VH-AES Douglas DC-3

Construction completed at Long Beach, California - November 6, 1942

Built as a Douglas C-47-DL

Allocated U.S. serial number 41-18660

Flown by 46 & 21 Troop Carrier Squadron, 5th Air Force

Aircraft was named 'Shanghai Lil'

During the war it used the radio callsign 'VHCJC'

Sold to the Department of Civil Aviation - August 25, 1944

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-AES - September 4, 1944

Operated by Australian National Airways as a freighter

Substantially damaged at Sydney Airport when it overran the manoeuvring area - November 5, 1944

Repaired and converted to a passenger configuration

Transferred to Trans Australia Airlines - June 30, 1946

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission - July 9, 1946

Aircraft was named 'Hawdon'

Flew the inaugural Trans Australia Airlines service from Melbourne (Laverton)-Sydney - September 9, 1946

Withdrawn from use and stored pending sale - June 26, 1959

Transferred to Lae to operate T.A.A. services in New Guinea - August 12, 1960

Aircraft was repainted into the T.A.A. Sunbird Services livery

Reregistered as VH-SBA - December 8, 1960

Aircraft was named ' Wewak' and later 'Moresby'

Withdrawn from use and stored - June 7, 1970

Repainted into its original color scheme to commemorate the airline's 25th Anniversary

Reregistered as VH-AES for commemorative flight - September 9, 1971

Reregistered VH-SBA - October 22, 1971

Flown to Melbourne and returned to storage - July 19, 1973

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - December 31, 1974

Restored to the original Trans Australia Airlines livery - 1979

Suspended 5 metres above the ground in front of Tullamarine Passenger Terminal - December 13, 1979

Remained as a static display until mid 1987

Returned to T.A.A. Maintenance for restoration to flying condition

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-AES - September 6, 1988

Registered to Hawdon Operations Ltd

Returned to flying status - September 9, 1988

Since returning to flying status it has been a welcomed attraction at airshows around the country

Used in the film 'Half A World Away' to represent the K.L.M. DC-2 PH-AJU 'Uiver' - 1990

Celebrated its 'Golden Jubilee' - November 6, 1992

Airworthy and remains flying today

VH-AES. Trans Australia Airlines - the inaugural flight at Laverton Airport, September 9, 1946.

VH-AES. Trans Australia Airlines - in the revised livery at Essendon Airport, August 1959.

VH-AES. TAA Sunbird Services - in the full livery at Melbourne's Essendon Airport, August 1960.

VH-SBA. TAA Sunbird Services - in the full livery at Lae Airport, date unknown.

VH-SBA. TAA Sunbird Services - in the full livery at Rabaul Airport, date unknown.

VH-AES. Trans Australia Airlines - 25th Anniversary flight at Melbourne Airport September 9, 1971.

VH-AES. Trans Australia Airlines - 25th Anniversary flight over Loverton Airport September 9, 1971.

VH-AES. Trans Australia Airlines at Sydney Airport, September 9, 1971 during 25th Anniversary flight.

VH-SBA. Trans Australia Airlines - original style livery at Brisbane Airport, October 1971.

VH-SBA. TAA Airlines of New Guinea - in the full livery at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport, May 1975.

VH-SBA. TAA - in the last livery at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport, January 1978.

VH-AES. Trans Australia Airlines - preparing to lift the aircraft into place at Melbourne Airport.

VH-AES. Trans Australia Airlines - original style livery at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport, January 1980.

VH-AES. Trans Australia Airlines - original style livery at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport, June 1987.

VH-AES. Trans Australia Airlines - original style livery Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport, June 1987.

VH-AES. Painted up to represent KLM DC-2 PH-AJU for movie at Tullamarine Airport, May 1990.

VH-AES. Trans Australia Airlines - in the original style livery at Melbourne Airport, December 1991.

VH-AES. Trans Australia Airlines - in the original style livery at Brisbane Airport, April 2004.