This aircraft was originally ordered new by American Airlines Inc as a Douglas DC-3-277D

It was configured to seat 21 passengers with a starboard passenger door

The sale price quoted by Douglas was $US 138,512

The order was transferred to the United States Army Air Force

Construction was completed at the Douglas Long Beach, California plant - July 1941

It was built as a Douglas DC-3-396, Type C-50-DO with a starboard cargo door

Delivered to the United States Army Air Force - July 24, 1941

It was allocated the United States serial number '41-7697'

It arrived at the Maxwell Air Force Base - August 11, 1941

Transferred to the Bolling Air Force Base - January 15, 1942

Transferred to the Tulsa Air Force Base - March 23, 1942

Transferred to the Knellwood Air Force Base - April 16, 1942

Transferred to the Bolling Air Force Base - August 15, 1942

Transferred to the Hamilton Air Force Base - August 30, 1942

Issued to the 5th Air Force - October 20, 1942

Issued to 21st TCS, 374th TCG, Amberley, Queensland - November 1942

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

This aircraft was originally named 'Laka Nookie'

It was allocated to No 36 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force - January 19, 1943

It was now named 'Kwitchyr Bichin'

Delivered by sea to C.A.C. Fishermen's Bend plant for modification and fumigation - March 15, 1943

Returned to the United States Army Air Force - April 14, 1943

Delivered to No 31 Squadron, A.D.A.T., Parafield, South Australia - April 29, 1944

Assigned to Guinea Airways, Parafield, S.A. - May 01, 1944

Handed over to Guinea Airways Ltd at Adelaide (Parafield) - May 03, 1944

It was operated by Guinea Airways under contract to the Allied Directorate of Air Transport

It was operated in a camouflage livery with large U.S. star / stripe at rear door area and 'Guinea Airways' under cockpit

The aircraft was based in Townsville and operated for ADAT

It was officially transferred to Guinea Airways by the U.S.A.A.F. - October 07, 1945

The aircraft had flown 4,991 hours

Sold to Australian National Airways - May 16, 1946

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-ANI (CofR 977) - May 22, 1946

Registered to Guinea Airways Ltd, Adelaide

Leased to Guinea Airways as the registered operator - May 30, 1946

Registered to Australian National Airways Pty Ltd - July 18, 1946

It was operated as a freighter with starboard cargo door

It is believed to have been used by Butler Air Transport for short periods but details are unknown

Participated in 'Operation Haylift' during the South West Queensland floods - 1950

Converted to Pratt and Whitney R-1830-S1C3G engines prior to its sale

Sold to New Zealand National Airways Corporation (NZNAC) - June 13, 1955

It arrived at Auckland on completion of the delivery flight - June 14, 1955

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - June 14, 1955

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-BKE - July 19, 1955

Registered to New Zealand National Airways Corporation (NZNAC)

The aircraft was named 'Kawatere' (parakeet)

Used as a freighter by NZNAC

Withdrawn from NZNAC service - January 18, 1966

The aircraft had flown 38,466 hours to date

Sold to Australian Aircraft Sales, Sydney - September 13, 1967

Sold to Royal Air Lao - December 1967

Departed Auckland (Mangere) on the ferry flight to Laos via Brisbane - January 1968

Entered onto the Laotian Aircraft Register as XW-TDD - January 1968

Leased to Lanexang Airlines, Laos - March 11, 1968

Reregistered as XW-TFI - ?

Leased to Khemara Air Transport - ?

Crashed on take-off from Takeo, Cambodia - December 15, 1974

Aircraft was destroyed without loss of life