VH-AER Douglas DC-3

VH-AER. Douglas C-47-DL. c/n 6007.

Was also registered as: VH-EWF; VH-EWE.

Construction of this aircraft was completed at the Douglas Long Beach plant, California - October 31, 1942

It was built as a Douglas C-47-DL for the United States Army Air Force

Allocated the U. S. serial number '41-18646'

Arrived Brisbane (Amberley) for use with 6 Troop Carrier Squadron, 5th Air Force - January 12, 1943

The aircraft was named 'Irene'

During the war it operated using the radio callsign 'VHCFB'

Transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force - July 11, 1944

Sold to the Department of Civil Aviation, Melbourne - July 12, 1944

Converted to civilian standards by Australian National Airways at Melbourne (Essendon) Airport

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-AER - January 30, 1945

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne

Leased to Guinea Airways Ltd - January 29, 1945 to October 14, 1946

Transferred to Trans-Australia Airlines - October 14, 1946

The aircraft was named 'Batman' and later 'Dampier'

Entered service with Trans-Australia Airlines - October 14, 1946

Leased to East-West Airlines - May 11, 1955

Reregistered as VH-EWF - June 14, 1955

The aircraft was named 'Oxley City'

Crash landed into a freshwater lake on the East Lakes Golf Course after engine failure - November 04, 1957

It had departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) with 24 passengers on a flight to Tamworth

No injuries were sustained by the crew or passengers

It was recovered from the lake suffering minimal damage, repaired and returned to service

For further information on this accident please click 'HERE' and 'HERE'

Sold to East-West Airlines Pty Ltd - October 05, 1958

Reregistered as VH-EWE - August 28, 1958

Operated by East-West for the N. S. W. Department of Lands for aerial photography - November 03, 1965 to 1972

It was named 'Phillip F. Adams'

Sold to Connair Pty Ltd - August 09, 1973

Delivered to Connair at Alice Springs - August 17, 1973

Sold to Fleetair Services, Tasmania and based at Melbourne (Essendon) - October 14, 1976

Sold to Masling Commuter Services Pty Ltd for onsale to IPEC - March 11, 1977

Sold to Panair - December 1979

The fictitious titles 'Banana Airlines' were applied for use in a movie but it retained the basic IPEC livery

Sold to J. P. Racovolis and leased to Setair - February 12, 1980

Sold to Cranways Pty Ltd - August 05, 1980

Transferred to General Cargo Australia - February 1981

Sold to Setair - October 18, 1982

Withdrawn from use and stored at Melbourne (Essendon) - February 1983

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - February 11, 1983

Sold to McDonalds Family Restaurants - March 1983

Restored and refurbished by North-West Airlines and repainted into the old T. A. A. livery

Transported to Adelaide and used as dining room at the McDonalds West Lakes complex

Sold to Jeff Morgan of Karoona, South Australia - 2000

Current status - ?

VH-AER. Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Batman' in an early livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-600.)

VH-EWF. East West Airlines - 'Oxley City' in the original livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-619.)

VH-EWE. EWA - 'Oxley City' in the revised livery at Canberra Airport, March 16, 1963.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-538.)

VH-EWE. East-West Airlines - 'Oxley City' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, March 1965.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-492.)

VH-EWE. East-West Airlines - 'Phillip F. Adams' in the standard livery with additional 'Aerial Survey Unit' titles at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 18, 1966.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-500.)

VH-EWE. East-West - 'Phillip F. Adams' in the final livery with additional 'Aerial Survey Unit' titles at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 15, 1969.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-565.)

VH-EWE. East-West - 'Phillip F. Adams' in the final livery with additional 'Aerial Survey Unit' titles at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 15, 1969.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-566.)

VH-EWE. East-West - 'Phillip F. Adams' in the final livery with additional 'Aerial Survey Unit' titles at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 15, 1969.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-567.)

VH-EWE. East-West - 'Phillip F. Adams' in the final livery with additional 'Aerial Survey Unit' titles at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, June 1969.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0250-920.)

VH-EWE. East-West - 'Phillip F. Adams' in the final livery with additional 'Aerial Survey Unit' titles at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 20, 1969.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-568.)

VH-EWE. East-West - 'Phillip F. Adams' in the final livery with additional 'Aerial Survey Unit' titles at an unknown airport, September 19, 1970.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-770.)

VH-EWE. East-West - in the final livery at Brisbane Airport, May 1972.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-769.)

VH-EWE. East-West - in the final livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-149.)

VH-EWE. Connair Australia's Airline Outback - in the standard livery at Alice Springs Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-583.)

VH-EWE. Connair - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, October 1976.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-478.)

VH-EWE. Connair - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, October 1976.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-132.)

VH-EWE. Fleet Air - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-055.)

VH-EWE. Fleet Air - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 1976.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-479.)

VH-EWE. Fleet Air - in the modified livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, August 1977.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0251-121.)

VH-EWE. Fleet Air - in the modified livery at Corowa Airport, September 24, 1977.

(E. D . Daw Copyright Image 0251-282.)

VH-EWE. Fleet Air - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 14, 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-002.)

VH-EWE. Fleet Air - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, May 1978.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-295.)

VH-EWE. Ipec - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 18, 1978.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-056.)

VH-EWE. Ipec - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, May 14, 1979.

(E. D. Daw Copyright Image 0251-281.)

VH-EWE. Ipec - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, July 1979.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-762.)

VH-EWE. Ipec - 'Spirit of 35' in the basic livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-053.)

VH-EWE. Banana Airlines - 'Spirit of 35' in the basic Ipec livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 16, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-052.)

VH-EWE. Banana Airlines - 'Spirit of 35' in the basic Ipec livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 17, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-563.)

VH-EWE. Banana Airlines - 'Spirit of 35' in the basic Ipec livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 17, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-765.)

VH-EWE. Banana Airlines - 'Spirit of 35' in the basic Ipec livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 17, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-764.)

VH-EWE. Banana Airlines - 'Spirit of 35' in the basic Ipec livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 18, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-763.)

VH-EWE. Setair - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, March 1980.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-057.)

VH-EWE. Setair - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, March 1980.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-487.)

VH-EWE. Setair - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, September 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-635.)

VH-EWE. Setair - in the basic livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, March 1983.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-054.)

VH-AER. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, November 1983.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-429.)

VH-AER. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'John Batman' in the standard livery at West Lakes, Adelaide, February 1988.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-267.)

VH-AER. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'John Batman' in the standard livery at West Lakes, Adelaide, October 1988.