Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat

Qantas Airways - Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services

After take off from Rose Bay in Sydney, the crew encountered technical problems with the flaps that should be raised manually because the electric flap motor failed. Twenty minutes into the flight, the flight oil pressure on starboard inner engine fell below normal levels. The captain decided to return to Rose Bay to rectify faults and the landing approach was made into the north and without flaps. Finding that he had excess height, the captain introduced a left-hand side-slip during the approach. On straighening out from the side-slip, the captain proceeded with the intention of making a normal landing. On checking the glide at about 40 feet, he realized that the aircraft was flattening out too high. He stopped easing back on the controls expecting the boat to sink further towards the water. Without any further control movement the aircraft completely stalled some twelve feet above the water, dropped sharply and made contact with the water in a normal attitude but with considerable force. Impact caused a major failure of the hull which allowed extensive break-up of the fuselage. Considerable length of the rear end of the hull and tail unit separated from rest of aircraft and both sections sank within 15 minutes. Passengers and crew escaped the wreckage and were rescued but one passenger drowned. Crew: Cpt K. C. Caldwell, pilot, Cpt L. J. Brain, pilot. Passenger drowned: Mr. J. Mott. Source & photos: http://www.aussieairliners.org/shortfb/vh-abb/vhabb.html

Qantas Airways - Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services

At 1250LT, the engines were started and the seaplane christened 'Camilla' took off from Townsville. Aboard with twenty seven passengers including 22 from the Royal Australian Air Force and 5 from the USAAF. The weather reports before departing and radio reports en route were favorable. After climbing to 2,000 feet, Camilla flew northward towards New Guinea. At 1600LT, Koch heard reports from other aircraft that Port Moresby was experiencing light rain with a ceiling of 1,000' and visibility of 2,000 yards. Despite the bad weather, he elected to proceed believing it was only localized weather that would pass. As he neared the southern coast of New Guinea clouds were increasing and he took a sun sight bearing twenty minutes off Hood Point before receiving reports that the weather was deteriorating, with a ceiling of 600' and visibility of 1,100 yards. While over Hood Point, Camilla received another weather report that conditions were improving with 1,000' ceiling and 2,000 yards visibility. Flying westward, the weather over Bootless Bay appeared to be clear, but Koch opted not to land there fearing the presence of mines and proceed toward Basilisk Light at the edge of the Basilisk Passage on Natera Reef off Port Moresby but flew into light rain showers and dense overcast. By radio, Camilla was advised to wait to land until a flare path was laid in Fairfax Harbor. While waiting, Camilla circled Basilisk Light twice at 500'. Due to fatigue from circling on instruments, Koch opted to fly to the northwest but found the weather was no better and returned to Basilisk Light, but conditions had further deteriorated and Koch opted to fly to the northwest toward Yule Island in hopes of landing there, but was unable to find the island or see the coastline due to poor weather conditions and climbed to 4,700'. Another radio message stated the flare path was still being laid. Koch ordered the crew to instruct the passengers about the possibility of an emergency landing and for everyone to don their life jackets and prepare to use the life rafts. At 1727LT, Camilla's radio operator asked Port Moresby to turn on their radio direction finding station, but it was not functioning, but a USAAF beacon was on as of 1700LT and a RAAF beacon was turned on at 1730LT. Flying eastward again, Camilla returned toward Port Moresby using the radio direction finding beacons. Radio messages stated the flare path was still being laid and weather conditions were not improving. By 1820LT, the RAAF marine section had laid a flare path on Fairfax Harbor but was having problems keeping them lit due to heavy rain. At 1855LT, Koch requested that search lights be turned on. At 1910LT, three searchlights were on converging at 4,000' and the flare path was reported as laid but visibility was nil. Due to the poor weather, Koch decided to attempt to land at sea south of Port Moresby towards the southeast towards Hood Point but the sea proved to be too rough and the landing was aborted and Camilla returned to Port Moresby using the radio beacon signals. Flying southward at 3,000' the sea was less rough and Camilla turned northward towards Port Moresby but were unable to observe the flare path, but were able to briefly see searchlights at 5 Mile Drome and 7 Mile Drome. Airborne for roughly seven hours, Camilla had only 90 gallons of fuel aboard and Koch prepared to make an emergency landing then taxi into Fairfax Harbor and radioed at 1955LT that he was going to land at sea. Flying south of Port Moresby and descending to 1,500' before landing with quarter flaps descending at 200' per minute at approximately 105 mph with the engines throttled back to a quarter power and the autopilot on. Before landing, purser Barley served cold drinks to the pilots to quench their thirst. During the descent, clouds were observed outside even at 100' altitude before the sea was visible. Before landing at altimeter reading of zero, the autopilot was disengaged and nose elevated to decease the speed further. Realizing they were still above the sea, the throttles were increased but the right engine did not immediately respond and the left engine throttle was closed as Camilla nosed down descending at 400' per minute and altitude of -30' before impacting the surface of the sea. Crew: Cpt Albert Aubrey Koch, pilot, F/O Sydney William John Peak, copilot, P/O Theo J. Phillips, radio operator, † P/O Walter R. Bartley, purser. † Passengers: AC1 Alan R. Stephens, † Sgt Ernest John Grady, † Sgt Ernest Alfred Flanagan, † AC1 James A. Harris, † LAC Alfred J. Ellis, † AC1 Vincent E. Grogan, † Cpl Donald W. Nicholson, † AC1 Jack S. Sherwin, Pvt John F. Walters, † Pfc Clyde Dobbs Jr., † 1st Lt Norman B. Slote, † Sgt Frederick A. Burness Jr, † T/Sgt O'Dell 14. Source: http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/short/camilla.html

British Overseas Airways Corporation - BOAC

While landing by night some 2 miles off Darwin, the seaplane christened 'Corinthian' hit debris and sunk rapidly. Two passengers were killed while all 13 other occupants were rescued. The aircraft was lost. All passengers were members of the 102nd Coastal Artillery Battalion.

