A65-65 Douglas DC-3

Construction completed at the Douglas Oklahoma City plant - November 1944

Built as a Douglas C-47B-15-DK

Allocated U.S. serial number 43-49376

Delivered to the U.S.A.A.F. - November 16, 1944

Transferred to Royal Australian Air Force under the lend / lease agreement

Delivered to R.A.A.F. 3 Aircraft Depot - December 10, 1944

Allocated the R.A.A.F. serial number A65-65 with radio call-sign 'VHCUV'

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

Issued to 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 radio call-sign 'VMJRO' - December 1953

Issued to No 34 Squadron - August 7, 1955

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

Issued to Base Headquarters, East Sale - February 7, 1961

Issued to No 38 Squadron - July 1, 1968

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

Issued to No 10 Squadron - December 1, 1971

Issued to No 38 Squadron - December 2, 1971

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

Issued to Base Headquarters, Darwin - April 12, 1978

Allocated as one of six aircraft to be donated to Papua New Guinea Defence Force - August 3, 1982

Allocated the PNGDF serial 'P2-006'

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


A65-65. Royal Australian Air Force - in the full livery at Tamworth Airport, April 1981.	A65-65. Royal Australian Air Force - in the full livery at Tamworth Airport, August 1981.