Lottery Grant to Raise Sunderland

Thats the way I read it too. I thought that plans were already underway to survey the UK’s seabed wrecks?

Yes – but it is with the aim of locating them.

Seems a bit odd to me to be spending a lot of money twice.

It would not be duplication – the Sunderland survey is to investigate the condition of this particular wreck with a view to recovering it. They already know where it is.

This effort has to be applauded. As the former chairman of the Pembrokeshire Aviation Society I cannot emphasise enough how much the Sunderland and this recovery means to the local population. There are still visits to PB as it was known by many who served on flying boats various and it would be a fitting memorial to have a real Sunderland on display. Moves are on hand to try to obtain one of the old PB hangars to display the many artifacts already preserved.

I can thoroughly recommend anyone visiting the area to visit the old gun fort museum at Pembroke Dock where there is much to interest the aviation historian including the engine recovered from the Sunderland to date.

i know!!! where would it land 😉

Thats the way I read it too. I thought that plans were already underway to survey the UK’s seabed wrecks? Seems a bit odd to me to be spending a lot of money twice.

Best wishes
Steve P

Misleading Thread name?

When I read the BBC news article, I was under the impression that they were only doing a survey to assess the suitablity of the wreck for lifting? After 70 years in salty water, and given the condition of the engine already lifted, I have my doubts….

What is certain is that I don’t believe we will be seeing it at Legends…..;)

It is a result from some very good marketing.Certainly there are plenty of more worthwhile projects in my view however it is an example of what can happen when an idea gets a good push from the marketing mix..
Up here at inverness there is currently a project to build a new museum and art gallery. Already they have got about 8 high profile sponsors and yet there is already a museum and a need for funds in other areas. But if you have the money to pay for a campaign it is the way to get more funding.

One of the engines complete with nacelle and prop which had fallen off the wing was raised to the surface a year or so ago by the divers in the ‘Wreck Detectives’ programme, remember watching the diver looking at the engine still on the wing when they were trying to identify the mark and serial of the aircraft and spotting the de havilland ‘bracket’ propeller in the murk. At least only the aircraft was lost on this occasion. . .

Good News.

I just came across this while having a rant about something else:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/wales/south_west/7103578.stm
Are they serious, I recall from previous threads that the a/c was beyond help and should be left where it is.
It’s the same old story, wouldn’t the money best be spent on a more worthwhile project, and if it’s in Wales, a certain P-38 springs to mind.
I like the quote from the chairman of the Sunderland Trust, ‘The grant was crucial to their plans to have the aircraft put on display’, it might be better to buy a few lorry loads of scrap from Hanningfield metals at no where near the price.

Hi Pete,

Fab news you made us aware of. Many thanks and keep ranting.

Chers JJ.

Yes they are serious and the announcement of this grant shows that Heritage Lottery Fund has confidence in the Sunderland Trust and what they are doing.

Think about it – all the Sunderlands on display were pulled from service in the 1960s. Hendon’s came from French service, MOTAT’s came from RNZAF service and the IWMs example is a heavily restored ex Aeronavale machine which spent time as a restaurant. These are all late model MKVs.

T9044 is a MkI which went down at its moorings. It is a time capsule of early World War II material and deserves to be recovered – for exactly the same reasons as the P38 does. Now if there happened to be a Stirling next to it then I could understand if the effort was redirected, but this is a very special situation.

Personally I’m cheering that HLF is prepared to put up more money for aviation heritage.

Lets get both aircraft ashore.

Allan