ADF Serials - Sunderland

RAAF.Serial	RAF.Serial	Type	C/N	Aircraft History
A26-1	ML730	Mk.3	3552	1943 Built by Short Bros at Rochester, Kent as the 6th aircraft of production Lot 16 with RAF serials ML725 to ML744. 18Oct43 Delivered to No 57 Maintenance Unit at RAF Wig Bay, Loch Ryan, Scotland. 10Nov43 To 10 Sqn RAAF at RAF Station Mount Batten, Plymouth Sound, Devon UK and prepared for delivery to Australia. 27Jan44 Departed RAF Mount Batten 2105 hours for Australia in company with A26-3. The six man ferry crew comprised aircrew that had completed at least one tour of operations on Sunderland aircraft with either 10 Sqn or 461 Sqn RAAF. The crew was: pilot SQNLDR T.A. Edgerton, pilot FLTLT G.C Strath, navigator FLTLT V. Dyason, flight engineer FLGOFF L. Woodland, WOAG FLTLT L. Wilson and fitter 2A SGT V Bracey. The 18,716 air mile ferry route was: UK-Gibraltar-Liberia-Brazil-Cuba-San Francisco-Honolulu-Samoa-Sydney and expected to take about 40 days. 12Mar44 After a 45 day ferry flight landed at the Qantas Airways Rose Bay flying boat facility for inspection prior to hand over to RAAF. Mar44 Allocated civilian call sign VHCOA for use while in RAAF Service. 15Mar44 Taken on RAAF Charge and issued to Qantas. 05May44 Allocated to No 2 Flying Boat Repair Depot (2FBRD) at RAAF Station Rathmines, Lake Macquarie NSW. 07May44 Received by 2FBRD. 12May44 Allocated to No 40 (Transport/Sea) Squadron RAAF Base Townsville, QLD 12Jun44 To be fitted with radar and IFF prior to delivery to 40 Sqn and to be modified for cargo/passenger carriage. 02Jul44 Received by 40 Sqn. (unmodified aircraft). 04Jul44 Suffered complete engine failure on No 2 engine (stbd inner) when a cylinder head detached and split the block. Aircraft returned safely to Townsville, airscrew was removed and the aircraft flown with three engines to 2FBRD for repairs. 07Jul44 Request allocation to Qantas for engine change; removal of sea growth and completion of modifications. 10Jul44 Allocated to Qantas, Rose Bay NSW. 23Jul44 Received by Qantas. 18Aug44 Issued to 40 Sqn. 22Aug44 Received by 40 Sqn. (fourth fully modified aircraft received). 29Aug44 Struck by A26-5 while taxying at Port Moresby, PNG. Damage to stbd outer engine, nacelle and airscrew. 12Jan45 Request allocation to Qantas for 320 hourly inspection and engine change. 15Jan45 Allocated to Qantas, Rose Bay NSW. 23Jan45 Received by Qantas. 31Mar45 Requisitioned by AIR BOARD for War Loan Duties. The aircraft toured all five States raising submissions for the 3rd Victory Loan. The tour ended 30th April 1945, returned to Rose Bay for inspection before reallocation to 40 Sqn. 03Apr45 Allocated to 40 Sqn. 13May45 Received by 40 Sqn. 02Jul45 Request allocation to Qantas for320 hourly inspection and engine change. 04Jul45 Allocated to Qantas, Rose Bay NSW. 10Jul45 Received by Qantas. 21Aug45 Allocated to 40 Sqn. 23Aug45 Received by 40 Sqn. 10Dec35 Request allocation to 2FBRD for 320 hourly inspection and engine change. 18Dec45 Received by 2FBRD. 14Feb46 Issued to 2RBRD Store. 14Mar46 To be stored as Category C at RAAF Base Rathmines. 12Jun46 Offered for sale on Commonwealth Disposal Commission (CDC) List 2073. 04Oct46 Sold to Mr BW Monkton of 101 Victoria Road, Bellevue Hill, Sydney NSW. 04Oct46 Registration VH-ARQ allocated but not used. 24Feb47 Registration VH-BKO allocated but not used. 28Ap47 Issued to purchaser. Ferried from Rathmines to Rose Bay using call sign VHCKR. 1947-53 Aircraft did not enter civilian service, used as a source for spare parts. Remnants sold for scrap at Rose Bay.
