VH-BFW. Douglas C-47A-25-DK. c/n 13587.

Was also registered as: 42-93652; KG720; VH-MAC; B-251.

 

The construction of this aircraft was completed at the Douglas Oklahoma City plant - June 1944

It was built as a Douglas C-47A-25-DK

It was allocated the United States serial number '42-93652'

Delivered to United States Army Air Force - June 21, 1944

Transferred to the Royal Air Force as a Dakota III under the lend-lease agreement - July 01, 1944

It was allocated the British serial number 'KG720'

The aircraft was delivered to Air Command, South-East Asia - July 27, 1944

Allocated to No 117 Squadron - ?

Allocated to No 62 Squadron - ?

Transferred to the Indian Government - January 30, 1947

The aircraft was deemed to be surplus to requirements, withdrawn from use and struck-off charge - 1947

Sold to New Guinea Co t/a Mandated Airlines Ltd - November 30, 1947

It arrived at Lae for conversion to civilian standards - January 1948

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-BFW (CofR 1486) - March 24, 1948

Registered to New Guinea Co t/a Mandated Airlines Ltd

Registered as a Douglas DC-3C-S1C3G

It was configured to seat 28 passengers

Leased to Guinea Air Traders - 1949 - 1950

Reregistered as VH-MAC - August 10, 1951

The aircraft sustained minor damage on landing at Kaiapit, Papua New Guinea - May 29, 1952

Unbeknown to the pilot (Capt T. G. Deegan) the starboard tyre had gone flat during the flight

It was operating the scheduled service from Port Moresby to Kaiapit

This resulted in the starboard undercarriage causing drag on the landing roll

The aircraft tipped over onto its nose - it was repaired and returned to service

Leased to Guinea Air Traders - 1953

Registered to Ansett-MAL, Port Moresby - January 20, 1961

The aircraft was withdarwn from service and stored at Lae - June 1967

Sold to Far Eastern Air Transport (FEAT), Taiwan - June 08, 1967

Departed Lae on the ferry flight to Taiwan - June 20, 1967

It arrived at Taipei on completion of the ferry flight - June 24, 1967

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

Known flight crew: Capt J. Cronin; Navigator B. S. McEwen

Entered onto the Taiwanese Aircraft Register as B-251 - June 24, 1967

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - July 03, 1967

The aircraft was destroyed whilst landing at Phan Thiet, Vietnam - April 24, 1969

It was hit by unfriendly ground fire, causing the port wheel to strike the runway first

This caused the aircraft to swing to port, striking a small hut on the airfield

It was written off as uneconomical to repair

Cancelled from the Taiwanese Aircraft Register - ?