Aircraft History
Built by Short in Rochester, Kent United Kingdom. Constructors Number SB.3556.

Wartime History
On October 19, 1943 assigned to the Royal Air Force (RAF) at Wig Bay in Scotland as ML734. Readied at Mount Batten for delivery to Australia.

On March 1, 1944 took off from Mount Batten and flown overseas to Australia via Gibraltar, West Africa, Brazil, Caribbean, San Francisco, Honolulu then via Pacific islands 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On March 12, 1946 withdrawn from service and placed into storage at Rathmines.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 Sydney (Rose Bay). Converted to a Sunderland (Hythe) with seating for 22 passengers.

On October 24, 1947 registered in Australia as VH-AKP (CofR 1434) with Certificate of Airworthiness issued (CofA 1350) issued the same day.

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 Withdrawn from service during December 17, 1949 until December 5, 1950 and converted with seating for 36 passengers.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 during November 1 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. Utilized to maintain schedules 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On March 12, 1954 withdrawn from use and placed into storage at Sydney.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 had flown 5,919 hours. During October 1955, scrapped at Rose Bay, Sydney.

References
AussieAirliners VH-AKP Short S-25 Sunderland

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Last Updated
January 31, 2018