Nineteenth 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

First flown as G-AETZ - August 13, 1937

Certificate of Registration Issued - August 16, 1937

Delivered to Imperial Airways, London - August 16, 1937

Aircraft named 'Circe'

Acquired by British Airways when Imperial Airways merged

Isolated in the eastern section of the Horseshoe Route by Japanese army advances in Malaya - 1942

At the time this aircraft was being operated by Qantas crews

Aircraft destroyed when shot down off Tjilatjap, Java by a lone Japanese fighter - February 28, 1942

Had been engaged in the evacuation of civilians from Java to Broome, Australia

At time of loss it was carrying four crew (Capt. W.B. Purton) and 18 women and children

Aircraft had flown some 7,000 hours at the time of its loss

G-AETZ. Imperial Airways - in the original livery at Alexandria, October 1937.

(R. N. Smith Collection. 2545-268.)

G-AETZ. Imperial Airways - in the original livery at Alexandria, October 1937.

(R. N. Smith Collection. 2545-268a.)

G-AETZ. Imperial Airways - in the original livery at Alexandria, October 1937.

(R. N. Smith Collection. 2545-269.)

G-AETZ. Imperial Airways - in the wartime livery at Rose Bay, Sydney, November 1941.

(R. N. Smith Collection. 2545-270.)