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

It was built as a Douglas C-47A-20-DK for the United States Contract DAW535-AC-28405 Project # 52613

Allocated the United States serial number '42-93008'

Allocated 'Aus 44 Requisition #40402' - ex United States Army Air Force

Allocated to the Directorate of Allied Transport (ADAT)

Ferried to Australia and arrived at No 3 Aircraft Depot at Brisbane (Amberley) - April 15, 1944

The aircraft was issued to No 86 Transport Wing with the radio callsign 'VHCIB'

Received at the No 2 Air Performance Unit - April 19, 1944

Received at No. 38 Squadron at Sydney (Richmond) ex No. 2 Air Performance Unit - May 06, 1944

Surplus to the requirements of the Directorate of Allied Transport (ADAT) - October 03, 1944

This aircraft was taken over by the Royal Australian Air Force - October 16, 1944

Received at No. 35 Squadron, Pearce (Western Australia) - March 17, 1945

Received at No. 13 Aircraft Repair Depot - May 01, 1945

Reveived at No. 33 Squadron at Lae (Papua New Guines) - July 09, 1945

Received at No. 3 Aircraft Repair Depot, Brisbane (Amberley) - April 10, 1946

The aircraft was deemed to be surplus to requirements and was withdrawn from service

Sold to Qantas Empire Airways via the Commonwealth Disposal Commission - December 06, 1946

It was sold for 24,679 Australian Pounds

The intended registration 'VH-BAJ' was not taken up

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAK - December 12, 1946

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways, Brisbane

It was converted to civilian standards - ?

The aircraft was involved in an interesting incident whilst operating the 'Bird of Paradise' service - January 21, 1951

Whilst operating the Rabaul - Port Moresby service (Capt A. Jacobson) was force to take evasive actions

when the volcano Mount Lamington unexpectedly erupted

Was involved in evacuating refugees from Popondetta who had been displaced by this eruption - January 21, 1951

Deployed to locate the missing Auster 'VH-KAN' in the Goroka Gap area (Capt A. Proctor) - August 08, 1951

This aircraft was operated by the Lutheran Mission and was enroute from Asaroka to Madang when it crashed

The sole occupant - pilot Harry Hartwig - was killed in the crash

This aircraft was withdrawn from service and sold to the Royal Thai Air Force - October 1953

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on the ferry flight to Thailand (Capt G. F. MacRae) - October 22, 1953

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - October 23, 1953

The aircraft was taken on-charge by the DoAE for the Royal Thai Air Force - October 26, 1953

It was allocated the Royal Thai Air Force (R.T.A.F.) serial number 'L2-13-96'

It was issued to the R.T.A.F. Transport Squadron 1, based at Don Muang Air Force Base, Bangkok - November 1953

This aircraft was coinverted to V.I.P. configuration - June 1967

Observed flying with the R.T.A.F. No. 603 Squadron - January 1969

This aircraft was written off - January 18, 1980

It crashed into the sea off Nok Island, Si Racha District, Chonburi Province

Five people on board the aircraft were killed

Stuck-off-charge - February 04, 1980