Sunderland 'E' for Emu
Discussion
Just found this on the 'toob. Quite something.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZfVEoZmt-c&fea...
description of events said:
Short Sunderland T-9114, Aircraft 'E' for Emu of 461 Squadron, Coastal Command sustained a large hole in the hull plates in the region of the toilet when taking off in a lumpy sea 150 nautical miles beyond Bishop Rock, after rescuing crews of two other Coastal Command aircraft. One of these was a Whitley and the other was Sunderland 'O' of 461 Squadron RAAF which had crashed while attempting to land to rescue the Whitley crew.
Sunderland 'E' landed in the open sea at 7.00 hours (Double British Summer Time) at a spot 175 nautical miles southwest of Bishop Rock and picked up the two crews from dinghies. As the sea was too rough for a take off the Sunderland began taxiing towards England and at about 10.00 hours was met by the Free French destroyer La Combattante. The destroyer took 21 persons including five of the Sunderland 'E' crew on board and sent an armourer to disarm the aircraft's depth charges which were then jettisoned.
At 13.00 hours the destroyer took the Sunderland in tow but many difficulties were met. Finally at 15.00 hours the towline broke and at 18.00 hours preparations were completed for take off. This had to be commenced across wind because of the state of the sea and took three or four times as long as usual. It was finally achieved after turning head-on to the wind and striking large waves, the last one of which hurled the Sunderland into the air but also ripped a large hole in the hull. This ruled out any possibility of a sea landing.
At 20.00 hours Sunderland 'E' was near the entrance to Milford Haven and its skeleton crew spent the next half hour throwing overboard flares and loose heavy items in preparation for a crash landing. These preparations proved unnecessary when a gentle landing was made at 20.40 hours on the grassy Angle airfield. Half of 461 Squadron was at Angle airfield to see the landing and the unorthodox disembarkation of the crew. The motley uniforms worn by the crew were what were left after wet survivors of the two rescued crews had been given an open go at the clothing originally worn and carried by the crew of 'E'.
The destroyers delivered all of its passengers safely including a pilot of Sunderland 'O' of 461 Squadron RAAF who had been very badly injured. Apart from him all the others were able to continue with their duties as soon as aircraft could be found for them. Sunderland 'E' for Emu never flew or floated again." (Commentary written by Harry Winstanley, DFC)
Crew members:
Captain 400841 Pilot Officer (PO) Gordon O. Singleton of St Kilda, Vic;
Co-Pilot 415195 Flight Sergeant Pearce E. Taplin of Midland Junction,WA;
Navigator 401356 PO Harry Winstanley DFC of Geelong, Vic;
Engineer 9429 Sergeant (Sgt) H. Hall of Moonee Ponds, Vic;
Wireless operator-mechanic Flt/Sgt Ronald (Hughie) Church, RAF;
Wireless operator-gunner 405228 Sgt Johnny Lewis of Brisbane, Qld;
Airgunner 407210 Flight Officer George Viner of Adelaide, SA.
And here's the final landing. Lovely footage of her crew. It gives you a real feeling of what it must have been like for them all.Sunderland 'E' landed in the open sea at 7.00 hours (Double British Summer Time) at a spot 175 nautical miles southwest of Bishop Rock and picked up the two crews from dinghies. As the sea was too rough for a take off the Sunderland began taxiing towards England and at about 10.00 hours was met by the Free French destroyer La Combattante. The destroyer took 21 persons including five of the Sunderland 'E' crew on board and sent an armourer to disarm the aircraft's depth charges which were then jettisoned.
At 13.00 hours the destroyer took the Sunderland in tow but many difficulties were met. Finally at 15.00 hours the towline broke and at 18.00 hours preparations were completed for take off. This had to be commenced across wind because of the state of the sea and took three or four times as long as usual. It was finally achieved after turning head-on to the wind and striking large waves, the last one of which hurled the Sunderland into the air but also ripped a large hole in the hull. This ruled out any possibility of a sea landing.
At 20.00 hours Sunderland 'E' was near the entrance to Milford Haven and its skeleton crew spent the next half hour throwing overboard flares and loose heavy items in preparation for a crash landing. These preparations proved unnecessary when a gentle landing was made at 20.40 hours on the grassy Angle airfield. Half of 461 Squadron was at Angle airfield to see the landing and the unorthodox disembarkation of the crew. The motley uniforms worn by the crew were what were left after wet survivors of the two rescued crews had been given an open go at the clothing originally worn and carried by the crew of 'E'.
