John, thanks for reminding us of the anniversary.
As you probably know, the ORB for 205 squadron doesn’t mention the Sunderland detachment after Dec 1958 so with thanks to crew such as Bill Whiter, who checked some dates in their log books, I can add:
14 May 1959 Last Operational exercise by an RAF Sunderland. DP198 was on a Fesex I sortie with HMS Caprice.
15 May 1959 Last formation flight by RAF Sunderlands. DP198 and ML797 went on a farewell formation flight over Singapore. It was the last flight for DP198.
Both John Evans and Chaz Bowyer’s books record ML797 as flying for the last time on 20th May 1959. I’ve seen the 15th May mentioned before as a “last official date” for the Sunderlands. Is that the official date for the end of the detachment?
Here’s a photo of the last formation flight, ML797 from DP198. (I’m fairly sure this is also from Bill Whiter, but apologies if it isn’t – I can’t get to my database right now.)
Furd – please do share you reminiscences here. Moggy is right, we’d love to hear them.
Allan
The RAAF and separately, IIRC, the RAF came up with the use of both a glossy white and a matt white on maritime anti-sub aircraft; the glossy on the underside, the matt on the sides, the different reflectivities having benefits. The RAAF tests were trialled on an Anson (well covered in Pentland, again) and I think the RAF experiments went into service on Sunderlands – this from an article in a recent model mag I have to pass to Pondskater! I may misrecall.
Spot on James, and thanks for thinking of me with the article. By e-mail would be good otherwise I need to send you my new address.
Anyway, this is how the AM wanted flying boats and other coastal aircraft painted in 1943. The gloss was created from either a special gloss synthetic or a transparent coating on the cellulose. I always thought that scheme very reminiscent of seagulls. Sunderlands started rolling out the factory in the new white scheme from March 1943 (according to photos in a new book on one of Short’s factories. ;))
It is an area where the semi-knowledgeable should be wary to tread
Oh well, back to the bunker then.
Allan
Thought I would thrown in a couple of documents from an Air Ministry file (DTD Technical Circiular 360 c1943) and then retreat back to my bunker.
First, a list of paint colours which shows a variety of sky shades – however, read on to see what was used on fighters and naval aircraft.
The colour schemes for fighters
and naval aircraft
And finally, as Mark said above, the use of the codes S and C to indicate paint types.
Have fun
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