This aircraft was ordered new by Trans-Australia Airlines - ?

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TAB - August 28, 1946

Registered to Department of Civil Aviation, Melbourne

Accepted by Trans-Australia Airlines at Burbank - October 07, 1946

Departed Burbank on the delivery flight to Australia - October 12, 1946

Arrived Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the delivery flight - October 15, 1946

It established a record flight time of 38 hours 13 minutes for the trans-Pacific crossing

Flight crew: Captain J. B. Chastian (Douglas); Captain C. O. Dowie (TAA)

Known passengers: J. L. Watkins (T.A.A.); R. Baer (United Aircraft Services); Hannan, Greenhill (civilians)

The aircraft was named 'Thomas Mitchell'

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne - November 04, 1946

It operated its first revenue service - November 04, 1946

Leased to British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines - April 30, 1948 to February 23, 1949

It was reregistered as VH-BPB - ?

The aircraft was renamed 'Endeavour'

Returned to Trans-Australian Airlines at the end of the lease - February 23, 1949

The aircraft was reregistered as VH-TAB - ?

It was renamed 'John Gilbert'

This aircraft was converted to a passenger / freighter configuration by T. A. A. - 1959

It was leased to Ansett-ANA - September 1959

During the lease it was operated in the basic T.A.A. livery with red Ansett-ANA titles applied to the cabin roof

After the lease it was repainted into the standard T. A. A. livery and renamed 'David Collins'

It was operated 'under charter' to Qantas Airways several times - early 1969

It was withdrawn from service and stored at Melbourne (Essendon) Airport - March 31, 1969

Sold to Flying Tiger Line but not registered to them - October 17, 1969

Departed Melbourne (Essendon) on the ferry flight to Saigon, Vietnam - October 1969

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - October 21, 1969

Sold to Air Vietnam - February 23, 1970

Entered onto the Vietnamese Aircraft Register as XV-NUL - ?

The eventual fate of this aircraft is unclear

VH-TAB. Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Thomas Mitchell' in the original livery at Whenuapai Airport, February 1947.

(Whites Aviation Copyright Image 1125-511.)

VH-TAB. Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Thomas Mitchell' in the original livery at Whenuapai Airport, February 1947.

(Whites Aviation Copyright Image 1125-506.)

VH-TAB. Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Thomas Mitchell' in the original livery at Whenuapai Airport, May 1947.

(Whites Aviation Copyright Image 1125-512.)

VH-TAB. Trans-Australia Airlines - 'John Gilbert' in the revised livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-298.)

VH-TAB. Trans-Australia Airlines - 'David Collins' in the revised livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-027.)

VH-TAB. Trans-Australia Airlines - 'David Collins' in the revised livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-151.)

VH-TAB. Trans-Australia Airlines - 'David Collins' in the revised livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-152.)

VH-TAB. Trans-Australia Airlines - 'David Collins' in the revised livery at Brisbane Archerfield Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-155.)

VH-TAB. Ansett-ANA - in the Trans-Australia Airlines livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, September 1959.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-176.)

VH-TAB. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'John Gillbert' - Official Flight Log, December 02, 1957.

(A. von Sterakowski Collection Copyright Image 1125-646.)

VH-TAB. Trans-Australia Airlines - 'David Collins' in the revised livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, June 06, 1963.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-731.)

VH-TAB. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'David Collins' in the final livery at Brisbane Archerfield Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-118.)

VH-TAB. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'David Collins' in the final livery at Launceston Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-732.)

VH-TAB. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'David Collins' in the final livery at Sydney RAAF Base Richmond, July 1967.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-028.)

VH-TAB. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'David Collins' in the final livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, July 1968.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-004.)

VH-TAB. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'David Collins' in the final livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 1969.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-029.)

VH-TAB. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'David Collins' in the final livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1969.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-030.)