A superb detailed account. Thank you Brian and other supporters of this remarkable work! This gave my father a lot of pleasure, as he remembers in vivid detail, aged only 5, watching my grandfather take off in one, from Straits of Jahore before British evacuation of Singapore as the Japanese imperial army poured down what was then Malaya toward them, consuming and burning all in its path. Grandfather was a senior admiralty engineer and was recalled to Britain. An utterly devastating time of loss, but without that, I would not be here. My grandmother took the two children back on a steamer a few days later. I particularly enjoyed the comment that Sunderlands should be thought of as a "boat that could fly" !!
A few comments on your video. Just for context, I grew up on a Sunderland Flying boat base, my Dad serving on them. I got to go on board in service aircraft, on the water and see and do things people can only dream about today. The "Bomb Room" is actually on the lower deck, the roof making the sloping floor/deck, as you leave the flight deck via the Flight Engineers space. The Bomb room sliding doors were Magnetic in later versions (Mk III/IIIa/V). Only ever seen a beaching Sunderland powering up the ramp in one photo. Generally Sunderland's were brought up the ramp stern first. ML814's last Military Serial was NZ4108 as part of 16 Sunderland Mk V/MR5's with the RNZAF. She is the sister Sunderland to NZ4115 preserved (taken straight from RNZAF Service) at MOTAT here in Auckland New Zealand ( one you missed), that I have explored/photographed (re-acquainted myself with) from bow to stern.
Thanks for sharing and I accept ANY corrections from someone who knows more! The closest I get to most of these birds is a keyboard and the internet. Thanks again!
Well done, sir. At 1:52, the (RAAF 10 Squadron) RBG Sunderland, amongst other Sunderlands, was flown by my Uncle Richard during WW2. He also flew RBA, and RBR.
The flying boats are always fascinating, able to operate in almost an environment. I've often wondered why the Martin Mariner didn't supercede most of its contemporaries. It had far superior range, enough to easily close the Mid-Atlantic gap.
Back in 1976-97 I was on holidays in Bournemouth and we were sitting on the beach when sundently I heard and saw a four engine plane flying across the bay and to my surprise it was a Sunderland flying boat and half an hour later another one car flying across the bay in the other direction. At first I thought that it was the same plane that had turned aro 9:08 und but my father who was in the RAF bomber command on Wellingtons as a Navigator -observer from the Bublé from the glass dom on the top of plan and he was in the Met office drawing up weather reports and maps and was sent Egypt Sicily Greece and instead of going to Italy the soft underbelly. He was sent to India as they needed someone with his with his ability to draw maps and he returned home after the independence of India on the Queen Mary from Singapore, was watching the Sunderland's through his binoculars and could not believe his eyes and we spent the rest of the afternoon watching these plans flying across the bay and later that day we read in the local paper of these Sunderland's that were based at Portsmouth Doc. So the next day we went along to where they were mored and went for a flight across the bay and the best part was the tack off and landing as we splashed down into the water and flew across the bay. I do not what happened to the two Sunderland's afterwards but I was told that that they were in Canada however I do not that is true..
I always thought the bomb racks on the Sunderland were brilliant. Only a little more than half of all PBYs built were amphibious. All marks prior to Mk. Va were wheel less.
@@MichaelKingsfordGray Wow! You really are a stuffed shirt, aren't you? I'm pretty sure I have children older than you. As for 'growing up', trust me, it's overrated.
A superb detailed account. Thank you Brian and other supporters of this remarkable work! This gave my father a lot of pleasure, as he remembers in vivid detail, aged only 5, watching my grandfather take off in one, from Straits of Jahore before British evacuation of Singapore as the Japanese imperial army poured down what was then Malaya toward them, consuming and burning all in its path. Grandfather was a senior admiralty engineer and was recalled to Britain. An utterly devastating time of loss, but without that, I would not be here. My grandmother took the two children back on a steamer a few days later.
