The First decisive air combat of the war, between a Sunderland and a land-based German aircraft, occurred on 3^rd April 1940.

The Sunderland involved, from Invergordon, was escorting a convoy in the North Sea, when it was attacked by, first two, then four and finally six, JU88s, bringing the huge flying boat, in a dive, to sea level. To protect his hull and to make an attack by the enemy more difficult, the pilot used all his skill to evade the Germans while the Rear Gunner managed to get in a burst of machine gun fire, which caused one of the German aircraft to crash into the sea. Another burst damaged a second JU88 and with that the Germans withdrew.

Although quite badly damaged, the Sunderland was able to return and make a safe landing at Invergordon. Later the pilot, Flt Lt F Phillips, received the DFC and his Rear Gunner, Cpl Lillie, the DFM.

From the beginning to the end of the war, Sunderlands flew in every theatre of operations and played a big part in the Battle of the Atlantic. They were equipped with bunks and a galley to enable the crew to rest of long patrols.

It was over 60 years ago, in August, 1942, that the Duke of Kent was killed on a flight to Iceland on a Sunderland flying boat.

As an Air Commodore in the RAF, he was on his way to visit British bases there, when the Sunderland crashed into a hill in thick fog behind the village of Dunbeath on the Caithness coast. All aboard the aircraft were killed except the Rear Gunner.

The Duke had earlier arrived, by train, at Invergordon and left from the west pier, embarking on the waiting flying boat.  It was only a short time after takeoff that the tragedy happened. King George VI, brother of the Duke visited the site of the crash shortly afterwards.

It remains a mystery why the flying boat was so far off course and flying so low in fog, with such an experienced pilot on board.

Click here to read more about that fateful flight.