Sunderland to be recovered from seabed off Welsh coast

This seems to be the time to move to Wales, folks!
BBC NEWS | Wales | South West Wales | Lotto boost to raise flying boat

 

What is this, international rescue a plane from Welsh sea month or something?

The Pembroke Trust's Website.


Cheers,
Adam.

 

That is a good picture VP ! I never knew the front gun turret moved back in the fuselage like that so the crew could drop anchor or what ever they do up there. I read that they were very dangerous to shoot down and one took on several Ju-88's and won !

 

wow, far from being common this one is

 

never saw one of those! that thing is BIG!!

 

*Bump* for an an update.
It's finally happening.
"One of the last surviving flying-boats to fight in World War II is being raised from the deep – with the help of the last pilot who flew it.
A deep sea diver accidentally discovered the ghostly wreck by chance after a lobster-pot became snagged on the plane 65ft below the waves.
The diver followed the rope down to the seabed off the Welsh coast – and came across the world’s only surviving Mark I Sunderland flying-boat.
Historians tracked down the last pilot to fly the bomber to help identify it: 93-year-old Wing Commander Derek Martin OBE.
Derek flew the Sunderland out of Pembroke Dock the day before it sank as part of his job training young aircrews.
He said: “I flew it on a routine flight around the dock and then moored it up.
“There was a gale during the night and it must have been holed by some floating debris and down it went.
“In the morning it wasn’t there. Well, it was – at the bottom of the sea.”
A 100m exclusion zone has been set up to protect the unique war relic from being damaged by fishing nets.
John Evans, project manager Pembroke Dock Sunderland Trust, said: “We now have the world’s only Mark I Sunderland.
“We have identified it as Sunderland T9044 of No 210 Squadron, RAF, which sank at its moorings in a gale in November 1940.
“There was no crew on board and the aircraft was lost for decades before being rediscovered by divers.
“Despite all the years in the water it is immediately recognisable.
“Much of it is covered in mud and sediment which has preserved the structure and turned it into a perfect time capsule.
“Two of its massive Pegasus radial engines and propellers have been raised from the wreck and are now being conserved and displayed in our museum.”
Sunderland flying-boats flew out of Pembroke Dock during the Battle of the Atlantic – when they were used to attack German U-boats that were trying to sink vital supply ships."
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/welsh-battle-atlantic-flying-boat-6404822

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RL9ZKTNHwY

The Hudson, PBY Catalina and the Sunderland

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrknBJlQ31c

 

A very good view, inside and out, of a restored Sunderland.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RivoAAmvo0

 

*bump* for an update
"A heroic RAF pilot who helped defend Britain during the Second World War has died before he was able to see his flying boat raised from the sea where it sank in 1940.
Wing Commander Derek Martin OBE was the last person to fly the Sunderland aircraft before it sank during a fierce storm at the dock where it was based.
After he helped historians identify the plane, they started to bring it up from the seabed - but the job was not finished by the time Mr Martin died last month at the age of 93.
He was an instructor at a training unit based in Pembroke Dock, West Wales when he last flew the Sunderland bomber in 1940 as part of his duties training young airmen.
A World War II pilot has died before fulfilling his final wish - seeing his plane brought up from the deep.
Wing Commander Derek Martin OBE, 93, passed away before seeing his Sunderland flying-boat raised from the seabed where it was discovered by fishermen.
Derek helped historians identify the ghostly wreck of his war plane after a lobster-pot became snagged on the plane 65ft below the waves.
Mr Martin later joined 210 Squadron in Oban, and was badly injured in a crash in 1941.
He was treated by the renowned plastic surgeon Archibald McIndoe and became a member of the exclusive 'Guinea Pig Club', formed of patients who had undergone experimental procedures. "
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2606190/World-War-Two-pilot-hero-dies-final-wish-Sunderland-flying-boat-flew-hunt-Nazi-U-Boats-raised-sea-fulfilled.html#ixzz2z6EfO0Bf