VH-TAN. Douglas C-47A-30-DL. c/n 9592.

Was also registered as: A65-12; VH-MAS.

 

Construction was completed at the Douglas Long Beach plant - May 1943

It was built as a Douglas C-47A-30-DL

Delivered to the United States Army Air Force - May 27, 1943

It was allocated the U. S. serial number '42-23730'

It arrived at Brisbane (Amberley) for use by the Royal Australian Air Force - June 23, 1943

Entered onto the Australian Military Aircraft Register as A65-12

It was operated using the radio callsign 'VHCTN'

Allocated to No 34 Squadron

Operated by Australian National Airways under charter using radio callsign 'VHCTN'

Withdrawn from use and struck off charge - September 1946

Purchased by the Commonwealth of Australia / D.C.A. - September 26, 1946

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

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TAN - October 08, 1947

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne

The aircraft was operated by Trans-Australia Airlines

It was named 'Grey'

Operated its first Trans-Australia Airlines revenue service - October 20, 1947

It was used in the film 'A Town Like Alice' - 1955

Operated its final Trans-Australia Airlines revenue service - August 13, 1958

Withdrawn from use and stored at Melbourne (Essendon)

Sold to New Guinea Co t/a Mandated Airlines Ltd - November 30, 1959

Delivered to Mandated Airlines - December 15, 1959

Reregistered as VH-MAS - November 11, 1960

Registered to New Guinea Co Ltd, Rabaul

Ownership was transferred to Ansett-Mandated Airlines t/a Ansett-MAL - January 18, 1961

Sold to Far Eastern Air Transport, Taiwan - March 29, 1967

Departed Lae on the ferry flight to Taiwan - April 19, 1967

Ferry route: Lae - Madang - Wewak - Vanimo - Koror - Manila - Taipei

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - April 22, 1967

Entered onto the Taiwanese Aircraft Register as B-249 - ?

Sold to Laos Airlines - May 13, 1974

It was reportedly scrapped in 1978

 

 

VH-TAN. Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Grey' in the 'silver tail' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(B. Colledge Copyright Image 0250-672.)

VH-MAS. Mandated Airlines - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-951.)

VH-MAS. Ansett-M.A.L. - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-355.)