VH-EAL. Douglas C-47A-20-DK. c/n 13084.

Was also registered as: 42-93199; A65-49; VH-EBH; VH-EBW; VH-BAA.

Construction of this aircraft was completed at the Douglas Oklahoma City plant - April 1944

It was built as a Douglas C-47A-20-DK

Allocated the United States serial number '42-93199'

Delivered to the United States Army Air Force - April 21, 1944

Transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force under the 'lend / lease' agreement - May 05, 1944

Entered onto the Australian Military Aircraft Register as 'A65-49'

Operated in Australia using the radio call sign 'VHCIE'

Allocated to No 38 Squadron - May 17, 1944

Allocated to No 34 Squadron - January 15, 1945

It was deemed surplus to requirements, withdrawn from use and prepared for sale - 1946

Sold to Qantas Empire Airways for 24,679 Australian Pounds - December 06, 1946

Delivered to Qantas Empire Airways - January 27, 1947

The registration 'VH-BAK' was used for the delivery flight but it was not taken up

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAL - March 27, 1947

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd, Sydney

Transferred to Papua New Guinea for service

Used to locate the crew of a missing Department of Civil Aviation DHA-3 Drover - April 16, 1952

The crew were located in a life raft 100 miles south-west of Manus Island

Flight crew: Capt I. D. Ralfe; F/O R. Cuthbertson

This aircraft was badly damaged whilst attempting to land at Kavieng, Papua New Guinea - July 23, 1952

With the flaps fully extended the aircraft encountered water on the runway resulting to extensive damage to flap system

Repaired and returned to service

Reregistered as VH-EBH - August 19, 1954

Reregistered as VH-EBW - March 12, 1958

Sold to Brain & Brown Air Freighters Pty Ltd, Melbourne for 25,000 Australian Pounds - October 21, 1960

Reregistered as VH-BAA - October 21, 1960

Registered to Brain & Brown Ltd, Melbourne

Commenced operations in the basic Qantas livery with 'Brain & Brown Air Freighter' titles

Brain & Brown Air Freighters was renamed BBA Cargo - January 1972

Registered to Brain & Brown Air Freighting Ltd, Melbourne - June 22, 1972

Withdrawn from use at Melbourne (Essendon) Airport - March 19, 1975

Returned to service - April 10, 1975

Operated final revenue service Launceston - Melbourne (Essendon) - April 23, 1977

Placed in open storage at Melbourne (Essendon)

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - April 24, 1979

The aircraft had flown 38,024 hours

Moved to the grass area in the 'graveyard' at Melbourne (Essendon) - June 1979

Sold to Mildura Aviation Restoration Group, Mildura - July 1979

Dismantled on site and moved by road to the Warbird Air Museum, Mildura - October 27, 1979

A partial restoration was undertaken by the Museum

Sold to Central Australian Aviation Museum, Alice Springs - October 14, 1995

Restored to display condition at Alice Springs

Repainted in the Connellan Airways livery to represent their DC-3 'VH-EWE'

This aircraft is now on display as 'VH-EWE' at Alice Springs Airport - 2010

Current

VH-EAL. Qantas Empire Airways - in the standard livery at an unknown New Guinea airport, date unknown.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 0251-403.)

VH-EBW. Qantas - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 0251-439.)

VH-BAA. Brain & Brown Airfreighters Pty Ltd - in the basic Qantas livery at Sydney Bankstown Airport, January 1962.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-001.)

VH-BAA. Brain & Brown Airfreighters Pty Ltd - in the revised livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-779.)

VH-BAA. Brain & Brown Airfreighters Pty Ltd - in the revised livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, April 1971.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-912.)

VH-BAA. Brain & Brown Airfreighters Pty Ltd - in the revised livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, July 1971.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-732.)

VH-BAA. BBA Cargo - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, August 1972.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-911.)

VH-BAA. BBA Cargo - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, August 1972.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-910.)

VH-BAA. BBA Cargo - in the standard livery at Launceston Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-019.)

VH-BAA. BBA Cargo - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 1974.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-484.)

VH-BAA. BBA Cargo - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 1974.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-733.)

VH-BAA. BBA Cargo - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, February 1976.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-215.)

VH-BAA. BBA Cargo - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, October 27, 1979.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0250-945.)