Short Sunderland MK.V Flying Boat Patrol Bomber (ML796) IWM Duxford.
Built by Short Brothers as a Mk.III ML796 was subsequently converted to Mk.V Standard and delivered to RAF Calshot on 15th May 1945, it joined No.228 Squadron at Pembroke Dock shortly afterwards. To No.4 OTU, Alness on 3rd March 1946, and then to No.57 MU, Wig Bay on 10th July 1946. Reactivated for No.230 Squadron in 1948 for the Berlin Airlift. On 20th December 1949, ML796 was included in a batch of Sunderlands for the French Navy, overhauled at Belfast 22nd June to 3rd August 1950 and handed over to the French Navy. Served with Flottile 7FE, Dakar until December 1960. Flown to France and stored at Lanveoc-Poulmic for 5 years until bought by M. R. Bertin and used as a disco at Maisden-le-Riviere for 4 years, then moved to La Baule as a nightclub and restaurant. A planned motorway through the site forced M. Bertin to offer it free to anyone who could take it away. The offer was accepted by the Imperial War Museum and it arrived at Duxford in five sections on 9th July 1976.
The majestic Short S.25 Sunderland Flying Boat Patrol Bomber was developed and constructed by Short Brothers for the Royal Air Force, the Aircraft took its service name from the city and port of Sunderland. Developed in line with the Civilian S.23 Empire Flying Boat, the flagship of Imperial Airways, the Sunderland was developed specifically to conform to the requirements of British Air Ministry Specification R.2/33 for a 'Long-Range Patrol/Reconnaissance Flying Boat to serve with the Royal Air Force. Successor to the earlier Short Sarafand Flying Boat, sharing several similarities with the S.23, it featured a more advanced 'Aerodynamic Hull' and was outfitted with various Offensive and Defensive Armaments, including Machine Gun Turrets, Bombs, Aerial Mines, and Depth Charges. The Sunderland was powered by four Bristol Pegasus XVIII Radial Engines and was outfitted with various Detection Equipment to aid Combat Operations, including the Leigh searchlight, the Air-to-Surface Vessel (ASV) Mark II and Mark III Radar Units, and an Astrodome.
The Sunderland was one of the most powerful and widely used Flying Boats throughout World War Two. In addition to the RAF, the type was Operated by other Allied Military Air Wings, including the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, South African Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force, French Navy, Norwegian Air Force, and the Portuguese Navy. During the conflict, the type was heavily involved in Allied efforts to Counter the threat posed by German U-Boats in the 'Battle of the Atlantic'. On the 17 th of July 1940, a RAAF Sunderland (of No.10 Squadron) performed the type's first unassisted U-Boat kill. Sunderlands also played a major role in the Mediterranean Theatre, performing Maritime Reconnaissance Flights and Logistical Support Missions. During the evacuation of Crete, shortly after the German invasion of the island, several Aircraft were used to Transport Troops. Numerous unarmed Sunderlands were also flown by civil operator British Overseas Airways Corporation traversing routes as far afield as the Pacific Ocean.
During the Post-War Era, use of the Sunderland throughout Europe rapidly declined, while greater numbers remained in service in the Far East, where large developed Runways were less prevalent. Between mid-195'0 and September 1954, several squadrons of RAF Sunderlands saw Combat Action during the Korean War. Around a dozen Aircraft had also participated in the Berlin Airlift, delivering supplies to the Blockaded German city. The RAF continued to use the Sunderland in a Military Capacity up to 1959. In December 1960, the French Navy retired their Aircraft, which were the last remaining examples in Military use within the Northern Hemisphere. The type also remained in Service with the RNZAF up to 1967, when they were replaced by the Land-Based Lockheed P-3 Orion. A number of Sunderland's were converted for use within the civil sector, where they were known as the Hythe and the Sandringham, in this configuration, the type continued in Airline Operation until 1974. Several examples were preserved, including a single Airworthy Sunderland which has been placed on display in Florida at Fantasy of Flight.
Specifications:-
▪︎Role: Military Flying Boat Bomber / Maritime Patrol Bomber
▪︎Manufacturer: Short Brothers
▪︎Designer: Arthur Gouge
▪︎First Flight: 16th of October 1937
▪︎Introduction: 1938
▪︎Retired: RAF 1959 / RNZAF 1967
▪︎Status: Retired
▪︎Primary Users: Royal Air Force / French Navy / Royal Australian Air Force / South African Air Force / Royal New Zealand Air Force
▪︎Produced: 1938 to 1946
▪︎Number Built: 749
▪︎Variants: Short Sandringham / Short Seaford
▪︎Engine: 4-Pratt & Whitney R-1838 Twin Wasp Radials
▪︎Crew: 9 to 11
▪︎Wing Span: 114ft
▪︎Length: 88ft 4in
▪︎Weight: 10.9 tonnes unladen / 18.4 tonnes laden.
