VH-SPY Douglas DC-3

Construction was completed at the Douglas Oklahoma City plant - April 1945

Delivered to the United States Army Air Force - April 24, 1945

It was allocated the serial number '44-76781'

Transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force under the lend - lease program

Received by 3 Aircraft Depot, Laverton, Victoria - May 11, 1945

Entered onto the Australian Military Aircraft Register as A65-102 - May 11, 1945

It was operated using the Radio Call Sign 'VHRFS'

Issued to No. 37 Squadron with aircraft code 'OM-S' - May 19, 1945

Transferred to 86 Wing - November 24, 1947

Issued to 86 Wing from No. 1 Aircraft Depot - June 01, 1950

Issued to No. 38 Squadron (90 Wing), Richmond, N.S.W. from 86 Wing - July 7, 1950

Returned to 86 Wing - October 30, 1950

Received Department of Aircraft Production (DAP) ex 86 Wing - November 24, 1950

Issued to 86 Wing ex DAP - May 10, 1951

Issued to 90 Wing ex 86 Wing - October 14, 1951

Issued to 86 Wing ex 90 Wing - August 25, 1952

Received at DAP ex 86 Wing - September 12, 1952

Issued to No. 11 Squadron ex DAP - March 12, 1953

The aircraft made emergency landing 40 miles east of Carnarvon following starboard engine failure - May 19, 1953

Crew: W/O J. P. Bird and the three crew members were not injured

It was salvaged and repaired by No. 25 Squadron - June 30, 1953

Issued to No. 25 Squadron ex No. 11 Squadron - June 02, 1954

Received by DAP ex No. 25 Squadron - February 21, 1955

Issued to No. 25 Squadron ex DAP - March 04, 1955

Received by 1 Aircraft Depot ex DAP - December 06, 1955

Received by 86 Wing ex 1 Aircraft Depot - January 17, 1956

Received DAP ex 86 Wing - November 22, 1957

Issued to No. 25 Sqadron ex DAP to replace Dakota A65-73 - May 07, 1958

Issued to No. 1 Air Force Traning Squadron (AFTS) ex No. 25 Squadron - October 30, 1958

Issued to ARW ex No. 1 AFTS - September 13, 1961

Issued to Air Research and Development Unit (ARDU) ex ARW - June 06, 1962

Received at ARW ex ARDU - October 12, 1964

Receiced at ARDU ex ARW - January 12, 1966

Aircraft placed 'in reserve' by the ARDU - October 24, 1966

Received at ARW ex ARDU - August 14, 1967

Issued to Base Squadron, East Sale ex ARW - July 30, 1968

Received at the Hawker de Havilland facility, Bankstown for overhaul ex East Sale - February 26, 1969

Returned to No. 2 FTS ex Hawker de Havilland - April 28, 1969

Received at the Hawker de Havilland facility, Bankstown ex No. 2FTS - September 30, 1976

Returned to Base Squadron, East Sale ex Hawker de Havilland - November 30, 1976

Received at Base Squadron, Pearce, Perth, Western Australia ex East Sale - January 04, 1977

Withdrawn from use and decommissioned at Perth Airport - August 05, 1980

The aircraft was prepared for sale by tender by the Department of Administrative Services

Sold to Paradak of Melbourne (Essendon) Airport

Ferried Perth - Melbourne (Essendon) Airport using ferry registration 'VH-PTS' - August 22, 1981

It was used as a backdrop in a TV film called 'A Far Country' at Melbourne (Essendon) Airport - December 1985

The aircraft was painted up to represent the ficticious A.N.A. Douglas DC-3 'VH-ANA'

It remained stored at Melbourne (Essendon) Airport - 1981 - 1987

Ferried Melbourne (Essendon) - Camden for storage - June 1987

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as 'N65388' - December 27, 1990

Registered to South Pacific Airmotive, Hollywood, U.S.A.

It was intended to fly the aircraft to the United States but this did not eventuate

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - June 03, 1994

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-SPY - January 05, 1995

Registered to South Pacific Airmotive, Connell's Point, Sydney

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - August 18, 1999

The registration was cancelled as the aircraft was being exported to the United States

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as 'N65388' - October 27, 1999

Registered to South Pacific Airmotive, Hollywood, U.S.A.

The aircraft was observed stored at Cairns as 'N65388' - November 23, 1999

Registered to Jordan Harlan W, Lady Lake, Florida, U.S.A. - May 24, 2011

Jordan Harlan W was seeking a type certificate for his license at the time

CASA inspected the aircraft at Cairns - April 18, 2001

Aircraft was found to have extensive corrosion throughout the and a 'non-airworthy' notice was issued

It was observed stored intact at Cairns in a non-airworthy condition - 2012

It was observed stored intact at Cairns in a non-airworthy condition - February 2015

It was observed at Cairns with the wings removed - January 2016

It was observed on a low-loader awaiting transport to a property in the Cairns area - March 16, 2017

It was observed in the holding yard of a local trucking company at Edmonton, south of Cairns - March 16, 2017

It is believed at the aircraft is still owned by Mr Geoff Leach

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - March 28, 2018

It was reported that the aircraft was no longer stored at Edmonton - December 2018

The fuselage is currently stored at Innisfail Airport in reasonable condition - 2019