Twenty-seventh Empire boat to be 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-AFBK

First flown as G-AFBK - December 17, 1937

Certificate of Registration Issued - December 18, 1937

Delivered to Imperial Airways, London - December 18, 1937

Aircraft named 'Coolangatta' (highland overlooking water)

Earmarked for delivery to Qantas Empire Airways from outset

Departed Southampton on delivery flight to Australia (Capt G.U. Allen) - March 18, 1938

Arrived Sydney at conclusion of delivery flight - April 2, 1938

Entered onto Australian Aircraft Register as VH-ABB - April 19, 1938

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd, Brisbane

Due to wartime emergency this aircraft was impressed by the R.A.A.F. - June 26, 1940

Converted for general reconnaissance duties at Rose Bay, Sydney

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

Impressed by the Royal Australian Air Force as A18-13 - June 29, 1940

Allotted to No. 11 Squadron based at Port Morseby, New Guinea

Cancelled from Australian Aircraft Register - July 27, 1940

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

Sustained a number of bullet holes in the outer skin of tailplane - November 24, 1940

Bullet holes inflicted by aircraft's own dorsal gun

Allocated to No. 13 Squadron based at Darwin for transport work - January 25, 1942

Allocated to No. 33 Transport Squadron based at Townsville - February 12, 1942

Allocated to No. 41 Squadron based at Townsville - August 13, 1942

Returned to Rose Bay, Sydney for return to Qantas - July 13, 1943

Entered onto Australian Aircraft Register as VH-ABB - July 27, 1943

Returned to Qantas service - July 27, 1943

Chartered by A.D.A.T. / A.N.A. for daily Sydney-Brisbane-Townsville services - August 1, 1943

Aircraft was operated by Qantas crews

Qantas was paid approximately 600 pounds ($1,200) each way via D.C.A.

Lease terminated - March 1944

Aircraft was destroyed in a landing accident at Rose Bay, Sydney - October 11, 1944

Aircraft had departed Rose Bay, Sydney for Townsville at 0649 hours with 7 crew and 22 passengers

Shortly after takeoff the electric flap motor failed and the wing flaps were retracted by hand

Twenty minutes into the flight oil pressure on starboard inner engine fell below normal levels

Captain (Capt K.C. Caldwell) decided to return to Rose Bay to rectify faults

Captain L.J. Brain (Qantas General Manager) had been invited by Capt Caldwell to fly aircraft

The landing approach flown by Capt. L. Brain was made into the north and without flaps

Finding that he had excess height Capt Brain introduced a left-hand side-slip during the approach

On straighening out from the side-slip the captain proceeded with the intention of making a normal landing

On checking the glide at about 40 feet he realised that the aircraft was flattening out too high

He stopped easing back on the controls expecting the boat to sink further towards the water

Without any further control movement the aircraft completely stalled some twelve feet above the water

It dropped sharply and made contact with the water in a normal attitude but with considerable force

Impact caused a major failure of the hull which allowed extensive break-up of the fuselage

Considerable length of the rear end of the hull and tail unit separated from rest of aircraft

Both sections sank within 15 minutes

Passengers and crew escaped the wreckage and were rescued but one passenger drowned (Mr J. Mott)

Accident was attributed to an error of judgement on the part of the captain

Aircraft had flown a total of 2,886 hours whilst in service with Qantas

VH-ABB. Qantas Empire Airways - in the original livery at Rose Bay Sydney, April 1938.

(R. N. Smith Collection. 2545-227.)

VH-ABB. Qantas Empire Airways - in the original livery at Rose Bay, Sydney, April 1938.

(R. N. Smith Collection. 2545-228.)

VH-ABB. Qantas Empire Airways - the Captain at the controls at Rose Bay, Sydney, April 1938.

(R. N. Smith Collection. 2545-230.)

VH-ABB. Qantas Empire Airways - in the original livery at Rose Bay, Sydney, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection via Qantas. 2545-229.)

VH-ABB. Qantas Empire Airways - in the original livery at Rose Bay, Sydney, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection via Qantas. 2545-355.)

A18-13. Royal Australian Air Force - in the wartime livery in New Guinea, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection. 2545-231.)