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

The order was placed by Imperial Airways, London - June 07, 1939

It was completed as a S-33 Empire Class boat with 920 h.p. Bristol Perseus XII 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

Entered onto the British Aircraft Register (CofR 9036/1) - January 27, 1939

Registered to Imperial Airways Limited, London

Launched as 'G-AFPZ' at the Short Bros Seaplane Works, The Medway, Rochester - April 1939

First flown as G-AFPZ - April 09, 1940

Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA 6816) Issued - April 20, 1940

Delivered to British Overseas Airways - April 22, 1940

The aircraft was named 'Clifton'

Registered to British Airways Corporation, Bristol (CofR 9036/2) - August 22, 1940

This aircraft was part of the aircraft pool operated by Imperial Airways and Qantas Empire Airways

on services between Southampton, England and Sydney, Australia

Qantas Empire Airways crews flew the aircraft on the Sydney - Singapore - Sydney sector of this route

between July 1938 and October 1941

Qantas Empire Airways crews then took over the Singapore - Karachi - Singapore sector of the route

from October 1941 to February 1942 when operations ceased due to Japanese war activities in South-East Asia

'Clifton' was isolated in the eastern sector of Horseshoe Route - February 1942

Due to the wartime emergency this aircraft was leased directly by B.O.A.C. to the R.A.A.F. - March 1942

Impressed by the Royal Australian Air Force as 'A18-14' - March 09, 1942

It was converted for general coastal reconnaissance duties at Rose Bay, Sydney

The aircraft was fitted with a temporary dorsal gun position equipped with 0.303 machine guns

Cancelled from the British Aircraft Register - July 13, 1942

Ownership was transferred to Qantas Empire Airways in exchange for the Qantas aircraft 'VH-ABF'

VH-ABF 'Cooee' had been isolated in the western sector when Horseshoe Route was cut during WWII

Released by the R. A.A.F to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd at Rose Bay, Sydney - June 25, 1943

Entered onto Australian Aircraft Register as VH-ACD (CofR 785) - July 01, 1943

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd, Sydney

This aircraft was destroyed in a night landing accident at Rose Bay, Sydney - January 18, 1944

Flight crew: Captains W. Hussey, A. L. Ashley

Captain Ashley had been undergoing night landing practice under instruction from Captain Hussey

The aircraft bounced on landing, stalled and the hull was torn open on impacting the water again

It was brought ashone at Rose Bay but due to salt water incursion it was deemed unrepairable

It was subsequently broken up for spare parts at Rose Bay, Sydney

Cancelled from Australian Aircraft Register - January 18, 1944

G-AFPZ. British Overseas Airways - 'Clifton' in the civilian 'war time' livery at Rose Bay, Sydney, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-256.)

G-AFPZ. British Overseas Airways - 'Clifton' in the civilian 'war time' livery at Rose Bay, Sydney, date unknown.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 2545-372.)

G-AFPZ. British Overseas Airways - 'Clifton' in the war time camouflage livery on The Medway, Rochester, April 01, 1940.

(P. Sheehan Collection Copyright Image 2545-904.)

G-AFPZ. British Overseas Airways - 'Clifton' in the war time camouflage livery on The Medway, Rochester, April 01, 1940.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-255.)

VH-ACD. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Clifton' in the war time camouflage livery at Rose Bay, Sydney, date unknown.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 2545-257.)

VH-ACD. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Clifton' in the war time camouflage livery at Rose Bay, Sydney, January 1944.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 2545-630.)

VH-ACD. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Clifton' in the war time camouflage livery at Rose Bay, Sydney, January 1944.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 2545-631.)