British Overseas Airways Corporation - BOAC

The aircraft was performing a flight from Indonesia (Jakarta and Cilacap) to Sydney on behalf of Qantas Airways, carrying 18 'refugees', women and children, escaping the war. En route, while cruising some 400 km south of Cilacap, the seaplane christened 'Circe' was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese bomber that was performing a maritime patrol flight from Denpasar. Out of control, the Empire Flying Boat crashed into the sea and was lost. All 22 occupants were killed.

Royal Australian Air Force - RAAF

The crew was involved in an 50 hours inspection flight. While approaching Townsville, the seaplane christened 'Coogee' hit the water surface and crashed in the Cleveland Bay. Six crew members were killed while all five other occupants were injured. Crew killed: F/O Robert John Love, pilot, † P/O Harold John Wagner, pilot, † LAC Maurice Clayton, † Cpl William James French, † P/O Peter Satterswaite Devonshire, † Sgt John Gordon Nicholson. †

British Overseas Airways Corporation - BOAC

The aircraft and its crew were performing an special flight from Surabaya to Darwin on behalf of Qantas Airways. While approaching Kupang Airport, the seaplane christened 'Corio' was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter. Out of control, it crashed into the sea few hundred yards off shore. The captain, the copilot and three passengers were able to swim to shore and were later rescued while all 13 other occupants were killed.

British Overseas Airways Corporation - BOAC

While taking off from bay of Sabang, the seaplane collided with debris floating on water. The aircraft christened 'Cassiopeia' crashed and was written off. At least four people were killed in the accident.

Imperial Airways

The seaplane was approaching Hoogly River in Calcutta in strong winds. Upon landing, it went out of control and sunk. While all eight occupants were rescued, the aircraft was lost.

Imperial Airways

The crew was forced to abandon a first landing attempt off Lumbo for unknown reason. While on the second attempt, the seaplane christened 'Challenger' hit the water and came to rest off the Ilha de Mocambique Island. Two crew members, the radio officer Tom Webb and the flight clerc George Knight were killed while all four other occupants were injured. The cockpit separated from the fuselage on impact.

Imperial Airways

The seaplane aircraft christened 'Capella' was performing an international schedule flight on behalf of Qantas. While taxiing in the harbor of Batavia (Jakarta), the aircraft hit a unknown floating object and the pilot interrupted the departure procedure to return to his initial point. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair by immersion while all eight occupants were uninjured.

Imperial Airways

The seaplane christened 'Cavalier' left Port Washington seaplane base in Long Island at 1038LT on a transatlantic flight to Southampton with an intermediate stop in Hamilton, Bermuda. Some two hours later, crew encountered poor weather conditions and decided to modify his route to avoid a cumulonimbus area. During this maneuver, the aircraft lost height and while cruising in poor weather with low temperature, the pilot decided to return to his initial route when both inner engines stopped while both outboard engine lost power. In such situation, the captain decide to make an emergency landing into the Atlantic Ocean, some 285 miles southeast of Port Washington. The radio operator was able to give his position and the aircraft sunk four minutes after landing. Crew: M. R. Alderson, pilot, Neil Richardson, copilot.

Imperial Airways

The crew lost his orientation while flying by night in a sandstorm. Pilot decided to reduce his altitude to maintain a visual contact with the ground when the seaplane christened 'Calpurnia' hit the ground at full power and crashed. All four crew members were killed.

Imperial Airways

Shortly after takeoff from the harbor of Brindisi, the seaplane christened 'Cygnus' stalled and crashed into the sea. Six people were injured while two other (a crew member and a passenger) were killed.

Imperial Airways

The crew started the approach to the harbor of Athens in poor visibility due to fog. The seaplane hit the water surface and came to rest in the Phaleron Bay, off Athens, and sunk. Two passengers drowned while all 12 other occupants were rescued. Aircraft was christened 'Courtier'.

Imperial Airways

The aircraft left Southampton at 1150LT. While overflying Morvan, the radio navigator contacted ground control in Lyon-Bron to obtain a position briefing. While flying in snow falls, the four engine aircraft christened 'Capricornus' hit two pine trees and crashed near Ouroux, some 15 km southwest of Mâcon. The radio navigator survived and walk few km to find help. When he returned to the aircraft, he realize all five other occupants were killed. Crew: A. Paterson, pilot, G. E. Klein, copilot, Denis R. O'Brien, flight clerk, James L. Cooper, radio navigator, F. A. E. Jeffcoate, steward. Passenger: Beatrix 'Betty' Mercy Coats.