A breakwater made of sandbags prevented a heavy swell tide from sliding the keel up and down and thus causing damage to the plates.

The photograph shows EJ155 beached and propped up with sandbags.

The view of the damaged float as seen from the inside the Sunderland.

Working on the engines. The damaged port propeller has been removed.

A close look at the support struts after the damaged float has been removed.

The Sunderland well and truly beached.

Swinging the lead with anchor at the ready, prior to the beaching.

the Sunderland is ready to receive its new float and propeller.

Securing the float while the locals put their backs into the job.

On Tuesday, February 22, 1955, on Pancake Day, Flt Lt Donoghue landed Sunderland EJ155 on a heavy swell at Tawau in British North-east Borneo. The port float and the port outer propeller were badly damaged and the aircraft had to be beached whilst repairs were carried out in situ.

The finished job.

The Sunderland was named after Tawau Beach when repairs were completed and finally, on March 7, 1955, the Sunderland returned to Seletar.