PK-ADB Douglas DC-5

This aircraft was one of nine aircraft ordered new by British Airways Ltd - August 30, 1939

The Douglas DC-5 fleet was intended to be used mainly on the London - Berlin route

It was allocated the British Aircraft Registration 'G-AFYM' - August 30, 1939

British Airways was instructed to cancel this order by the British Air Ministry

The allocated registration marks were cancelled - September 14, 1939

K. L. M. had already placed an order with Douglas for DC-5s - January 13, 1939

This airframe was transferred to the K. L. M. order

Entered onto the Dutch Aircraft Register as PK-AXE - May 22, 1940

Due to the growing war situation in Europe the delivery of this aircraft was transferred to K. N. I. L. M.

It was reregistered as PK-ADB - ?

Departed San Pedro, California as deck cargo on the freighter 'S. S. Silverwood' - July 24, 1940

The aircraft was named 'Eend' (duck)

This aircraft arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on completion of a goodwill flight from Batavia - April 30, 1941

Flight crew: Capts G. van Messell, T. Reyers

This marked the official opening of the K. N. I. L. M. office in Sydney

This was also the first commercially operated nose-wheeled aircraft to visit Australia

It carried out demonstration flights from Melbourne (Essendon) - May 03, 1941

K. N. I. L. M. suspended Australian services due to the Japanese invasion of the Dutch East Indies - February 15, 1942

This aircraft wad flown Bandoeng - Darwin carrying evacuees - March 02, 1942

Ferried Darwin - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) where it cleared Customs - March 04, 1942

Offered to the Commonwealth of Australia by K. N. I. L. M. for 5 Pounds Australian - March 19, 1942

Cancelled from the Dutch Aircraft Register - March 28, 1942

Under instruction from General MacArthur all ex K.L.M. and K.N.I.L.M. aircraft in Australia were to be

taken-over by the U.S.A.A.F. as he didn't want a major part of the air transport fleet privately owned

MacArthur instructed that logistical support (including 100 cases of spare parts) be cut off to K.N.I.L.M.

This action effectively forced K.N.I.L.M. to sell their aircraft to the U.S.A.A.F.

Under the terms of this sale this aircraft had to be test flown before delivery

K.N.I.L.M. maintenance crews agreed to have all aircraft ready for a simultaneous test flight

This aircraft was a part of the 10 aircraft formation that was test flown over Sydney Harbour - May 14, 1942

It was allocated the Australian radio call-sign 'VHCXA'

Issued to USAAF 21st Transport Squadron, 5th Air Force at Brisbane (Archerfield) - May 20, 1942

Transferred to the Allied Directorate of Air Transport (ADAT) - July 1942

A.N.A. air crews operated all three of the ADAT Douglas DC-5s

It was damaged by enemy action at Port Moresby (Wards Strip) - August 17, 1942

Useful parts were transferred to Brisbane (Archerfield) to support the remain DC-5 fleet

It was allocated the USAAF serial number '44-83230' as a book keeping exercise - March 17, 1945

Written off and the remains scrapped at Port Moresby (Wards Strip)