12/31/2008. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "Originally produced as an S.25 Sunderland Mk.III, s/n ML788 coded OQ-ZF, by Short at Rochester for the RAF Transport Command in 1943, this aircraft became one of the 30 Mk.IIIs that were allocated to British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) for wartime passenger and mail services. With the nose and tail turrets replaced by bulbous fairings and elementary bench-type seating installed, it was registered to BOAC as G-AGKX (named Himalaya) on June 28, 1944.

After VE-day (Victory-Europe, May 8, 1945) G-AGKX was one of 22 Mk.IIIs that received more extensive alterations to meet civil standards and was converted by Short and emerged as the sole Sandringham Mk.I airliner. Fitted with four 1,030 hp Bristol Pegasus 38 radials, and S.26 type nose and tail, it could accommodate 24 day or 16 night passengers, on two decks with dining-saloon and cocktail bar.

Still wearing its military livery and markings, and the BOAC Speedbird logo, the Sandringham Mk.I made its public appearance at the Victory Air Pageant on June 22, 1946, and the Air Show at Farnborough a week later, before returning to BOAC. It served with BOAC for three year before it was sold to the British airline Aquila Airways on May 28, 1949. It was deregistered on August 18, 1953 and subsequently scrapped."