VH-PNM Douglas DC-3

This aircraft was constructed under the United States Army Air Force Contract

Constructed completed at the Douglas Oaklahoma City plant - October 23, 1944

It was built as a Douglas C-47B-10-DK

It was accepted by the United States Army Air Force - October 30, 1944

It was allocated the U. S. serial number '43-49219'

It was allocated to the 591st Army Air Force Base Unit (ATC) Stockton, California - June 1945

It was allocated to the 1377th Air Force Base Unit (ATC) Westover, Maine - July 1946

It was allocated to the 1389th Air Force Base Unit (ATC) Kindley, Bermuda - January 1948

It was allocated to the 522nd Air Base Squadron (MATS) Kindley, Bermuda - June 1948

It was allocated to the 1600th Air Base Group (MATS) Westover, Maine - January 1949

It was allocated to the 1600th Air Transport Wing (MATS) Westover, Maine - May 1950

It was allocated to the 21st Troop Carrier (Heavy) Squadron, Far East Air Force, Ashiva, Japan - July 1950

It was allocated to the 3rd Bombardment (Light) Wing, Far East Air Force, Yokota, Japan - August 1950

It was allocated to the 8th Fighter-Bomber (LIght) Wing, Far East Air Force, Itazuke, Japan - September 1950

It was allocated to the 6160th Air Base Wing, Far East Air Force, Itazuke, Japan - November 1950

It was allocated to the 75th Air Depot Wing, Far East Air Force, Itazuke, Japan - January 1954

It was allocated to the 642nd Air Depot Wing, Far East Air Force, Clark A.B., Philippines - February 1954

It was allocated to the Southern Air Material Area (Pacific), Clark A.B., Philippines - November 1954

It was allocated to the 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing, Pacific Air Forces, Kadena, Japan - October 1957

It was allocated to the 6313th Air Base Wing (PACAF), Kadena, Japan - January 1958

It was withdrawn from U.S.A.F. inventory in Japan and offered for sale - April 1959

Sold to Philippine Air Lines - April 1959

Entered onto the Philippines Aircraft Register as PI-C486 - April 1959

Ferried Japan - United States for conversion to DC-3C standards

This aircraft became the Philippines Air Lines flagship

Operated the inaugural international service from Manila - Hong Kong - ?

Withdrawn from service and offered for sale - ?

Sold to Papuan Air Lines Ltd - December 23, 1969

Arrived Port Moresby on completion of the ferry flight from Manila - May 15, 1970

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-PNM - May 26, 1970

Registered to Papuan Airlines Pty Ltd, Papua New Guinea

The aircraft was named ' Mount Murray'

It operated its first Patair revenue service - May 26, 1970

It was transferred to Ansett Airlines of Papua New Guinea when operations were merged - November 16, 1970

This aircraft was not painted into the standard Ansett 'delta' livery

Leased to Bush Pilots Airways, Cairns - April 1972

Registered to Ansett (P&NG) Ltd - August 02, 1972

Sold to Bush Pilots Airways, Cairns - March 1974

Registered to Bush Pilots Airways (PNG) Pty Ltd - March 04, 1974

Registered to Bush Pilots Airways Ltd, Cairns - January 27, 1977

Registered to Air Queensland Ltd, January 08, 1982

Sold to Mackay Air Museum - November 19, 1983

It was reregistered as VH-SBT - January 27, 1984

The Mackay Air Museum went into liquidation due to financial problems - 1987

Sold to the Warbirds Association, Masterton Airport, New Zealand - March 1987

Arrived Whenuapai on completion of the ferry flight from Australia - March 27, 1987

The aircraft was delivered as 'VH-SBT' with 'New Zealand Warbirds Assn' titles

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - April 30, 1987

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-DAK - October 16, 1987

Registered to Warbirds DC-3 Syndicate

The aircraft underwent an extensive restoration to return it to a sound airworthy condition

