In the late 1940s, as part of the United Kingdom’s military response to the rapid expansion of the Soviet Navy and their ever-evolving submarines, the Royal Air Force called out for a new aircraft capable of long-range maritime patrol.
From the Avro manufacturer’s drawing board, the Shackleton emerged as the request for proposal’s winner.
Developed from the Avro Lincoln bomber, itself a development from the wartime Avro Lancaster, the Shackleton was an aircraft with years-proven technology.
Named after renowned polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, Avro’s latest aircraft lived up to its namesake, as it patrolled all over the United Kingdom colonies for decades.
Performing a wide array of missions, including convoy escorting, supply dropping, photo-reconnaissance, communication relaying, ground-attack missions, short-term bombing operations, and more.
With a characteristic loud growling noise, the Avro Shackleton would become one of the world’s most iconic Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft.
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Join Dark Skies as we explore the world of aviation with cinematic short documentaries featuring the biggest and fastest airplanes ever built, top-secret military projects, and classified missions with hidden untold true stories. Including US, German, and Soviet warplanes, along with aircraft developments that took place during World War I, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and special operations mission in between.
As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Skies sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible.
All content on Dark Skies is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas.
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I've always somehow liked this plane's design.
Did not remeber the 80's Leaking Tanker event, or never knew?
I had my brother's US CCBorn Father in Law to talk to. He was downed a few times? from Battle of Britain as RCAC, RAF, USAC, and maybe Frence? air? he had French, Italian, Greek, every Med country medals from WWII adopted my Sister in Law from Greece.
RIP WOODY!
I could never understand the use of counter rotating props on multi engine aircraft at the end of the prop era. Noisy, complex and they had to be inefficient with the turbulent air stream they created. The crews must have been begging to fly jets when they could.
That song at the beginning of the video has a real Iron Maiden vibe to it. I like it, quite a bit. Not sure what about it really stands out to me, if anything, I just find it extremely catchy, I guess.
Yes, back in the late 1970's, I remember seeing 1 of those 8 Shackletons of the SA Airforce, during an airshow in Port Elizabeth.
every time he says The Shackleton….
i hear Volgin from MGS3 say it
Good One. Thanks.
Sick intro 🤘
That was interesting. I only knew the Shackleton as sea petrol when I was young . Did know she had a long history and many parts
Like you history show. Well done. Keep it up. 👍👾
We had a Shackleton Mark II in for restoration and an engine change at Zantop Macon in the early ‘90s while I was a contractor there. It was fitted with a monstrous radar dish in a flattened teardrop fairing under the nose, and was set up to carry 2 torpedoes. I was very annoyed that I did not get to work on it, but they had a special crew that were the only mechanics that were allowed to touch it. I did manage to wangle a walk-through and tour, though. It was very cramped for such a large aircraft, but the bomb bay and radar equipment took up a lot of room!
So, Dark Skies, several mentions of this aircraft's notorious wracket/noise, and yet you chose not to give us any sound of it, but instead annoying inane music.
S M H
Well Dark Skies, normally I really enjoy your videos. But why in the name of all that is Holy did you add obnoxious, annoying music to this one? Go back to the edit room and get rid of said music.
What a magnificent looking piece of kit
What did the aircraft have for a bathroom? If the mission lasted for over 12 hours, I hope it facilities better than a bucket.
I saw 4 of these fly over Murrey NY in the '70s, low level turn around to head back to Canada. I heard them coming, and got photos before they headed back over Lake Ontario.
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Frog's legendary kit, the Shackleton "Anti-submarine Aircraft" in 1/72 scale was introduced in the 60s and is still published today through several companies mainly in Eastern Europe.
I remember these 10000 rivets flying in close information, they were the background noise of wonderful summer holidays at Newquay back in the early 70s, flying out RAF St Mawgan, before Nimrods made them obsolete 😢
Is the music a new feature? Not a fan!
It's the UK ver. of the Mitchel! But with more engines. Gorram, I dunno why but since I was a kid, there's just something I find fekkin sexy about dual rudder planes. And the turret bubbles.
Also, nice use of the metal backing tracks. Explore that more.
The shacklebomber, 20,000 nuts and bolts flying in loose formation.
I was in the Bomb bay of one it’s huge
When I was Class 1 Master Aerial Sergeant Captain piloting the AS-1 on a top secret subsea Presidential mission to photograph the secret Chinese lunar cave colony on detachment to the Majestic 12 Nucleur Security Forces , I can confirm this is a plane.
40,000 rivets flying in loose formation. I had the joy of maintaining the 'avionics' for these during my time at Lossiemouth.
Getting from the front to the back in a hurry was not the east of things, you have to climb over the wing spars
serving in the RAF i nearly got posted to Lossiemouth in 1989 – and to the last Shackleton Squadron there.. but at last minute my posting was changed to Aldergrove in NI .. later i was posted to St Mawgan in Cornwall, where Shacks had been operated for many years – they only had one remaining – a bright blue example serving as "gate guard" and maintained by civilian volunteers, several of whom were former airmen . its interesting how long this aircraft remained in service. especially considering the Nimrod , also in service, which has a troubled later history as the MoD wasted many £millions with BaE on a rebuild-upgrading of that type which went nowhere.
As a Canadian, I had not heard of the Shackleton until I saw one under restoration at IMW Duxford on a visit a few weeks ago
ago. Impressive!
Snorkle submarines were not liked by the crew because when a wave would pass over the snorkle an immediate vacuum would happen within the submarine thus causing great discomfort to the ears of everyone on board the submarine.
It's just a B-24 that can swim…
5:48 the noise wasn't because of the Griffon engines, it was becasue of the coaxial counter-rotating propellers.
I remember the one on top of a road house roof called Uncle Charles South of Johannesburg
Anyone knows the song in the beginning of this video?
Good Video/Info.