VH-AEQ Douglas DC-3

Construction completed at Long Beach, California - November 10, 1942

Built as a Douglas C-47-DL

Allocated U.S. serial number 41-18663

Allocated to the 5th Air Force and delivered to Archerfield, Brisbane - January 15, 1943

Used by 22nd Troop Carrier Squadron with radio callsign 'VHCHC'

Aircraft was named 'Aeolus'

Sold to the Department of Civil Aviation - having flown 1,922 hours - July 10, 1944

Converted to civilian standards - 24 seats - by Australian National Airways at Essendon Airport

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-AEQ - July 11, 1944

Registered to Commonwealth of Australia / Department of Civil Aviation

Leased to Australian National Airways - November 20, 1944

Transferred to Trans Australia Airlines - August 22, 1946

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission

Operated its first service with Trans Australia Airlines - August 30, 1946

Aircraft was named 'Blaxland', 'Murray' and later ' Wills'

Underwent conversion to allow the air-dropping of mail in Queensland during the wet season

Chartered by Ansett Airways Pty Ltd during early 1950s for use on Melbourne-Hamilton route

Leased to East West Airlines - May 11, 1953 to 1955

Converted to 'Viewmaster' standard - date unknown

Leased to East West Airlines - February 30, 1969 to June 30, 1969

Withdrawn from T.A.A. service and stored - November 6, 1969

Leased to Bush Pilots Airways Ltd, Cairns - February 27, 1970

Sold to Bush Pilots Airways Ltd - March 13, 1970

Aircraft was named 'Lakeland Downs'

Sold to Lakeland Downs Ltd, Brisbane - March 22, 1971

Withdrawn from service and placed in storage at Brisbane due to extensive corrosion - October 1971

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - October 19, 1971

Aircraft had flown 48,607 hours

Sold to Chewing Gum Field Museum, Tallebudgera, Queensland

Delivered by road to the Museum - March 10, 1978

Following the Museum's demise it was sold to the Great Aeroplane Car Company, Springwood

Placed on display within the car yard

Sold to Des Omond, Balackburn, Victoria following demise of Great Aerolplane Car Company

Sold to Alvin J. Petersen, Emerald, Victoria

Aircraft currently stored on property 'Xanadu', Bendigo, Victoria in dismantled state

Last reported as being 'for sale' - asking price $A 12,000

VH-AEQ. Trans Australia Airlines - in the silver tail colors at Melbourne's Essendon Airport, July 1956.

(Image 0250-654. B. Colledge Photograph)

VH-AEQ. Trans Australia Airlines - in the silver tail colors at Melbourne's Essendon Airport, July 1956.

(Image 0250-191. B. Colledge Photograph)

VH-AEQ. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Australian Inland Charter' tail titles, location & date unknown.

(Image 0250-456. J. Hopton Photograph)

VH-AEQ. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Australian Inland Charter' tail titles, January 1969.

(Image 0250-857. G. Bennett Collection)

VH-AEQ. TAA - with '50th Anniversary Air Mail' titles at Melbourne's Essendon Airport.

(Image 0250-676. R. N. Smith Collection)

VH-AEQ. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - in their full colors at Sydney Airport, May 1969.

(Image 0250-516. R. N. Smith Photograph)

VH-AEQ. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - in their full colors at Brisbane Airport, May 1969.

(Image 0250-858. G. Bennett Collection)

VH-AEQ. Bush Pilots Airways - in basic TAA colors, January 1971.

(Image 0250-675. R. N. Smith Collection)

VH-AEQ. Bush Pilots Airways - in basic TAA colors, date & location unknown.

(Image 0250-460. B. Dannecker Collection)

VH-AEQ. Bush Pilots Airways - withdrawn from use at Brisbane's Archerfield Airport, January 1972.

(Image 0251-060. G. Bennett Collection)

VH-AEQ. Bush Pilots Airways - withdrawn from use at Brisbane's Archerfield Airport, December 1973.

(Image 0251-062. P. J. Gates Collection)

VH-AEQ. Bush Pilots Airways - withdrawn from use at Brisbane's Archerfield Airport, November 1976.

(Image 0251-063. G. Bennett Collection)

VH-AEQ. On display at Chew Gum Museum, Tallebudgera, November 1979.

(Image 0251-064. G. Bennett Collection)

VH-AEQ. On display at Chew Gum Museum, Tallebudgera, July 1983.

(Image 0251-065. P. J. Gates Collection)

VH-AEQ. On display at Chew Gum Museum, Tallebudgera, July 1983.

(Image 0251-066. P. J. Gates Collection)

VH-AEQ. The Aeroplane Car Company - displayed in the caryard at Springwood, Brisbane, December 1987.

(Image 0250-722. R. N. Smith Collection)