VH-TAC Douglas DC-4-1009

This aircraft was ordered new by Trans Australia Airlines - ?

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

Registered to the Department of Civil Aviation, Melbourne

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission - October 22, 1946

Departed Burbank on the delivery flight to Australia - October 28, 1946

Arrived Melbourne (Essendon) on compoletion of the delivery flight - October 31, 1946

The aircraft was named 'John Forrest'

Operated first revenue service - December 01, 1946

Sold to British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines - April 22, 1948

Reregistered as VH-BPA - April 22, 1948

The aircraft was renamed 'R. M. A. Resolution'

Operated first revenue service with B.C.P.A. - April 25, 1948

Route: Sydney - Nadi - Canton Island - Honolulu - San Francisco

Flight crew: Captains J. W. Bennett, V. Polley, J. Bonnington

This was the first service operated by B.C.P.A. utilising an aircraft owned by the airline

Sold to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd - February 15, 1949

Reregistered as VH-EBL - February 15, 1949

The aircraft was renamed 'Hong Kong Trader'

Operated survey flight Sydney - Darwin - Labuan - Hong Kong (Captain E. Simms) - March 03, 1949

Operated first Qantas DC-4 flight Sydney - Iwakuni (Japan) return (Captain L. M. Hampshire) - April 21 - 24, 1950

It operated the last Qantas DC-4 flight to Noumea - December 1959

Sold to Ansett-ANA - January 13, 1961

Reregistered as VH-INY - January 13, 1961

Registered to Ansett-ANA, Melbourne

Ferried Sydney - Melbourne (Essendon) on delivery to Ansett-ANA - January 15, 1961

Operated first Ansett-ANA revenue service Melbourne (Essendon) - Devenport - January 17, 1961

Leased to McRobertson Miller Airlines - November 16, 1965

Converted to freighter configuration at Melbourne (Essendon) Airport - 1968

It had flown some 33,856 hours at time of conversion

Ownership transferred to Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd, Melbourne - December 18, 1969

Withdrawn from service at Melbourne (Essendon) Airport - December 24, 1969

Prepared for sale to the Marine Diamond Company

Entered onto the South African Aircraft Register as ZS-IGB - January 01, 1970

Registered to Marine Diamond Company, Johannesburg, South Africa

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - January 02, 1970

Accepted by Marine Diamond Company at Melbourne (Essendon) - January 05, 1970

Departed Melbourne (Essendon) on the ferry flight to South Africa - January 05, 1970

Arrived Johannesburg on completion of the ferry flight - January 10, 1970

Ownership was transferred to Consolidated Diamond Mines - January 1972

Sold to Suidwes Lugdiens / Southwest Airways - May 1972

The aircraft was named 'Ondangua'

Withdrawn from service and stored at Windhoek, South Africa - October 05, 1977

Scrapped at Eros Airport, Windhoek for parts - January 1979

This aircraft had the distinction of being owned and operated by all four Australian airlines

VH-BPA. British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines Airlines - 'R.M.A. Resolution' in the standard livery at Nadi Airport, May 05, 1948.

(Whites Aviation Copyright Image WA-13029F via P. Sheehan Collection 1125-673.)

VH-BPA. British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines Airlines - 'R.M.A. Resolution' in the standard livery at Nadi Airport, May 05, 1948.

(Whites Aviation Copyright Image WA-13988F via P. Sheehan Collection 1125-674.)

VH-BPA. British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines Airlines - 'R.M.A. Resolution' in the standard livery at Nadi Airport, May 05, 1948.

(Whites Aviation Copyright Image WA-13988F via P. Sheehan Collection 1125-674.)

VH-BPA. British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines Airlines - 'R.M.A. Resolution' in the standard livery at Nadi Airport, May 05, 1948.

(Whites Aviation Copyright Image WA-13990F via P. Sheehan Collection 1125-675.)

VH-BPA. British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines Airlines - 'R.M.A. Resolution' in the standard livery at Nadi Airport, date unknown.

(P. Sheehan Collection Copyright Image 1125-501.)

VH-BPA. British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines Airlines - 'R.M.A. Resolution' in the standard livery at Nadi Airport, July 05, 1948.

(Whites Aviation Copyright Image WA-13992F via P. Sheehan Collection 1125-676.)

VH-EBL. Qantas - 'Hong Kong Trader' in the standard livery at Hong Kong Kai Tak Airport, July 1957.

This was the last Qantas DC-4 service to Hong Kong.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1125-522.)

VH-EBL. Qantas - 'Hong Kong Trader' in the standard livery at Noumea Airport, December 1959.

This was the last Qantas DC-4 service to Noumea.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1125-556.)

VH-EBL. Qantas - 'Hong Kong Trader' in the standard livery at Noumea Airport, December 1959.

This crew of the last Qantas DC-4 service to Noumea.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1125-557.)

VH-EBL. Qantas - 'Hong Kong Trader' in the standard livery at Noumea Airport, December 1959.

This was the last Qantas DC-4 service to Noumea.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1125-521.)

VH-EBL. Qantas - 'Hong Kong Trader' in the standard livery at Lae Airport, date unknown.

(K. Gould Copyright Image 1125-309.)

VH-EBL. Qantas - 'Hong Kong Trader' in the standard livery at Port Morseby Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-477.)

VH-INY. Ansett-ANA - 'Skymaster' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 1125-380.)

VH-INY. Ansett-ANA - 'Skymaster' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, March 1967.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 1125-379.)

VH-INY. Ansett-ANA - 'Skymaster' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-282.)

VH-INY. Ansett-ANA - 'Skymaster' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-293.)

VH-INY. Ansett-ANA - 'Skymaster' in the standard livery at Sydney RAAF Base Richmond, May 12, 1967.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-025.)

VH-INY. Ansett-ANA - 'Cargomaster' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-193.)

VH-INY. Ansett-ANA - 'Cargomaster' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-248.)

VH-INY. Ansett-ANA - 'Cargomaster' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-286.)

ZS-IGB. South West Airways - in the standard livery at Johannesburg Airport, May 1973.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-128.)

ZS-IGB. South West Airways - in the standard livery at Johannesburg Airport, May 1973.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-135.)

ZS-IGB. Suidwes Lugdiens - in the standard livery at Johannesburg Airport, July 1973.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-214.)

ZS-IGB. Suidwes Lugdiens - in the standard livery at Johannesburg Airport, August 1973.