VH-INY. Douglas C-54B-5-DO. c/n 18327-101.

was also registered as: VH-INX.


Delivered new to the U.S.A.A.F. as a C-54B-5-DO - May 30, 1944

Issued the serial number 43-17127

Sold to Pacific Overseas Airlines Inc - becoming NC74628 - early 1946

Sold to Zinc Corp - mid 1948

Registered to Air Charter Survey & Exploration Ltd - becoming ZS-BYO - September 1, 1948

Flown to London where it was named 'Discovery' - September 30, 1948

Arrived in Australia carrying survey equipment - October 1948

Sold to British Aviation Services Ltd - becoming G-ALEP - December 13, 1948

Sold to Mining & Exploration Air Services - January 21, 1949

Leased to Silver City Airways (Silver City Mining) - January 1949

Operated a round-the-world flight for Zinc Corp - January 1949

Used as fictitious 'G-NZAC' by Arthur Rank in movie 'No Highway In The Sky' - 1950

Sold to Australian National Airways - January 1951

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-INY - January 26, 1951

Due to licencing problems with pilot endorsements and registration, delivery was delayed

The registration marks 'VH-INY' had been reserved for an ex-Air Ceylon DC-4 - December 18, 1950

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - February 12, 1951

The registration - VH-INY - were never painted on this aircraft

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-INX - February 12, 1951

Utilised for Air Ceylon services - July 1951 to August 1951

Converted to freighter 'Cargomaster' configuration - September 1959

Utilised by the Boston Symphony Orchestra on 10-day Australian tour - June 6, 1960

Leased to M.M.A. for freight services - Perth-Port Headland-Derby-Broome - December 1965 to July 1966

Operated its last service - Launceston-Essendon - December 21, 1970

Withdrawn from use and stored in Essendon's Airport graveyard - 1970

Officially withdrawn from Ansett service - June 7, 1971

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - June 15, 1971

Sold to T.H. Fogarty who owned the airfield at Melton - June 1971

Dismantled and trucked to Melton, Victoria for planned use as airfield cafeteria - March 1, 1972

Aircraft was progressively damaged & vandalised - scrapped - October 1991


VH-INX. Ansett-ANA 'Cargomaster' - with original tail titles at Melbourne's Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(Image 1125-375. G. Bennett Collection)

VH-INX. Ansett-ANA 'Cargomaster' - with revised tail titles at Melbourne's Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(Image 1125-374. G. Bennett Collection)

VH-INX. Ansett-ANA 'Cargomaster' - in the final livery at Melbourne's Essendon Airport, November 1969.

(Image 1125-247. R. N. Smith Photograph)

VH-INX. Ansett-ANA 'Cargomaster' - in the final livery at Melbourne's Essendon Airport, January 1970.

(Image 1125-373. G. Bennett Photograph)

VH-INX. Ansett-ANA 'Cargomaster' - in the final livery at Melbourne's Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(Image 1125-235. P. J. Gates Collection)

VH-INX. Ansett-ANA 'Cargomaster' - in the final livery at Melbourne's Essendon Airport, December 1970.

(Image 1125-192. P. J. Gates Collection)

VH-INX. Ansett-ANA 'Cargomaster' - in the final livery at Melbourne's Essendon Airport, April 1971.

(Image 1125-377. G. Bennett Photograph)

VH-INX. Ansett-ANA 'Cargomaster' - in the final livery at Melton, Victoria, date unknown.

(Image 1125-026. B. Dannecker Collection)

VH-INX. A sad end to a once majestic aircraft at Melton, Victoria, March 1972.

(Image 1125-378. G. Bennett Photograph)

VH-INX. A sad end to a once majestic aircraft at Melton, Victoria, March 1977.

(Image 1125-369. G. Bennett Photograph)

VH-INX. A sad end to a once majestic aircraft at Melton, Victoria, July 1980.

(Image 1125-370. G. Bennett Photograph)

VH-INX. A very sad end to a once majestic aircraft at Melton, Victoria, May 1984.

(Image 1125-371. G. Bennett Photograph)