I particularly enjoyed the comment that Sunderlands should be thought of as a "boat that could fly" !!
Thanks for sharing those memories!
Short Sunderland, robust, beautiful and wonderful plane WWII.
A few comments on your video. Just for context, I grew up on a Sunderland Flying boat base, my Dad serving on them. I got to go on board in service aircraft, on the water and see and do things people can only dream about today. The "Bomb Room" is actually on the lower deck, the roof making the sloping floor/deck, as you leave the flight deck via the Flight Engineers space. The Bomb room sliding doors were Magnetic in later versions (Mk III/IIIa/V). Only ever seen a beaching Sunderland powering up the ramp in one photo. Generally Sunderland's were brought up the ramp stern first. ML814's last Military Serial was NZ4108 as part of 16 Sunderland Mk V/MR5's with the RNZAF. She is the sister Sunderland to NZ4115 preserved (taken straight from RNZAF Service) at MOTAT here in Auckland New Zealand ( one you missed), that I have explored/photographed (re-acquainted myself with) from bow to stern.
Thanks for sharing and I accept ANY corrections from someone who knows more! The closest I get to most of these birds is a keyboard and the internet. Thanks again!
Well done, sir.
At 1:52, the (RAAF 10 Squadron) RBG Sunderland, amongst other Sunderlands, was flown by my Uncle Richard during WW2.
He also flew RBA, and RBR.
Very cool!
The flying boats are always fascinating, able to operate in almost an environment.
I've often wondered why the Martin Mariner didn't supercede most of its contemporaries. It had far superior range, enough to easily close the Mid-Atlantic gap.
I actually don't know much about the Mariner and will add it to my "to look at" list.
The erks who dropped tools and parts they had signed for, had to either recover then or pay for them. This is why Captains go down with their ships.
I really love this plane !
Back in 1976-97 I was on holidays in Bournemouth and we were sitting on the beach when sundently I heard and saw a four engine plane flying across the bay and to my surprise it was a Sunderland flying boat and half an hour later another one car flying across the bay in the other direction. At first I thought that it was the same plane that had turned aro 9:08 und but my father who was in the RAF bomber command on Wellingtons as a Navigator -observer from the Bublé from the glass dom on the top of plan and he was in the Met office drawing up weather reports and maps and was sent Egypt Sicily Greece and instead of going to Italy the soft underbelly. He was sent to India as they needed someone with his with his ability to draw maps and he returned home after the independence of India on the Queen Mary from Singapore, was watching the Sunderland's through his binoculars and could not believe his eyes and we spent the rest of the afternoon watching these plans flying across the bay and later that day we read in the local paper of these Sunderland's that were based at Portsmouth Doc. So the next day we went along to where they were mored and went for a flight across the bay and the best part was the tack off and landing as we splashed down into the water and flew across the bay. I do not what happened to the two Sunderland's afterwards but I was told that that they were in Canada however I do not that is true..
Thanks for sharing!
A suitable nickname for this great seaworthy fortress might have been Thunderland.
or "The Flying Porcupine"
I'm not entirely well informed about Sunderland production in Northern Ireland.
Great vid. What's with the engines in the picture at 2:09? It looks like a large scale model?
Only 2 blades.looks like R/C model.Well Spotted. 👍🇦🇺🇦🇺
I always thought the bomb racks on the Sunderland were brilliant. Only a little more than half of all PBYs built were amphibious. All marks prior to Mk. Va were wheel less.
I did not know that! Thanks.
The Sunderland was a boat that could fly.
The Catalina was a 'plane that could float.
@@MichaelKingsfordGrayDon't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
@@Lord.Kiltridge Grow up, if you are mentally able.
@@MichaelKingsfordGray Wow! You really are a stuffed shirt, aren't you? I'm pretty sure I have children older than you. As for 'growing up', trust me, it's overrated.
Not bad, but again 5:28 to 5:39 old mith. Reason for german nickname was ASV Mark II radar
Yes, I've seen that explanation too.