Short Sunderland ML824

This Sunderland was built as a Mk III by Shorts at their Queens Island factory, Belfast. She was delivered to the RAF on the 30th June 1944. ML824 was then converted to the Mk V standard from the 6th July 1944 by Shorts.
On 6th November 1944 ML824 was posted to 57 MU at RAF Wig Bay and then she was transferred to RAF Calshot on the 9th February 1945. She finally entered RAF service with 201 Squadron at Castle Archdale, Northern Ireland, being their first Mk V Sunderland.
Having completed 10 anti U Boat patrols and 1 convey patrol she was transferred to 330 (Norwegian) Squadron based at Sullom Voe on the Shetland Islands on the 17th April 1945. Following her last flight with 330 Squadron on 16th May 1946 she was placed into storage at RAF Alness. ML824 was struck off charge by 57 MU at RAF Stranraer on 20th May 1948. She was also prepared for use in the Berlin Airlift but wasn’t used.
During August 1949 her engines were replaced with Pratt & Whitney R-1830-900 twin Wasps and a year later she went to Short Bros & Harland in Belfast for a complete overhaul. With completion of the overhaul she was transferred to the French Aeronavale as part of a group of 14 Sunderland’s under the Western Union Defence Programme in 1951.
She mainly served in Dakar Senegal with with Flotilles F7, 12S, 27F and 50s. ML824 eventually was part of 19 Sunderland’s operated by the Aeronavale. Her final flight in French service was on 8th December 1960 with her final official flight being on 24th March 1961 with her flying from Lanveoc- Pouloc to Pembroke Dock, Wales. She had completed a total of 2,900 flying hours. The following day on 25th March 1961 she was hauled from the water and became a visitors attraction at the dockyard.
She was then transported to RAF Hendon during March 1971 for restoration. Following restoration she was placed on display during October 1976. ML824 is on display in her 201 Squadron colours.
Photos can be found here: www.kentexplorehistory.com/po...

[@Wolfsschanze99]

Amazing aircraft

[@KentExploreHistory]

It certainly is.

[@flyship]

Airships are very interesting

[@KentExploreHistory]

They are indeed