VH-EAP. Douglas C-47A-20-DK. c/n 12873.

Was also registered as: 42-93009; A65-44; VH-EBY; VH-SBG; P2-SBG; P2-ANP; VH-BPL.

This aircraft was constructed at the Douglas Oklahoma City plant - March 1944

It was built as a Douglas C-47A-20-DK

It was allocated the United States serial number '42-93009'

Delivered to the United States Army Air Force - March 28, 1944

Transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force under the 'lend / lease' agreement - April 12, 1944

Entered onto the Australian Military Aircraft Register as A65-44

It was operated in Australia using the radio callsign 'VHCIA'

It was allocated to No 33 and 38 Squadrons, No 86 Transport Wing during the war

Sold to Qantas Empire Airways - April 1948

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAP - June 08, 1948

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd, Brisbane

Reregistered as VH-EBY - July 29, 1957

Sold to Trans-Australia Airlines - September 01, 1960

Operated its first Trans-Australia Airlines revenue service - September 01, 1960

Reregistered as VH-SBG - December 08, 1960

Registered to the Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne

The aircraft was named 'Kavieng'

Transferred to New Guinea to operate the T. A. A. Sunbird Services

Operated its final T. A. A. revenue service - October 31, 1973

Withdrawn from use and stored pending sale

Sold to Air Nuigini - February 12, 1974

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - June 01, 1974

Entered onto the Papua New Guinea Aircraft Register as P2-SBG - June 01, 1974

Reregistered as P2-ANP - November 1975

Withdrawn from service and stored at Port Moresby - July 31, 1977

Sold to Insured Aircraft Title Service Inc - February 25, 1980

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N5590A - ?

Sold to J. J. Ford III - June 30, 1981

Sold to Air Queensland - October 1982

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-BPL - October 15, 1982

Registered to Air Queensland Ltd, Cairns

It was operated by Air Queensland as a freighter

Withdrawn from use and stored at Cairns when Air Queensland ceased operations - April 1988

Registered to Air Rambler (Australia) Pty Ltd - April 07, 1988

Registered to L. J. McIver - August 27, 1992

Ownership transferred to P. D. McIver - August 28, 1995

Registered to J. D. Williams, Tasmania - October 29, 1996

To read the story about the transporation of this aircraft to Longreach please click 'HERE'

VH-EAP. Qantas Empire Airways - in the standard livery at Kavieng Island Airport, New Ireland, Papua New Guinea, August 11, 1948.

(Whites Aviation WA-14918-F Copyright Image 0251-759.)

VH-SBG. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Kavieng' in the standard livery at Popondetta Airport, August 08, 1962.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-245.)

VH-SBG. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Kavieng' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-332.)

VH-SBG. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Kavieng' in the standard livery at Lae Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-566.)

VH-SBG. TAA Sunbird Services - 'Kavieng' in the standard livery at an unknown airport, August 03, 1963.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-976.)

VH-SBG. TAA Airlines Of New Guinea - 'Kavieng' in the standard livery at Lae Airport, May 06, 1973.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0250-975.)

VH-SBG. TAA Airlines Of New Guinea - 'Kavieng' in the standard livery at Rabaul Airport, November 25, 1973.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-271.)

P2-ANP. Air Niugini - in the standard livery at Port Moresby Airport, June 1976.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-653.)

P2-ANP. Air Niugini - in the standard livery at Lae Airport, October 1976.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-787.)

VH-BPL. Air Queensland Air Cargo - in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, October 1982.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0251-091.)

VH-BPL. Air Queensland Air Cargo - in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, December 1982.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-024.)

VH-BPL. Air Queensland Air Cargo - in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, September 04, 1983.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-540.)

VH-BPL. Air Queensland Air Cargo - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-023.)

VH-BPL. Air Queensland Air Cargo - in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, May 1987.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0251-093.)

VH-BPL. Air Rambler - in a modified 'Air Queensland' livery at Cairns Airport, July 1988.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-937.)

VH-BPL. DC3 Australia Air Cargo - in a modified 'Air Queensland' livery at Cairns Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-025.)

VH-EAP. Qantas Empire Airways - in the original livery at Longreach Airport, December 09, 2020.

(B. Potts Copyright Image 0251-831.)