2-617-861 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

An artist's impression of two Short Sunderlands rescuing the crew of the torpedoed merchant ship Kensington Court, 1940. On 18th September 1939 Kensington Court was stopped by U-32 with 13 shots of gunfire about 120 miles west of Lands End. The ship later sunk and the master and 34 crew members were rescued by a Sunderland aircraft. The two pilots, F/Lt Thurston M.W. Smith and F/Lt John Barrett were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for their feat. The Short S.25 Sunderland was a British flying boat patrol bomber developed for the RAF by Short Brothers. It took its name from the town, later city, of Sunderland in northeast England. From 'Our Air Force' published by Ward, Lock & Co., Ltd., 1940.