VH-AXT. Douglas C-47A-35-DL. c/n 9749.

Was also registered as: 42-23887; VH-CBA; VH-MAM; VH-MAB; P2-MAB; P2-ANX; N55894.

Construction of this aircraft was completed at the Douglas Long Beach, California plant - June 1943

It was built as a Douglas C-47A-35-DL

Delivered to the United States Army Air Force - June 22, 1943

It was allocated the United States serial number '42-23887'

It arrived at Brisbane on delivery to 5th Air Force - August 29, 1943

It was allocated to 69th T.C.S.

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

The aircraft was given the nick-name 'Michelle'

Transferred to Tacloban, Philippines - date unknown

Sold by the U. S. Foreign Disposals Commission to the Commonwealth Bank of Australia - May 02, 1946

The sale price was 9,600 Australian Pounds

It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on completion of its ferry flight - May 1946

Flight crew: Group Capt C. R. Caldwell and a Qantas crew

It was overhauled and converted with an executive interior by Qantas engineers at Sydney (Kingsford Smith)

This work took over 30,000 man hours to complete and was supervised by Capt P. G. Taylor

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-AXT - September 10, 1946

Registered to Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Sydney

Reregistered as VH-CBA - September 22, 1946

The aircraft was normally crewed by Capt R. C. Godsell; F/Os M. O. Clark, M. Horne

It was nick-named 'Old Ship'

Sold to New Guinea Company t/a Mandated Airlines Ltd - April 1957

The sale price was 65,000 Australian Pounds which was then a record figure for a second hand DC-3

Registered to Manated Airlines Ltd - April 23, 1957

Reregistered as VH-MAM - June 03, 1957

The aircraft was converted to a freighter by Fairey Aviation at Sydney (Bankstown)

It arived at Lae, Papua New Guinea as a freighter - December 02, 1957

Reregistered as VH-MAB - June 26, 1959

Registered to Mandated Airlines Ltd

Registered to Ansett-M.A.L. - June 12, 1961

The aircraft had now been converted back to passenger configuration with 28 seats

Registered to Ansett Airlines of Papua New Guinea - May 09, 1968

Registered to Ansett (P&NG) Ltd - May 23, 1973

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

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - May 15, 1974

Entered onto the Papua New Guinea Aircraft Register as P2-MAB - May 15, 1974

Registered to Air Niugini

Reregistered as P2-ANX - December 08, 1975

Withdrawn from service and stored at Port Moresby Airport - March 31, 1977

Sold to Insured Aircraft Title Service Corporation - February 05, 1979

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N55894 - March 13, 1980

Sold to J. J. Ford, San Francisco, California - June 30, 1981

The aircraft remained stored at Port Moresby Airport

Sold to Bush Pilots Airways for spares - 1981

The aircraft was stripped of useful parts with the hulk remaining at Port Morseby

The remains were reportedly still in existance at Port Moresby - 2002

VH-CBA. Commonwealth Bank - in the 'all-metal' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, April 1954.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-370.)

VH-CBA. Commonwealth Bank - in the 'all-metal' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, April 1954.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-371.)

VH-MAB. Ansett-MAL - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-348.)

VH-MAB. Ansett-MAL - in the standard livery at Madang Airport, July 1966.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0250-935.)

VH-MAB. Ansett Airlines of Papua New Guinea - in the 'delta' livery at Wabag Airport, February 1972.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-261.)

VH-MAB. Ansett Airlines of Papua New Guinea - in the 'delta' livery at Madang Airport, July 1972.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-934.)

VH-MAB. Ansett Airlines of Papua New Guinea - in the 'delta' livery at Lae Airport, January 1973.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-260.)

VH-MAB. Ansett Airlines of Papua New Guinea - in the 'delta' livery at Lae Airport, April 1974.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-405.)

P2-ANX. Air Niugini - in the standard livery at Lae Airport, June 1978.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-765.)

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

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-766.)

P2-ANX. Air Niugini - in the standard livery at Port Moresby Airport, October 1989.

(B. Potts Copyright Image 0251-767.)