What of the rumour that there were still a couple of Sunderlands at the bottom of Windermere? Any substance to it ?

No

Has anyone looked?

Yes.

Difficult area – best not to go there, but you asked nicely and it would be discourteous not to explain.
For many, many years there have been several rumours of a Sunderland or Sunderlands in Windermere – but no evidence. Then a “sonar image” was published in The Times a couple of years ago. It has since been shown to be fake – why? Nobody knows, but it wasn’t real.
I know of at least two attempts to survey the lake to find a Sunderland, both with negative results. Found a few old boats and debris but nothing the size of a Sunderland.
One question remains. Why did the rumour start in the first place? I think I may be getting close to an answer to that one, couple of loose ends to chase but the main story is no, it seems there is not, and has never been, a Sunderland at the bottom of Windermere.
So can we drop this one quickly and go back to discussing aircraft which stayed on the surface? 🙂

This is an interesting site
http://www.aohg.org.uk/twww/industry3.html
Moggy

Thanks Moggy. Ambleside Oral History Group – Oddly I recognise the story about the swan – I think I may have met this gentleman on one of my trips out. If so, he used to work at Short Brothers in Windermere. Nice example of oral history.

Allan