During the 1940s, Poole Harbour became the hub for both military and civil flying boat operations, seaplane training and air sea rescue in central southern England.

The passenger and mail carrying 'boats' of BOAC, which had been relocated from Southampton Water at the beginning of the war, took off from Poole 'trots' (the Short Sunderland flying boat equivalent of a runway) for a vast array of destinations around the world.   During the time when the ever-lurking U-boat endangered sea traffic these vital links kept Britain's communications with the Empire and her allies open.   At the same time military aircraft from both the Royal Air force and Royal Navy conducted wartime operations along the Channel and out into the Western Approaches and beyond from respective bases located at opposite ends of the harbour, namely RAF Hamworthy and HMS Tadpole at Sandbanks.

During this period the harbour was as busy as a modern regional airport, perhaps more.   Sadly, unlike the long vanished RAF stations of the New Forest there is, as yet, no permanent reminder or memorial to the men, women and machines that saw action from our local waters.   However this omission is set to be redressed by the newly formed Poole Flying Boats Celebrations (PFBC).   The PFBC is a group of local residents who are planning a Celebration Trail of stone plinths/monuments placed at points around Poole harbourside where many of the historical Flying Boat elements, covering the period from 1940 to 1948, can be identified.

The PFBC has applied for recognition as a registered charity and its banking facilities are in place.

If you have recollections of this era to share or would like in some way to help this project the PFBC can be contacted through the 'Contacts' page.

Captain R.E. (Bob) Harwood

The Trustees and Members Poole Flying Boats Celebration   are sad to hear of the death of former BOAC Flying Boat   Captain R.E. (Bob) Harwood on 9th January 2008   after a short illness.   We offer our condolences to his wife, Audrey.