ZK-AMG Short S.25 Sunderland Mk III

This aircraft was ordered new by the U. K. Ministry of Transport - 1944

The contract (No. 2226) was for the construction of 19 Short Sunderland Mk III aircraft

The aircraft was built by Short Bros, The Seaplane Works, Rochester, Kent, England

It was allocated the R.A.F. serial number 'ML794'

Delivered to the Royal Air Force No 57 Maintenance Unit, Wig Bay, Stranaer, Scotland - September 09, 1944

Taken on-charge as ML794 for service allocation

Transferred to the Royal New Zealand Air Force - October 06, 1944

Ferried to 302 Ferry Traning Unit, Oban for ferry flight preparations - October 06, 1944

Ferried Oban - Calshot - October 18, 1944

Moved to RAF Mount Batten and fitted with 600 gallon long-range ferry tanks - October 19, 1944

Departed RAF Mount Batten on the ferry flight to New Zealand via Canada - October 21, 1944

The ferry flight was under the command of Flt Lt Joe Shephard (RNZAF)

The RNZAF Serial Number 'NZ4103' was allocated to this aircraft - November 21, 1944

The aircraft sustained damage to the propeller of No. 1 engine - December 02, 1944

It collided with the RNZAF Lockheed Lodestar (NZ3514) during a close formation photography sequence

This occured over the Hen & Chicken Islands off the north coast of the New Zealand North Island

The aircraft was flying the last leg of its ferry flight from Suva to Auckland

A forced landing was made at Bream Bay, Whangarei where the aircraft was towed by boat to Urquhart's Bay

A replacement propeller was duly fitted - December 03, 1944

Completed the ferried flight Urquhart's Bay - Auckland (Waitemata Harbour) - December 04, 1944

Taken on-charge by No 1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsionville

Officially transferred to the Flying Boat Transport Flight, Honsonville - December 08, 1944

This transfer was made retrospectively as of - November 02, 1944

Underwent 90 hour maintenance at Hobsonville - December 15, 1944

The aircraft was named 'Mataatua' and had the N.Z. serial numbers applied during this service

Commenced regular Sunderland Flying Boat services from Auckland - Suva (Fiji) - January 19, 1945

Operated the first Sunderland service Auckland (Hobsonville) - Sydney (Rose Bay) - February 14, 1945

Returned Sydney (Rose Bay) - Auckland (Hobsonville) - February 15, 1945

Sunderland services to Sydney (Australia) were suspended until August 16, 1945

Major overhaul commenced by TEAL at Mechanics Bay - September 14, 1945

Allocated to Special Flying Boat Transport Services - September 29, 1945

Operations were suspended to rectify engine and propeller problems - September 30, 1945

Fully feathering propellers fitted - May 1946

The aircraft was test flown - October 06, 1946

Commenced weekly services Wellington (Evans Bay) - Chatham Islands - Wellington - November 02, 1946

Suffered engine failure Auckland - Suva route - January 24, 1947

Suffered engine failure Auckland - Suva route - January 28, 1947

Suffered engine failure Auckland - Suva route - February 04, 1947

This aircraft was replaced by the R.N.Z.A.F. Sunderland 'NZ4102' on this route

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-AMG - May 16, 1947

Registered to New Zealand National Airways Corporation (NAC), Wellington, New Zealand

This aircraft was on-loan to the airline from the Royal New Zealand Air Force

It retained the name 'Mataatua'

Test flown from Auckland (Mechanics Bay) after overhaul - September 12, 1947

Struck-off-charge by the R.N.Z.A.F. and transferred to NAC - September 30, 1947

Moved to Hobsonville for the removal of the R.N.Z.A.F. markings - October 28, 1947

Rerturned to Mechanics Bay - October 31, 1947

Entered service with NAC on the New Zealand - Fiji route - November 01, 1947

The aircraft was damaged when it struck an unchartered coral head at Suva - February 15, 1948

The aircraft was under the command of Capts A. L. Henry and B. E. Layne

Following an inspection the aircraft was ferried to Auckland - February 18, 1948

Slipped at Hobsonville for hull repairs until April 1948

TEAL intended to make one of their Short Sandringhams available to NAC to maintain services - February 23, 1948

However due to engine overheating problems on the TEAL Sandringhams their fleet was grounded

Operated final revenue service - March 31, 1949

The aircraft was withdrawn from use and stored at Hobsonville

It was officially returned to the R.N.Z.A.F. ay Hobsonville - February 09, 1951

Offered for sale by tender by the New Zealand Government Stores Board - May 28, 1951

The was not sold during the first tender period so it was offered again for sale - November 23, 1953

The aircraft remained unsold and was struck-off charge by the R.N.Z.A.F. - November 03, 1954

Reduced to scrap at Hobsonville - 1955