Market find is a Sunderland computer

A chance find at a market has added a very rare aviation artefact to the Pembroke Dock Sunderland Trust’s collection.

Former RAF serviceman Dave Griffiths, of St Florence, spotted an aluminium box at a Carew market stall and on investigation discovered a Sunderland ‘computer’ inside.
The double sided plastic instrument, complete with slide rule, turned out to be a ‘C.G. Computer’ used to work out the centre of gravity on Sunderland flying boats. Alongside all the figures and calculations is the outline of the famous Sunderland.

Said Dave: “I was thrilled to find this and thought immediately of the Flying Boat Centre at Pembroke Dock. It is also exciting to learn that the Sunderland Trust does not have one of these computers”.
Dave served for 14 years in the RAF and went on to command No 1284 Tenby Squadron of the Air Training Corps for many years.

He has become the latest recruit to the Sunderland Trust’s ‘Friends’ group in recognition of his generous donation.

On hand when Dave presented the instrument at the Flying Boat Centre was Volunteer Baz Clark, who added: “The computer is over 60 years old and is in pristine condition. The aluminium box is inscribed ‘Crew Fox’ and we think this may refer to Sunderland aircraft F for Fox as various Sunderlands operating from Pembroke Dock used this letter for identification”.
 

 

Caption:
Dave Griffiths displays the Sunderland Computer to Baz Clark (left).
Picture: Martin Cavaney Photography
From: John Evans, Pembroke Dock Sunderland Trust, 01646 684220.