Construction of this aircraft was completed at the Douglas Oklahoma City plant - October 1943

It was built as a Douglas C-47A-1-DK

Delivered to the United States Army Air Force as '42-92197' - October 13, 1943

Transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force under the 'lend / lease' agreement - December 08, 1943

Entered onto the Australian Military Aircraft Register as 'A65-22'

It was operated in Australia using the radio callsign 'VHCTV'

Allocated to No 35 Squadron, Archerfield, S.A. - December 19, 1943

Allocated to No 34 Squadron, Essendon, Victoria - April 15, 1945

Allocated to No 38 Squadron / 86th Transport Wing, Schofields, NSW - January 16, 1947

Allocated to No 36 Squadron / 86th Transport Wing, Schofields, NSW - January 23, 1947

Allocated to the Technical Training & SD Unit - February 03, 1947

Allocated to A. R. D. U., Sale, Victoria - March 05, 1948

Withdrawn from use and struck off charge - March 1948

Sold to Qantas Empire Airways for 6,354 Australian Pounds - April 06, 1948

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAQ - June 17, 1949

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd, Sydney

It was transferred to Papua New Guinea to service the airline's routes

It was badly damaged when it over-ran the runway on landing at Wau, Papua New Guinea - October 18, 1948

The right undercarriage collapsed causing damage to right wing and fuselage

The aircraft was dismantled on site and trucked to Lae for repairs

Repaired and returned to service - 1950

Converted to spayer configuration with the fitting of a 720 gallon insecticide tanks in fuselage - November 1950

The insecticide was discharged through spray bars mounted under the wing between the engine nacelles

Charted by the Department of Agriculture for grasshopper spraying - November 27, 1950

The initial trial was delayed at Mildura due to strong winds - November 30, 1950

A satisfactory trial was conducted whilst flying some 50 feet above the ground - December 01, 1950

Full grasshopper spraying operations commenced - December 02, 1950

Released from operations and returned to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - December 10, 1950

It resumed operations in Papua New Guinea - ?

Sold to Trans-Australia Airlines for 28,200 Aust Pounds - September 01, 1960

Reregistered as VH-SBC - December 08, 1960

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne

Accepted by Trans-Australia for use on its Papua New Guinea 'Sun Bird' services - December 31, 1960

This aircraft was not named

Leased to the Royal Netherlands East Indies Air Force as 'X-18' of 336 Squadron - July 24, 1962

Returned to Trans-Australia Airlines at the end of the lease - May 21, 1968

Operated its final T. A. A. revenue service - May 25, 1968

It was then withdrawn from use - May 25, 1968

Sold to Continental Air Services Inc - July 04, 1968

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N370 - October 09, 1968

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - November 15, 1968

Reregistered as N7302 - August 11, 1977

Sold to Commercial Air Freight Inc, California - April 16, 1979

The aircraft was damaged beyond repair at Oaxaca, Mexico - December 11, 1979

The derelict remains were still in existence at Oaxaco, Mecico - 2002

Still registered as 'N7302' to Commercial Airfreight Inc, Santa Ana, Orange County, California - April 01, 2010

Current status - ?

VH-EAQ. Qantas Empire Airways - in the original livery at Mildura Airport, December 1950.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 0251-437.)

VH-SBC. TAA Sunbird Services - in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-330.)

VH-SBC. TAA Sunbird Services - in the standard livery at Lae Airport, July 1966.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-970.)