A26-2	ML731	Mk.3	3553	1943 Built by Short Bros at Rochester, Kent as the 7th aircraft of production Lot 16 with RAF serials ML725 to ML744. 07Oct43 Delivered to No 57 Maintenance Unit at RAF Wig Bay, Loch Ryan, Scotland. 10Nov43 To 10 Sqn RAAF at RAF Station Mount Batten, Plymouth Sound, Devon UK and prepared for delivery to Australia. 14Feb44 Departed RAF Mount Batten 1852 hours for Australia in company with A26-6. The 18,716 air mile ferry route was: UK-Gibraltar-Liberia-Brazil-Cuba-San Francisco-Honolulu-Samoa-Sydney and was expected to take about 40 days. 19Mar44 After a 35 day ferry flight landed at the Qantas Airways Rose Bay flying boat facility for inspection prior to hand over to RAAF. Mar44 Allocated civilian call sign VHCOB for use while in RAAF Service. 23Mar44 Taken on RAAF Charge and issued to Qantas. 24Mar44 Allocated to No 2 Flying Boat Repair Depot (2FBRD) at RAAF Station Rathmines, Lake Macquarie NSW. 26Mar44 Received by 2FBRD. 30Mar44 To be fitted with radar and IFF prior to delivery to 40 Sqn and to be modified for cargo/passenger carriage. 24Apr44 Allocated to Qantas for inspection and modification. 25Apr44 Received by Qantas. 26Apr44 Allocated to No 40 (Transport/Sea) Squadron RAAF Base Townsville, QLD 29May44 Received from Qantas by 2FBRD for post modification checks. 07Jul44 Received by 40 Sqn. (unmodified aircraft) 17Jul44 Request allocation to Qantas for engine change; removal of sea growth and completion of modifications. 19Jul44 Allocated to Qantas. 03Aug44 Received by Qantas. 26Aug44 Allocated to 40 Sqn. 09Sep44 Received by 40 Sqn at Port Moresby (sixth fully modified aircraft received). 14Sep44 Whilst moored at Port Moresby an American prisoner managed to overcome his guard and attempted to hijack the aircraft. The attempt was unsuccessful but matters were very tense for some time before the prisoner was convinced to drop his weapon and surrender. 17Nov44 Request allocation to Qantas for 320 hourly inspection and engine change. 20Nov44 Allocated to Qantas. 30Nov44 Received by Qantas. 22Dec44 Allocated to 40 Sqn. 26Dec44 Received by 40 Sqn. 02Mar45 Request allocation to Qantas for 320 hourly inspection and engine change. 05Mar45 Allocated to Qantas. 09Mar45 Received by Qantas. 25Apr45 Allocated to 40 Sqn. 26Apr45 Received by 40 Sqn. 09Jun45 Request allocation to Qantas for 320 hourly inspection and engine change. 18Jun45 Allocated to Qantas. 20Jun45 Received by Qantas. 23Jul45 Allocated to 40 Sqn. 25Jul45 Received by 40 Sqn. 29Jul45 Flew the inaugural Port Moresby-Gazelle Bay-Port Moresby scheduled service. 19Oct45 Allocated to 2FBRD 30Oct45 Received by 2FBRD. 25Feb46 Issued to 40 Sqn at RAAF Station Rathmines (The squadron relocated on 01March 1946). 04Mar46 Damaged while moored at Cairns, QLD during a cyclonic event. Repaired at Rathmines. 14Mar46 To be stored as Category C at RAAF Base Rathmines. 25Apr4 Tailplane & upper wing surfaces damaged by large hailstones. 