A unique item of aviation ‘trench art’ has been donated to Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre. It is a wooden money box with an illustration of a Sunderland flying boat on the lid.
Former RAF V-bomber pilot John Rattenbury, of Ambleston, brought the money box along to the Centre’s opening day recently. John, who flew Handley Page Victor bombers, received the box from David Mole, a colleague in the No10 Squadron Association which flew Victors in the ‘Cold War’ era.
“We don’t know anything of the origins of the money box,” said John, “but it just had to come to Pembroke Dock. While 10 Squadron RAF never operated flying boats the Royal Australian Air Force’s 10 Squadron flew Sunderlands from Pembroke Dock.
“We can only speculate that it was made by an airman connected with Sunderlands, and likely for a child. But there was no money in it!”
The Sunderland illustration on the money box. PICTURE: Martin Cavaney Photography