Our Heritage
Seaplanes are very much part of the UK's heritage. World leaders in Seaplane design and manufacturing. World leaders in operation, modification and maintenance. Seaplanes (also known as flying boats) played a vital role in WW2. The North West of England was a hive of activity from the early 1900's. Unfortunately only a dozen or so Seaplanes remain in operation.
Beaumaris and Lake Windermere have, over the years, been a centre for seaplane activity. This includes the Short Sunderland flying boat, examples of which were built, serviced and converted in the Short Brothers factory at White Cross Bay. The Sunderland was one of the Royal Air Force’s great wartime flying boats. A Sunderland flew at Windermere in 1990 but, sadly, none remain airworthy now.
In the 1930s and 40s one West Wales town played host to the largest Seaplane base in the world. That town was Pembroke Dock and for nearly 30 years residents of the community woke each morning and went to bed at night with the deep throated roar of Pegasus engines rolling in over the town and reverberating off the waters of Milford Haven.
Pembroke Dock saw its greatest hours during the war. Throughout those turbulent and dangerous times, giant Sunderland flying boats patrolled the Western Approaches, searching out the deadly U Boats that were threatening Britain's very existence.
Beaumaris and Lake Windermere have, over the years, been a centre for seaplane activity. This includes the Short Sunderland flying boat, examples of which were built, serviced and converted in the Short Brothers factory at White Cross Bay. The Sunderland was one of the Royal Air Force’s great wartime flying boats. A Sunderland flew at Windermere in 1990 but, sadly, none remain airworthy now.
In the 1930s and 40s one West Wales town played host to the largest Seaplane base in the world. That town was Pembroke Dock and for nearly 30 years residents of the community woke each morning and went to bed at night with the deep throated roar of Pegasus engines rolling in over the town and reverberating off the waters of Milford Haven.
Pembroke Dock saw its greatest hours during the war. Throughout those turbulent and dangerous times, giant Sunderland flying boats patrolled the Western Approaches, searching out the deadly U Boats that were threatening Britain's very existence.
To fly over water is certainly to taste to the full the
joy of flight, and when the water is Windermere and
the scenery the pick of English Lakeland, which is to
many a traveller the pick of the whole world, in its
soft intimate loveliness, the result is something not
lightly forgotten.’
Gertrude Bacon 1912
joy of flight, and when the water is Windermere and
the scenery the pick of English Lakeland, which is to
many a traveller the pick of the whole world, in its
soft intimate loveliness, the result is something not
lightly forgotten.’
Gertrude Bacon 1912
Arguably, an even greater flying boat was the American Consolidated Catalina, several hundred of which served around the world with the wartime Royal Air Force. RAF Catalinas were involved in the search for the German battleship Bismarck, the prevention of the invasion of Ceylon by Japanese forces, many successful U-boat attacks and the routine but dangerous escorting of Atlantic convoys bringing supplies from the USA. The RAF’s last surviving Victoria Cross holder, Flying Officer John Cruickshank, was awarded his medal for gallantry after a particularly difficult encounter with a German submarine, the Catalina and its crew eventually coming out on top. More Catalinas were produced than any other flying boat by a very considerable margin and they were used by all of the wartime Allied countries.
During World War two, Saunders-Roe opened a factory at Fryars in Llanfaes, near Beaumaris on Anglesey, converting and maintaining Catalina flying boats. At the outbreak of World War two, Saunders-Roe flying boats had seemingly caught up with the times with the Lerwick aircraft. Sadly, it handled badly both on the water and in the air.
To take the intended role of the Lerwick, the British Government ordered Catalina aircraft from the USA. On arrival from America they had to be equipped and modified to meet constantly changing service requirements. The task was given to Saunders-Roe who bought the Burton’s Fryars estate near Beaumaris. The Menai Straits provided excellent water for flying boat operations.
For three years there were flying boats stretching from the Menai Bridge down to Fryars Bay. In all, 399 Catalinas came through the Beaumaris site. Substantial work was done, including installation of air to surface vessel radar, work carried out in strict secrecy.
It was an RAF Catalina which passed through Fryars that found the Bismarck after it had escaped in bad weather. A painting of the exploit hung proudly in the works canteen.