Short Sunderland MK.V Flying Boat Patrol Bomber (ML796) IWM Duxford.
Built by Short Brothers as a Mk.III ML796 was subsequently converted to Mk.V Standard and delivered to RAF Calshot on 15th May 1945, it joined No.228 Squadron at Pembroke Dock shortly afterwards. To No.4 OTU, Alness on 3rd March 1946, and then to No.57 MU, Wig Bay on 10th July 1946. Reactivated for No.230 Squadron in 1948 for the Berlin Airlift. On 20th December 1949, ML796 was included in a batch of Sunderlands for the French Navy, overhauled at Belfast 22nd June to 3rd August 1950 and handed over to the French Navy. Served with Flottile 7FE, Dakar until December 1960. Flown to France and stored at Lanveoc-Poulmic for 5 years until bought by M. R. Bertin and used as a disco at Maisden-le-Riviere for 4 years, then moved to La Baule as a nightclub and restaurant. A planned motorway through the site forced M. Bertin to offer it free to anyone who could take it away. The offer was accepted by the Imperial War Museum and it arrived at Duxford in five sections on 9th July 1976.
The majestic Short S.25 Sunderland Flying Boat Patrol Bomber was developed and constructed by Short Brothers for the Royal Air Force, the Aircraft took its service name from the city and port of Sunderland. Developed in line with the Civilian S.23 Empire Flying Boat, the flagship of Imperial Airways, the Sunderland was developed specifically to conform to the requirements of British Air Ministry Specification R.2/33 for a 'Long-Range Patrol/Reconnaissance Flying Boat to serve with the Royal Air Force. Successor to the earlier Short Sarafand Flying Boat, sharing several similarities with the S.23, it featured a more advanced 'Aerodynamic Hull' and was outfitted with various Offensive and Defensive Armaments, including Machine Gun Turrets, Bombs, Aerial Mines, and Depth Charges. The Sunderland was powered by four Bristol Pegasus XVIII Radial Engines and was outfitted with various Detection Equipment to aid Combat Operations, including the Leigh searchlight, the Air-to-Surface Vessel (ASV) Mark II and Mark III Radar Units, and an Astrodome.
The Sunderland was one of the most powerful and widely used Flying Boats throughout World War Two. In addition to the RAF, the type was Operated by other Allied Military Air Wings, including the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, South African Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force, French Navy, Norwegian Air Force, and the Portuguese Navy. During the conflict, the type was heavily involved in Allied efforts to Counter the threat posed by German U-Boats in the 'Battle of the Atlantic'. On the 17 th of July 1940, a RAAF Sunderland (of No.10 Squadron) performed the type's first unassisted U-Boat kill. Sunderlands also played a major role in the Mediterranean Theatre, performing Maritime Reconnaissance Flights and Logistical Support Missions. During the evacuation of Crete, shortly after the German invasion of the island, several Aircraft were used to Transport Troops. Numerous unarmed Sunderlands were also flown by civil operator British Overseas Airways Corporation traversing routes as far afield as the Pacific Ocean.
During the Post-War Era, use of the Sunderland throughout Europe rapidly declined, while greater numbers remained in service in the Far East, where large developed Runways were less prevalent. Between mid-195'0 and September 1954, several squadrons of RAF Sunderlands saw Combat Action during the Korean War. Around a dozen Aircraft had also participated in the Berlin Airlift, delivering supplies to the Blockaded German city. The RAF continued to use the Sunderland in a Military Capacity up to 1959. In December 1960, the French Navy retired their Aircraft, which were the last remaining examples in Military use within the Northern Hemisphere. The type also remained in Service with the RNZAF up to 1967, when they were replaced by the Land-Based Lockheed P-3 Orion. A number of Sunderland's were converted for use within the civil sector, where they were known as the Hythe and the Sandringham, in this configuration, the type continued in Airline Operation until 1974. Several examples were preserved, including a single Airworthy Sunderland which has been placed on display in Florida at Fantasy of Flight.
Specifications:-
▪︎Role: Military Flying Boat Bomber / Maritime Patrol Bomber
▪︎Manufacturer: Short Brothers
▪︎Designer: Arthur Gouge
▪︎First Flight: 16th of October 1937
▪︎Introduction: 1938
▪︎Retired: RAF 1959 / RNZAF 1967
▪︎Status: Retired
▪︎Primary Users: Royal Air Force / French Navy / Royal Australian Air Force / South African Air Force / Royal New Zealand Air Force
▪︎Produced: 1938 to 1946
▪︎Number Built: 749
▪︎Variants: Short Sandringham / Short Seaford
▪︎Engine: 4-Pratt & Whitney R-1838 Twin Wasp Radials
▪︎Crew: 9 to 11
▪︎Wing Span: 114ft
▪︎Length: 88ft 4in
▪︎Weight: 10.9 tonnes unladen / 18.4 tonnes laden.