In Part 1 I posted a video of VP-63's PBY-5s (Catalinas) with Coastal Command Sunderlands at Pembroke Dock (known by the RAF as PD).
The admiralty chartlet below shows the extent of the moorings for flying boats and sea planes at PD in 1943 (Hi-lighted in yellow).
The chart is not entirely up to date as the newly constructed "hards" at Llanstadwell and Neyland are not shown, although this may have been a security measure. In the VP-63 video, both of these hards can be seen on the far bank from RAF PD.
The second part of the video (click the link below) shows many interesting features of the old dockyard and the shores of Milford Haven in 1943. I have deliberately shown again the end of Part 1 posted earlier to draw attention to the size and camouflage of the huge Sunderland hangers. They were rather cleverly painted to mimic the terraced housing and old dockyard buildings of the area. We get a brief view of some of the buildings from the shipbuilding era as a PBY is slowly let down the launching slip to the water's edge. Also, keep an eye open for the hards mentioned above - built in anticipation of the forthcoming assault on the Normandy beaches.
The hangars were built in the mid. 1930s. The postcard below catches this period, with the hangar visible, still only partly clad in metal sheeting.
Click below to view the video clip "VP-63 - Madcats at PD in '43 (Part 2)".
More of the video to follow in my next post.
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