It had been developed at the request of the British airline Imperial Airways, as well as at the encouragement of the Air Ministry, who anticipated its potential use as a maritime patrol aircraft and other military purposes.

First flown on 21 July 1939, a total of three S.26 flying boats were constructed on behalf of Imperial Airways, but these were only briefly operated by the airline in a training capacity due to the outbreak of the Second World War.

In December 1941, two examples were released to the national airline British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) and commenced civilian services shortly thereafter between the UK and Nigeria.

Barnes, due to the Empire's considerable size, some figures within the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment (MAEE) has been sceptical of its development, some even doubting that such a flying boat would even be capable of lifting off.

[2] One concept that gained particular attention was the development of a large flying boats with sufficiently strengthened hulls to withstand the forces involved in catapult-assisted takeoffs from dedicated naval auxiliary refuelling barges.

It was speculated that a such-configured flying boat would be suitable for long-distance air mail flights and for long range maritime patrol missions.

[2] Imperial Airways, being keen to maintain its competitive advantage, requested the company conduct a design study into an enlarged derivative of the Empire, suitable for carrying both mail or passengers along a transatlantic route without refuelling between Ireland and Newfoundland.

[6] On 17 June 1939, G-AFCI "Golden Hind", the first of the S.26s, was launched from Shorts' No.3 Shop, being the largest flying boat to ever emerge from the facility at that time.

It featured new defensive armaments, consisting of 12 0.303 inch machine guns in two dorsal and one tail, Boulton Paul BPA Mk II four-gun turrets.

An Air to Surface Vessel (ASV) radar set was installed along with armour plating for key areas, which included the internal fuel tanks and the crew stations.

[12] On 20 June 1941, X8274 (Golden Fleece) was lost off Cape Finisterre, when it broke up following a heavy forced landing, due to the simultaneous failure of two engines.

[14] Golden Hind was employed on other routes between Britain and West Africa until the end of the conflict, and remained in service with BOAC until retired in 1947.