VH-MML. Douglas C-47B-30-DK. c/n 16197 / 32945.

Was also registered as: 44-76613; KN470; H-717; G-ANMA; P2-MML; P2-ANV; VH-BPN.

Construction of this aircraft was completed at the Douglas Oklahoma City plant - March 26, 1945

It was built as a Douglas C-47B-30-DK

It was allocated the United States serial number '44-76613'

Delivered to United States Army Air Force - March 26, 1945

Transferred to the R.A.F. under the end / lease agreement at Montreal as 'KN470' - March 28, 1945

Delivered to Cairo - April 09, 1945

Transferred to Bilaspur, India and Hmawbi, Burma

Transferred to Air Command South-East Asia (ACSEA) - May 31, 1945

Allocated to No 28 Squadron Communications Unit, Ratalana, Ceylon

Allocated to No 96 Squadron R.A.F. - August 25, 1945

Returned to U.S.A.A.F. as 'surplus-to-requirements' - May 13, 1947

Issued to Pakistan Air Force - becoming H-717 - November 25, 1947

Sold to Field Aircraft Services Ltd for civilian conversion and resale - January 11, 1954

Entered onto the British Aircraft Register as G-ANMA - January 11, 1954

Registered to Field Aircraft Services Ltd

Departed Karachi on delivery flight to Australia - February 14, 1954

It arrived at Perth on completion of the delivery flight - February 18, 1954

Delivery route: Karachi - Ahmadabad - Calcutta - Rangoon - Singapore - Surabaya - Sumba Island - Broome - Perth

Ferry crew were Captain A. Whitlam; F/O K. Baker; Engineer F. Colquhoun

Cancelled from the British Aircraft Register - February 18, 1954

The aircraft had flown a total of 1,926 hours to date

Sold to MacRobertson Miller Aviation Co Ltd for 15,000 pounds sterling - February 20, 1954

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-MML - April 20, 1954

Registered to MacRobertson Miller Aviation Co Ltd, Perth

It was originally configured with 34 bench-type seats and no windows but was converted to a freighter - May 1954

Operated by MMA on the Air Beef scheme flying Glenroy - Wyndham three times daily

Had the distinction of being the lightest DC-3 in the world - 6,862 kg empty weight

For more information about the Air Beef Scheme click 'HERE'

Chartered to W.A. Lands & Survey Department for six weeks - September 1957

Utilised to aerial photograph the Pilbara Region of W.A.

Chartered by Kevron Photographics Pty Ltd for two months - September 22, 1961

Utilised for high altitude aerial photography for the Australian Government

It was converted to a '32 passenger' configuration - December 1962

Utilised on high density route Perth - Rottnest Island and similar

Registered to MacRoberston Miller Airlines Ltd - December 22, 1966

Withdrawn from service - December 1968

The aircraft had now flown 25,953 hours

Repainted in the colors of Ansett Airlines of PNG with 'Bird-of-Paradise' tail logo

Departed Perth on delivery flight to Ansett Airlines of Papua New Guinea (Captain E. Miller) - January 10, 1969

Delivery route: Perth - Forrest - Whyalla - Broken Hill - Rockhampton - Cairns - Lae

Registered to Ansett (P&NG) Ltd - January 10, 1969

Sold to Air Niugini for $15,000 - November 01, 1973

Registered to Papua New Guinea National Airline (t/a Air Niugini) - January 28, 1974

Entered onto the Papua New Guinea Aircraft Register as P2-MML - May 01, 1974

Cancelled from Australian Aircraft Register - May 06, 1974

Reregistered as P2-ANV - October 21, 1975

Operated its final Air Niugini revenue service Mt Hagen - Port Moresby - July 28, 1977

Sold to Bush Pilots Airways - August 01, 1977

Ferried Port Moresby - Cairns - August 02, 1977

The aircraft had flown 33,010 hours

Cancelled from the Papua New Guinea Aircraft Register - October 10, 1977

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-BPN - October 20, 1977

Registered to Bush Pilots Airways Ltd, Cairns

Registered to Air Queensland Ltd - January 08, 1982

Withdrawn from service by Air Queensland at Cairns - November 05, 1987

Ferried Cairns - Brisbane in the 'Air Queensland' livery for storage - December 16, 1987

Sold to Air Rambler (Aust) Pty Ltd (t/a DC-3 Australia) - April 07, 1988

Ferried Brisbane - Cairns - May 06, 1988

Withdrawn from use and sold via auction at Cairns - June 10, 1992

Sold to R.P. 'Dick' Lang of Highbury, South Australia - July 02, 1992

Ferried Cairns - Adelaide (West Beach) - August 27, 1992

Sold to Desert Air Safaris - November 1992

Sold to R. Starr, North Gosford, N.S.W. - July 1995

Ferried Adelaide (West Beach) - Sydney (Bankstown) - August 23, 1995

Sold to Dakota National Air - August 24, 1995

Registered to Dakota National Air (Aust) Pty Ltd - September 13, 1995

It had flown 45,950 hours as of February 10, 1998

Sold to Discovery Air Tours - 2003

Current status - ?

VH-MML. M.M.A. Air Freighter - in the 'all-metal' livery at Gibb River, circa 1958.

(B. Anderson Collection Copyright Image 0251-551.)

VH-MML. Mac.Robertson Miller Airlines - in the 'all-metal' livery at Perth Airport, April 1968.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0250-961.)

VH-MML. Ansett Airlines of Papua New Guinea - in the 'delta' livery at Lae Airport, July 1970.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-407.)

VH-MML. Ansett Airlines of Papua New Guinea - in the 'delta' livery at Port Morseby Airport, August 1973.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0250-962.)

P2-MML. Air Niugini - in the standard livery at Port Moresby Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-330.)

P2-ANV. Air Niugini - in the standard livery at Lae Airport, November 1975.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-792.)

P2-ANV. Air Niugini - in the standard livery at Lae Airport, July 1976.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-388.)

P2-ANV. Air Niugini - in the basic livery at Port Moresby Airport, July 1977.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-793.)

P2-ANV. Air Niugini - in the basic livery at Cairns Airport, August 24, 1977.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-678.)

VH-BPN. BPA Australia's Northern Airline - in the standard livery at Port Moresby Airport, December 1977.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-030.)

VH-BPN. BPA Australia's Northern Airline - in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, October 1978.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-223.)

VH-BPN. BPA Australia's Northern Airline - in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, November 06, 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-084.)

VH-BPN. BPA Australia's Northern Airline - in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, November 07, 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-031.)

VH-BPN. BPA Australia's Northern Airline - in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, November 07, 1979.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-087.)

VH-BPN. BPA Queensland's Airline - in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, November 27, 1981.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-086.)

VH-BPN. Air Queensland - in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, October 1982.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-575.)

VH-BPN. Air Queensland - in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, September 07, 1983.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-541.)

VH-BPN. Air Queensland - in the standard livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, November 1983.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-088.)

VH-BPN. Air Queensland - in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-576.)

VH-BPN. DC-3 Queensland - in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, November 1988.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-083.)

VH-BPN. DC-3 Queensland - in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, November 1988.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0251-082.)

VH-BPN. DC-3 Queensland - in the standard livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, August 1992.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-577.)

VH-BPN. Dick Lang's Desert Air Safaris - in the 'DC-3 Queensland' livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, September 06, 1992.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-578.)

VH-BPN. Dick Lang's Desert Air Safaris - in the 'DC-3 Queensland' livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, December 1992.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-038.)

VH-BPN. Dakota National Air - in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-433.)