The Museum's Sunderland (IWM neg DXP 92-46-31)

The Short Sunderland was one of the finest flying boats ever built, and had an impressively long service record.

Developed from the Empire class flying boats, the Sunderland was first used by the RAF in 1938 and gave outstanding service throughout the Second World War, flying maritime reconnaissance, convoy escort and anti-submarine missions over the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, the North Sea and the Mediterranean.

It had an endurance in excess of 13 hours and was equipped with bunks, a galley, a workshop and of course an anchor. The Sunderland's defensive capabilities, fourteen machine guns in all, led Luftwaffe fighter crews to nickname it the 'Flying Porcupine'. The type continued in front-line RAF service until its retirement in 1959. After RAF service, Duxford's Sunderland was operated by the French Navy and, passing into private hands, was later used as a restaurant in Brittany.

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