FlyPast – August 2018

(John Hannent) #1

Spotlight


Short


Sundeland


88 FLYPAST August 2018


Artwork
Short Sunderland Mk.I
L2163 ‘DA-G’ of RAF
210 Squadron based
at Oban, Scotland in


  1. ANDY HAY-2018


T


his month’s Spotlight
subject is Sunderland Mk.I
L2163, a flying-boat that
operated with the RAF’s
210 Squadron from Oban, Scotland.
Painted in camouflage markings
and adorned with the unit codes
DA-G, the Sunderland was often used
to protect convoys in the early part
of World War Two. This included
incoming troop ships bringing

personnel from Canada to the UK.
On January 15, 1941, Sunderland
L2163 was one of three aircraft
allocated to fly to Freetown in Sierra
Leone, West Africa. The crews
and ground staff were intended to
form 95 Squadron, with Wg Cdr
F J Fessanges as CO and Sqn Ldr
Lombard as flight commander.
With Fg Off Baggott at the
controls, L2163 left Oban for

Pembroke Dock in Wales where the
flying-boats would be prepared for
the long flight. Before departure to
Africa, our subject was replaced by
N9027 because the latter had flown
fewer hours since its last service and
was deemed to be in better condition
Sunderland L2163 remained in the
UK, and was eventually damaged
beyond repair in a gale off Stranraer,
Scotland, on January 15, 1942.

protectorprotectorprotector


Scottish


Andy Hay presents artwork of a Short Sunderland used to defend shipping


in the waters off Scotland


SpotlightSpotlight


Short


Sundeland


ScottishScottish

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