VH-AET. Douglas C-47-DL. c/n 6013.

 

Construction completed at Long Beach, California - November 13, 1942

Built as a Douglas C-47-DL

It was allocated the U. S. serial number '41-18652'

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

Used by 374th Troop Carrier Squadron with the radio callsign 'VHCGD'

The aircraft was named 'Ole Stonewall'

Sold to the Department of Civil Aviation having flown 1,911 hours - November 24, 1944

Converted to civilian standards by Australian National Airways at Melbourne (Essendon) Airport

The conversion was completed - December 04, 1944

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-AET - December 20, 1944

Registered to Commonwealth of Australia / Department of Civil Aviation, Melbourne

Leased to Australian National Airways as the registered operator - December 20, 1944

Commenced service with A.N.A. as a freighter

Converted to passenger configuration with 21 seats

The aircraft was destroyed when it crashed into the sea off Seven Mile Beach, Hobart - March 10, 1946

It departed at 20:55 local on the return sector of Melbourne (Essendon) - Hobart - Melbourne (Essendon) service

The crew of 4 and 21 passengers were killed

The exact cause of this accident was not determined but the most like cause was the inadvertent engagement

of the autopilot just after take-off with the gyros set in 'caged' position by the First Officer

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - March 11, 1946

It had flown 7,477 hours