K6917, one of the four Short Singapores operated by No. 5 (GR) Squadron RNZAF in Fiji, was apparently withdrawn from service in November 1942, broken up and the hull/fuselage was sold to a local to be used as a houseboat. A former crew member on the squadron has confirmed to me that it was indeed towed away up a river to be used as a house boat.
Does anyone have any idea if this absolute treasure of an aircraft still exists?
What a find that would be for the RNZAF Musuem or a collection here in NZ. Personally I think the Singapore is one of the most majestic, charismatic and elegant flying boats of the 1930’s.
By: Dave Homewood - 18th May 2007 at 09:37
When withdrawn from service the aircraft was based at Lauthala Bay, so that’s a starting point to start looking up the rivers there. He said it was towed up a river and moored. But that was 65 years ago now.
Prices Wharf at Suva was their earlier base whilst Lauthala was being built.
By: Pete Truman - 18th May 2007 at 09:08
Dave
Would you have any idea whereabouts in Fiji this a/c may have gone, I did a quick Google Earth, which shows so much detail it may be possible to pick it up.
Trouble is, there are so many inlets and estuaries that it could take rather a long time to find it. Suva Bay rings a bell, I assume it would be close to where they were based.
Unfortunately, Lauthala is very blurred, given the clear sea, I thought that something could be visible.
By: Dave Homewood - 18th May 2007 at 07:12
They were all Singapore III’s, that’s the only model that went into service, the I and II were just prototypes. The Mk I was used by Sir Alan Cobham to do a tour of Africa but never saw squadron service.
If the house boat could be found I sincerely think it would make a great project to restore back to a static flying boat. Perhaps parts could be retreived from the others that were sunk in the bay off Lauthala too..
By: Pondskater - 17th May 2007 at 23:43
Does anyone have any idea if this absolute treasure of an aircraft still exists?
What a find that would be for the RNZAF Musuem or a collection here in NZ. Personally I think the Singapore is one of the most majestic, charismatic and elegant flying boats of the 1930’s.
Dave,
Amazing – not heard about this before but what a treasure it would be. None of the Short Brothers biplane flying boats have survived. It was be important for New Zealand but, to be honest, it would have international significance as the only survivor of the breed.
K6917 would be a Singapore III.
Its chances of survival are, I suppose, remote being dependent on it having a continued use as a houseboat all these years, rather than somebody wanting to use the dural for something else. It would be dural – early Singapores had a stainless steel planning hull but it was changed for these later models.
I’m afraid my connections with Fiji are very limited but I’ll keep a watch out on this.
All the best
Allan
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May 16, 2007 at 7:44 am