Fly Past

24 RAF CENTENARY CELEBRATION PATROLLERS AND AIRLIFTERS

1918 2018

Right

A pair of Saro London

fl ying boats aloft in

1938. The type clung on
      long enough to serve in
      a limited manner during
      World War Two. KEY

1936 TO 1942

SARO

LONDON

KEY

During

1937–38 these

flying boats took an active role

patrolling the Mediterranean over

the course of the Spanish Civil War.

To celebrate the 150th anniversary

of the founding of the colony at

Sydney, New South Wales, five

Londons from 204 Squadron carried

out a long-range training exercise

that lasted from December 1937

to May 1938. Fitted with auxiliary

fuel tanks above their hulls, the

aircraft tested their new 2,600-mile

(4,184km) range during a cruise

of 30,000 miles (48,279km) from

England to Australia and back.

WARTIME DUTIES

At the outbreak of World War Two,

202 Squadron’s operations moved

to Gibraltar and Londons also

equipped 201 Squadron at Sullom

Voe in Shetland, along with 240

Squadron (which re-equipped from

Short Singapores in July 1939) at

Invergordon, Scotland. Carrying

out active patrols over the North

Sea, the aircraft toted up to 2,000lb

(907kg) of armament beneath their

S

aunders Roe’s military biplane

flying boat was not actually

expected to reach active

service; two were patrolling the

North Sea with Coastal Command

on September 1, 1939 when war

was declared.

Predominantly a long-range

maritime patrol aircraft, the London

carried armament in the form of

bombs, depth charges and naval mines

during the conflict and, together with

the Supermarine Stranraer, was the last

multi-engined biplane flying boat to

serve with the RAF.

Designed in response to the Air

Ministry’s R.24/31 Specification for

a ‘General Purpose Open Sea Patrol

Flying Boat’, the A.27 London was

based on the Saro A.7 Severn and

featured an all-metal corrugated

hull, and fabric-covered wing and

tail surfaces. Its two Bristol Pegasus

II radial engines were kept clear of

landing spray during take-off by

their position on the upper wing.

Prototype K3560 took to the skies

in March 1934 and the Ministry

placed its first order a year later.

Delivery commenced in 1936 with

K5257, and the first ten aircraft

were Mk.Is with Pegasus III engines

in polygonal cowlings.

FINE TUNING

Following ongoing tests at

Felixstowe, the prototype was

modified to Specification R.3/35

and emerged as the Mk.II with

Pegasus X propulsion, circular

cowlings and four-bladed propellers.

From the 11th airframe onwards,

production aircraft were built to

Mk.II standard and continued

in this manner until May 1938

when the 30th and final example

left Cowes. Earlier Londons were

retrofitted with the Pegasus X and

given the Mk.II designation.

In April 1936, Londons went

into full service with the RAF’s 201

Squadron at Calshot, replacing

Southampton flying boats. Later the

same year they superseded the Scapa

flying boats of 204 Squadron at

Mount Batten.

Londons were first deployed

overseas in October 1937 by 202

Squadron in Malta, again

replacing Scapas.