Construction completed at the Oklahoma City plant - September 1943

Built as a Douglas C-47A-1-DK

Allocated U.S. serial number 42-92149

Delivered to United States Army Air Force - September 24, 1943

Transferred to Royal Air Force as a Dakota III under the lend-lease agreement - January 29, 1944

Allocated the British serial number FL557

Allocated to No 31 Squadron, India - ?

Allocated to TSTU, Chaklala - ?

Allocated to Air Command, South East Asia (ACSEA) - ?

Allocated to No 353 Squadron, Palem - ?

Surplus to requirements, withdrawn from use and struck-off charge - 1947

Sold to New Guinea Co - April 24, 1947

Arrived at Lae Airport for conversion to civilian standards - January 1948

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-BFV (CofR 1485) - March 25, 1948

Registered to New Guinea Co t/a Mandated Airlines Ltd

Registered as a Douglas DC-3C-S1C3G

Overhauled by M.A.L. for new Certificate of Airworthiness - May 8, 1952 - July 1952

Configured to seat 28 passengers

Reregistered as VH-MAE - May 27, 1952

Sustained minor damage when it crashed at Madang Airport - February 1953

Registered to Mandated Airlines Ltd - June 26, 1959

Registered to Ansett-M.A.L. - January 20, 1961

Registered to Ansett (P&NG) Ltd - May 15, 1968

Damaged beyond repair whilst landing at Wapenamunda Airport, Papua New Guinea - July 12, 1972

Was operating the weekly Madang-Wapenamunda charter flight

The undercarriage folded on landing, ground looping the aircraft off the landing strip

The two pilots were not injured

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - October 31, 1972

VH-MAE. Ansett-M.A.L. - in the full livery at Lae Airport, date unknown.

VH-MAE. Ansett-M.A.L. - in the full livery at Lae Airport, July 1966.