VH-TAF. Douglas C-54A-5-DO. c/n 7469-77.
Delivered new to U.S.A.A.F. as 42-107450 - February 24, 1944 Sold to Braathens-SAFE - December 26, 1949 Entered onto the Norwegian Aircraft Register as LV-HAV - January 20, 1947 Aircraft was named 'Norse Explorer' Cancelled from the Norwegian Aircraft Register - October 7, 1950 Sold to Trans Caribbean Airways - becoming N1220V - October 17, 1950 Leased to Seaboard & Western Airlines Inc for use as a freighter - October 1950 Aircraft was named 'Hawaiian Airtrader' Returned to Trans Caribbean Airways - January 20, 1953 Leased to Seaboard & Western Airlines - 1958 to 1959 Sold to Aero Factors Corp, Luxembourg - September 1, 1959 Sold to Interocean Airways - becoming LX-LMK - March 7, 1961 Leased to the United Nations for use in The Congo on relief flights - March 7, 1961 Returned to Luxembourg and stored without engines - 1963 Sold to Aviation Traders Ltd - April 9, 1964 Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TAF - December 11, 1964 Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission Sold to Trans Australia Airlines - December 15, 1964 Departed Southend on delivery flight to Australia - December 20, 1964 Ferry route was via Rome-Beirut-Damascus-Bahrain-Bombay-Calcutta-Colombo-Cocos Island-Perth Arrived Melbourne - January 4, 1965 Aircraft was named 'George Grey' Entered service with Trans Australia Airlines as a freighter - January 19, 1965 Operated its final service with T.A.A. - March 22, 1969 Placed in storage at Melbourne's Essendon Airport Sold to Flying Tigers - October 1969 Sold to Air Vietnam - becoming XV-NUM - November 8, 1969 Departed Melbourne on delivery flight to Hong Kong - November 8, 1969 Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - January 9, 1970 Was seriously damaged when a hijacker detonated explosives inside the aircraft - February 20, 1974 Was on scheduled service from Qui Non to Da Nang when pilot diverted to Hue On learning of deception, hijacker killed himself and 3 other passengers Aircraft was repaired, and later withdrawn from service at Phu-Bai airport Exact fate of this aircraft is unclear at this point |
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VH-TAF. TAA Trans Australia Airlines 'Cargomaster' - at Sydney Airport, February 1967. (Image 1125-034. B. Dannecker Collection) |
VH-TAF. TAA Trans Australia Airlines 'Cargomaster' - at Sydney Airport, September 1967. (Image 1125-325. R. N. Smith Photograph) |
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VH-TAF. TAA Trans Australia Airlines 'Cargomaster' - at Sydney Airport, September 1967. (Image 1125-035. B. Dannecker Collection) |
VH-TAF. TAA Trans Australia Airlines 'Cargomaster' - at Melbourne's Essendon Airport, date unknown. (Image 1125-006. J. Hopton Photograph) |
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VH-TAF. TAA Trans Australia Airlines 'Cargomaster' - at Melbourne's Essendon Airport, date unknown. (Image 1125-243. P. J. Gates Collection) |
VH-TAF. TAA Trans Australia Airlines 'Cargomaster' - at Melbourne's Essendon Airport, date unknown. (Image 1125-394. G. Bennett Collection) |