Last piece of aviation legend to go on display (From Western Telegraph)

Last piece of aviation legend to go on display

THE last piece of a Sunderland flying-boat, which made a remarkable and safe landing on Angle Airfield in wartime, has been presented to the Pembroke Dock Museum.

Australian Gordon Singleton, who made the historic landing on May 29th, 1943, handed over the cockpit part when he visited the Gun Tower Museum last week.

Gordon, who lives in the London area, and his wife, Pat, are regular visitors to South Pembrokeshire and are very keen supporters of the museum.

A former pilot with the Australian-manned No 461 Squadron based at Pembroke Dock, Gordon made the safe landing on the grass alongside one of Angles runways after a dramatic sea rescue. Earlier he had landed in the open sea to rescue downed airmen.

With the survivors and some of his crew transferred to a naval vessel, Gordon and a skeleton crew took off in very heavy seas and their four-engined Sunderland sustained a damaged hull.

With a Haven alighting impossible, Gordon headed for the airfield and made a masterly landing without any injuries and with minimal further damage to his aircraft. This was the only time that a Sunderland was ever successfully landed on the ground.

The historic Sunderland - serial number T9114 - was later scrapped at West Angle Bay, but at least one part was salvaged and kept in the village.

I remember the part well, said Gordon. It was located between the two pilots seats in the cockpit and housed the pitch controls beneath the throttles. Its amazing to think that it has survived all these years.

The Pembroke Dock Museum Trust - which took over the Gun Tower this summer - is planning to display the part along with photographs and Gordons first-hand account of a unique moment in aviation history. While in the area, Mr and Mrs Singleton stayed with friends Margaret and Eric Black, of Pembroke.

Historic landing: Gordon Singletons Sunderland on Angle Airfield. PICTURE: John Evans Collection.