12Jun46 Offered for sale on Commonwealth Disposal Commission (CDC) List 2073. 04Oct46 Sold to Mr BW Monkton of 101 Victoria Road, Bellevue Hill, Sydney NSW. 05Mar47 Ferried from Rathmines to Rose Bay, Sydney NSW by Trans Oceanic Airways staff. 1947-49 Converted to accommodate 36 passengers on two decks with appropriate fittings The refurbished aircraft, now known as the Short Hythe Class, issued a Certificate of Airworthiness on 05Nov49 entered the Australian Register as VH-BKQ. 07Nov49 The aircraft, named 'Pacific Star', operated the first passenger/cargo revenue service Sydney to Grafton, NSW. 16Aug50 Flew the inaugural Sydney-Hobart service (Captains B. Monkton and K. Goddard). 29Oct50 Flew the inaugural Sydney-Brisbane-Townsville-Port Moresby service (Captain Mathieson). 16Apr51 Lost port outer propellor and reduction gear on Sydney-Grafton flight. 28Jun51 Withdrawn from use as repair costs were too high. 1951-54 Used as a source for spare parts. 28Jun54 Removed from register. Hulk sold for scrap in 1954.
A26-3	ML732	Mk.3	3554	1943 Built by Short Bros at Rochester, Kent as the 8th aircraft of Lot 16 with RAF serials ML725 to ML744. 15Oct43 Delivered to No 57 Maintenance Unit at RAF Wig Bay, Loch Ryan, Scotland. 10Nov53 To 10 Sqn RAAF at RAF Station Mount Batten, Plymouth Sound, Devon UK and prepared for delivery to Australia. 27Jan44 Departed RAF Mount Batten 2110 hours for Australia in company with A26-1. The six man ferry crew comprised aircrew that had completed at least one tour of operations on Sunderland aircraft with either 10 Sqn or 461 Sqn RAAF. The crew was: pilot FLTLT G.G Rossiter; pilot FLTLT E.H Farmer; navigator FLTLT C.N Austin; flight engineers FSGT J.W Kelly and FSGT L.J McFarland; and WOAG SGT A.T Holland. The 18,716 air mile ferry route was: UK-Gibraltar-Liberia-Brazil-Cuba-San Francisco-Honolulu-Samoa-Sydney and was expected to take about 40 days. 12Mar44 After a 45 day ferry flight landed at the Qantas Airways Rose Bay flying boat facility for inspection prior to hand over to RAAF. Mar44 Allocated civilian call sign VHCOC for use while in RAAF Service. 15Mar44 Taken on RAAF Charge and issued to Qantas. 24Apr44 Allocated to No 2 Flying Boat Repair Depot (2FBRD) at RAAF Station Rathmines, Lake Macquarie NSW. 27Apr44 Received by 2FBRD. 28Apr44 Allocated to No 40 (Transport/Sea) Squadron RAAF Base Townsville, QLD 12Jun44 To be fitted with radar and IFF prior to delivery to 40 Sqn and to be modified for cargo/passenger carriage. 02Jul44 Received by 40 Sqn. (unmodified aircraft) 23Aug44 Request allocation to Qantas for underwater inspection and complete engine changes. 24Aug44 Allocated to Qantas. 25Aug44 Received by Qantas for inspection and final modification. 26Aug44 Allocated to 40 Sqn. 30Sep44 Received by 40 Sqn at Port Moresby (fifth fully modified aircraft received). 04Oct44 Flew the inaugural Port Moresby-Townsville-Darwin-Port Moresby scheduled service. 20Oct44 Performed SAR for stranded pilot at Kerema, Papua 06Dec44 Request allocation to Qantas for 320 hourly inspection and engine change. 