VH-TAL. Douglas C-47A-30-DK. c/n 13921 / 25366.

 

Construction was completed at the Douglas Oklahoma City plant - July 15, 1944

It was built as a Douglas C-47A-30-DK

Delivered to the United States Army Air Force - ?

It was allocated the U. S. serial number '43-48105'

Transferred to the Royal Australia Air Force under the lend / lease agreement - August 10, 1944

Entered onto the Australian Military Aircraft Register as A65-58

It was operated using the radio callsign 'VHCUN'

Allocated to No 33 - October 06, 1944

It was reassigned the radio callsign 'VHCIK' - November 11, 1944

Issued to No 38 Squadron - January 07, 1946

Withdrawn from use and struck off-charge - August 1946

Sold to Trans-Australia Airlines - September 25, 1946

It was overhauled and converted to T.AA. standards at Melbourne (Essendon)

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

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne

The aircraft was named 'Hann'

Operated its first revenue service with T.A.A. - October 18, 1947

Chartered by Ansett Airways Pty Ltd - early 1950s

It was withdrawn from use and stored pending sale - April 06, 1957

Cancelled from Australian Aircraft Register - May 30, 1957

Sold to West African Airways Corporation - August 1957

Entered onto the Nigerian Aircraft Register as VR-NCK - ?

The aircraft was named 'Onitsha'

Transferred to Nigerian Airways and reregistered 5N-AAK - February 06, 1961

In 1957 the Nigerian Government banned all commercial flights into eastern Nigeria

Due to contractual obligations this aircraft flew Lagos - Enugu to pick up passengers

On arrival it was seized by the airport authorities and placed under armed guard

Impressed into service with Biafran Air Force - with dark camouflage livery

It was issued the Biafran Air Force serial number 'AAK'

It was reportedly destoyed on the ground at Enugu when the airport was bombed - September 1967