The Saunders Roe design development had also moved to Beaumaris, as work at Cowes was being constantly interrupted by air raids. Two of the company sites at East Cowes were totally destroyed in one air raid in May 1942.
The flying boats were hauled out on the slipway which remains on the foreshore in front of Fryars. Most of the wartime hangars remain on the site although some have been substantially altered.
During World War two, Saunders-Roe opened a factory at Fryars in Llanfaes, near Beaumaris on Anglesey, converting and maintaining Catalina flying boats. At the outbreak of World War two, Saunders-Roe flying boats had seemingly caught up with the times with the Lerwick aircraft. Sadly, it handled badly both on the water and in the air.
To take the intended role of the Lerwick, the British Government ordered Catalina aircraft from the USA. On arrival from America they had to be equipped and modified to meet constantly changing service requirements. The task was given to Saunders-Roe who bought the Burton’s Fryars estate near Beaumaris. The Menai Straits provided excellent water for flying boat operations.
For three years there were flying boats stretching from the Menai Bridge down to Fryars Bay. In all, 399 Catalinas came through the Beaumaris site. Substantial work was done, including installation of air to surface vessel radar, work carried out in strict secrecy.
It was an RAF Catalina which passed through Fryars that found the Bismarck after it had escaped in bad weather. A painting of the exploit hung proudly in the works canteen.
The Saunders Roe design development had also moved to Beaumaris, as work at Cowes was being constantly interrupted by air raids. Two of the company sites at East Cowes were totally destroyed in one air raid in May 1942.
The flying boats were hauled out on the slipway which remains on the foreshore in front of Fryars. Most of the wartime hangars remain on the site although some have been substantially altered.
Saunders - Roe Site (Picture taken March 2020)
Plane Sailing Air Displays Ltd, still flies a Canadian-built Catalina amphibian from its base at the Imperial War Museum airfield at Duxford in Cambridgeshire. Named Miss Pick Up to recognise another of its achievements – wartime search and rescue – and now over 75 years old, this aircraft is one of very few wartime flying boats still airworthy and it spends each year from April to October flying all around Europe, thrilling airshow visitors and commemorating the crews who flew and maintained flying boats during World War Two. Thus, the efforts of the White Cross Bay workforce who were involved in seaplanes all those years ago are still recognised by this magnificent aircraft.
As a final thought the Catalina still holds the record for the longest commercial scheduled flight. Operated by Qantas Airways back in 1943 a flight from Perth Australia to Cylon took 34 hours and 9 minutes. A non-stop flight it was dubbed the "Double Sunrise Route".
As a final thought the Catalina still holds the record for the longest commercial scheduled flight. Operated by Qantas Airways back in 1943 a flight from Perth Australia to Cylon took 34 hours and 9 minutes. A non-stop flight it was dubbed the "Double Sunrise Route".
THE QANTAS CATALINA MEMORIAL READS:
"During World War II vital refuelling bases were lost on the "Empire Route" from Australia to England via Singapore.
To keep communications open, for two years commencing on 29 June 1943, Qantas Empire Airways operated the world`s longest regular non-stop service - Perth to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) - a distance of 3,153 miles (5,632 kilometres).
The initial services were operated by Catalina Flying Boats, which flew into and out of Perth from this point on the Swan River. Known as the "Flight of the Double Sunrise", these missions were flown in complete radio silence and without any radio navigation aids.
The story of the Indian Ocean Services is one of triumph over adversity, and the highest standards of aviation endeavour".
"During World War II vital refuelling bases were lost on the "Empire Route" from Australia to England via Singapore.
To keep communications open, for two years commencing on 29 June 1943, Qantas Empire Airways operated the world`s longest regular non-stop service - Perth to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) - a distance of 3,153 miles (5,632 kilometres).
The initial services were operated by Catalina Flying Boats, which flew into and out of Perth from this point on the Swan River. Known as the "Flight of the Double Sunrise", these missions were flown in complete radio silence and without any radio navigation aids.
The story of the Indian Ocean Services is one of triumph over adversity, and the highest standards of aviation endeavour".