AS the world of aviation celebrates the Wright Brothers' achievement 100 years ago, another less significant but important British anniversary came up this year - the opening of Britain's first aircraft museum.

Vital to our survival in the early war years during the Battle of the Atlantic, the Short Sunderland flying boat made its last flight over Singapore in May 1959, after 21 years of service.

Welsh air historian Peter Thomas, from Cardigan, was worried that no plans had been announced for the preservation of one Sunderland, along with Hurricanes, Spitfires and a Lancaster.

He wrote to Air Marshal Sir Edward Chilton, newly-appointed C-in-C of Coastal Command and a great flying-boat supporter

The sympathetic reply he received was also depressing, telling how he and his fellow C-in-C, Lord Bandon in the Far East, had worked out with their staffs a feasible plan to fly one of the last Sunderlands home.

The plan, wrote Sir Edward, had been firmly vetoed by the Air Council, which did not number an ex-Coastal Commander among members. A frustrated and angry Peter Thomas wrote back to Sir Edward and announced his plan to start a 'Save-the-Sunderland' campaign.

It was greatly supported by the local and national press and the huge response resulted in the great day at Pembroke Dock, when ML824 - selected by Peter from those on offer by the French Navy, because it had served with the illustrious 201 Squadron in 1944-45 - flew in.

It was with an escort of 'Peter' and 'Oboe', two Shackletons from 201 Squadron, detailed by Sir Edward himself. He had secretly advised and guided Peter during the campaign and he also had the support of many leading aviation personalities.

Notable among these were the two World War Two Coastal commanders, Sir Philip Joubert and Sir Frederick Bowhill, and Lord Brabazon and Oswald Short. Peter's Short Sunderland Trust cared for and exhibited the Sunderland to huge crowds at Pembroke Dock until - ten years later - it was handed over, at their request, to the belatedly-formed RAF Museum.

When Peter met Sir Philip Joubert in London after the Sunderland's arrival, the distinguished commander told the young Welshman that what he had done was 'a truly magnificent achievement, in getting a proper memorial to Coastal Command, at long last'! Peter acknowledged that Sir Edward's guidance had been vital.

Sir Philip said his great worry was that, 17 years after VE-Day, there was still no museum or home to preserve famous British aircraft in the country. Peter informed him that he and his wife Gwladys were already in the process of planning an air museum, designed solely for the salvation of RAF and Fleet Air Arm aircraft from the war, Sir Philip was pleased and offered his good wishes and congratulations.

Many months of searching, planning, enquiries and cost estimates followed until, at last, an invitation was accepted from the far-sighted manager of the Gloucester/Cheltenham Municipal Airport, Raymond Darby.

Skyfame Limited was fully launched by solicitor David Harris and accountant Richard Staggs, both of Cardigan. And the Skyfame Aircraft Museum was opened on Saturday, August 31st, 1963. Over the next 16 years, the museum saved 16 aircraft otherwise destined for fire dumps.

The valuable collection was handed over to the new Imperial War Museum at Duxford in 1978.

WHEN asked, after they handed their Skyfame collection over to the new Imperial War Museum at Duxford in 1978, what remained mostly in his mind apart from the aircraft, Peter's reply was unhesitating.

He said: "Firstly, the loyal and hard-working team of men, women and youngsters whose voluntary work kept the museum and its increasingly large scale annual air shows going. "Secondly, the joy of schoolchildren on the many visits to the museum.

"Last, but far from least, the enormous support, often quite unofficial, always given by the Royal Air Force, which from the start had appreciated all Skyfame's work."