Short S.25 Sunderland

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Hi,

Fantastic old planes.

I thought that U55 was not scuttled, but was attacked, and sunk, by depthcharges from a few vessels, as well as depthcharges dropped by a Sunderland?

Wasn't it an RAF Hudson that was the first aircraft to "single handedly" force the surrender of a U boat (U570) on the 27August 1941, where it damaged the vessel? Surface ships came along and captured it for Britain, where it became the HMS Graph.

river
 
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My father was an RAF instrument fitter and worked on Sunderlands at Malta and Alexandria after WWII. He loved the plane always saying it was a grand old lady that couldnt be rushed but would always get you home.

He told me a story that during the evacuation of Crete Sunderlands rescued hundreds of men including one aircraft that was flown by an injured fighter pilot who had never flown a multi engine plane before.He also said one Sunderland was so overloaded that it couldnt take off and had to taxi at high speed for hundreds of miles.
 
Short Sunderland Mark I, L2163 ‘DA-G’, of No. 210 Squadron RAF based at Oban, in flight over the Atlantic while escorting Canadian Troop Convoy 6 (TC.6), inbound for Greenock.



Ground crew haul Short Sunderland Mark I, P9600 'OQ-T', of No. 10 Squadron RAAF along to the slipway at Mount Batten, Devon, for launching.



Groundcrew performing a routine overhaul on a Short Sunderland Mark I of No. 210 Squadron RAF, moored in Oban Bay, Scotland.



Loading a 450lb depth charge into a Short Sunderland of No 10 Squadron RAAF at Pembroke Dock, May 1941.



The rear fuselage interior of a Short Sunderland Mark I of No. 210 Squadron RAF, showing the tail gunner leaving his turret and making his way forward.



The Navigators desk on board a Sunderland.



Two gunners in Short Sunderland Mark I, N9027, of No 210 Squadron RAF based at Oban, Argyll, sit at their positions with .303 Vickers K-type machine guns, mounted in the upper fuselage hatches.



A Short Sunderland Mk II flying boat of 10 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, used for reconnaissance and anti-U-boat duties.



The pilot and navigator of a Short Sunderland Mark I of No. 10 Squadron RAAF enjoy some refreshments while on convoy escort duty in the Atlantic.



Sergeant Patrick McCombie, a flight engineer of the Royal Australian Air Force, in his bunk on board a Short Sunderland of No. 10 Squadron RAAF at Mount Batten, Plymouth, Devon.
 
The cylinders on the back of the seats are coloured flare canisters.
It would seem that every seaplane was unsuccessful, as none could take off, or land, in rough seas. A heavy swell perhaps, but not rough sea.
 
The Museum of Transport and Technology (Motat) in Auckland as an ex-RNZAF Sunderland MR.5, which has been on display for many years and is currently undergoing restoration. Just as interesting is its display partner, and ex-TEAL Solent IV, which makes an interesting comparison with its military cousin.
 
Here's a couple of pics of the Sunderland at the IWM, Duxford. Even by today's standards, it looks big when standing alongside it.
 

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I used to work with a guy who flew one on these a couple of times in the NZ territorial air force, he said for a large aircraft it was incredibly maneuverable . It's one of his greatest regrets that he was never allowed to fly the mustangs though.
 
The huge Short Sunderland flying boat had a crew of 9 but could accommodate as many as 80 men when used as a transport. Radar had only been introduced to the Sunderland in October 1941.
 
I thought the Kermit Weeks plane was a Sandringham. Wrong?
Click to expand...

Not entirely wrong; the Sandringham was an extensive passenger conversion of the Sunderland airframe.

Here's the Sunderland in Auckland.





In company with a Solent.



Here's a Sandringham in Southampton.



Both the Weeks aircraft and the Southampton one are ex-RNZAF machines. The Kiwi air force operated the Sundy until 1967.
 
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Busy scene by the slipway at North Front, Gibraltar. In the foreground various RAF marinecraft undergo maintenance. Parked behind them are shrouded Consollidated Catalinas of No. 202 Squadron RAF, while in front of the hangar, an engine service is undertaken on Short Sunderland Mark I, L5798 'KG-B', of No. 204 Squadron RAF based at Bathurst, The Gambia. Between 1941and 1944, this unit regularly escorted Allied convoys between Gibraltar and West Africa.
 
Did the Sunderlands nose turret slide back when on land or ocean?
Was it to allow crew to assist in beaching or tying up?
 
Yes, the turret was on tracks, and could be winched aft, allowing crew access to the anchor and other mooring gear, through the opening in the nose.
 
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