VH-BRE Short S-25 Sandringham Mk 4

VH-EBX. Short S.25 Sandringham Mk 4. c/n 1173-SH.32C.

Was also registered as: NJ255; ZK-AMD; VH-BRE.

This aircraft was built by Short Bros and Harland at Belfast as a Sunderland Mk III - 1944

It was the third aircraft built to U. K. Ministry of Transport Contract No. 2227 for six Sunderland Mk III aircraft

The airframe was allocated the original construction number SH.1173

Delivered to Royal Air Force as 'NJ255' at Wig Bay, Stranraer, Scotland

Taken-on-charge by No. 57 Maintenance Unit, Wig Bay - September 23, 1944

Issued to No 10 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force at Mountbatten - November 21, 1944

Allocated the aircraft code 'RB-G'

Transferred back to the R.A.F. No. 57 Maintenance Unit, Wig Bay, Stranraer, Scotland - June 15, 1945

Delivered to Short Bros and Harland, Belfast for conversion to a Sunderland Mk V - September 04, 1945

Re-delivered to the R.A.F. No. 57 Maintenance Unit, Wig Bay - October 25, 1945

Sold to Short Bros & Harland, Belfast as surplus to requirements - April 09, 1946

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

This conversion included seating for 30 passengers

The airframe was re-allocated the Short Conversion Number 'SH.32C'

Transferred to the British Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation

Entered onto New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-AMD - July 05, 1946

Registered to Tasman Empire Airways Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand

To view the 'New Zealand Certificate of Airworthiness' click 'HERE'

Leased to Tasman Empire Airways Ltd (TEAL) - July 13, 1946

The aircraft was named 'RMA Australia'

Departed Poole on the ferry flight to New Zealand - July 25, 1946

It arrived at Auckland on completion of the ferry flight - August 05, 1946

Operated its first Auckland - Sydney - Auckland service - August 25, 1946

Flight crew: Captain A. V. Jury; F/O J. H. McGrane

All TEAL Sandinghams were withdrawn from use due to engine overheating problems - February 23, 1948

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

Operated its final TEAL service - September 12, 1949

Stored at Hobsonville, Auckland having flown 4,409 hours

Sold to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd for 4,000 pounds - April 13, 1950

Cancelled from the New Zealand Aircraft Register - April 24, 1950

Entered onto Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EBX - April 24, 1950

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd, Sydney

The aircraft was named 'Pacific Chieftain'

The aircraft was damaged when it collided with the D. C. A. Safety Launch on Sydney Harbour - September 03, 1951

Crew: Captain L. W. Clarke

Repaired and returned to service

Operated 19 return trips Sydney - Lord Howe Island whilst with Qantas Airways

Sold to Ansett Flying Boat Services to replace B.R.A.'s sister-ship 'VH-BRD' - December 10, 1954

Barrier Reef Airways had been taken over by Ansett Flying Boat Services and it was never operated by Barrier Reef

Registered to Ansett Airways Pty Ltd - December 17, 1954

Reregistered as VH-BRE - December 22, 1954

Commenced services in the early Ansett Airways red-white livery

Operated 5 charter tourist flights to New Zealand between October 25, 1955 and March 1957

Chartered to T.E.A.L. to operate Pacific Island services - September 18 to 29, 1958

Registered to Ansett Flying Boat Services Pty Ltd - 1960

Underwent a complete overhaul and refurbishment prior to commencing a charter to Polynesia - 1963

On the first leg of this charter the aircraft overnighted at Lord Howe Island - July 03, 1963

It broke its moorings during a storm that night and was washed ashore damaging the starboard wingtip float

It was returned to a new mooring with the port wing weighted down with sandbags

Unable to withstand the buffeting, the damaged starboard float collapsed, submerging that wing

It was towed ashore and declared a write-off following a detailed inspection

Stripped of useful parts before being scuttled 5 km off shore - December 1963

Requests by the Islanders to retain the fuselage for use as a museum were rejected

Cancelled from Australian Aircraft Register - December 05, 1963

Had flown 15,308 hours - including 424 trips to Lord Howe Island

ZK-AMD. Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'Australia' in the original livery on Auckland Harbour, August 05, 1946.

(Whites Aviation Collection Copyright Image 2545-824.)

ZK-AMD. Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'Australia' in the original livery on Auckland Harbour, September 02, 1946.

(Whites Aviation Collection Copyright Image 2545-328.)

ZK-AMD. Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'Australia' in the original livery on Auckland Harbour, September 02, 1946.

(Whites Aviation Copyright Image 2545-329.)

ZK-AMD. Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'Australia' in the original livery on Auckland Harbour, September 02, 1946.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-299.)

ZK-AMD. Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'Australia' in the original livery on Auckland Harbour, September 02, 1946.

(Whites Aviation Copyright Image 2545-823.)

