AN RAF airman’s logbook donated to Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre has added key information to the story of the wartime Sunderland flying boat which sank off the town in 1940.
Brothers Ross and Chris Burrows made a special visit to Pembroke Dock, bringing the logbook of their RAF navigator father, Pilot Officer (later Wing Commander) David Burrows, who was among the crew which made the last flight of Sunderland T9044.
That flight - from Oban in Scotland to ‘PD’ on November 9, 1940 - is listed as a ‘calibration flight’, proof that T9044 was involved in early radar equipment trials.
Ross said: “When researching our father’s story we discovered that T9044 had sunk days after his only flight in the aircraft, and that many artefacts from the Sunderland are displayed at the Heritage Centre.”
Chris added: ”We are delighted that the logbook has come ‘home’ to ‘PD’ and we are also so pleased to donate Dad’s uniforms, copies of photos and other items.”
Their guide at the Centre was Trustee Rik Saldanha who pointed out an especially relevant artefact from T9044 - the Perspex astrodome now incorporated into the replica Sunderland cockpit.
“This is where navigators often stood and it is most likely that Ross and Chris’ father was the last crewman ever to look out of the astrodome,” said Rik. “It was recovered from the seabed and is like new, 84 years on.
“Thanks to the logbook, we now know what trials our Sunderland was engaged in.”
Pembroke Dock was Wales’ only Royal Dockyard, a major garrison town and during World War II was home to the largest flying boat station in the world.
Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre’s displays interpret the maritime, aviation and military heritage of the town, as well as its social and community heritage. The Centre has permanent displays on Sunderland T9044.
The Heritage Centre, which is housed in the Royal Dockyard Chapel, Meyrick Owen Way, Pembroke Dock SA72 6WS, is open Mondays to Fridays, 10am to 4pm.
For general enquiries, call 01646 684220, email [email protected] or visit www.pdht.org