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| Ansett Airlines Flying Boat Services Former Assignments RAF RAAF 40 Squadron Trans Oceanic Airways Barrier Reef Airways
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Aircraft History Built by Short in Rochester, Kent United Kingdom. Constructors Number SB.3556. On October 19, 1943 delivered to the RAF (RAF) as S.25 Sunderland Mark III serial number ML734. Accepted at at Wig Bay in Scotland. Readied at Mount Batten for delivery to Australia. Wartime History On March 1, 1944 took off from Mount Batten and flown overseas bound for Australia. The flight route was via Gibraltar, West Africa, Brazil, Caribbean, San Francisco, Honolulu then across the Pacific before arriving at Sydney. On April 26, 1944 assigned to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as Sunderland A26-5. with call sign VH-COE. Assigned to 40 Squadron at Townsville and received on July 2, 1944. On July 10, 1944 damaged when struck by S.S. Marella off Townsville. Afterwards, repaired. On August 29, 1944 damaged when struck by Short Sunderland A26-1 while moored in Fairfax Harbor off Port Moresby, the collision tore off 1 meter of wing. Afterwards, repaired. Postwar On March 12, 1946 withdrawn from service and placed into storage at Rathmines. On June 12, 1946 advertised for sale and sold to B. W. Monkton on October 14, 1946. On December 16, 1946 flown from Rathmines to Rose Bay and converted to a Sunderland (Hythe) with seating for 22 passengers. On October 24, 1947 registered in Australia (Certificate of Registration 1434) with call sign VH-AKP. That same day, issued was Certificate of Airworthiness 1350 (CofA 1350). Registered to Trans Oceanic Airways Ltd. (TOA) and nicknamed "Australis". Provided the first T.O.A. commercial service offering charter flights from Sydney to the New Hebrides. On January 21, 1948 nicknamed "Antilles". In 1949 renamed "Tahiti Star". Withdrawn from service during December 17, 1949 until December 5, 1950 and converted with seating for 36 passengers. On January 1, 1951 made a final TOA flight to the Pacific Islands. On June 17, 1952 made a final TOA flight from Sydney to Grafton. On July 1, 1952 placed in liquidation, yet continued to make limited service from Sydney to Lord Howe Island. On August 16, 1952 leased to Barrier Reef Airways / Ansett Flying Boat Services. Next, leased to Ansett Flying Boat Services between November 1, 1952 to December 27, 1952. On April 15, 1953 made a final TOA flight from Sydney to Lord Howe Island. On May 20, 1953 sold to Ansett Flying Boat Services and registered on May 25, 1953 but continued to operate in TOA markings and was utilized as a replacement aircraft as a replacement aircraft for VH-BRD. On March 12, 1954 withdrawn from use and placed into storage at Sydney. Registration canceled on May 9, 1954. In total, this aircraft flew 5,919 hours. During October 1955, scrapped at Rose Bay. References Australian Certificate of Registration 1434 (CofR 1434) Australian Certificate of Airworthiness 1350 (CofA 1350) AussieAirliners VH-AKP Short S-25 Sunderland Contribute
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