Third Empire boat completed and flown by Short Bros at Rochester, Kent

Order placed by Imperial Airways, London

Completed as a S-23 Empire Class boat having 920 h.p. Bristol Pegasus Xc engines

It had an all-up weight of 40,500 lb, cruised at 164 m.p.h. with a range of 760 miles

Entered onto U.K. Aircraft Register as G-ADUT

First flown as G-ADUT - November 18, 1936

Certificate of Registration Issued - November 28, 1936

Delivered to Imperial Airways, London - December 13, 1936

Aircraft was named 'Centaurus'

Used to survey the Far East route to Australia and New Zealand

Obtained by Qantas Empire Airways in exchange for VH-ABE damaged at Darwin - September 1939

Commandeered by the R.A.A.F. on its arrival at Rose Bay, Sydney - September 21, 1939

Impressed by the Royal Australian Air Force as A18-10 - September 25, 1939

Allotted to No. 11 Squadron at its inception

Converted for general reconnaissance duties at Rose Bay, Sydney

Aircraft was fitted with a temporary dorsal gun position equipped with 0.303 machine guns

Departed Sydney on delivery to No 11 Squadron at Port Moresby, New Guinea - September 27, 1939

Carried out first reconnaissance flight out to 50 miles off Kerema in Gulf of Papua - September 29, 1939

Utilised for extensive general armed reconnaissance work in islands to north-east of New Guinea

Transferred to No 20 Squadron, Port Moresby - November 18, 1941

Used as the Transport Flight for the Squadron

Allotted to No 33 Squadron, Townsville, Queensland - February 2, 1942

Dispatched to evacuate personnel from Dutch East Indies - February 1942

Destoyed whilst moored in Broome Harbour when attcked by Japanese aircraft - March 3, 1942

Written off action approved - April 16, 1942

Estimated that 'Centaurus' had flown more than 8,000 hours at the time of its loss

G-ADUT. Imperial Airways London - in the original livery, location & date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection. 2545-250.)

G-ADUT. Imperial Airways London - in the original livery at Rose Bay, Sydney, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection. 2545-261.)

G-ADUT. Imperial Airways London - in the original livery at Rose Bay, Sydney, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection. 2545-262.)

G-ADUT. Imperial Airways London - in the original livery at Rose Bay, Sydney, June 1938.

(R. N. Smith Collection. 2545-251.)

A18-10. Royal Australian Air Force - in the original livery, location and date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection. 2545-253.)

A18-10 & A18-11. Royal Australian Air Force - in the original livery at Rose Bay, September 1939.

(R. N. Smith Collection. 2545-252.)

A18-10. Royal Australian Air Force - in the original livery at Rose Bay, Sydney, September 1939.

(R. N. Smith Collection. 2545-252a.)

A18-10. Royal Australian Air Force - in the original livery at Rose Bay, Sydney, September 1939.

(R. N. Smith Collection. 2545-254.)