This aircraft was built by Blackburn Aircraft at Dumbarton as a Sunderland Mk III - 1944

It was the 18th aircraft constructed under Contract Number 'Acft 2228' for 25 Sunderlands

Delivered to Royal Air Force as 'NJ188' at Wig Bay, Stranraer - August 01, 1944

Taken-on charge by No. 57 Maintenance Unit, Wig Bay - August 01, 1944

Ferried Wig Bay - Calshot - September 17, 1944

Transferred to R. A. F. No. 33 Squadron, Calshot - October 13, 1944

The aircraft was allocated the squadron code 'WH-G'

Transferred to Short Bros & Harland, Belfast for conversion to Sunderland Mk V standard - April 14, 1945

Returned to No. 57 Maintenance Unit, Wig Bay - July 06, 1945

Sold to Short Bros & Harland as surplus to requirements - 1946

Converted to Sandringham Mk V Plymouth Class by Short Bros & Harland, Belfast

It was allocated the Short Conversion Number 'SH.41C'

The conversion included seating for 30 passengers

Transferred to the UK Ministry of Supply

Entered onto the British Aircraft Register as G-AHZF (CofR 10466/1) - July 15, 1946

Registered to British Ministry of Supply, London

New Certificate of Airworthiness issued - July 11, 1947

Delivered to British Overseas Airways Corporation, London - July 11, 1947

The aircraft was named 'Poole'

Registered to British Overseas Airways Corporation, London (CofR 10466/2) - July 22, 1947

Commenced services with British Overseas Airways Corporation - August 01, 1947

Withdrawn from use and stored - August 25, 1949

The Certificate of Airworthiness expired and the aircraft was placed in open storage at Hythe - September 29, 1949

Sold to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd, Sydney - June 02, 1951

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways as G-AHZF (CofR 1002/3) - July 03, 1951

Delivered to Qantas Empire Airways - December 1951

Cancelled from the British Aircraft Register - December 31, 1951

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EBY (CofR ?) - December 31, 1951

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways, Sydney

The aircraft was named 'Pacific Voyager'

The aircraft was utilised on services to New Guinea, New Caledonia, New Hebrides and Fiji

Operated first revenue service Sydney - Brisbane - Noumea - Suva - Vila - Espitu Santo as EM402 - December 31, 1951

The aircraft was extensively damaged whilst attempting to take-off on Sydney Harbour - January 31, 1952

The aircraft began to swing to port during the take-off run and the PIC in attempting to correct

this swing inadvertently closed No. 3 throttle

Pilot In Command: Captain J. W. Solly

The aircraft was repaired at Sydney (Rose Bay) and returned to service

Withdrawn from use at Sydney (Rose Bay) - July 05, 1955

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - August 03, 1955

Broken up for scrap at Sydney (Rose Bay) - August 1955

VH-EBY. Qantas - 'Pacific Voyager' in the final livery at Sydney Rose Bay, date unknown.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 2545-833.)