Construction was completed at the Douglas Oklahoma City plant - November 1944

It was built as a Douglas C-47B-15-DK

Powered by Pratt & Whitney R-1830-90C engines

It was allocated the U. S. serial number '43-49376'

Delivered to the United States Army Air Force - November 16, 1944

It was transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force under the lend / lease agreement

Delivered to R.A.A.F. No. 3 Aircraft Depot - December 10, 1944

Entered onto the Australian Military Aircraft Register as A65-65

It was operated using the radio call-sign 'VHCUV'

Issued to No 37 Squadron, 86th Transport Wing - December 16, 1946

Issued to the Central Flying School (CFS), East Sale - July 14, 1950

Issued to Base Headquarters, East Sale - August 25, 1950

Issued to 86th Transport Wing - August 25, 1952

Issued to No 36 Squadron - October 1952

Issued to No 38 Squadron with the radio call-sign 'VMJRO' - December 1953

Issued to No 34 Squadron - August 07, 1955

Issued to No 10 Squadon, Townsville with the radio call-sign 'VMLBA' - August 10, 1956

Issued to Base Headquarters, East Sale - February 07, 1961

Issued to No 38 Squadron - July 01, 1968

Issued to Base Headquarters, East Sale - October 12, 1971

Issued to No 10 Squadron - December 01, 1971

Issued to No 38 Squadron - December 02, 1971

Issued to the Aircraft Research & Development Unit (ARDU), Edinburgh, Adelaide - August 28, 1973

Issued to Base Headquarters, Darwin - April 12, 1978

It was allocated as one of six aircraft to be donated to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force - August 03, 1982

It was allocated the PNGDF serial 'P2-006'

The aircraft crashed on take-off from runway 27 at Nadzab Airport, Lae - November 18, 1987

Engine power was lost and the aircraft made a wheels-up belly landing just east of the runway threshold

The wing was ripped off during the landing but all crew and passengers survived

The wrecked aircraft was towed back to Nadzab Airport for stipping of useful parts

No attempt was made to rebuild the aircraft and it became an instructional airframe

The hulk remained at Nadzab Airport into the early 1990s