris.
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Bit harsh, this is clearly a labour of love and very informative, far from spoiling the video it reminds you that it is the product of an enthusiast not a robot voice of an AI program. You can't please some people can you?
Superb video just to add a lot of these gals had various additions for guns done at depot level look at the hundreds of photos bloody guns everywhere lol
Glad you watched along. Chris.
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I thought Short was part of the name not the manufacturer until now lol
Many thanks please check out my channel. Chris.
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Remenber the flying boat filying in pool 1970s could not believe it went in to the pub and next to me was the flight engneer
He was from oz this aircraft is now in southampton museum
Also i was in dorset the landloard of the pub was talking to me he was a sunderland pilot showed me a photo of his plane its letters began RN it was in singerpore he told me all the matelots called it their sunderland happy days i am 67 now
Very interesting many thanks. Chris.
Pembroke isnt in England! Its in Wales.
My father was born in Cardiff. Chris.
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I am ex RAF airframe tech and think its outrageous that a BRITISH plane was allowed to leave its own country to NEVER bee seen again in America in some guys personal fantasy collection. THAT is not preserving a valuable aircraft. The government in UK should bring in a LAW that valuable British hsitorical artifacts should NEVER be allowed to leave the country. The Sunderland was a GREAT aircraft.
I agree we produced some amazing ground breaking aircraft. Chris.
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Listening to this bloke pronouncing the new engines as: ‘R dash 1-8-3-oh’ is painful to the ears.
Sorry about that Christopher I will have a stiff word with him. Chris.
Years ago there was an article that someone on Canvey Island was using part of a wing float as a garden shed, I often wonder if that still stands.
Interesting many thanks Mark. Best Regards Chris.
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Yeah . Interesting . My father in law was with his wife we’re on the Strand in Townsville NQ when a Sanderlands crashed on take off killing all aboard during WW2 . Have a nice. Day Andrej Kondisenko Cairns Australia 🇦🇺
Many thanks how sad to hear. Chris.
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