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VH-BNH. Douglas C-47B-15-DK. c/n 15230-26675. Was also registered as: 43-49414; I-TROS; N55L. |
The construction of this aircraft was completed at the Douglas Oklahoma City plant - November 1944 It was built as a Douglas C-47B-15-DK It was allocated the United States serial number '43-49414' Delivered to United States Army Air Force - November 22, 1944 The aircraft was delivered to the 12th Air Force, Italy - December 26, 1944 Allocated to No. 7 TCS - April 1945 This aircraft was also used in The Netherlands and Belgium The aircraft was deemed to be surplus to requirements, withdrawn from use and struck-off charge - 1946 Sold to Transadriatica Societa di Navigazione S.p.A., Italy - 1946 Entered onto the Italian Aircraft Register as I-TROS - December 05, 1946 The aircraft was named 'Vittorio Suster' It was purchased in Rome by New Holland Airways to operated a return migrant charter flight to Australia - 1948 The purchase followed to sale of the airline's Douglas DC-5 'VH-ARD' in Rome It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) with 22 migrants and 6 crew members - July 17, 1948 This aircraft made several additional 'migrant charter' flights as 'I-TROS' The operators hoped that by operating a foreign-registered aircraft on such flights that they could evade DCA restrictions It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) with 27 migrants and 5 crew members - November 17, 1948 It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) for an Australian CofA inspection - November 24, 1948 The Department of Civil Aviation stipulated that any further 'migrant' flights would have to be carried out under an Australian registration Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-BNH - November 25, 1948 Registered to New Holland Airways Pty Ltd, Sydney Operated its final 'migrant charter flight' to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - March 19, 1949 New Holland Airways ceased operations due to financial difficulties shortly thereafter The aircraft was stored at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Ferried Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Melbourne (Essendon) for overhaul and CofA renewal - ? 1949 The aircraft was sold to Butler Air Transport - June 27, 1949 Registered to Butler Air Transport Pty Ltd, Sydney It operated Queensland Air Line's inaugural Brisbane - Casino - Brisbane service - July 01, 1949 It operated Queensland Air Line's inaugural Brisbane - Oakey - Sydney service - November 05, 1951 The aircraft was withdrawn from service and stored at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - 1956 Sold to Australian Aviation Sales Pty Ltd - August 10, 1956 Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - December 04, 1956 Sold to L. H. Farrar (t/a Catalina Pacific Airlines, Inc) - December 04, 1956 Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N55L - December 04, 1956 Leased to Catalina Pacific Airlines as the registered operator Leased to Transocean Air Lines, Inc., California as the registered operator - September 06, 1958 - February 1959 It was returned to Farrair Inc. - 1960 Leased to Avalon Air Transport, Inc. - March 30, 1962 - March 31, 1963 Leased to Aero Service Corporation, Hollywwod, California - 1965 Leased to Continental Air Services. Inc., Los Angeles, California and Vientiane, Laos - December 1966 Continental Air Services operated as a sub-contractor for various United States Government agencies The aircraft was destroyed whilst taking-off from Phnom Penh, Cambodia - February 14, 1971 It was operating a non-scheduled flight from Phnom Penh to Kampong Som for Air Alliance During the take-off there was a report of a fire or an explosion on board the aircraft The aircraft stalled and crashed, killing both crew members It was destroyed by the ensuing fire Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - March 10, 1972 |