ZK-AMD. Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'Australia' in the original livery on Sydney Harbour, November 1946.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-218.)

ZK-AMD. Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'RMA Australia' in the original livery at Sydney Rose Bay, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-219.)

ZK-AMD. Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'RMA Australia' in the original livery at Sydney Rose Bay, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-220.)

ZK-AMD. Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'RMA Australia' in the revised livery at Auckland Mechanics Bay, circa 1947.

(P. Sheehan Collection Copyright Image 2545-860.)

ZK-AMD. Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'RMA Australia' in the revised livery at Auckland Mechanics Bay, January 1948.

(Whites Aviation Copyright Image 2545-825.)

VH-EBX. Qantas - 'Pacific Chieftain' in the original livery at Sydney Rose Bay, date unknown.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 2545-620.)

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

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 2545-822.)

VH-EBX. Qantas - 'Pacific Chieftain' looking aft to the Flight Engineers station at Sydney Rose Bay, date unknown.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 2545-622.)

VH-BRE. Ansett Airways - 'Pacific Chieftain' in the original livery at Lord Howe Island, date unknown.

(C. Wilson Collection Copyright Image 2545-667.)

VH-BRE. Ansett Airways - 'Pacific Chieftain' in the original livery at Clarence River, Grafton, date unknown.

(J. Moore Copyright Image 2545-936.)

VH-BRE. Ansett Airways - 'Pacific Chieftain' in the original livery at Sydney Rose Bay, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-360.)

VH-BRE. Ansett Airways - 'Pacific Chieftain' in the revised livery at Sydney Rose Bay, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-359.)

VH-BRE. Ansett Airways - 'Pacific Chieftain' in the revised livery at Redlands Bay, Brisbane, circa 1959.

(P. Sheehan Collection Copyright Image 2545-912.)

VH-BRE. Ansett Flying Boat Services - 'Pacific Chieftain' in the standard livery at Sydney Rose Bay, November 1962.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-361.)

VH-BRE. Ansett Flying Boat Services - 'Pacific Chieftain' in the standard livery at Sydney Rose Bay, circa 1963.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-357.)

VH-BRE. Ansett Flying Boat Services - 'Pacific Chieftain' in the standard livery at Sydney Rose Bay, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-494.)

VH-BRE. Ansett Flying Boat Services - 'Pacific Chieftain' in the standard livery at Sydney Rose Bay, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-830.)

VH-BRE. Ansett Flying Boat Services - 'Pacific Chieftain' in the standard livery at Lord Howe Island, date unknown.

(M. Holle Collection Copyright Image 2545-495.)

VH-BRE. Ansett Flying Boat Services - 'Pacific Chieftain' in the standard livery at Lord Howe Island, date unknown.

(M. Holle Collection Copyright Image 2545-496.)

VH-BRE. Ansett Flying Boat Services - 'Pacific Chieftain' in the standard livery at Sydney Rose Bay, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-623.)

VH-BRE. Ansett Flying Boat Services - 'Pacific Chieftain' in the standard livery at Sydney Rose Bay, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-828.)

VH-BRE. Ansett Flying Boat Services - 'Pacific Chieftain' in the standard livery at Lord Howe Island, July 04, 1963.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-358.)

VH-BRE. Ansett Flying Boat Services - 'Pacific Chieftain' in the standard livery at Lord Howe Island, July 04, 1963.

(M. Holle Collection Copyright Image 2545-497.)

VH-BRE. Ansett Flying Boat Services - 'Pacific Chieftain' washed ashore at Lord Howe Island, July 04, 1963.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-312.)

VH-BRE. Ansett Flying Boat Services - 'Pacific Chieftain' washed ashore at Lord Howe Island, July 04, 1963.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-677.)

VH-BRE. Ansett Flying Boat Services - 'Pacific Chieftain' washed ashore at Lord Howe Island, July 04, 1963.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-829.)

VH-BRE. Ansett Flying Boat Services - 'Pacific Chieftain' washed ashore at Lord Howe Island, July 04, 1963.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-027.)

VH-BRE. Ansett Flying Boat Services - 'Pacific Chieftain' washed ashore at Lord Howe Island, July 04, 1963.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-026.)

VH-BRE. Ansett Flying Boat Services - 'Pacific Chieftain' being prepared for scuttling at Lord Howe Island, August 1963.

(M. Holle Collection Copyright Image 2545-498.)

VH-BRE. Ansett Flying Boat Services - 'Pacific Chieftain' being prepared for scuttling at Lord Howe Island, August 1963.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-313.)

VH-BRE. Ansett Flying Boat Services - 'Pacific Chieftain' being prepared for scuttling at Lord Howe Island, October 1963.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-362.)

VH-BRE. Ansett Flying Boat Services - 'Pacific Chieftain' being prepared for scuttling at Lord Howe Island, November 1963.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-028.)