VH-ANY. Douglas C-47A-25-DK. c/n 13612.

Was also registered as: 42-93674; VH-AVK; VH-MMM; B-259.

Construction of this aircraft was completed at the Douglas Oklahoma City plant - June 1944

It was built as a Douglas C-47A-25-DK

Delivered to the United States Army Air Force - June 15, 1944

It was allocated the United States serial number '42-93674'

Delivered to Pacific Air Transport Command, Manila - June 22, 1944

Withdrawn from use and transferred to the United States Foreign Disposals Commission - 1945

Sold to Australian National Airways - June 23, 1945

The aircraft had flown 2,606 hours at the time of sale

Ferried Manila - Melbourne (Essendon) - ?

During overhaul it was converted to a DC-3C-S1C3G with seating for 24 passengers

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-ANY (CofR 854) - December 17, 1945

Registered to Australian National Airways Pty Ltd, Melbourne

The aircraft was named 'Yana' (to fly away)

Registered to Guinea Airways Ltd, Adelaide - July 01, 1946

The aircraft was renamed 'Kokoda'

Reregistered as VH-AVK - March 11, 1947

It was operated by A.N.A. on an ad-hoc basis with specific dates unknown

It was involved in a serious accident at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) whilst operated by A.N.A. - May 13, 1948

It was chartered by Adelaide Steamship Co to search for the missing freighter 'Arkaba' - August 08, 1953

Sold to MacRobertson Miller Aviation Co - April 04, 1955

Reregistered as VH-MMM - April 04, 1955

The aircraft was renamed 'RMA Murchison'

Delivered to MMA with a white cabin roof being the only aircraft in their fleet to be so painted

Although it reduced the interior cabin temperature by 8 degrees Celcius in summer it was later removed

This was to provide consistency with the fleet and to reduce the aircraft's empty weight

Registered to Commercial Aviation Pty Ltd, Perth - October 01, 1955

Leased to MacRobertson Miller Airlines as the registered operator

A complete overhaul was carried out at Perth - October 07 - November 30, 1957

It operated MMA's final DC-3 service on the mainline Perth - Darwin route - December 1960

Registered to MacRobertson Miller Airlines Ltd, Perth - December 22, 1966

It was converted to freighter configuration

Advertised for sale whilst continuing in airline service - June 1968

Withdrawn from use and placed in open storage at Perth - January 1969

The aircraft had flown 53,187 hours to date

All airline markings and the registration was removed from the aircraft - May 04, 1969

Sold to Australian Aircraft Sales (ACT) Pty Ltd, Sydney - May 15, 1969

Australian Aircraft Sales (A.A.S.) titles were applied to the aircraft - May 25, 1969

Departed Perth on the ferry flight to Taiwan as VH-MMM - July 06, 1969

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - July 16, 1969

Entered onto the Taiwanese Aircraft Register as B-259 - July 16, 1969

Registered to Far Eastern Air Transport

Withdrawn from use - ?

Acquired by CCAA for exhibition at Chung Cheng Aviation Museum, Chiang Kai Shek Airport - October 1972

Current status - ?

VH-AVK. Guinea Airways Ltd - 'Kokoda' in the all-metal livery at Forrest Airport, August 1951.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-262.)

VH-MMM. Mac.Robertson Miller Airlines - 'RMA Murchison' in the all-metal livery at Perth Airport, December 1968.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0250-963.)