VH-BFX. Short S-25 Sunderland Mk III. c/n SB.3554.

Was also registered as: ML732; A26-3.

This aircraft was built by Short Bros at Rochester, Kent as a Sunderland Mk III - 1943

Delivered to the Royal Air Force at Wig Bay, Loch Ryan, Scotland as 'ML732' - October 15, 1943

Transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force and prepared at Mount Batten for its delivery flight to Australia

Departed Mount Batten (Plymouth) on the ferry flight to Australia - January 27, 1944

Delivery route: Mount Batten (Plymouth) - Gibralter - West Africa - Brasil - Caribbean - San Francisco (California) -

Honolulu (Hawaii) - Apia (Samoa) - Sydney (Rose Bay)

Received by Qantas at Sydney (Rose Bay) for overhaul prior to its entry into service - March 15, 1944

Entered onto the Australian Military Aircraft Register as A26-3 - ?

Ferried to No 2 F.B.R.D. at Newcastle (Rathmines) - April 27, 1944

Taken-on-charge by 40 Squadron R.A.A.F. at Townsville (Queensland) - September 30, 1944

It used the radio callsign 'VHCOC' whilst in service with the R.A.A.F.

Ferried to No 2 F.B.R.D. at Newcastle (Rathmines) - February 08, 1946

It was withdrawn from service and stored at Newcastle (Rathmines) - March 14, 1946

Advertised for sale by the Commonwealth Disposal Commission (CDC) - June 12, 1946

Sold to B.W. Monkton, Victoria Road, Bellevue Hill, Sydney - October 04, 1946

The registration 'VH-BFX' was allocated but it was not taken up - October 04, 1946

The registration 'VH-BKP' was allocated but it was not taken up - January 1947

Ferried Newcastle (Rathmines) - Sydney (Rose Bay) using the call-sign 'VHCKS' - January 27, 1947

This aircraft did not enter service and was used for spare parts

The remains were sold for scrap and it was broken up at Sydney (Rose Bay) - 1953