FLYING friends of a former Sunderland pilot have made a special flight to Pembrokeshire to donate a 'wonderful collection' to the Pembroke Dock Museum. The three friends flew into Withybush Airport where they met up with members of the Pembroke Dock Museum Trust, which runs the Gun Tower Museum. And tucked away in the locker of their aircraft were the full RAF uniform, flying suit, navigation instruments, photographs, plaques and other memorabilia belonging to the late Warren 'Abe' Lincoln, a long-time Sunderlander, who died aged 80 earlier this year. Known to everyone in the service as 'Abe', Squadron Leader Lincoln hailed originally from New Zealand and saw wartime service with a RNZAF squadron in West Africa. Post-war he joined the RAF and flew Sunderlands at Pembroke Dock before joining one of the RAF's last flying-boat units in Singapore. The collection was handed into the care of the Museum by Mike Garbutt, Abe's co-pilot on Shackleton aircraft later on in his career. Said Mike: "Abe had such a special connection with Sunderlands and when we heard that there was a special room at the Pembroke Dock Museum devoted to flying-boats we knew that this was the place to donate Abe's collection. "Abe owned and flew his own aircraft, a rare AE1 Air Medivac, which he rescued in Hawaii and had superbly restored. He had been flying for 60 years." Mike was joined on the flight from Abe's home airfield of Henstridge in Somerset by another friend, Ricky Abel, and by pilot Justin Cox who flies out of Haverfordwest regularly. Justin had heard of the Pembroke Dock Museum from Haverfordwest pilot Richard Cole - who was also at the airfield when the collection was handed over - and passed the information on to Mike and Ricky. Receiving what will be termed the 'Lincoln Collection' were Museum Trust chairman Martin Cavaney and Trust founder member John Evans. Said Martin: "We are very honoured to be given such a wonderful collection of items belonging to a distinguished Sunderlander. "This is the latest of many donations which reflect all aspects of Pembroke Dock's rich and varied history. Since the Trust began running the Gun Tower Museum we have been entrusted with all manner of items and the donations and loans continue at a steady stream." John Evans, who has for many years researched Pembroke Dock's flying-boat history, added: "This collection is one of the finest I have ever seen from one source. We are delighted that it has been given to the Museum."