VH-TAG. Douglas C-47A-20-DK. c/n 12875.
It was also registered as: VH-MAH and VH-MAV.
Construction was completed at the Douglas Oklahoma City plant - March 28, 1944 It was built as a Douglas C-47A-20-DK Delivered to the United States Army Air Force - ? It was allocated the U. S. serial number '42-93011' Transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force under the end / lease agreement - April 15, 1944 Entered onto the Australian Military Aircraft Register as A65-47 It was operated using the radio callsign 'VHCUO' Allocated to No 33 Squadron - May 10, 1944 Allocated to No 36 Squadron - December 22, 1944 Allocated to No 1 Aircraft Disposal Unit - March 01, 1946 Sold to Trans-Australia Airlines - August 22, 1946 Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TAG - October 11, 1946 Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne The aircraft was named 'Giles' but later renamed 'Grant' Operated its first T.A.A. revenue service - November 22, 1946 Used to test surplus military radar sets for landing aircraft at Melbourne (Essendon) - June 1947 Chartered by Ansett Airways Pty Ltd to replace their damaged DC-3 VH-BZK - June 19 to August 18, 1950 Withdrawn from use and stored pending sale - September 21, 1959 Sold to Mandated Airlines - December 07, 1959 Registered to New Guinea Co. Ltd - December 14, 1959 Aircraft was equipped with 48 side-saddle seats Reregistered as VH-MAH - November 11, 1960 Reregistered as VH-MAV - January 12, 1961 Registered to Ansett-M.A.L. The aircraft was reconfigured to seat 28 passengers Registered to Ansett Airlines of Papua New Guinea - May 19, 1969 Withdrawn from service - July 28, 1969 Sold to Far Eastern Air Transport - July 1969 Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - July 28, 1969 Entered onto the Taiwanese Aircraft Register as B-261 Operated by Cambodair & Winner Airways Withdrawn from service - November 1979 Donated to the Republic of China Air Force as '261' as scrap - June 01, 1981 Final fate uncertain but believed to have been broken up |
VH-TAG. Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Giles' in the 'silver tail' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown. (B. Colledge Copyright Image 0251-113.) |
VH-MAH. Mandated Airlines - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown. (G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0251-553.) |
VH-MAV. Ansett-M.A.L. - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-357.) |
VH-MAV. Ansett-M.A.L. - in the standard livery at Goroka Airport, August 1966. (G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0250-954.) |
VH-MAV. Ansett-M.A.L. - in the standard livery at Lae Airport, December 1968. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-265.) |