Originally built as a L-1049E-55 but converted to L-1049E-82-140 on the production line

First flown - October 8, 1955

Entered onto Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAC - October 14, 1955

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd

Aircraft was named 'Southern Wave'

Accepted by Qantas at Burbank, California - October 20, 1955

Departed Burbank on delivery flight to Australia - October 22, 1955

Arrived Sydney at conclusion of delivery flight - October 25, 1955

Operated first Qantas revenue service Sydney-Tokyo - November 22, 1955

Withdrawn from service in Sydney for fitment of weather radar - April 3, 1956

Returned to service - April 29, 1956

Withdrawn from service for conversion to L-1049G-01-55 standard - November 16, 1957

Returned to service - December 11, 1957

Crashed on take-off at Mauritius Airport en route to Cocos Island - August 24, 1960

Take-off was aborted before 'V1' was reached due to power drop in Number 3 engine

As aircraft skidded off the end of the wet runway the port undercarriage collapsed

The 38 passengers and 12 crew evacuated the aircraft before it was destroyed by fire

16 passengers and 4 crew suffered minor injuries

Flight crew: Capt E. Ditton; F/O S.D. Patrick; S/O R. Miller, G. Quinn; Navigator L. Sales;

Radio Officer S. Hocking; Engineers M. Picking, E. Chuter; Flight Stewards P. McGann, A. Mackie, N. Foster;

Flight Hostess M. Stewart-Dawson

Cancelled from Australian Aircraft Register - August 1960

Aircraft had flown 13,842 hours at time of crash

VH-EAC. Qantas - in the full livery at Burbank Airport, October 1955.