It was repainted into the R.A.F. World War II livery of No. 48 Squadron

It represented the aircraft flown by Rex Daniell (SPANZ co-founder) in the attack on the Orne Bridge

Registered to Flightline Aeronautical College, Papakura - April 04, 1990

Registered to Pionair Adventures Ltd, Christchurch - September 14, 1998

Registered to Leslie Aviation, Rotorua - March 01, 1999

Registered to Future Flight Ltd, Ardmore - November 22, 1999

Registered to Flight 2000 Ltd, Ardmore - June 24, 2002

The aircraft was officially changed to the 'RNZAF' livery - February 02, 2007

Current with Flight 2000 Ltd

VH-PNM. Bush Pilots Airways - in the original livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-325.)

VH-PNM. Bush Pilots Airways - in the original livery at Cairns Airport, January 1973.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0251-148.)

VH-PNM. Bush Pilots Airways Australia - in the revised livery at Brisbane Airport, May 1974.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-227.)

VH-PNM. Bush Pilots Airways - in the revised livery at Cairns Airport, August 1974.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0251-149.)

VH-PNM. Bush Pilots Airways - in the revised livery at Cairns Airport, December 1974.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0251-150.)

VH-PNM. Bush Pilots Airways - in the revised livery at Cairns Airport, November 1977.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0251-151.)

VH-PNM. BPA - in the non-standard livery with additional 'Jetset Operation: Gooney Bird' titles at Brisbane Airport, October 23, 1978.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-194.)

VH-PNM. BPA Australia's Northern Airline - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, October 1979.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-228.)

VH-PNM. BPA Australia's Northern Airline - in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, December 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-080.)

VH-PNM. BPA Australia's Northern Airline - in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, December 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-152.)

VH-PNM. BPA Queensland's Airline - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, November 1981.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0251-153.)

VH-PNM. BPA Queensland's Airline - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, December 1981.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-082.)

VH-PNM. BPA Queensland's Airline - in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, January 1982.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-154.)

VH-SBT. Mackay Air Museum - in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, May 1984.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0251-177.)

VH-SBT. Mackay Air Museum - in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, October 1984.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-441.)

VH-SBT. Mackay Air Museum - in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, October 1984.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-792.)

VH-SBT. Mackay Air Museum - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, May 1985.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0251-178.)

ZK-DAK. Flightline Aeronautical Colledge - in the standard 'WW II Invasion' livery at Ardmore Airport, July 28, 1991.

(J. Mounce Copyright Image 0251-705.)

ZK-DAK. Flightline Aeronautical Colledge - in the standard 'WW II Invasion' livery at Ardmore Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-713.)

ZK-DAK. Flightline Aeronautical Colledge - in the standard 'WW II Invasion' livery at Auckland Airport, January 25, 1993.

(J. Mounce Copyright Image 0251-706.)

ZK-DAK. Future Flight Ltd - in the standard 'WW II Invasion' livery at Wanaka Airport, April 2002.

(J. Mounce Copyright Image 0251-707.)

ZK-DAK. Flight 2000 Limited - in the standard 'WW II Invasion' livery at Wanaka Airport, April 2003.

(J. Mounce Copyright Image 0251-708.)

ZK-DAK. Flight 2000 Limited - in the 'change-over' livery at Ardmore Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-712.)

ZK-DAK. Flight 2000 Limited - in the standard 'Royal New Zealand Air Force' livery with additional 'NZ3546 - 42 Squadron' markings at Ardmore Airport, January 27, 2007.

(J. Mounce Copyright Image 0251-709.)

ZK-DAK. Flight 2000 Limited - in the standard 'Royal New Zealand Air Force' livery with additional 'NZ3546 - 42 Squadron' markings and 'NAC' titles at RNZAF Base Ohakea, March 31, 2012.

(J. Mounce Copyright Image 0251-710.)

ZK-DAK. Flight 2000 Limited - in the standard 'Royal New Zealand Air Force' livery with additional 'NZ3546 - 42 Squadron' markings at Ardmore Airport, December 09, 2012.