How many Sunderlands were stripped of weapons to serve as…

How many Sunderlands were stripped of weapons to serve as transports?

Short answer

BOAC ended up operating 29 conversions, called Hythes, by the end of the war. They started from six demilitarised Mark IIIs taken straight from the production line in late 1942 and another six in 1943: the armament was removed, the gun positions faired over and simple seats fitted.

Published: November 4, 2026 · Updated: November 4, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

How many Sunderlands were stripped of weapons to serve as transports?

Ecker Flying Boat

The first demilitarised Mark IIIs

At the end of 1942, British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) obtained six demilitarised Sunderland Mark IIIs straight from the production line for mail service to Nigeria and India, with capacity for 22 passengers and 2 tons of cargo, or 16 passengers and 3 tons. The armament was removed, the gun positions were faired over and simple seats were fitted in place of the bunks. In 1943 a further six Sunderland IIIs were obtained.

Twenty-nine Hythes in service

These conversions were named Hythe, and BOAC was operating 29 of them by the end of the war. After the war ended, BOAC obtained more Mark IIIs and gradually improved passenger accommodation, in three configurations. Numerous unarmed Sunderlands flew with the civil operator BOAC, on routes as far away as the Pacific Ocean.