VH-EAS. Avro 691 Lancastrian Mk 1. c/n 1184.

Was also registered as: PD164; VF155; G-AGMD.

 

This aircraft was ordered by the U. K. Ministry of Defence for the Royal Air Force

Built as an Avro 691 Lancaster Mk 1

Allocated the Royal Air Force Serial 'PD164'

Powered by Rolls Royce Merlin T24/2 engines of 1635 h.p.

It was converted to 'Lancastrian' standard and allocated the new serial number 'VF155'

Entered onto the British Aircraft Register as G-AGMD (CofA 7128) - December 01, 1944

Registered to British Overseas Airways Corporation, London

The aircraft was named 'Nairn'

Used the radio call-sign 'OZKD' during the war

Cancelled from the British Aircraft Register - July 16, 1947

Overhaulled in preparation for sale to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAS - July 1947

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Limited, Sydney

Operated the inaugural Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Norfolk Island service (Captain L. R. Ambrose) - October 14, 1947

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on the survey flight to South Africa - November 14, 1948

It arrived at Johannesburg on completion of the survey flight - November 20, 1948

Survey route: Sydney - Perth - Cocus Island - Mauritius - Johannesburg

Departed Johannesburg on the return survey flight route - November 27, 1948

Crew: Captains L. R. Ambrose, W. H. Crowther

The 8,644 mile flight was completed in a flying time of 41 hours 31 minutes

The aircraft was destroyed by fire whilst landing at Dubbo Airport, N.S.W. at 13:15 hours - April 07, 1949

It was engaged in pilot training flights with crew members practicing take-off and landings

At the time of the accident (Captain J. G. Morton) was carrying out a flapless landing

The aircraft failed to stop within the confines of the runway and a ground loop was commenced

The left-hand undercarriage collapsed causing the wing to strike the ground

This impact broke the wing causing fuel to spill out and ignite

The aircraft was then consumed by the resulting fire

The P.I.C. was deemed to have carried out a flapless landing under unsuitable meteorological and wind conditions

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - May 1949

 

 

VH-EAS. Qantas Empire Airways - in the all-metal livery at an unknown airport, date unknown.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1040-251.)