Originally built as a Lockheed L-749-79-33 for K.L.M. but not taken up

Construction completed as a Lockheed L-749-79-31 for Qantas - 1947

Entered onto Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAB - March 10, 1947

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd

Accepted by Qantas at Lockheed Burbank - October 9, 1947

Departed Burbank, California on delivery flight - October 22, 1947

Arrived Sydney at conclusion of delivery flight - October 25, 1947

Flight crew: Capts McMaster, Connolly, Henderson

Aircraft named 'Lawrence Hargrave'

Entered Qantas service - November 1947

Charted by T.A.A. to operate Melbourne Cup flights Sydney-Melbourne-Sydney - November 1949

Departed Sydney for Darwin (base) to operate flights to / from Iwakuni, Japan - August 19, 1951

Returned to Sydney for repainting into white top red c/line livery - September 3, 1951

Withdrawn from service for conversion to L-749A-79 standard - October 27, 1951

Returned to service - December 31, 1951

Departed Sydney on its first service on South African route - December 16, 1952

Route was Sydney-Melbourne-Perth-Cocos Islands-Mauritius-Johannesburg

Utilised on the Royal Tour flying Sydney-Adelaide-Kalgoorlie-Perth - March 1954

Departed Sydney on its first service to Tokyo - November 1954

Entered onto U.K. Aircraft Register as G-ANUR - February 18, 1955

Departed Stdney on its final revenue service Sydney-Tokyo - February 24, 1955

Sold to B.O.A.C. - February 26, 1955

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - February 28, 1955

Departed Sydney on delivery flight to U.K. in Qantas livery as G-ANUR - February 28, 1955

Accepted by B.O.A.C. at London's Heathrow Airport - March 5, 1955

Aircraft named 'Basildon'

Entered service in a 60 seat tourist configuration - July 12, 1955

Withdrawn from service - 1958

Leased to Skyways - July 1959

Fitted with large rear cargo door by B.O.A.C. - 1960

Sold to Skyways - July 2, 1962

Taken over by Euravia (London) Ltd and utilised as a freighter or 82 seater - September 1, 1962

Repainted into full Euravia livery at Luton - November 1963

Ferried Luton-Gatwick for lease to ACE Freighters - Jukly 30, 1965

Entered service with ACE Freighters - August 12, 1965

Operated its final freighter service for ACE Freighters - September 11, 1966

Returned to Euravia (Britannia Airways) when ACE ceased operations - September 14, 1966

Sold to Nelson Puente, Puerto Rico

Cancelled from U.K. Aircraft Register - February 23, 1967

Departed U.K. on delivery flight to U.S.A. - March 4, 1967

Sold to Woodrow W. Tilton - May 6, 1967

Entered onto U.S. Aircraft Register as N1949 - May 24, 1967

Sold to American National Bank of Jacksonville - May 25, 1967

Leased to Woodrow W. Tilton - May 25, 1967

Sold to Woodrow W. Tilton - January 6, 1968

Sold to Laura Puente t/a Aerolineas Uruguayas - January 6, 1968

Entered onto Uruguayan Aircraft Register as CX-BHC

Cancelled from U.S. Aircraft Register - January 29, 1968

Believed to have been delivered to Aerolineas Uruguayas from Miami, Florida

Aerolineas Uruguayas ceased operations - 1968 - 1969

Last reported sighting of aircraft was at Montevideo - January 1970

Presumed scrapped

VH-EAB. Qantas Empire Airways - in the original metal livery, November 1947.

(P. Sheehan Collection. 1802-036.)