Built by Short Bros at Rochester, Kent as a Sunderland Mk V- 1944

Delivered to Royal Air Force as NJ179 at Wig Bay, Stranraer, Scotland

Received by No. 57 Maintenance Unit, Wig Bay - June 12, 1944

Operated by the Norwegian No. 330 Squadron at Sullom Voe, Scotland

Transferred to Short Bros & Harland as surplus to requirements - April 1946

Converted to Sandringham Mk IV Tasman Class by Short Bros & Harland, Belfast

Conversion included seating for 30 passengers

Transferred to UK Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-AME - July 25, 1946

Leased to Tasman Empire Airways Ltd (TEAL) - August 22, 1946

Aircraft was named ' RMA New Zealand'

Delivered to TEAL at Auckland - September 4, 1946

Operated its first Auckland-Sydney-Auckland service - September 11, 1946

Flight crew: Capt J.R. McGrane; F/O P.J. La Couteur

Withdrawn from use due to engine overheating problems - February 23, 1948

Returned to service following rectification of engine problems - June 17, 1948

Operated its final TEAL service Sydney-Auckland - December 19, 1949

Stored at Hobsonville, Auckland

Removed from storage & test flown at Auckland - April 20, 1950

Ferried Auckland-Brisbane (Capt J. Sheppard) for sale to Barrier Reef Airways - April 27, 1950

Sold to Barrier Reef Airways Ltd for 5,000 pounds - April 28, 1950

Overhaulled and converted to seat 41 passengers

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-BRD - March 12, 1951

Registered to Barrier Reef Airways Pty Ltd

Aircraft was named 'Capricorn'

Operated its first Barrier Reef service - Brisbane-Whitsunday Islands - April 1951

Chartered by Trans Oceanic Airways to cover repairs to VH-TOB - June 20 to July, 1951

Registered to Ansett Flying Boat Services - May 1, 1952

Aircraft was renamed 'Princess of Cairns'

Operated the inaugural Brisbane-Hayman Is-Townsville-Cairns service - May 31, 1952

Struck by a Riverside Coal Transport barge on the Brisbane River - July 11, 1952

The damage to port wingtip was repaired - reentered service August 5, 1952

Aircraft sank overnight at its moorings on the Brisbane River - October 31, 1952

It was struck by an unidentified boat - causing damage to the port float and flooding the aircraft

Towed to Colmslie Slipway after being refloated - November 3, 1952

Declared a write-off following a detailed inspection - November 4, 1952

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - April 16, 1953

Sold to Steel Constructions Ltd, Brisbane - April 1953

Onsold to Pacific Clipper Enterprises, Gold Coast who intended to convert it to a floating restaurant

Lost whilst being towed to the Gold Coast when swamped by waves - February 1, 1954

Wreckage never located

ZK-AME. TEAL - in the all-metal livery at Mechanics Bay, November 1946.

(Whites Aviation Photograph. 2545-342.)

ZK-AME. TEAL - in the all-metal livery at Auckland Harbour, date unknown.

(Whites Aviation Photograph. 2545-330.)

ZK-AME. TEAL - in the all-metal livery at Auckland Harbour, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection. 2545-295.)

VH-BRD. Barrier Reef Airways - in the full livery at Hayman Island, circa 1951.

(J. Wilson Collection. 2545-297.)

VH-BRD. Barrier Reef Airways - in the full livery at Lord Howe Island, circa 1951.

(J. Wilson Collection. 2545-296.)