The first prototype of theShort Singapore, also known as theShort S.5 (military designationSingapore I), was a metal hull version of the wooden-hulledShort Cromarty.[1] The biplane design included a single fin and rudder, and was originally powered by twoRolls-Royce Condor IIIA 650horsepower (480 kW) engines.[2] Its maiden flight was made fromRochester on 17 August 1926, piloted by Short'sChief Test PilotJohn Lankester Parker.[3] The type did not enter production, but was used by SirAlan Cobham for a survey flight aroundAfrica. RegisteredG-EBUP, it left Rochester on 17 November 1927 and arrived at theCape on 30 March 1928, returning to Rochester on 4 June 1928. It was displayed at theOlympia in July 1929.
Short Singapore II prototype (N246) early in its development, with four engines, single tail, open cockpit and no ailerons on the lower wings.
TheSingapore II (manufacturer's designationShort S.12) which followed was a development of the Singapore I with four engines, mounted in tandemtractor/pusher pairs (also known as thepush-pull configuration). The single example of this aircraft to be built was first flown on 27 March 1930, also by John Lankester Parker.
From the Singapore II came a design with four engines and triple fins. In 1933 the BritishAir Ministry ordered four flying boats based on the Singapore II for trials with squadrons underspecification R.3/33. These would be followed by a further production order to specification R.14/34. These aircraft, theSingapore III (manufacturer's designationShort S.19), had all-metal hulls and fabric-covered metal flying surfaces. They were powered by four 675 hp (503 kW)Rolls-Royce Kestrel IX mounted between the wings in two tandem push-pull pairs, similar to the Singapore IIs. The crew of six was located in a central cabin and fore, aft, and midships open gun positions (Vickers machine gun orLewis gun). A long-range fuel tank could be carried externally on the dorsal hull. The first Singapore III flew on 15 June 1934. Although obsolescent by the time the first aircraft entered service with210 Squadron in January 1935, the type arrived just in time to benefit from the arms race of the late 1930s and 37 were built. Production terminated in June 1937.
Replacement of the Singapore with theShort Sunderland was well underway by the outbreak of theSecond World War, but 19 survivors saw limited service in secondary theatres, mainly in a training role. The last RAF unit operating the type wasNo. 205 Squadron RAF inSingapore which relinquished its aircraft in October 1941. Four 205 squadron aircraft found their way toNo. 5 Squadron RNZAF inFiji, for use against German raiders. When Japan attacked in December, theNew Zealand aircraft found themselves in the front line. They accounted for a Japanese submarine and conducted several air-sea rescues before being replaced by theConsolidated Catalinas fromNo. 6 Squadron RNZAF in April 1943.[4]
Short Singapore III flying boat of 205 Squadron, in flight below three 'vic' formations ofVickers Vildebeest torpedo bombers of100 Squadron. Both units were based atRAF Seletar.
15 February 1935 - Singapore IIIK3595 crashed in thePeloritani mountain range nearMessina, Sicily in poor visibility. All on board were killed - eight RAF personnel and a civilian Senior Technical Officer of theRoyal Aircraft Establishment.[citation needed] The aircraft was one of four that had departed from the United Kingdom four weeks earlier for delivery toNo. 205 Squadron RAF, based inSingapore.[7] However the flight had been repeatedly delayed by engine trouble and illness among the crew. One of the victims of the crash was Flight Lieutenant Henry Longfield Beatty, the half-brother of The First Sea LordDavid Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty.[citation needed] They were buried atCapuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta.[8]
2 February 1937 - Singapore IIIK3594 crashed during take-off fromRAF Seletar, Singapore. One pilot was killed, the other five crew were injured. The aircraft was written-off.[9]
8 August 1939 - Singapore IIIK4584 ofNo. 203 Squadron RAF struck a sea-wall during take-off fromRAF Aboukir, Alexandria, Egypt; two were killed and seven injured, one of whom later died from his injuries. The aircraft caught fire and was written-off. One of those injured in the accident was Squadron LeaderJames Scarlett-Streatfeild (later Air-Vice Marshal)[10][11]
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Green, William (1968).Warplanes of the Second World War, Volume Five: Flying Boats. London: Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd.ISBN0-356-01449-5..
Green, William; Swanborough, Gordon (May–August 1989). "Singapore: Short's Last Biplane Boat".Air Enthusiast. No. 39. pp. 43–50.ISSN0143-5450.
Jefford, C. G. (2001).RAF Squadrons: A Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of All RAF Squadrons and their Antecendents Since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd.ISBN1-84037-141-2.
London, Peter (2003).British Flying Boats. Stroud, UK: Sutton Publishing.ISBN0-7509-2695-3.
