Sole surviving Short Sunderland Mk 1 surveyed
A £50,000 planning grant given by the Heritage Lottery Fund to the Pembroke Dock Sunderland Trust has boosted the odds of the sole remaining Short Sunderland Mk 1 being lifted from the sea bed near the entrance to Pembroke Dock. The aircraft, T9044, which sank at its moorings during a gale in November 1940, will hopefully be recovered and put on public display following an extensive sonar survey at the end of 2007.
In just two extremely active months, T9044 flew 14 operational missions as part of the RAF’s 210 Squadron, stationed at Oban and Pembroke Dock.
The sinking of T9044 on November 12th 1940 came at a time when the RAF had a desperate shortage of Sunderlands for maritime patrol. At the time it was by far the largest aircraft in RAF service.
The amazingly clear images of an earlier sonar scan can be seen in the video below. The well preserved state of T9044 was confirmed during a recent dive expedition.
For more information on the Pembroke Dock Sunderland Trust look here.
To download a short history of the Short Sunderland, click here.