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

It was the 22nd aircraft build under Contract Number 'Acft 2227' for 25 Sunderlands

It was allocated the original Construction Number 'SH.1115'

Delivered to Royal Air Force as 'ML828' at Wig Bay, Stranraer, Scotland - August 25, 1944

Taken on-charge by No. 57 Maintenance Unit, Wig Bay - August 25, 1944

Transferred to Calshot - September 17, 1944

It was allocated to No 10 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force - October 27, 1944

The aircraft was allocated the Squadron Code 'RB-C'

Collided with Sunderland PP142 'RB-L' whilst taxying for take-off in poor visibility - February 17, 1945

Returned to No. 57 Maintenance Unit, Wig Bay - June 17, 1945

Transferred to Short Bros & Harland, Belfast for conversion to Sunderland Mk V standard - September 16, 1945

Returned to No. 57 Maintenance Unit, Wig Bay - November 19, 1945

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

It was converted to Sandringham Mk V Plymouth Class by Short Bros & Harland, Belfast

It was allocated the Short Conversion Number 'SH.37C'

This conversion included seating for 30 passengers

Transferred to UK Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation

Entered onto the British Aircraft Register as G-AHZG (CofR 10477/1) - July 15, 1946

Registered to the Ministry of Supply, London later changed to the Ministry of Civil Aviation

The Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA 8235) was issued - July 11, 1947

Delivered to British Overseas Airways Corporation - July 11, 1947

The aircraft was named 'Pevensey'

Registered to British Overseas Airways Corporation, London (CofR 10477/2) - September 25, 1947

Withdrawn from use and stored - August 25, 1949

Cancelled from the British Aircraft Register - July 02, 1951

Sold to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd - July 03, 1951

Entered onto the British Aircraft Register as G-AHZG (CofR 1003/3) July 03, 1951

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways, Sydney

Departed Southampton on the delivery flight to Australia - July 04, 1951

It arrived at Sydney (Rose Bay) on completion of the delivery flight - July 16, 1951

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EBZ (CofR 1857) - December 10, 1951

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd, Shell House, Carrington Street, Sydney

The aircraft was named 'Pacific Explorer'

Utilised on services to New Guinea, New Caledonia, New Hebrides and Fiji

Operated the inaugural Rabaul - Sydney Sandringham service (Captain Hutchinson) - June 28, 1953

Operated the final Qantas Short Sandringham service Sydney - Noumea - Sydney - June 05, 1955

Withdrawn from use at Sydney (Rose Bay) - June 23, 1955

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - August 1955

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

This aircraft had flown 7,482 hours

G-AHZG. BOAC - 'Pevensey' in the standard livery at Southampton, date unknown.

(P. Sheehan Collection Copyright Image 2545-859.)

VH-EBZ. Qantas - 'Pacific Explorer' in the final livery at Lake Kutubu, New Guinea, circa 1954.

(P. Sheehan Collection Copyright Image 2545-834.)

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

(M. Kent Copyright Image 2545-938.)