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Short Sunderland

History

The Short S.25 Sunderland was a British flying boat patrol bomber developed for the Royal Air Force (RAF) by Short Brothers. It took its service name from the town (latterly, city) and port of Sunderland in northeast England.

Based in part upon the S.23 Empire flying boat, the flagship of Imperial Airways, the S.25 was extensively re-engineered for military service. It was one of the most powerful and widely used flying boats throughout the Second World War, and was involved in countering the threat posed by German U-boats in the Battle of the Atlantic. RAF Sunderlands also saw service throughout the Korean War and continued in service until 1959. Sunderlands also took part in the Berlin airlift. Sunderlands remained in service with the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) until 1967.

History adapted from Wikipedia.

ML796

The Museum's Sunderland is a Mk. V, which saw service in the RAF and Aeronavale. After retirement, it was for some time a restaurant and nightclub called "Le Mister Blue" just outside La Baule, Brittany until it was rescued from the vandals and the scrapman's torch in 1975. Today it enjoys a rather more dignified retirement in Duxford.