G-AEUC. Short S.23 'C' Class Empire Flying Boat. c/n S.845.

 

 

This aircraft was the twenty-second Empire boat completed and flown by Short Bros at Rochester, Kent

The order was placed by Imperial Airways, London - September 02, 1935

It was completed as an S-23 Empire Class boat having 920 h.p. Bristol Pegasus Xc engines

The standard fuel capacity was 650 gallons

It had an all-up weight of 40,500 lbs (18,380 kg) which was later increased to 53,000 lbs (24,200 kg)

The cruising speed was 164 m.p.h. with a standard range of 760 miles / 1,245 km

First flown as G-AEUC - September 24, 1937

Certificate of Registration Issued - September 25, 1937

Delivered to Imperial Airways, London - September 30, 1937

The aircraft was named 'Corinna'

Transferred to British Airways when Imperial Airways merged - April 01, 1940

It was isolated in eastern sector of Horseshoe Route when Japan occupied Malaya - February 1942

The Horseshoe Route connected Sydney and Durban, South Africa via East Africa, India and Malaya

The aircraft was taken over and operated by Qantas Empire Airways - 1942

It was destroyed during the Japanese bombing of Broome, Western Australia - March 03, 1942

It was trapped on the water awaiting refuelling when the bombing raid commenced

Flight crew: Captain L. Ambrose

 

 

G-AEUC. Imperial Airways London - 'Corinna' in the all-metal livery over Rochester, date unknown.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 2545-393.)

G-AEUC. Imperial Airways London - 'Corinna' in the all-metal livery on The Medway, Rochester, September 24, 1937.

(P. Sheehan Collection Copyright Image 2545-877.)