VH-MMO Douglas DC-3

Construction was completed at the Douglas Oklahoma City plant - March 1945

It was built as a Douglas C-47B-45-DK to the United States Army Air Force Contract W33038AC2929

It was allocated the U. S. serial number '45-965'

Delivered to United States Army Air Force - July 23, 1945

Transferred to the Royal New Zealand Air Force under lend / lease agreement - August 29, 1945

Taken on charge by No. 1 Aircraft Storage Unit, R.N.Z.A.F. at Rukuhia, Hamilton, New Zealand

It was allocated the R.N.Z.A.F. serial number 'NZ3557'

Allocated to No. 41 Transport Squadron

A major overhaul was performed on it by Airwork (N.Z.) Ltd - December 20, 1946

It had flown 540.30 hours to date

Handed over to the Air Secretary, Air Department, New Zealand Government - February 19, 1947

Delivered to the New Zealand National Airways Corporation - April 01, 1947

Departed Auckland on the ferry flight to Australia for major overhaul - April 02, 1947

It arrived at Brisbane on completion of the ferry flight - April 03, 1947

Ferried route: Rukuhia - Auckland - Norfolk Island - Brisbane

Converted to civilian standards by Qantas Empire Airways to seat 22 passengers becoming a DC-3-D

Struck-off charge from the R.N.Z.A.F. - May 31, 1947

The aircraft had flown 748.40 hours to date

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-AOH - June 20, 1947

Registered to New Zealand National Airways Corportation, Wellington, New Zealand

Accepted by New Zealand National Airways Corporation - June 20, 1947

The aircraft was named 'Pateke' (brown duck)

Operated the first passenger service Wellington - Nelson - October 30, 1947

Ferried Auckland - Norfolk Island - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - February 13 -14, 1949

The aircraft was converted by Qantas Empire Airways at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) for international services

Conversion included the installation of a small port-side cabin door, adjacent baggage locker and long range fuel tanks

A new Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) was issued at Sydney - September 15, 1949

Ferried Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Auckland - November 1949

Rolled out in the standard NZNAC livery - November 07, 1949

This aircraft was utilised on the NZNAC Auckland - Norfolk Island - Auckland service and the

Auckland - Norfolk Island - Nadi - Tonga - Apia - Cook Island service

It had been converted to seat 24 passengers by NZNAC - July 24, 1950

Withdrawn from service and stored following the arrival of the NZNAC Fokker Friendships - June 30, 1962

The aircraft had now flown 28,392.10 hours to date

Examined by MMA's Chief Engineer (Frank Colquhoun) - November 1962

Sold to Commercial Aviation Limited, Perth - November 30, 1962

It was noted that the aircraft had flown 28,486 hours at the time of sale

This aircraft was purchased to cover the extra United States Navy work being undertaken at Exmouth

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register (CofR 2525) as VH-MMO - November 30, 1962

Registered to Commercial Aviation Company, Perth

The aircraft was named 'Ord'

Departed Christchurch on the ferry flight to Australia - December 07, 1962

It arived at Brisbane on completion of the ferry flight - December 08, 1962

Ferry route: Christchurch - Auckland - Norfolk Island - Brisbane

New Zealand National Airways Corporation were contracted to deliver the aircraft to Brisbane

Departed Brisbane on the ferry flight to Perth - December 09, 1962

It arrived at Perth on completion of the ferry flight - December 10, 1962

Ferry route: Brisbane - Ceduna (overnight) - Perth

Flight crew: MMA Chief Pilot Captain A. Whitham; F/O K. Radke; Engineer F. Colquhoun

Cancelled from the New Zealand Aircraft Register - December 20, 1962

Reregistered as VH-MMB - April 03, 1963

Registered to the Commercial Aviation Company Ltd, Perth

Leased to Mac.Robertson Miller Aviation Co Ltd, Perth as the registered operator

The aircraft was renamed 'Blackwood'

It operated a seven day 'Harry Smith Outback Tours' - August 1964

Route: Perth - Narrogin - Carnarvon - Port Headland - Broome - Derby - Kunnunurra - Darwin - Derby -

Wittenoom Gorge - Meekatharra - Narrogin - Perth

Registered to Mac.Robertson Miller Airlines Ltd, Perth - December 22, 1966

Aircraft is recorded as having flown 39,051 hours - December 30, 1967

Advertised for sale by MMA - June 1968

It was withdrawn from regular service at Perth but held as a 'back-up' aircraft - January 1969

It was officially withdrawn from service and placed in open storage at Perth - May 1969

With all titles removed the aircraft is recorded as having flown 40,107.35 hours

Sold to Australian Aircraft Sales (A.A.S.) - May 15, 1969

The 'A.A.S.' titles were applied above the cabin windows

Sold to PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines - May 26, 1969

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - May 26, 1969

Entered onto the Indonesian Aircraft Register as PK-NDG - May 1969

Departed Perth on the ferry flight to Indonesia - May 30, 1969

Operated by PT Dirgantara Air Services - circa 1974

Reregistered as PK-VTM - September 1980

Operated by Satuan Udara FASI (Federation of Air Sports Indonesia) - ?

Withdrawn from service at Jakarta (Halim) - circa 1993

It was acquired by the Indonesian Air Force and operated as 'AF-4775' - July 29, 1993

This aircraft was painted as 'RI-001' in a fictious Indonesian Airways livery - circa 1994

It is believed that this aircraft may have been used in clandistine operations to and in Burma

Withdrawn from service at Jakarta (Halim) - circa 2001

Is also reported to have been used as a sky-diving platform at Pondak Cabe, Java - circa 2005

It was observed at Jakarta (Halim) in Indonesian Airways livery in a poor condition - April 05, 2012

Current status ?