This aircraft was the twenty-third 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-AEUD - October 08, 1937

Certificate of Registration Issued - October 09, 1937

Delivered to Imperial Airways, London - October 09, 1937

The aircraft was named 'Cordelia'

It was transferred to British Airways when Imperial Airways merged - April 01, 1940

It was commandeered by the Royal Air Force and impressed as 'AX-660' - July 1940

It was allotted to No.119 Squadron where it took part in depth charge trials and reconnaissance duties

Returned to British Airways - September 19, 1941

It was utilised on the Horseshoe Route until it was cut due to Japanese invasion of Malaya

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

It was withdrawn from service - February 05, 1947

Broken up for scrap at Hythe - March 06, 1947

It had flown some 11,665 hours

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

(P. Sheehan Collection Copyright Image 2545-900.)

G-AEUD. Imperial Airways London - 'Cordelia' in the all-metal livery at Bima, Dutch East Indies, March 1939.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-271.)