Construction was completed at the Douglas Long Beach plant, California - August 1943

It was built as a Douglas 'C-47A-45-DL'

It was allocated the U. S. serial number '42-24138'

It was delivered to the United States Army Air Force - August 05, 1943

It was transferred to Royal Australian Air Force under the 'lend / lease' agreement - August 23, 1943

Entered onto the Australian Military Aircraft Register as A65-18

It was operated using the radio callsign 'VHCTR'

It served with No 33, No 35 Squadrons and 86 Transport Wing

It was withdrawn from use and struck off charge - 1948

Sold to Qantas Empire Airways - May 31, 1948

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EBE - December 09, 1948

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd, Sydney

Whilst in Qantas service the aircraft was not named

Reregistered as VH-EBT - January 24, 1958

Sold to Trans-Australia Airlines - September 01, 1960

The aircraft was named 'Cape Hoskins'

Operated its first Trans-Australia Airlines revenue service - September 01, 1960

Reregistered as VH-SBB - December 08, 1960

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne

Transferred to New Guniea to operate the T. A. A. Sunbird Services

Operated its last T. A .A. Sunbird service - October 31, 1973

The aircraft was sold to Air Niugini - November 01, 1973

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - June 01, 1974

Entered onto the New Guinea Aircraft Register as P2-SBB - June 01, 1974

Reregistered as P2-ANN - November 06, 1975

Operated its final Air Niugini revenue service - July 31, 1977

Withdrawn from use and placed in storage at Port Moresby Airport

Sold to Insured Aircraft Titles Service Inc as 'N5590K' - March 13, 1980

It was intended to be used in Thailand for Red Cross work which did not eventuate

Sold to J. J. Ford III - June 30, 1981

Sold to Bush Pilots Airways for use as spares - October 1981

Ownership transferred back to J. J. Ford III - June 1984

Remains still in existence at Port Moresby - 2001

Current status - ?

VH-EBT. Qantas - in the standard livery at Lae Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-411.)

VH-SBB. TAA Sunbird Services - in the standard livery at Lae Airport, July 1966.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0250-969.)

VH-SBB. TAA Sunbird Services - in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-328.)

VH-SBB. TAA Airlines of New Guinea - in the standard livery at Mt Hagen Airport, November 1972.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-268.)

VH-SBB. TAA Airlines of New Guinea - in the standard livery at Lae Airport, August 1973.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-992.)

P2-ANN. Air Niugini - in the standard livery at Lae Airport, December 1975.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-786.)

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

(B. Potts Copyright Image 0251-761.)

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

(B. Potts Copyright Image 0251-762.)