The Short Sunderland: The Legendary WWII Flying Boat

The story of the Sunderland flying boat began with the innovative Short brothers, Horace, Albert, and Hugh, who, since 1908, were at the forefront of British aeroplane design and manufacturing. Having trained the first Royal Navy officers as pilots in their flying machines and successfully deployed seaplanes during World War One, they were well-positioned in 1933 to meet the RAF’s need for a long-range, four-engine flying boat with armaments, sleeping accommodations, and catering facilities. The result was the Short Sunderland, entering RAF service and history books in 1938.

In this book, Chaz Bowyer traces the evolution of this remarkable aircraft and the valuable contribution it made to the Allied campaign worldwide throughout the Second World War. Bowyer’s research is thorough and exhaustive, drawing on sources that include original documentation, reports, and many first-hand accounts from those who flew or worked on the Sunderland in the UK and abroad.

The Sunderland served the RAF for a total of 21 years, during which it is estimated to have been instrumental in destroying or damaging at least 60 German and Italian U-boats. Operating as part of Coastal Command, it played a vital role throughout the war: protecting shipping routes and convoys, reconnaissance, supplying aid and evacuations, air-sea rescues, and passenger transportation, to name but a few. Post-war, its usefulness endured, supporting the Berlin Airlift, with many aircraft converted for use in civil aviation. Reading this account, it is easy to see why the Sunderland inspired such awe and affection among those who lived and worked with it.