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VH-DNA. Douglas C-47B-20-DK. c/n 15685-27130.
This aircraft was ordered new under a United States Army Air Force order Construction was completed at the Douglas Oklahoma City plant - December 1944 It was built as a Douglas C-47B-20-DK Powered by Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 engines Delivered to the United States Army Air Force - January 01, 1945 It was allocated the U. S. serial number '43-49869' It was acquired by the Royal Australian Air Force under the lend-lease program Received by the R.A.A.F. at No. 3 Aircraft Depot, Amberley - January 23, 1945 Entered onto the Military Aircraft Register as A65-68 It was operated using the radio call sign 'VHCUY' Allocated to No. 38 Squadron - February 05, 1945 The aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing at Roma, Queensland due to engine failure - March 06, 1946 Pilot Flying Officer K. Watts, crew and 26 passengers were not injured Returned to No. 3 Aircraft Depot, Amberley for repairs - April 04, 1946 It was based at Iwakuni, Japan to support Australian forces in the Korean War - October 1951 Attached to the Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU), Adelaide - ? Attached to the Base Flight, Darwin with the radio call sign 'VMJRF' - 1973 Withdrawn from service and prepared for transfer to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force - 1975 It was donated to the P.N.G.D.F. as 'P65-004' - January 03, 1976 It was reserialed as 'P2-004' - 1991 Withdrawn from use and stored - ? Sold to Peter Starr Arrived Cairns on the ferry flight from New Guinea as 'VH-ATO' - September 23, 1993 Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-DNA - May 19, 1994 Registered to Dakota Management Pty Limited, Gosford, N.S.W. t/a Dakota National Air, Bankstown Dakota National Air ceased operations - 2003 Recommenced flying as Discovery Airways, Bankstown - ? Discovery Airways ceased operations - February 12, 2004 Recommenced flying as Discovery Air Tours, Bankstown - February 2004 Discovery Air Tours were placed into administration due to financial difficulties - February 16, 2004 It was observed flying at Sydney (Bankstown) - July 2004 Operated its final flight Melbourne (Essendon) - Sydney (Bankstown) - March 24, 2008 Placed in open storage at Sydney (Bankstown) Airport The aircraft was offered for sale by auction but was passed in - March 25, 2009 It was dismantled and prepared for road transportation from Sydney (Bankstown) - December 2009 Transported by road to Larras Lee, Molong, N.S.W. - December 17, 2009 Preserved by private owner on his property at Larras Lee |
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A65-68. Royal Australian Air Force - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, September 1974. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-138.) |
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VH-DNA. Dakota National Air - in the standard livery at Sydney Bankstown Airport, December 2003. (R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-502.) |
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VH-DNA. Dakota National Air - in the revised livery with additional 'HSBC Waratahs' titles at Sydney Bankstown Airport, January 2004. (R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-398.) |