VH-TAH. Douglas C-47A-50-DL. c/n 10001

Was also registered as: A65-19; VH-SBN.

 

Construction was completed at the Douglas Long Beach plant, California - August 05, 1943

It was built as a Douglas C-47A-50-DL

It was allocated the United States serial number '42-24139'

Transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force under lend / lease agreement - August 1943

Entered onto the Australian Military Aircraft Register as A65-19

It was operated using the radio callsign 'VHCTS'

Allocated to No 33 & No 35 Squadrons & No 9 Communication Unit during the war

Withdrawn from use and struck off charge - September 1946

Sold to the Department of Civil Aviation - September 1946

Transferred to Trans-Australia Airlines - September 20, 1946

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TAH - December 09, 1946

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne

The aircraft was named 'Cobb' and later 'Strezlecki'

Operated its first revenue service as a freighter with Trans-Australia Airlines - February 03, 1947

Reregistered as VH-SBN - April 10, 1962

Transferred to New Guinea to operated 'Sun Bird' services

Chartered by East-West Airlines fora short period - July 1968

Withdrawn from service and stored pending its sale - September 30, 1968

Sold to Bakhara Haven Pty Ltd - July 03, 1969

Sold to Jetair Australia Ltd - December 31, 1969

Withdrawn from use and stored Sydney (Kingsford Smith) when Jetair ceased operations - 1971

Sold to Department of Foreign Affairs - March 12, 1971

Donated as Foreign Aid to the Cambodian Air Force as '24139'

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - March 12, 1971

The final fate of this aircraft has not been confirmed but it is presumed to have been scrapped

 

 

VH-TAH. Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Cobb' in the 'silver tail' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 30, 1961.

(J. Hopton Copyright Image 0251-259.)

VH-TAH. Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Cobb' in the 'silver tail' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 30, 1961.

(B. Colledge Copyright Image 0250-669.)

VH-SBN. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - in the 'white tail' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(B. Colledge Copyright Image 0250-430.)

VH-SBN. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - in the 'white tail' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(B. Colledge Copyright Image 0250-440.)

VH-SBN. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - in the 'white tail' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, November 03, 1962.

(J. Hopton Copyright Image 0251-256.)

VH-SBN. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - in the 'white tail' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, March 11, 1963.

(J. Hopton Copyright Image 0251-257.)

VH-SBN. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - in the 'white tail' livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-340.)

VH-SBN. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - in the 'white tail' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 1965.

(G. Wilkes Collection Copyright Image 0250-167.)

VH-SBN. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - in the 'white tail' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-037.)

VH-SBN. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - in the 'white tail' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, February 1966.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0250-986.)

VH-SBN. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - in the 'white tail' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, February 1966.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0250-987.)

VH-SBN. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - in the 'white tail' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 10, 1967.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-802.)

VH-SBN. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - in the 'white tail' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 21, 1967.

(J. Hopton Copyright Image 0251-258.)

VH-SBN. TAA - in the basic livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, June 1969.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0250-988.)

VH-SBN. TAA - in the basic livery at Sydney Bankstown Airport, June 1969.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-803.)

VH-SBN. TAA - in the basic livery at Sydney Bankstown Airport, July 12, 1969.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0250-989.)

VH-SBN. Jetair - in the original livery at Sydney Bankstown Airport, date unknown.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0251-173.)

VH-SBN. Jetair - in the original livery at Sydney Bankstown Airport, date unknown.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0251-174.)

VH-SBN. Jetair - in the original livery at Sydney Bankstown Airport, January 10, 1970.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-803.)

VH-SBN. Jetairairlines of Australia - in the revised livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, June 24, 1970.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-804.)

VH-SBN. Jetairlines of Australia - in the revised livery at Sydney Bankstown Airport, December 1970.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-235.)

VH-SBN. Jetairlines of Australia - in the revised livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 1970.

(G. Wilkes Collection Copyright Image 0250-163.)

VH-SBN. Jetairlines of Australia - in the revised livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 1970.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-805.)

VH-SBN. Jetairlines of Australia - in the revised livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 1970.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-806.)

VH-SBN. Jetairlines of Australia - in the revised livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 1970.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-234.)

VH-SBN. Jetairlines of Australia - in the revised livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 1971.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0251-175.)

VH-SBN. Australian Aid - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, March 1971.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-465.)

VH-SBN. Australian Aid - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, March 1971.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0251-176.)

VH-SBN. Australian Aid - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, March 1971.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-415.)