VH-AND. Douglas DC-4-1009. c/n 42950-43.

 

 

This aircraft was ordered new by Australian National Airways Pty Ltd - 1944

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

Registered to Australian National Airways Pty Ltd, Melbourne

The aircraft was named 'Tatana' (father) by Marie Wilson at Santa Monica, California

Accepted by A. N. A. at Santa Monica but the sale was conducted in Las Vegas - June 10, 1946

Departed San Francisco on the delivery flight to Australia - June 11, 1946

It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the delivery flight - June 15, 1946

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

Flight crew: Captains A. Lovell, S. McDonald, J. Presgrave; Navigator H. Farley, Radio Operator W. Pinwill;

Flight Engineer L. Reeding; Hostesses Lawler and Hanson

Entered Australian service with A.N.A. - June 1946

It was used to survey the Australia - U. S. A. route - May 03, 1946 to May 14, 1946

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

Operated the first B.C.P.A. Auckland - Vancouver service - April 25, 1947

Departed Melbourne (Essendon) on a migrant charter (Captain P. Gibbs; F/O V. Cherche) - February 22, 1949

Route: Melbourne - Darwin - Singapore - Colombo - Karachi - Cairo - Rome - London

Departed London on the return migrant charter to Australia - March 01, 1949

It crashed at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) during a heavy landing on a shortened runway - October 16, 1952

Flight crew: Captain R. Maher; F/O K. Loughnan

The aircraft struck a drain at the end of the runway causing the undercarriage to rupture the fuel tanks

No fire resulted from this accident and no injuries were sustained by the crew

Considered to be uneconomical to repair

Salvaged and transported to Melbourne by road but it was not repaired

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - August 30, 1955

 

 

VH-AND. Australian National Airways Pty Ltd - 'Tatana' in the original livery at Whenuapai Airport, April 1947.

(Whites Aviation Image WA-06722-G Alexander Turnbull Library Copyright Image 1125-666.)

VH-AND. Australian National Airways Pty Ltd - 'Tatana' in the original livery at Whenuapai Airport, April 25, 1947.

This was the inaugural Auckland - Vancouver service.

(P. Sheehan Collection Copyright Image 1125-711.)

VH-AND. Australian National Airways Pty Ltd - 'Tatana' in the original livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-138.)

VH-AND. Australian National Airways Pty Ltd - 'Tatana' in the revised livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(Civil Aviation Historical Society Copyright Image 1125-740.)

VH-AND. Australian National Airways Pty Ltd - 'Tatana' in the revised livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, October 1952.

(G. O'Rourke Collection Copyright Image 1125-678.)

VH-AND. Australian National Airways Pty Ltd - 'Tatana' in the revised livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, October 1952.

(G. O'Rourke Collection Copyright Image 1125-679.)

VH-AND. Australian National Airways Pty Ltd - 'Tatana' in the revised livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, October 1952.

(G. O'Rourke Collection Copyright Image 1125-680.)

VH-AND. Australian National Airways Pty Ltd - 'Tatana' in the revised livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, October 1952.

(G. O'Rourke Collection Copyright Image 1125-681.)