Pembroke Dock Sunderland, worth recovering it?

Cees, I can’t think why anyone would want to go to the great expense, and effort, of trying to recover the burnt remains of a Shetland (Galley fire?) when it played a very small part in our aviation heritage.
The Sunderland 1 is worth the effort IMO.

Hi Cees,

Question: If the airframe is in similar corroded condition, will it be recovered anyway

I’ve seen one of cylinders from that engine. It looked badly corroded but once the sea growth and other things had been gently scraped off (apparently with dental tools, must’ve taken days) it looked amazing. So yes, if it is in the same state as the bits I’ve seen, it will be recovered. However, as I understand it (and I’m not directly involved) the money they got recently is to pay for a survey which will determine what state it is in and what can be recovered.

Or would it be better to look for the remains of the prototype Shetland which sunk at it’s moorings?

Now that would be something. Unfortunately it is not to be. The fire that broke out in the APU during the night spread through the whole aircraft and it burned down to the waterline. The remains sank but were recovered very soon after. I’ve seen at photo (at the National Archives) of the recovered hull section broken into two pieces. Presumably they were scrapped. The Shetland II (civil version) languished at the back of the hangar at Belfast until it was scrapped.

I know it’s the only remaining Mk I Sunderland.

Yep and in wartime condition – and you know that I’m as biased about the Sunderland as others are about, oh I don’t know, the Halifax 😉

I wonder what will happen if this project winds up and the Sunderland stays down there. The money they will have to apply for is not in a bank account marked “only for aircraft recovery/restoration”. It is likely to be money for heritage generally, for economic regeneration, for other non-aviation projects and I think I’d be happy to see it attracted to aviation by a group of fellow enthusiasts.

I don’t know if the Sunderland can be recovered – I hope it can.

Allan

Spend some money looking for a Stirling – Whitley – Barracuda -Sea Otter or indeed the mortal remains of a Sea Hornet