Shackleton 1722 is the last flying Mark 3 in the world today.
Lovingly restored and maintained by Pottie and the gang at Ysterplaat AFB. This film shows the history of the Shacks in 35 Squadron from delivery in
1958 to today. The background to the aircrafts history and a visit to Newark air museum in the UK to see Sqdn leader Brian Withers give a rundown on WR977.A full flight with all
the checks and griffon engine noises, interspersed with interviews with Pilots, Engineers, Historians and Shackleton people. A chapter is
dedicated to the 1716 Survivors and their families.
This is the story of Shackleton one seven two two,
Fondly known as Potties private bomber.
And the dedicated team who has restored her to the beautiful condition that she is in today.
Two Two is the last flying
Shackleton Mark 3 in the world.
The Avro Type 696 was designed by the talented and innovative Roy Chadwick. He started designing aircraft in 1911 when he joined
Avro at the age of 18.
The 696 design started with the Manchester, a 2 engined bomber that was completely underpowered for the task at hand.
This he modified by adding 2
extra Merlin engines and named it the Lancaster. This legendry aircraft is still
famous to this day for its endurance and ruggedness.
The Lancaster took part in every major night attack on Germany during the 2nd world war.
Towards the end of the 2nd world war the Lincoln bomber was developed but it soon became clear that a long range, land based, maritime aircraft was needed - this heralded the birth of Avro 696 which Chadwick named the Shackleton after Sir Ernest Shackleton, the respected and intrepid explorer.
For Shackleton’s “Quest” expedition in 1921 and 1922 Chadwick had designed the AVRO Antarctic.
Here he is seen on the right.
The first Shackleton was flight tested on the 9th of March 1949. Sadly Roy Chadwick never saw this as he was killed in a crash on the 23rd August 1947.
The Shackleton started life as a tail dragger like most of the WW11 bombers and went through 3 phases to the tricycle undercarriage of the Mark 3.
Some of which stayed in service till 1991.
The SAAF took delivery of the first Shackletons in May 1957 and they arrived in South Africa in the August of that year.
The aircraft were numbered successive to the serial numbers of the Sunderland’s.
The first Shackleton of a total order for eight was numbered One seven one six, an aircraft that was to die in a spectacular albeit tragic manner in the Western desert on her ill fated trip to Royal Air Force base Fairford on the 13th July 1994.
The SAAF Shackletons were operated by 35 squadron. Their emblem is Shaya Amanzi . It means strike the water. This maritime squadron is based at Ysterplaat.
The aircraft were operated from Cape town international airport, then known as DF Malan, as the runway at Ysterplaat was not long enough for a fully laden Shack to take off on.
Sadly Shackleton one seven one eight crashed into high mountains in the Western Cape on the 8th of August 1963 and all thirteen crew members were lost.
The remaining aircraft went on to serve for 27 years on active front line service till November 1984 when the effect of sanctions against the South African government of the day made it nearly impossible to keep the aircraft serviceable.
After a last fly – past the remaining seven Shackletons were despatched to various locations throughout South Africa for static display purposes and some were painted in hideous colours.
Fortunately for us a small group of men led by Sgt Major Henry James Potgieter, Affectionately known as Pottie, kept the Shack spirit alive and one six and two two were lovingly restored and looked after.Any info or to get a copy of the film contact Andrew Schofield at andschofield@gmail.com
