VH-ACB. Douglas DC-3-232A. c/n 2030. Was also registered as: A30-4. |
Construction of this aircraft was completed at the Douglas Santa Monica plant, California - September 1938 Built as a Douglas DC-3-232A with seating for 21 passengers It was first flown - September 19, 1938 It was purchased by Australian National Airways - October 17, 1938 It arrived as deck cargo at Port Melbourne on the S. S. Tolken - November 01, 1938 Test flown at Melbourne (Essendon) Airport - November 28, 1938 Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-ACB - December 01, 1938 Registered to Australian National Airways Pty Ltd, Melbourne The aircraft was named 'Warana' (blue sky) Chartered to the Commonwealth of Australia for use by the Royal Australian Air Force - September 10, 1939 Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - September 11, 1939 Entered onto the Australian Military Aircraft Register as A30-4 Issued to No 8 Squadron, Canberra in the camouflage livery - September 15, 1939 Returned to A. N. A. at end of the charter - May 24, 1940 Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-ACB - June 04, 1940 Registered to Australian National Airways Pty Ltd, Melbourne It was badly damaged following a collision with a Dutch Lockheed Lodestar at Brisbane - February 17, 1942 It was repaired and returned to service Damaged beyond repair following a wheels-up landing 7 km north of Melbourne (Essendon) - March 19, 1943 The aircraft was operating the scheduled Melbourne - Sydney - Brisbane service (Captain D. E. Barker) It failed to gain height following an engine failure after take-off - suspected carburettor problems were the prime cause Varying injuries were sustained by the 12 passengers and 3 crew onboard - no deaths Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - April 14, 1943 |