VH-ANA Douglas DC-4-1009

This aircraft was ordered new by Australian National Airways in 1944

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-ANA - November 01, 1945

Registered to Australian National Airways Pty Ltd, Melbourne

First flown - January 28, 1946

Aircraft was named 'Amana' (Hands Across) by Australian actress Ann Richards

Flown Santa Monica - Las Vegas for acceptance by A.N.A. - February 05, 1946

This was done to minimise the Californian taxes payable on this aircraft

Departed Las Vegas on the delivery flight to Australia - February 05, 1946

It was originally intended to land at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) but this was changed mid flight

It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the delivery flight - February 09, 1946

Delivery route: Las Vegas - San Francisco - Honolulu - Canton Island - Nadi - Melbourne

Flight crew: Captains W. Morrissey (Douglas Test Pilot), P. T. L. Taylor; Navigator J. T. Caswell;

R/O L. S. Moore; Engineer J. Neale; LAME J. Stubbs

Operated its first revenue service (Douglas Captain Bill Morrissey) - February 11, 1946

Douglas supplied training for A.N.A. crews for 30 days after delivery

Established record on Perth - Melbourne route (Captain W. Morrissey) of 6 hours 16 minutes - February 25, 1946

Established record on Melbourne - Perth route - March 1946

Flight crew: Capts P. T. L. Taylor, A. Lovell; F/O D. Way

Established record on Melbourne - Sydney - Auckland demonstration flight - March 07, 1946

Flight crew: Capts P. T. L. Taylor, P. Gibbs; F/O D. Way

Established speed record on Perth - Melbourne service of 483 km/h for the 2,929 km flight - September 1946

Chartered on an ad hoc basis to B.C.P.A. for trans Pacific services - September 15, 1946 to April 21, 1948

Operated first of a number migrant charters to Rome (Captains P. T. L. Taylor, P. Gibbs) - August 03, 1948

Route: Sydney - Darwin - Singapore - Calcutta - Karachi - Cyprus - Rome - Cyprus - Karachi - Ceylon -

Batavia - Darwin - Melbourne

The aircraft was destroyed when it crashed on the property 'Betty Bow' 19 km NW of York, W.A. - June 26, 1950

The accident occurred some 13 minutes after departing Perth (Guildford) at 2200 hours

The crew of 5 and 24 passengers were killed

Flight crew: Captain R. J. C. Chapple; F/O R. H. Willis; 2nd Officer V. M. Trevitt;

Hostesses J. W. Graham, M.A.E. Britton

Passengers: Mr V. C. Anquetil, Mr E. S. Baker, Very Rev. N. Blow, Mr J. Boklak, Mrs I. Borszeky & infant,

Mr P. Capelette, Mr G. Carmichael, Mr K. Douglas, Mr D. N. Engler, Master J. Engler,

Mr V. Finegan, Mr E. W. Forwood, Mr T. R. Graham, Mrs G. Haese, Miss S. J. Haese, Miss M. McDougall,

Miss D. M. McHenry, Mrs M. A. M. Morrison, Right Rev. Dr C. Murray, Mr L. Orszab,

Mr S. Pawlowski, Mr I. H. Simpson, Mr Tan Jee Hoe

At the time this was Australia's worst airline accident

It was operating the Perth - Adelaide leg of the Perth - Adelaide - Melbourne service

The exact cause of the accident was never resolved

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - July 19, 1950

A memorial plaque was erected in the main street of Beverley, W.A. - June 26, 2001

To read a detailed account of this accident please click 'HERE'