07Dec44 Allocated to Qantas. 08Dec44 Aircraft not flyable with engine problems. 26Dec44 Received by Qantas. 12Jan45 Allocated to 40 Sqn. 15Jan45 Received by 40 Sqn. 11Apr45 Allocated to Qantas for 320 hourly inspection and engine change. 16Apr45 On ferry flight from Port Moresby to Rose Bay developed propellor problems and force landed on the Burnett River near Bundaberg. 18Apr45 A26-4 arrived with maintenance personnel to remove the damaged propellor. 20Apr45 A26-3 flew to Rose Bay via Hamilton on three engines. A26-4 returned to Townsville. 23Apr45 Received by Qantas. 08Jun45 Allocated to 40 Sqn. 12Jun45 Received by 40 Sqn. 20Aug45 Request allocation to Qantas for 320 hourly inspection and engine change. 23Aug45 40Sqn directed to perform 320 hourly inspection and engine change. 04Sep45 Aircraft held unserviceable awaiting engines. 29Jan46 Request allocation to 2FBRD for 480 hour inspection and engine change. 30Jan46 Allocated to 2FBRD. 08Feb46 Received by 2FBRD. 14Mar46 Stored as Category C at RAAF Base Rathmines. 25Apr46 Heavy damage from large hailstones. 12Jun46 Offered for sale on Commonwealth Disposal Commission (CDC) List 2073. 04Oct46 Sold to Mr BW Monkton of 101 Victoria Road, Bellevue Hill, Sydney NSW. 04Oct46 Registration VH-BFX allocated but not used. 21Jan47 Registration VH-BKP allocated but not used 27Jan47 Ferried from Rathmines to Rose Bay, Sydney NSW by Trans Oceanic Airways staff. 1947-53 Aircraft did not enter civilian service, used as a source for spare parts. Remnants sold for scrap at Rose Bay.
A26-4	ML733	Mk.3	3555	1943 Built by Short Bros at Rochester, Kent as the 9th aircraft of production Lot 16 with RAF serials ML725 to ML744. 15Oct43 Delivered to No 57 Maintenance Unit at RAF Wig Bay, Loch Ryan, Scotland. 10Nov53 To 10 Sqn RAAF at RAF Station Mount Batten, Plymouth Sound, Devon UK and prepared for delivery to Australia. 01Feb44 Departed RAF Mount Batten 1910 hours for Australia in company with A26-5. The 18,716 air mile ferry route was: UK-Gibraltar-Liberia-Brazil-Cuba-San Francisco-Honolulu-Samoa-Sydney and was expected to take about 40 days. 12Mar44 After a 41 day ferry flight landed at the Qantas Airways Rose Bay flying boat facility. Mar44 Allocated civilian call sign VHCOD for use while in RAAF Service. 13Mar44 Taken on RAAF Charge and issued to 2FBRD for storage pending issue to Qantas for inspection & modification. 26Apr44 Allocated to No 40 (Transport/Sea) Squadron RAAF Base Townsville, QLD. 12Jun44 To be fitted with radar and IFF prior to delivery to 40 Sqn and to be modified for cargo/passenger carriage. 19Jun44 Allocated to Qantas Airways at the Rose Bay flying boat facility for inspection and modification. 30Jun44 Received by Qantas. 