The Short S.25 Sunderland was a British flying boat patrol bomber, developed and constructed by Short Brothers for the Royal Air Force (RAF). The aircraft took its service name from the town (latterly, city) and port of Sunderland in North East England.
Developed in parallel with the civilian S.23 Empire flying boat, the flagship of Imperial Airways, the Sunderland was developed specifically to conform to the requirements of British Air Ministry Specification R.2/33 for a long-range patrol/reconnaissance flying boat to serve with the Royal Air Force (RAF). As designed, it served as a successor to the earlier Short Sarafand flying boat. Sharing several similarities with the S.23, it featured a more advanced aerodynamic hull and was outfitted with various offensive and defensive armaments, including machine gun turrets, bombs, aerial mines, and depth charges. The Sunderland was powered by four Bristol Pegasus XVIII radial engines and was outfitted with various detection equipment to aid combat operations, including the Leigh searchlight, the ASV Mark II and ASV Mark III radar units, and an astrodome.
The Sunderland was one of the most powerful and widely used flying boats throughout the Second World War. In addition to the RAF, the type was operated by other Allied military air wings, including the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), South African Air Force (SAAF), Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), French Navy, Norwegian Air Force, and the Portuguese Navy. During the conflict, the type was heavily involved in Allied efforts to counter the threat posed by German U-boats in the Battle of the Atlantic. Wikipedia
YouTube Short Sunderland (1940-1949)
last update: 2021-10-15 17:36:55Known Squadron Assignments: ;422
Served with No. 422 (GR) Squadron, RCAF, coded "2D". Crashed near Clare Island, Clew Bay, Ireland on 25 May 1943, while on patrol. No survivors.Known Squadron Assignments: ;4
Known Squadron Assignments: ;423
Served with No. 423 (GP) Squadron, RCAF, coded "3*G", based at Castle Archdale, Northern Ireland. Picked up from maintenance facility at Wig Bay by squadron crew on 21 June 1943. Scored this units 2nd U-boat kill on 4 August 1943 - U-489 in the Western Approaches, at 61-11N 14-38W. Shot down by return fire, 5 crew killed, 6 wounded rescued by destroyer HMS Castleton. This ship also rescued 58 crew from the U-boat.Known Squadron Assignments:
Served with No. 422 (GP) Squadron, RCAF from 26 June 1943. Engine exploded in flight while on patrol from Castle Archdale on 3 September 1943. Aircraft sank after ditching, crew rescued by Sunderland from No. 228 Squadron. Reported as instructional airframe 4405M, dates unclear.Known Squadron Assignments: ;423
Served with No. 423 (GP) Squadron, RCAF, coded "3*J". Scored this units third u-boat kill - U-610 at 55-45N 24-33W, on 8 October 1943. Lost after an engine failure while on patrol on 13 November 1943, crashed into sea off Irish coast, near Donegal. All 10 (or 11?) crew died.Known Squadron Assignments: ;119
Known Squadron Assignments: ;4
Used by No. 422 (GR) Squadron, RCAF from 21 December 1942, coded "2*L". Left this unit by June 1944Known Squadron Assignments: ;423
Served with No. 423 (GR) Squadron, RCAF, from 10 May 1943 coded "D". Exchanged fire with an Fw 200 on 14 September 1943, no damage reported. Crashed at Castle Archdale on 11 November 1943, while attempting to land. 5 fatalities, plus several injuries. Wreckage raised on 22 November.Known Squadron Assignments: ;4
Known Squadron Assignments: ;228
Known Squadron Assignments: ;119
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Known Squadron Assignments: ;422
With No. 422 (GR) Squadron, RCAF, Sunderland DV 990 coded "R". was attacked while searching for U-476, near 63-34N 03-02E.which had been badly damaged in an air attack earlier in the day. The Sunderland was hit by flak during the attack run and and crashed into the sea after dropping three depth charges (no damage). The crew of 12 all died.
source: Malcolm Deeley, Ulster Aviation Society
last update: 2024-September-22With No. 422 (GR) Squadron, RCAF, Sunderland DV 990 coded "R". on a daylight anti-sub patrol searching for U -476, near 63-34N 03-02E.which had been badly damaged in an air attack earlier in the day. The Sunderland was hit by flak during the attack run and and crashed into the sea after dropping three depth charges (no damage). .Warrant Officer K.M. Fleming, F/Os G.E. Holly, T.E. Frair, Flight Lieutenant E.W. Beattie, P/Os J.C.Seely, J.O. Burke, J.H. Hamilton, C. Senton, Sergeants P.D. Andrew (RAF), D.J. Harvey (RAF), Flying Officer G.B. Gingell (RAF), and FS L.W. Guggiari (RAF) were killed.d.