The destroyers delivered all of its passengers safely including a pilot of Sunderland 'O' of 461 Squadron RAAF who had been very badly injured. Apart from him all the others were able to continue with their duties as soon as aircraft could be found for them. Sunderland 'E' for Emu never flew or floated again." (Commentary written by Harry Winstanley, DFC)
Crew members:
Captain 400841 Pilot Officer (PO) Gordon O. Singleton of St Kilda, Vic;
Co-Pilot 415195 Flight Sergeant Pearce E. Taplin of Midland Junction,WA;
Navigator 401356 PO Harry Winstanley DFC of Geelong, Vic;
Engineer 9429 Sergeant (Sgt) H. Hall of Moonee Ponds, Vic;
Wireless operator-mechanic Flt/Sgt Ronald (Hughie) Church, RAF;
Wireless operator-gunner 405228 Sgt Johnny Lewis of Brisbane, Qld;
Airgunner 407210 Flight Officer George Viner of Adelaide, SA.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZfVEoZmt-c&fea...
Edited by pacman1 on Saturday 12th November 19:05
What a great landing
I did wonder why he let her pop over to her port wing, then seeing that great hole in the starboard hull made it obvious.
He thought it was only fair to put sticking plaster on both sides.
(I wonder if it's much more likely he thought that letting the tear grab at the ground might flip her over nastily)
This is a great tale to read, my dad flew in Sunderlands and Catalinas from Pembroke Dock near the end of the war.
I did wonder why he let her pop over to her port wing, then seeing that great hole in the starboard hull made it obvious.
He thought it was only fair to put sticking plaster on both sides.
(I wonder if it's much more likely he thought that letting the tear grab at the ground might flip her over nastily)
This is a great tale to read, my dad flew in Sunderlands and Catalinas from Pembroke Dock near the end of the war.
Guys I'm really not unaware of that, dad flew in the buggers 
No I wondered if he thought that using the left side would save any further risk to his crew in a ground loop or maybe a "torn the ass off it" scenario by presenting her "good side"...
It's bloody good landing for a seaplane and a big one at that, on grassy substances.
No I wondered if he thought that using the left side would save any further risk to his crew in a ground loop or maybe a "torn the ass off it" scenario by presenting her "good side"...
It's bloody good landing for a seaplane and a big one at that, on grassy substances.
Simpo Two said:
I'm not sure Sunderlands had undercarriages. If correct, had he tried to land on water it could have flooded, hence the belly landing.
Look no wheels:
I spy a Supermarine Walrus in the background there, I think? I had an airfix model of one of those. I hated doing biplanes, the struts were too fiddly. Look no wheels:
Edited by Simpo Two on Saturday 12th November 23:35
Any idea what museum that is?They initially touched down on the water at 07:00 and finally made it home at 20:40.
From the times given, that would have been well over 12 hours spent rescuing others, finishing off with having to save themselves, all in the most difficult of conditions.
Cheating death was a daily occurance. No wonder they all had big grins on their faces sliding down the wing! It must have been a great feeling to have made it home again.
It certainly gives you an insight into a day in the life of an aircrew from Coastal Command, with an average age in the early twenty's.
I wonder what they'd make of the challenges your average youngster of today faces? Lest we forget.
From the times given, that would have been well over 12 hours spent rescuing others, finishing off with having to save themselves, all in the most difficult of conditions.
Cheating death was a daily occurance. No wonder they all had big grins on their faces sliding down the wing! It must have been a great feeling to have made it home again.
It certainly gives you an insight into a day in the life of an aircrew from Coastal Command, with an average age in the early twenty's.
I wonder what they'd make of the challenges your average youngster of today faces? Lest we forget.
davepoth said:
Any idea what museum that is?
Seems to be Hendon: http://www.flickr.com/photos/iainrobbie9/397672623...pacman1 said:
I wonder what they'd make of the challenges your average youngster of today faces
You mean getting a top up for the mobile? They'd probably have as much idea as I do!Simpo Two said:
davepoth said:
Any idea what museum that is?
Seems to be Hendon: http://www.flickr.com/photos/iainrobbie9/397672623...pacman1 said:
I wonder what they'd make of the challenges your average youngster of today faces
You mean getting a top up for the mobile? They'd probably have as much idea as I do!
And come on, the struts are not quite that bad...
OK I see what you mean
Simpo Two said:
perdu said:
I did wonder why he let her pop over to her port wing
I'm not sure Sunderlands had undercarriages. If correct, had he tried to land on water it could have flooded, hence the belly landing.Look no wheels:
Edited by Simpo Two on Saturday 12th November 23:35
perdu said:
Simpo Two said:
davepoth said:
Any idea what museum that is?
Seems to be Hendon: http://www.flickr.com/photos/iainrobbie9/397672623...pacman1 said:
I wonder what they'd make of the challenges your average youngster of today faces
You mean getting a top up for the mobile? They'd probably have as much idea as I do!And come on, the struts are not quite that bad...
OK I see what you mean
dr_gn said:
Perdu, do you have any more detail shots of the Walrus?? That's next on the list after the XJR-9.
Not much actually but what there is are yoursI'll email them this week
To be quite honest I spent a long time thinking of my old man flying long hours with the "required moments of terror" on maritime patrol. The Shagbat became almost forgotten.
And I was looking for the joins at the Sunderland's wingtips.
They had to hack the tips off to get her inside I seem to recall, still, she's not for flying again anyway.
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