VH-AET. Douglas C-47-DL. c/n 6013. |
Construction completed at Long Beach, California - November 13, 1942 Built as a Douglas C-47-DL It was allocated the U. S. serial number '41-18652' Allocated to the 5th Air Force and delivered to Brisbane (Archerfield) - January 15, 1943 Used by 374th Troop Carrier Squadron with the radio callsign 'VHCGD' The aircraft was named 'Ole Stonewall' Sold to the Department of Civil Aviation having flown 1,911 hours - November 24, 1944 Converted to civilian standards by Australian National Airways at Melbourne (Essendon) Airport The conversion was completed - December 04, 1944 Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-AET - December 20, 1944 Registered to Commonwealth of Australia / Department of Civil Aviation, Melbourne Leased to Australian National Airways as the registered operator - December 20, 1944 Commenced service with A.N.A. as a freighter Converted to passenger configuration with 21 seats The aircraft was destroyed when it crashed into the sea off Seven Mile Beach, Hobart - March 10, 1946 It departed at 20:55 local on the return sector of Melbourne (Essendon) - Hobart - Melbourne (Essendon) service The crew of 4 and 21 passengers were killed The exact cause of this accident was not determined but the most like cause was the inadvertent engagement of the autopilot just after take-off with the gyros set in 'caged' position by the First Officer Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - March 11, 1946 It had flown 7,477 hours |