G-ADUW Short S-23 Empire Boat

This aircraft was the fifth Empire boat to be completed and flown by Short Bros at Rochester, Kent

The order was placed by Imperial Airways, London - January 24, 1935

The official written order shows the cost of the aircraft at UKP 37,800 - February 19, 1935

Converted to present day values this would be approximately UKP 3,417,876

Built as an S-23 Empire Class Mk.I flying boat having 920 h.p. Bristol Pegasus Xc poppet-valve radial engines

It was fitted with the 'Type 1D' fuel system - consisting of two fuel tanks of 326 gallons each mounted within the

wings, for a total of 652 gallons

This provided a flight duration of approximately 5 hours

Its range in still air was 684 nm (1,270 km) or against a 35 kt headwind the range was 517 nm (960 km)

Entered onto the British Aircraft Register as G-ADUW (CofR 6377) - October 07, 1935

Registered to Imperial Airways Limited, Victoria Station, London

It was allocated a 'Fleet Number' (No. 6) which was used in all operational records to identify the aircraft

As this was the fifth Empire flying boat to be launched, it should have been allocated the 'Fleet Number 5'

but was allocated the (No. 6) in error - this mistake was never corrected

Launched on the Medway River at Rochester - December 15, 1936

The aircraft was named 'Castor'

The name came from the Greek language meaning 'to excel' or 'to shine'

In Greek mythology 'Castor' was a son of Zeus and the twin brother of Pollux

The constellation 'Gemini' which represents the two brothers contains a star by this name

First flown at Rochester by the Short Brothers' Chief Test Pilot, John Lankester Parker - December 22, 1936

Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA No. 5732) issued - December 23, 1936

Delivered to Imperial Airways, at Hythe - January 02, 1937

Entered service with Imperial Airways as Flight IE511 Hythe - Alexandria - January 04, 1937

Operated the inaugural Marseilles - Alexandria service (Capts G. J. Powell, W. N. Cumming) - January 04, 1937

Following a night stop at Brindisi the flight arrived at Alexandria (15:00 local) - January 05, 1937

Route: Hythe - Marseilles - Rome - Brindisi - Athens - Alexandria

The aircraft carried seven passengers and almost 1.5 tons of freight

Operated the inaugural Southampton - Alexandria service - February 08, 1937

Flight crew: Captain W. W.C. Alger; F/O R. F. Stone

This service marked the beginning of the first 'all-air' service between Southampton and 'The Empire'

It arrived at Southampton having completed the first tour of duty with 15 passengers - February 27, 1937

Whilst enroute Southampton - Karachi as Flight SW30 'Castor' was advised that the fuel at Lake Bracciano was

contaminated it diverted to Lago di Paola, approximately 50 km south of Rome to refuel - June 13, 1939

'Castor' remained overnight and departed the next day

Following the outbreak of World War II, 'Castor' and all the other Empire Flying Boats were placed under

the jurisdiction of 'National Air Communications' - August 31, 1939

Imperial Airways and the original British Airways were merged to form

British Overseas Airways Corporation - April 01, 1940

Following Italy's entry into World War II, air routes across the Mediterranean Sea were closed - June 10, 1940

When this occurred 'Castor' was located at Alexandria and could not return to the United Kingdom

It was ferried to Tiberias for 6 days storage as Alexandria was inundated with other aircraft

Ferried Tiberias - South Africa (Durban) - June 18 - 21, 1940

The 'Allied Airways Joint Committee' replaced the 'National Air Communications' - June 27, 1940

Under these organisations, the 'Empire' flying boats could be commandeered at any time or place for sometimes very

secret and rather dangerous operations, depending on the wartime requirement

Registered to British Overseas Airways Corporation (CofR 6377/2) - August 22, 1940

'Castor' was involved in a rescue mission from Bahrain to pick up the crew of a naval 'Walrus' aircraft that had force

landed in the Persian Gulf - April 13, 1944

This mission was successful with the 3 occupants of the 'Walrus', which had sunk by this time, rescued and

delivered safely to Bahrain

'Castor' was withdrawn from BOAC service at Durban, after operating Cairo - Durban - January 20, 1947

This was a redistribution flight

It departed South Africa (Durban) on the ferry flight to Poole carrying BOAC staff and equipment - January 29, 1947

It arrived at Poole - February 04, 1947

This was the first time that 'Castor' had been back in the United Kingdom since May 24, 1940

Ferried Poole - Hythe - February 05, 1947

All useful equipment was then removed from the aircraft at Hythe

'Castor' was towed up Southampton Water to Marchwood - February ?, 1947

It was broken up at Marchwood by R. J. Coley and Son, Ltd

Cancelled from the British Aircraft Register - February 22, 1947

'Castor' had flown a total of 15,789 hours