VH-AEQ Douglas DC-3

VH-AEQ. Douglas C-47-DL. c/n 6024.

This aircraft was constructed at the Douglas Long Beach plant, California - November 10, 1942

Built as a Douglas C-47-DL

It was allocated the United States serial number '41-18663'

Allocated to the 5th Air Force and delivered to Brisbane (Archerfield) - January 15, 1943

Used by 22nd Troop Carrier Squadron with radio callsign 'VHCHC'

The aircraft was named 'Aeolus'

Sold to the Department of Civil Aviation - having flown 1,922 hours - July 10, 1944

It was converted to civilian standards with 24 seats by Australian National Airways at Melbourne (Essendon)

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-AEQ - July 11, 1944

Registered to Commonwealth of Australia / Department of Civil Aviation, Melbourne

Leased to Australian National Airways - November 20, 1944

Transferred to Trans-Australia Airlines - August 22, 1946

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne

Operated its first service with Trans-Australia Airlines - August 30, 1946

The aircraft was named 'Hartog', 'Murray' and later ' Wills'

It underwent a conversion to allow for the air-dropping of mail in Queensland during the wet season

Chartered by Ansett Airways Pty Ltd during early 1950s for use on Melbourne - Hamilton route

Leased to East-West Airlines - May 11, 1953 to 1955

It was converted to the 'Viewmaster' standard - date unknown

Leased to East-West Airlines - February 30, 1969 to June 30, 1969

Withdrawn from T.A.A. service and stored - November 06, 1969

Leased to Bush Pilots Airways Ltd, Cairns - February 27, 1970

Sold to Bush Pilots Airways Ltd - March 13, 1970

The aircraft was named 'Lakeland Downs'

Sold to Lakeland Downs Ltd, Brisbane - March 22, 1971

Withdrawn from service and placed in storage at Brisbane due to extensive corrosion - October 1971

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - October 19, 1971

This aircraft had flown 48,607 hours

Sold to Chewing Gum Field Museum, Tallebudgera, Queensland

Delivered by road to the Museum - March 10, 1978

Following the Museum's demise it was sold to the Great Aeroplane Car Company, Springwood

It was placed on display within the car yard

Sold to Des Omond, Balackburn, Victoria following demise of Great Aerolplane Car Company

Sold to Alvin J. Petersen, Emerald, Victoria

Aircraft currently stored on property 'Xanadu', Bendigo, Victoria in dismantled state

Last reported as being 'for sale' - asking price $A 12,000

VH-AEQ. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Hartog' in the 'silver tail' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, July 1956.

(B. Colledge Copyright Image 0250-654.)

VH-AEQ. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Hartog' in the 'silver tail' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, July 1956.

(B. Colledge Copyright Image 0250-191.)

VH-AEQ. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Wills' in the 'silver tail' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, March 17, 1960.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-454.)

VH-AEQ. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Wills' in the standard livery with additional 'Australian Inland Charter' titles at an unknown airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-456.)

VH-AEQ. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Wills' in the standard livery with additional 'Australian Inland Charter' titles at an unknown airport, January 1969.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-857.)

VH-AEQ. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Wills' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 1969.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-516.)

VH-AEQ. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Wills' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 1969.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-703.)

VH-AEQ. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Wills' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, May 1969.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-858.)

VH-AEQ. TAA - in the standard livery with additional '50th Anniversary Air Mail' titles at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 21, 1969.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-702.)

VH-AEQ. TAA - in the standard livery with additional '50th Anniversary Air Mail' titles at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 1969.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-676.)

VH-AEQ. Bush Pilots Airways - 'Lakeland Downs' in the basic TAA livery at Cairns Airport, January 1971.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-675.)

VH-AEQ. Bush Pilots Airways - 'Lakeland Downs' in the basic TAA livery at an unknown airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-460.)

VH-AEQ. Bush Pilots Airways - 'Lakeland Downs' in the basic TAA livery at Brisbane Archerfield Airport, January 1972.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-060.)

VH-AEQ. Bush Pilots Airways - 'Lakeland Downs' in the basic TAA livery at Brisbane Archerfield Airport, December 1973.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-062.)

VH-AEQ. Bush Pilots Airways - 'Lakeland Downs' in the basic TAA livery at Brisbane Archerfield Airport, March 1974.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-271.)

VH-AEQ. Bush Pilots Airways - 'Lakeland Downs' in the basic TAA livery at Brisbane Archerfield Airport, November 1976.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-063.)

VH-AEQ. Chewing Gum Museum - in the standard livery at Tallebudgera, Queensland, November 1979.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-064.)

VH-AEQ. Chewing Gum Museum - in the standard livery at Tallebudgera, Queensland, November 1979.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-704.)

VH-AEQ. Chewing Gum Museum - in the standard livery at Tallebudgera, Queensland, July 1983.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-065.)

VH-AEQ. Chewing Gum Museum - in the standard livery at Tallebudgera, Queensland, July 1983.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-066.)

VH-QLD. The Aeroplane Car Company - in the standard livery at Springwood, Brisbane, December 1987.