Five Consolidated Catalina flying boats, operated by Qantas crews, ran a covert, long-distance service from Perth to Ceylon during the dark days of WW2 when Australia was virtually cut off from Europe by the Japanese blockade.

These aircraft ran VIP’s and important freight in radio silence over 3,513miles of Ocean without fail during1943-45 to forge a vital link between Australia and Europe. The scheme was the brainchild of Hudson Fysh, a founder and later chairman of Qantas . The aircraft in the atmospheric painting is “Altair Star”, climbing slowly away from Perth at dawn.

She will see another sunrise before alighting some 27 or so hours later at Lake Kogala in Ceylon.