05Aug44 Received by 40 Sqn at Port Moresby, PNG (third fully modified aircraft received), 30Aug44 Departed Moresby (SDNLDR TA Egerton) accompanied by A26-6 (WGCDR VA Hodgkinson) for Brisbane to pick up Senior US Staff of USASOS and LHQ for transportation to the newly gained town of Hollandia on the far north Coast of PNG. 28Oct44 Request allocation to Qantas for 320 hourly inspection and engine change. 28Oct44 Aircraft AOG at Groote Eylandt, will proceed direct to Qantas when serviceable. 30Oct44 Allocated to Qantas. 30Oct44 Allocated to 40 Sqn upon completion of servicing. 02Nov44 Received by Qantas. 27Nov44 Received by 40 Sqn. 30Jan45 Request allocation to Qantas for 320 hourly inspection and engine change. 31Jan45 Reallocated to 40 Sqn. 07Feb45 Received by Qantas. 23Feb45 Received by 40 Sqn. 09Mar45 Ordered by Northern Command, departed Madang with 40 AIF Troops to relieve the garrison at Annenberg Mission Village on the Ramu River, Madang Province New Guinea. Returned to Madang same day with very excited troops! 15May45 Request allocation to Qantas for 320 hourly inspection, engine change plus inspection of oil tanks & flexible drives. 23May45 Allocated to Qantas. 28May45 Received by Qantas. 28May45 Allocated to 40 Sqn. 25Jun45 Received by 40 Sqn. 03Oct45 Allocated to Qantas for complete overhaul. 27Oct45 Received by Qantas. 14Mar46 Allocated to No 3 Operational Training Unit (3OTU) at RAAF Rathmines. 15Mar46 Requisitioned by the Air Board for War Bonds advertising tour around Australia. 16Mar46 Allocated to 2FBRD after War Bonds tour. 18Apr46 Received 2FBRD and placed in Category C storage at RAAF Base Rathmines. 12Jun46 Offered for sale on Commonwealth Disposal Commission (CDC) List 2073. 04Oct46 Sold to Mr BW Monkton of 101 Victoria Road, Bellevue Hill, Sydney NSW. 21Nov46 Ferried from Rathmines to Rose Bay, Sydney NSW by Trans Oceanic Airways staff. 06Mar47 Test flown at Rose Bay after conversion to accommodate 28 passengers on one deck with appropriate fittings. The refurbished aircraft, was known as the Short Hythe Class flying boat. 05May47 Certificate of Airworthiness (C of A 1251) issued. 05May47 On the Australian Register as VH-AKO (C of R 1323) belonging to Trans Oceanic Airways Ltd and named 'Australis'. 20may47 Charter flight Sydney-Milne Bay-Sydney. 29May47 Charter flight Sydney-Noumea-Sydney. Flight was extended to Port Vila - Espiritu Santo - Honiara -Lingatu - Tulagi - returning to Sydney on June 22, 1947. 04Jul47 Made an unscheduled and unauthorised landing at Lord Howe Island. 01Aug47 Operated the inaugural Sydney-Lord Howe service. 17May48 Withdrawn from use for modifications. 02Oct48 Returned to service and renamed 'Australia Star'. 25Oct48 First of several Europe-Australia migrant charter flights. 24Dec48 Operated the inaugural Sydney-Grafton service. 1949 Renamed 'Samoa Star'. 0ct49 Withdrawn from service. 22Dec49 Returned to service. 23Nov50 Flew final revenue service. 19Dec50 Withdrawn from use and stored at Rose Bay. 06Aug51 Withdrawn from the Australian Register. 1954 No further information, assumed the aircraft suffered the same fate as the other five aircraft that survived WWII.
