Short S23 Empire Flying Boat
Built by the British, a small number were sold to Australia's Quantas airlines for air mail use. Able to seat 24 passengers, during WWII (1939/40), the RAAF impressed four into service.

A18-10, ex G-ADUT, "Centaurus" destroyed during a Japanese air-raid on Broome, March 3, 1942.

A18-11, ex G-AEUA, "Calypso" sunk off Daru, New Guinea

A18-12, ex VH-ABC, "Coogee"; written off in a landing accident at Townsville on February 27 1942

A18-13, ex VH-ABB, "Coolangatta". carried out many successful missions and were eventually returned to Qantas in July, 1943.

A23, serial A18-14, ex G-AFPZ, "Clifton", was impressed on March 9 1942. This aircraft had a strengthened hull for a payload of 53,000 lbs.