VH-EAO. Douglas C-47A-30-DK. c/n 13922-25367.
was also registered as:
VH-EBX; VH-SBH & VH-EDD.
Construction completed at the Oklahoma City plant - July 15, 1944 Built as a Douglas C-47A-30-DK Allocated U.S. serial number 43-48106 Delivered to United States Army Air Force Transferred to the R.A.A.F. under lend / lease agreement - becoming A65-57 - August 9, 1944 Operated under the radio callsign 'VHCUR' Allocated to No 33 Squadron during the war Sold to Qantas Airways - December 1946 Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAO - December 12, 1946 Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd, Sydney Accepted by Qantas - January 22, 1947 Operated its first revenue service with Qantas - April 6, 1947 Reregistered as VH-EBX - August 5, 1957 Sold to Trans Australia Airlines - September 1, 1960 Operated its first revenue service with T.A.A. - September 1, 1960 Reregistered as VH-SBH - December 8, 1960 Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission Operated its final revenue service with T.A.A. - June 28, 1962 Sold to Royal Netherlands Air Force as X-18 - August 2, 1962 Converted to a military transport by Hawker de Havilland at Bankstown prior to delivery Cancelled from Australian Aircraft Register - August 31, 1962 Withdrawn from use at Biak as being surplus to requirements - October 1962 Sold to Jones Co Guerro Ltd, Manila, Philippines - November 7, 1962 Sold to Qantas - January 1964 Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EDD - January 22, 1964 Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd, Sydney Utilised for pilot training and the carrying of freight Sold & registered to Queensland Pacific Airways Pty Ltd - December 15, 1971 Utilised to carry fresh fruit, vegetables & general freight between Cairns-Port Moresby Sold to Bush Pilots Airways Ltd, Cairns - June 17, 1972 Registered to Bush Pilots Airways Ltd, Cairns - June 26, 1972 Registered to Bush Pilots Airways (PNG) Pty Ltd - August 8, 1973 Leased to Forrestair - November 1974 to November 1976 Registered to Bush Pilots Airways Ltd - January 27, 1977 Withdrawn from use and stored at Cairns - March 1977 Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - April 21, 1977 Aircraft dismantled at Cairns Airport with fuselage being donated to Cairns Airport Fire Department Cockpit section was used as a disc jockey's booth at the Pacific International Hotel, Cairns Remains of fuselage later scrapped - whereabouts of nose section not confirmed at this time |
VH-EAO. Qantas Empire Airways - in the all-metal livery at Sydney Airport, date unknown. |
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VH-EDD. Qantas - in the final livery at Sydney Airport, June 1966. |
VH-EDD. Qantas - in the final livery at Melbourne's Essendon Airport, June 1971. |
VH-EDD. Bush Pilots Airways - in the original livery at Cairns Airport, January 1973. |
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VH-EDD. Bush Pilots Airways Forrestair - in BPA livery at Melbourne's Essendon Airport, June 1975. |
VH-EDD. Bush Pilots Airways Forrestair - in BPA livery at Melbourne's Essendon Airport, June 1975. |
VH-EDD. Bush Pilots Airways Forrestair - in BPA livery at Essendon Airport, November 1975. |
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VH-EDD. Bush Pilots Airways - withdrawn from use at Cairns Airport, April 1978. |
VH-EDD. Bush Pilots Airways - on the fire dump at Cairns Airport, December 1980. |
VH-EDD. Bush Pilots Airways - on the fire dump at Cairns Airport, December 1980. |
VH-EDD. Bush Pilots Airways - on the fire dump at Cairns Airport, December 1984. |
VH-EDD. Bush Pilots Airways - all that remains of a once proud airliner at Cairns Airport, date unknown. |
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