A26-5	ML734	Mk.3	3556	1943 Built by Short Bros at Rochester, Kent as the 10th aircraft of production Lot 16 with RAF serials ML725 to ML744. 18Oct43 Delivered to No 57 Maintenance Unit at RAF Wig Bay, Loch Ryan, Scotland. 10Nov43 To 10 Sqn RAAF at RAF Station Mount Batten, Plymouth Sound, Devon UK and prepared for delivery to Australia. 01Feb44 Departed RAF Mount Batten 1910 hours for Australia in company with A26-5. The 18,716 air mile ferry route was: UK-Gibraltar-Liberia-Brazil-Cuba-San Francisco-Honolulu-Samoa-Sydney and was expected to take about 40 days. 12Mar44 After a 41 day ferry flight landed at the Qantas Airways Rose Bay flying boat facility. Mar44 Allocated civilian call sign VHCOE for use while in RAAF Service. 13Mar44 Taken on RAAF Charge and issued to 2FBRD for storage pending issue to Qantas for inspection & modification. 26Apr44 Allocated to No 40 (Transport/Sea) Squadron RAAF Base Townsville, QLD. 06May44 Allocated to Qantas Airways at the Rose Bay flying boat facility for inspection and modification. 07May44 Received by Qantas. 12Jun44 To be fitted with radar and IFF prior to delivery to 40 Sqn and, to be modified for cargo/passenger carriage. 30Jun44 Received by 2FBRD 02Jul44 Received by 40 Sqn (first fully modified aircraft delivered to the squadron). Jul44 Accompanied by A26-6 made several flights in July to move 40 SQN personnel and equipment from Townsville to Port Moresby during 40 Sqn’s relocation. All movements finalized by 22July 1944. 18Aug44 Whilst moored in Townsville the aircraft was struck by SS Marella causing some damage to nose turret and fairing. 23Aug44 Flew the inaugural Port Moresby-Townsville-Port Moresby scheduled service. 29Aug44 Taxying accident at Port Moresby, collided with a stationary A26-1. Lost more than 1m of stbd wing. 01Sep44 Allocated to Qantas for repairs and 320 hourly engine change. 02Sep44 Allocated to 40 Sqn after repair. 12Sep44 Received by Qantas. 07Dec44 Received by 40 Sqn. 16Dec44 Request allocation to Qantas for 320 hourly inspection and engine change. 18Dec44 Allocated to Qantas. 27Dec44 Reallocated to 40 Sqn. 15Jan45 Received by Qantas. 26Jan45 Received by 40 Sqn. 23Mar45 performed successful SAR for missing C47 aircraft. Dinghies dropped and remained on station until relieved. 24Mar45 Returned on station and remained with C47 survivors until rescued by Air Sea Rescue Launch from Port Moresby. 05Apr45 Allocated to Qantas for 320 hourly inspection and engine change. 10Apr45 Received by Qantas. 07May45 Received by 40 Sqn. 23Jul45 Request allocation to Qantas for 320 hourly inspection and engine change. 27Jul45 Allocated to Qantas. 27Jul45 Reallocated to 40 Sqn. 07Aug45 Received by Qantas. 27Sep45 Received by 40 Sqn. 12Feb46 Allocated to 2FBRD Store. 05Mar46 Departed Moresby with 40 Sqn rear party for RAAF Base Rathmines. RON at Cairns. 06Mar46 Departed Cairns 0600. Arrive Rathmines 1525 hrs handed over to 2FBRD 12Mar46 Stored as Category C at RAAF Base Rathmines. 25Apr46 Heavy damage to upper surfaces and tail fin by hailstorm. 12Jun46 Offered for sale on Commonwealth Disposal Commission (CDC) List 2073. 04Oct46 Sold to Mr BW Monkton of 101 Victoria Road, Bellevue Hill, Sydney NSW. 16Dec46 Ferried from Rathmines to Rose Bay, Sydney NSW by Trans Oceanic Airways staff. 10Oct47 Test flown at Rose Bay after conversion to accommodate 28 passengers on one deck with appropriate fittings. The refurbished aircraft, was known as the Short Hythe Class flying boat. 24Oct47 Certificate of Airworthiness (C of A 1350) issued. 24Oct47 On the Australian Register as VH-AKP (CofR 1434) to Trans Oceanic Airways Ltd (TOA) and named 'Australis'. 24Oct47 Operated TOA first commercial service as a charter flight Sydney-New Hebrides-Sydney. 21Jan48 Renamed 'Antilles'. 1949 Renamed 'Tahiti Star'. 17Dec49 Refurbished in a 36 passenger configuration. 05Dec50 Returned to service. 01Jan51 Operated last TOA Pacific Island scheduled flight. 17Jun52 Operated last TOA Sydney-Grafton scheduled flight. 01Jul52 TOA placed into liquidation. 16Aug52 Leased to Barrier Reef Airways. 01Nov52 Leased to Ansett Flying Boat Services. 19Apr53 Operated the final TOA scheduled flight, Sydney-Lord Howe. 20May53 Sold to Ansett Flying Boat Services. Ansett also acquired the Sydney-Lord Howe route and the Rose Bay facilities. 25May53 Registered to Ansett Flying Boat Services as VH-BRD. 12Mar54 Flew final revenue service. 24Mar54 Withdrawn and stored at Rose Bay. 09May54 Registration cancelled. Aircraft had flown a total of 5,919 hours. 1955 Scrapped for spares at Rose Bay.
