VH-TAI. Douglas C-47A-45-DL. c/n 9998.

Was also registered as: 42-24136; A65-16.

Construction was completed at the Douglas Long Beach, California - August 06, 1943

It was built as a Douglas C-47A-45-DL

Delivered to the United States Army Air Force - ?

It was allocated the United States serial number '42-24136'

Transferred to Royal Australian Air Force under the lend / lease agreement - August 23, 1943

Entered onto the Australian Military Aircraft Register as A65-16

It was operated using the radio callsign 'VHCTP'

It served with No 33 and No 35 Squadrons

Withdrawn from use and struck off charge - September 23, 1946

Sold to Trans-Australia Airlines - ?

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TAI - December 05, 1946

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne

It was converted to passenger configuration at Melbourne (Essendon)

Operated its first revenue service - July 08, 1947

The aircraft was named 'Oxley' but it was later changed to 'Baudin'

It was modified to facilitate mail drops in Queensland during the wet season

Leased to East-West Airlines - February 01, 1966 to January 12, 1967

It operated Trans-Australia's last DC-3 mainland service Miles - Brisbane - October 11, 1968

Withdrawn from use and placed in open storage pending sale - October 22, 1968

Sold to Bakhara Haven Pty Ltd of Sydney, N.S.W. - July 10, 1969

Registered to Bakhara Haven Pty Ltd - October 16, 1969

Sold to Jetair Australia Ltd - November 19, 1969

The aircraft was named 'Thomas Barton'

Sold to the Department of Foreign Affairs when Jetair ceased operations - March 12, 1971

Donated as Foreign Aid to the Laos Air Force - August 1971

It was allocated the serial number '998'

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - September 30, 1971

The final fate has not been confirmed but it is believed to have been scrapped in 1974

VH-TAI. Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Oxley' in the 'silver-tail' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(B. Colledge Copyright Image 0250-708.)

VH-TAI. Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Oxley' in the 'silver-tail' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(E. Coates Copyright Image 0251-115.)

VH-TAI. Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Baudin' in the 'silver-tail' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(B. Colledge Copyright Image 0250-569.)

VH-TAI. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Baudin' in the 'white-tail' livery at Brisbane Airport, February 26, 1966.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-840.)

VH-TAI. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Baudin' in the 'white-tail' livery at Brisbane Airport, February 26, 1966.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-841.)

VH-TAI. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Baudin' in the 'white-tail' livery at Bourke Airport, May 1968.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-771.)

VH-TAI. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Baudin' in the 'white-tail' livery at Brisbane Airport, October 12, 1968.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-843.)

VH-TAI. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Baudin' in the 'white-tail' livery at Brisbane Airport, October 26, 1968.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-842.)

VH-TAI. Bakhara Haven - in the basic 'TAA' livery at Sydney Bankstown Airport, September 06, 1969.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0250-984.)

VH-TAI. Jetair Australia - 'Thomas Barton' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 1969.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0251-179.)

VH-TAI. Jetair Australia - 'Thomas Barton' in the standard livery at Melbourne Esendon Airport, December 1969.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-797.)

VH-TAI. Jetair Australia - 'Thomas Barton' in the standard livery at Sydney Bankstown Airport, January 1970.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-723.)

VH-TAI. Jetair Australia - 'Thomas Barton' in the standard livery at Sydney Bankstown Airport, January 27, 1970.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-798.)

VH-TAI. Jetairlines of Australia - 'Thomas Barton' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 1970.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0251-180.)

VH-TAI. Jetairlines of Australia - 'Thomas Barton' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 1970.

(G. Wilkes Copyright Image 0250-164.)

VH-TAI. Jetairlines of Australia - 'Thomas Barton' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, February 11, 1971.

(E. D. Daw Copyright Image 0251-322.)

VH-TAI. Australian Aid - in the 'all-metal' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, July 1971.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-482.)

VH-TAI. Australian Aid - in the 'all-metal' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, July 1971.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-416.)