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.