Part of a flight of aircraft that undertook a tour that started in Plymouth, UK, and ended in Singapore. The aircraft visited Australia and several South-East Asian countries. The flight became 205 Squadron in January 1929 based at Seletar. Photo from: State Library of Western Australia

Used to connect Australia with Sri Lanka during World War II. Known as the Double Sunrise service as the sun rose twice during the non-stop flights that lasted up to 32 hours. G-AGID scuttled near Rottnest Island on January 30, 1946. When explosives failed to sink it, gun fire was used. G-AGID had flown to its final resting place because a bridge prevented it being towed there. That meant making it airworthy again for its final flight. The Catalinas has been retired when Liberators took over the route. Photo from: Hudson Fysh Collection/ State Library of New South Wales

Provided by the RAF during World War II for Qantas to operate non-stop flights between Australia and Sri Lanka (Ceylon). At the end of the war, the RAF ordered G-AGFM scuttled, not scrapped. A bridge over the Swan River prevented it being towed to sea. So the RAF ordered the aircraft by made airworthy again. On February 26, 1946 it was flown to the sea near Rottnest Island where it was sunk with explosives. Except for a wingtip float which had detached and drifted off. It had to be dispatched with a tomahawk. Photo from: Hudson Fysh Collection/State Library of New South Wales