Canadian Warplanes 3: Saro Lerwick

Saro S.36 Lerwick

(RAF Photo)

The Saro Lerwick was a British flying boat  intended to be flown along with the Short Sunderland in RAF Coastal Command.  Only a small number were built.  They had a poor service record and a high accident rate; of 21 aircraft, 10 were lost to accidents and one for an unknown reason.  Lerwicks were flown by RCAF aircrews overseas during the Second World War. (Wikipedia)

From Jul to Nov 1942, Lerwicks were flown for operational training by No. 422 Squadron, and No. 423 Squadron, RCAF at Lough Erne, Northern Ireland.  The aircraft they flew included Serial Nos. L7250, coded U, L7256, coded V, L7258, coded R, L7259, coded Q, L7260, coded P, L7264, coded N, L7266, codd Y, and L7267, coded B.   By the end of 1942 the Lerwick had been declared obsolete, and by early 1943 the survivors had been scrapped.

(IWM Photo, CH 2364)

Saro S.36 Lerwick Mk. I (Serial No. L7265), coded WQ-Q, No. 209 Squadron, RAF, Loch Ryan, 1 March 1941.

(IWM Photo, CH 2363)

Saro S.36 Lerwick Mk. I (Serial No. L7265), coded WQ-Q, No. 209 Squadron, RAF, taking off from Loch Ryan, 1 March 1941.

(IWM Photo, CH 864)

Saro Lerwick Mk. I (Serial No. L7257), coded WQ-F of No 209 Squadron, RAF at Oban, on the west coast of Scotland, Aug 1940. Note retractable dorsal turret.

(RAF Photo)

Saro A.36 Lerwick, coded F-WQ, on the water.

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