source: Malcolm Deeley, Ulster Aviation Society
Known Squadron Assignments: ;201
Known Squadron Assignments: ;228
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Known Squadron Assignments: ;228
Known Squadron Assignments: ;20
Known Squadron Assignments: ;204
Known Squadron Assignments: ;422
With No. 422 (GR) Squadron, RCAF at Castle Archdale. Sighted 2 surfaced u-boats on 17 October 1943, while escorting convoy ON206 and ONS20. Attacked both with depth charges, heavily damaged by AA fire during attacks. 3 crew killed by AA fire, a fourth drowned after the aircraft ditched near Convoy ONS206. Remainder of crew rescued by HMS Drury. Possibly damaged U-841, which was later sunk at this position by HMS Byard, or U-470.Known Squadron Assignments: ;204
Known Squadron Assignments: ;210
Known Squadron Assignments: ;210
Known Squadron Assignments: ;201
Known Squadron Assignments: ;423
With No. 423 (GR) Squadron, RCAF, coded "B". Crashed north west of Donegal Bay, Ireland, near Bloody Foreland, on 6 September 1944, following engine failure. 9 crew killed, one survivor picked up in raft next day.Known Squadron Assignments: ;228
Known Squadron Assignments: ;201
Known Squadron Assignments: ;210
Known Squadron Assignments: ;204
Known Squadron Assignments: ;230
Known Squadron Assignments: ;422
With No. 422 (GR) Squadron, RCAF, coded "T". Crashed on 12 August 1944, following engine failure shortly after take off from Castle Archdale. Jettisoned depth charges, and was jettisoning fuel whne it crashed. Struck a hill 2 miles south of Belleek, turned over, broke in two and caught fire. 3 killed, 4 severely injured. Crash site also reported as Corlea, Cashelard, Republic of Ireland. Survivors visited crash location in late 2004.422 Flying Yachtsmen Squadron (This Arm Shall Do It) RAF Castle Archdale. Sunderland III aircraft NJ 175 had an engine seize just after take-off, carrying a full operational load and attempted to return to base. The crew jettisoned their bomb-load and were in the process of dumping fuel when the aircraft made a crash-landing, on land, near Bellek, County Donegal, Northern Ireland
Flying Officer RT Wilkinson (RCAF), Flight Lieutenant EG Devine (RCAF) and Pilot Officer JR Forrest (RCAF) were killed in action
Flying Officer GW Allen (RCAF), Sergeant GA Colburne (RCAF), Sergeant HR Jeal (RCAF), Pilot Officer AL Locke (RCAF), Sergeant DV Oderkirk (RCAF), Pilot Officer RC Parker (RCAF), Flying Officer MA Platsko (RCAF), Sergeant CL Singer (RCAF) and Sergeant JFS Clark (RAFVR) all survived with a wide degree of injuries
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Known Squadron Assignments: ;423
Served with No. 423 (GP) Squadron, RCAF, coded "G". Attacked schnorkel sighting at 55-43N 09-15W on 3 September 1944, probably U-482. Depth charges hung up. Crashed at 12:30 on 12 February 1945 near Dromore Road, 3 miles east of Irvinstown. 11 fatalities.Known Squadron Assignments: ;461
Known Squadron Assignments: ;201
Known Squadron Assignments: ;201
Known Squadron Assignments: ;228
Known Squadron Assignments: ;202
Known Squadron Assignments: ;228
Known Squadron Assignments: ;201
Operated by 201 Sqn RAF. On touching down on Lough Erne after a training flight, the Port wing hit the surface and the boat sank in deep water near the western shore. There were only 2 survivors and a number of bodies were never recovered including that of FL DJ Dolphin a Canadian whose father subsequently visited Lough Erne to take part in a special memorial and wreath laying service which was held over the wreck site
source: Malcolm Deeley, Ulster Aviation Society
last update: 2024-September-22Training Accident. Sunderland aircraft crashed while practicing night lands on flarepath. Sank at Rossmore, Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.
Others killed:
Summary Operations Record Book 201 Squadron
Cliffs of Magho Viewpoint - location of cairns overlooking crash site for Sunderland W4036 and Catalina JX242 a year later.Known Squadron Assignments: ;423
Operated by No. 423 (GR) Squadron, RCAF from 12 November 1942. Flew escort for HMS Anson on 15 December 1942. Flew into mountain near Ballycastle on 5 December 1943, 9 crew killed.Known Squadron Assignments: ;204
Known Squadron Assignments: ;422
Operated by No. 422 (GR) Squadron, RCAF from 1 November 1942, coded "C". Ferried to Wig Bay for refitting on 11 November 1942. Flying operationally by 1 March 1943. Detached to Pembroke Docks in July 1943. While on patrol from there on 28 July, sighted wreckage at 58-21N 12-57W. While searching for survivors sighted 2 u-boats, which were attacked by other aircraft before this aircraft was inposition. Loaned to BOAC, dates unclear. Back to No. 422 Sdn. on 4 January 1944. Crashed near St. Angelo, Fermanagh on 19 February 1944 during fighter affliation training, 2 fatalities.Known Squadron Assignments: ;422
Operated by No. 422 (GR) Squadron, RCAF from 11 November 1942, when it was ferried to Wig Bay for refitting. Operational by 30 November 1942, coded "D". Crashed on 19 December 1942, 7 killed and 14 injured. Was returning from patrol when bad weather forced diversion from Oban to Invergordon. Crashed while attempting to land in the Firth of Lorne.Known Squadron Assignments: ;422
Operated by No. 422 (GR) Squadron, RCAF from 12 December 1942, coded "G". Operating from Castle Archdale on 16 June 1943, when it sighted 3 u-boats near 44-04N 13-42W, but lost them in haze before an attack could be started. Escorted convoys returning from Africa on 20(?) November 1943.
In the vicinity of combined convoy SL-139/MKS-30: forewarned by the Naxos radar detector, U-648 fought off the Sunderland with accurate AA fire. Approx. one hour later the aircraft sent a distress call saying it was about to ditch at 42°40N/19°30W. The crew of 11 were never found.
source: Malcolm Deeley, Ulster Aviation Society
R H Strauss, W.S. Johnson, J.D. Ulrichsen, C.G. Gorrie, FSs N. Barrett, B.G. Burton (RAF), R.A. Park (RAF), Sergeants N.P. Cook (RAF), and N.N. Lewis (RAF) were killed. Two others of the crew, not Canadians, missing believed killed.Known Squadron Assignments: ;330
Operated by No. 423 (GR) Squadron, RCAF at Stornoway from 22 July 1942, coded "D". Flew one of the first long patrols by this unit, from 19:09 on 4 August to 07:31 on 5 August 1942. Engaged a Ju 88 while escorting convoy MKS9 on 21 November 1942, driving it off.