VH-SBW. Douglas C-47A-20-DK. c/n 15665-27110.

Was also registered as: G-AMZH; P2-SBW; P2-ANQ.

 

This aircraft was constructed at the Douglas Oklahoma City plant - July 15, 1944

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

Delivered to United States Army Air Force - ?

It was allocated the U. S. serial number '43-49849'

Transferred to the Royal Air Force under the lend / lease agreement - January 16, 1945

It was allocated the Royal Air Force serial number KN241

It was officially designated as a 'Dakota IV'

Arrived England on delivery to the Royal Air Force - April 22, 1945

Issued to No 435 and No 436 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, India

Returned to the Royal Air Force in England and issued to No 46 Squadron - April 1946

Withdrawn from use and struck-off charge - 1953

Sold to Lamberts Trust - April 10, 1953

Entered onto the British Aircraft Register as G-AMZH - May 02, 1953

Registered to E. L. Niarchos t/a Transair Ltd

This aircraft was operated as an executive transport

Sold and registered to Travelair Ltd - February 20, 1963

Sold and registered to Handley Page Ltd - November 26, 1963

Sold to Trans-Australia Airlines - May 1965

Arrived Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the ferry flight - May 16, 1965

Cancelled from the British Aircraft Register - May 20, 1965

Ferried Melbourne (Essendon) - Sydney (Bankstown) for conversion to company specifications by Hawker de Havilland

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-SBW - September 22, 1965

Registered to the Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne

The aircraft was named 'Jim Taylor' but it was later changed to 'Popondetta'

Operated its first revenue service with T.A.A - September 22, 1965

Transferred to Papua New Guinea to operate T.A.A.'s Sunbird Services

Ferried to Sydney (Bankstown) for repainting into company's new 1970s color scheme - November 1969

Operated its final revenue service - October 31, 1973

Sold to Air Niugini - November 01, 1973

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - March 04, 1974

Entered onto the Papua New Guinea Aircraft Register as P2-SBW - March 04, 1974

Reregistered as P2-ANQ - December 03, 1975

Operated its final revenue service with Air Niugini - July 31, 1977

Withdrawn from use and placed in open storage at Port Moresby Airport

It was mounted on a pole and displayed outside the Air Niugini offices at Port Morseby Airport - May 1979

Current

 

 

VH-SBW. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Jim Taylor' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-273.)

VH-SBW. TAA Trans Australia Airlines - 'Jim Taylor' in the revised livery at an unknown airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-339.)

VH-SBW. TAA - 'Jim Taylor' in the final livery at Brisbane Airport, January 1972.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-274.)

VH-SBW. TAA - 'Jim Taylor' in the final livery at Brisbane Airport, January 1972.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-791.)

VH-SBW. TAA - 'Jim Taylor' in the final livery at Lae Airport, June 11, 1973.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-352.)

VH-SBW. TAA - 'Jim Taylor' in the final livery at Mt Hagen Airport, August 05, 1973.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-275.)

P2-SBW. Air Niugini - in the standard livery at Lae Airport, May 1975.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-680.)

P2-ANQ. Air Niugini - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, June 1976.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-654.)

P2-ANQ. Air Niugini - in the standard livery at Port Moresby Airport, January 1982.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-195.)