A26-6	DP192	Mk.3	unk	1942 Built by Short Bros at Windermere, Cumbria as the 17th aircraft of production Lot 9, RAF serials DP176 to D209. 1942-43 Served with RAF as DP192 in several squadrons. 18Oct43 Delivered to No 57 Maintenance Unit at RAF Wig Bay, Loch Ryan, Scotland. 10Nov53 To 10 Sqn RAAF at RAF Station Mount Batten, Plymouth Sound, Devon UK and prepared for delivery to Australia. 14Feb44 Departed RAF Mount Batten 1852 hours for Australia in company with A26-6. The 18,716 air mile ferry route was: UK-Gibraltar-Liberia-Brazil-Cuba-San Francisco-Honolulu-Samoa-Sydney and was expected to take about 40 days. 19Mar44 After a 35 day ferry flight landed at the Qantas Airways Rose Bay flying boat facility for inspection prior to hand over to RAAF. Mar44 Allocated civilian call sign VHCOF for use while in RAAF Service. 21Mar44 Taken on RAAF Charge and issued to Qantas. 24Mar44 Allocated to No 2 Flying Boat Repair Depot (2FBRD) at RAAF Station Rathmines, Lake Macquarie NSW. 26Mar44 Received by 2FBRD. 26Apr44 Allocated to No 40 (Transport/Sea) Squadron RAAF Base Townsville, QLD. 29May44 Allocated to Qantas to be fitted with radar and IFF prior to delivery to 40 Sqn and, to be modified for cargo/passenger carriage. 29May44 Received by Qantas. Jul44 Accompanied by A26-6 made several flights in July to move 40 SQN personnel and equipment from Townsville to Port Moresby during 40 Sqn’s relocation. All movements finalized by 22July 1944. 26Jul44 Received by 40 Sqn. (second fully modified aircraft received). 30Aug44 Departed Moresby (WGCDR VA Hodgkinson) accompanied by A26-4 (SDNLDR TA Egerton) for Brisbane to pick up Senior US Staff of USASOS and LHQ for transportation to the newly gained town of Hollandia on the PNG far north Coast. 27Sep44 Request allocation to Qantas for 320 hourly inspection and engine change. 03Oct44 Allocated to Qantas. 03Oct44 Reallocated to 40 Sqn. 18Oct44 Received by Qantas. 06Nov44 Received by 40 Sqn. 27Nov44 Allocated to Qantas for 320 hourly inspection and engine change. 28Nov44 After returning from a routine travel flight with a crew of seven and 29 passengers the aircraft was taxying back to its mooring point when it collided with a wooden harbour marker post at 1020 hrs. The hull was punctured and the aircraft began to rapidly fill with water so the crew restarted all the engines and tried to beach the aircraft. However, they were unsuccessful in the attempt and the aircraft sank on a sand bar close to the beach in about 8ft of water. The aircraft was almost totally submerged in the ensuing high tide and was seriously damaged. The aircraft was re-floated the next morning using floatation devices but the damage inflicted was considered to be too serious to repair so the aircraft was allocated for conversion. 01Dec44 Allocated to 5 Repair & Salvage Unit for conversion. 07Dec44 Received by 5 RSU and converted to components.