This aircraft was constructed under the United States Army Air Force Contract AC535-AC-40652- #2032

Constructed at the Douglas Oaklahoma City plant - April 1945

It was built as a Douglas C-47B-30-DK

It was delivered to the United States Army Air Force - April 21, 1945

It was allocated the U. S. serial number '44-76711'

Transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force under the lend / lease agreement

Delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force at Brisbane (Archerfield) - May 11, 1945

Entered onto the Australian Military Aircraft Register as A65-99

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

Used by 35 Squadron, 86 Transport Wing & A.R.D.U.

The aircraft crashed 1.5 km south of Garfield, Victoria - January 17, 1958

It had depared RAAF Base Laverton for RAAF Base East Sale on an ILS Check Flight

The port engine failed first then the starboard engine whilst the aircraft was near Warragul, Victoria

The pilot made an emergency forced landing on a farm owned by Mr Edward Walters

During the wheels-up forced landing some 25 yards of fencing was ripped out of the ground

Flight Crew: F/Lt L. A. Evans, W/O F. Russell, Sgt R. Ross, A/C G. F. Green

Scientific Officer (Civilian A.R.D.U) Mr Rice and 20 Melbourne based ATC Cadets also on board were not injured

The aircraft was retrieved by No. 1 Aircraft Depot but was deemed to be unrepairable by the unit

Struck-off-charge - October 30, 1958

The damaged airframe was listed for disposal - January 06, 1959

The aircraft has flown 4,886.35 hours

Sold to Patair by tender from RAAF Disposals in the wrecked condition

Stored at Bristol Aviation Services at Sydney (Bankstown) and rebuilt to airworth condition - 1960 / 61

Test flown at Sydney (Bankstown) - August 1961

It was fitted with Jet-Assisted Take-Off (JATO) equipment which was tested at Bankstown - August 19, 1961

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-PNA - August 23, 1961

Registered to Papuan Air Transport Pty Ltd

The aircraft was named 'Mount Victoria'

Ferried Sydney (Bankstown) - Port Moresby on delivery to Patair - August 23 - 24, 1961

Operated its first revenue service as a charter flight Port Moresby - Popondetta return - August 25, 1961

Transferred to Ansett Airlines of Papua New Guinea when Patair's operations were merged - November 16, 1970

The aircraft was not repainted into standard Ansett Airlines of Papua New Guinea livery

Registered to Ansett (P&NG) Ltd - July 01, 1972

Withdrawn from service at Madang - October 30, 1972

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - October 30, 1972

Scrapped at Madang and the remains were used as harbour fill - December 29, 1978