jak24610 Wrote:Did this thing even fly?
Historical?
Numbers produced?
Did it even DESTROY ANYTHING?! :?
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
If you are going to be sarcastic at least check a few facts first.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_Sunderland
--- and before you say, I know you should not put all your trust in wiki. It s often a good start though.
Here's a little extract from a real life story
Quote:In the late afternoon, one of the crew spotted the eight Ju-88s. Bombs and depth charges were dumped while Walker redlined the engines. Two Ju-88s made passes at the flying boat, one from each side, scoring hits while the Sunderland went through wild "corkscrew" evasive maneuvers. The fighters managed to knock out one engine.
On the third pass of the fighters, the top-turret gunner managed to shoot one down. Another Ju-88 disabled the tail turret, but the next fighter that made a pass was bracketed by the top and nose turrets and shot down as well.
Still another fighter attacked, smashing the Sunderland's radio gear, wounding most of the crew in varying degrees and mortally wounding one of the side gunners. A Ju-88 tried to attack from the rear, but the tail turret gunner had managed to regain some control over the turret and shot down the German fighter.
The surviving fighters pressed home their attacks, despite the losses. The nose gunner chewed up one of the fighters and set one of its engines on fire. Two more of the attackers were thoroughly shot up, and the other two finally decided they'd had enough and departed. Luftwaffe records indicate these were the only two that made it back to base.
The Sunderland was a wreck. The crew threw everything they could overboard and nursed the aircraft back to the Cornish coast, where Walker managed to land and beach it. The crew waded ashore, carrying their dead comrade, while the surf broke up the Sunderland.
