Funding gets Sunderland project airborne

9:57am Thursday 15th November 2007

Comments (1)   Have your say »

Plans to recover a unique wartime Sunderland flying boat which sank off Pembroke Dock have been given a big boost by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

The fund has announced a project planning grant award of £49,700 to The Pembroke Dock Sunderland Trust.

This has enabled the trust to commission a full technical survey of the Sunderland, with a view to recovering the aircraft, conserving and displaying it in Pembroke Dock.

The Mark I Sunderland, T9044 of 210 Squadron, lies in 60ft of water off the town's former RAF station . It sank without casualties in a gale in November 1940 and was only discovered by divers decades later.

"The support of HLF is crucial to our plans for this unique survivor and we are very grateful for their backing," said William McNamara, Chairman of the Sunderland Trust.

"Sunderlands are among the most famous aircraft ever to fly with the RAF and Pembroke Dock operated the type for nearly 20 years. This town became the largest flying boat station in the world and this is the location where the remarkable story of flying boats and their key contribution to the Battle of the Atlantic in World War II should be told.

"This funding allows us to survey the whole aircraft and the surrounding seabed and assess how it can be recovered in the future. This would be part of a much bigger project for which we would also hope to have the backing of HLF."

Explaining the importance of the award, Jennifer Stewart, Heritage Lottery Fund Manager for Wales, added: "Our maritime heritage is an integral part of the history of Wales and has played an important role in the development of Pembroke Dock. I'm delighted that this award will enable the project team to move plans forward in telling the fascinating story of Sunderland flying boats."