Prized Pegasus part is Centre treasure

 

A long sought after engine component has finally been tracked down for the volunteer crew who run Pembroke Dock Sunderland Trust’s popular Flying Boat Centre.

 

The Centre displays many parts of two Bristol Pegasus radial engines recovered from a Sunderland flying boat which sank off the town in 1940. While engine cylinders and many other metal parts are in remarkable condition, the aluminium cylinder heads have long disappeared due to the effects of seawater.

 

Now the Centre has a pristine example of a cylinder and head on view, thanks to the generosity of a London collector, Tony Dowden.

 

Tony explained: “My father, Aircraftsman 1 Arthur Thomas Dowden, served for six years in the RAF from early 1940. During the Battle of Britain he was a flight mechanic airframes on No 600 (City of London) Squadron which operated twin-engined Bristol Blenheims in the nightfighter role. These were powered by another famous Bristol engine, the Mercury, very similar to the Pegasus.

 

“My father had a number of engine components in his collection, the Pegasus cylinder and head among them. When I heard of the Sunderland Trust’s project and their quest for parts of Pegasus engines, I knew this was the right place.”

 

The prized parts are displayed at the Centre, together with information on Arthur Dowden and his RAF service. In 1940 Arthur was often involved in rearming, refuelling and patching up Hurricanes and Spitfires which fought Luftwaffe aircraft during the Battle of Britain.

 

Mike Hurley, Volunteer Workshop Manager, said: “Until now we did not have one cylinder head to show what a Pegasus engine really looked like. Tony’s support is greatly appreciated by us all. We are looking at ways in which we might replicate cylinder heads to add to the engine we are reassembling.”

 

 

Captions:

TOP

Pembroke Dock Flying Boat Centre team members with the newly acquired Pegasus cylinder and its all important head. Left to right: Malcolm Miles, Paul Tomlinson, Mike Hurley and Baz Clark.

PICTURE: Martin Cavaney Photography.

BOTTOM 

Aircraftsman Arthur Dowden by a 600 Squadron Blenheim in 1940.

 

From: John Evans, Pembroke Dock Sunderland Trust, 01646 684220.