VH-JCM. Lockheed 414-08 Hudson IVA. c/n 6039.
Was also registered as: VH-BPT; VH-EWE; VH-EWR; VH-AGE.
This aircraft was built as a Lockheed A28-LO Hudson It was allocated the United States serial number '41-23180' but it was not taken up Delivered to Royal Australian Air Force No 2 Aircraft Depot - December 05, 1941 Entered onto the Australian Military Aircraft Register as A16-110 It was allocated to 1 O.T.U. - December 21, 1941 It was damaged in a landing accident at Sale, Victoria - March 02, 1942 It was samaged when it collided with Hudson 'A16-45' at Parkes, N.S.W. - 1942 It was attacked by 5 Zero fighters during take off from Dobodura, Papua New Guinea - December 26, 1942 Transferred to No 15 A.S.U. - March 03, 1943 Allocated to No 1 Communications Unit - July 30, 1944 to April 1945 Allocated to No 1 O.T.U. - July 14, 1945 It was deemed surplus to requirements and withdrawn from use Sold to Vernard J. Madsen (Curtis-Madsen Aircrafts) by the C.D.C. at Richmond - April 01, 1947 The purchase price was 1,500 Australian Pounds Accepted by Madsen at Sydney (Richmond) - June 05, 1947 Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-JCM - December 02, 1947 Registered to Vernard James Madsen t/a Curtis-Madsen Aircrafts Pty Ltd It was to be used on migrant charter flights from Athens to Mascot The aircraft was configured to seat 15 passengers Operated its irst Curtis-Madsen airline service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Cootamundra - Temora - January 14, 1948 Chartered by East West Airlines for two Sydney - Tamworth - Sydney services - January 18, 1949 Registered to J. D. Curtis - November 20, 1950 Curtis-Madsen Aircrafts Pty Ltd ceased operations - November 20, 1950 Sold to East-West Airlines - November 20, 1950 Ferried Camden - Tamworth for conversion to freighter configuration - December 15, 1950 Reregistered as VH-EWE - December 15, 1950 Registered to East-West Airlines Pty Ltd, Tamworth The aircraft was named 'Namoi City' - May 12, 1951 The cabin door was modified to allow for the loading of standard bales of wool Its Certificate of Airworthiness was amended to permit the carriage of 16 passengers - 1951 Ownership transferred to South Coast Airways Pty Ltd - August 26, 1953 Reregistered as VH-BPT - December 1956 This aircraft was deemed to be surplus to requirements and was prepared for sale Returned to service in rain-making operations over Snowy Mountains for C.S.I.R.O. - March 01, 1957 It was fitted with silver oxide burners under each wingtip It was based at Wagga Wagga Airport for approximately 2 years Reregistered as VH-EWR - March 21, 1958 Operated for the C.S.I.R.O. in the East-West Airlines livery with additional 'Special Project Division' titles Withdrawn from use and stored at Tamworth - June 23, 1960 Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - April 07, 1961 Repurchased from South Coast Airways for 2,500 Australian Pounds - March 31, 1962 South Coast Airways was then wound up Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EWR - April 12, 1962 Ferried Tamworth - Melbourne (Essendon) - April 17, 1962 Operated on contract to the Victorian Government on C.S.I.R.O. rain-making operations Operated its first rain-making flight - April 28, 1962 Withdrawn from use - May 31, 1962 Sold to Sepal Pty Ltd - August 13, 1962 It was operated by Adastra Airways Pty Ltd Reregistered as VH-AGE - August 13, 1962 The aircraft had electronic survey equipment installed - September 1964 The aircraft was destroyed when it crashed on approach to Tennant Creek Airport, NT - September 24, 1966 Killed were six crew and a young boy who was a passenger on the flight Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - December 14, 1966 |
VH-BPT. East-West Airlines - in the standard metal livery at an unknown location, date unknown. (E. D. Daw Collection Copyright Image 1806-019.) |
VH-EWE. East-West Airlines - in the standard metal livery at an unknown location, date unknown. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1806-028.) |
VH-EWR. East-West Airlines - in the standard metal livery with additional 'Special Projects Division - Rainmaking' titles at an unknown location, date unknown. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1806-020.) |
VH-EWR. East-West Airlines - in the standard metal livery with additional 'Special Projects Division - Rainmaking' titles at an unknown location, date unknown. (E. D. Daw Collection Copyright Image 1806-016.) |