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| Mystery of World War Two 'flying boat' wreck | Mystery of World War Two 'flying boat' wreck |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A scuba diver says wreckage discovered off the Lincolnshire coast nine years ago belonged to a World War Two Sunderland flying boat. | A scuba diver says wreckage discovered off the Lincolnshire coast nine years ago belonged to a World War Two Sunderland flying boat. |
| Kevin Smith, from Cleethorpes, said it was one of the aircraft that were used against German U-boats in the Atlantic. | Kevin Smith, from Cleethorpes, said it was one of the aircraft that were used against German U-boats in the Atlantic. |
| He said he was "baffled" as there were no records that one of the planes ever crashed in the North Sea. | He said he was "baffled" as there were no records that one of the planes ever crashed in the North Sea. |
| The Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre said the find was "intriguing" but a mystery as to why the aircraft was there. | The Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre said the find was "intriguing" but a mystery as to why the aircraft was there. |
| 'Terrific activity' | 'Terrific activity' |
| The wreckage was found by the French Navy in 2005, about 27 miles (45 km) off the coast of Mablethorpe. | |
| Mr Smith, who has explored the submerged aircraft three times, had previously thought it was the remains of a Halifax bomber. | |
| However, over the summer he said he examined the wreckage and identified four Bristol Pegasus engines which were consistent with a MK1 Sunderland. | However, over the summer he said he examined the wreckage and identified four Bristol Pegasus engines which were consistent with a MK1 Sunderland. |
| Sunderland flying boats were stationed in the west at RAF Pembroke Dock and used in the Battle of the Atlantic. | Sunderland flying boats were stationed in the west at RAF Pembroke Dock and used in the Battle of the Atlantic. |
| He said: "It's got us baffled. But I can't believe they [flying boats] didn't come down the North Sea looking for submarines. | |
| "We might never know." | "We might never know." |
| John Evans, from the Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre, Pembrokeshire, said: "There were a number of Sunderlands that disappeared [during World War Two] but the location is very interesting. | John Evans, from the Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre, Pembrokeshire, said: "There were a number of Sunderlands that disappeared [during World War Two] but the location is very interesting. |
| "It could well be a war grave and if that's the case it's, 'look, don't touch'. | "It could well be a war grave and if that's the case it's, 'look, don't touch'. |
| "We're told it definitely hasn't an undercarriage, [it's got] four engines. It's very likely to be a Sunderland." | |
| Mr Evans speculated that the Sunderland could have been returning from an operation in Norway in 1940. | |
| "There was terrific activity [at the time], who knows what was happening?" he said. | "There was terrific activity [at the time], who knows what was happening?" he said. |
| He hopes to find a serial number to help identify the aircraft next year. | He hopes to find a serial number to help identify the aircraft next year. |
| Flying boats | Flying boats |