VH-TAC Douglas DC-4

VH-TAC. Douglas C-54A-5-DO. c/n 7466-074.

Was also registered as: 41-107447; LV-ABP; HS-VGX; G-BCDT; XW-PKH.

Delivered new to United States Army Air Force - February 11, 1944

It was allocated the U. S. serial number '41-107447'

Sold to Flota Aerea Mercante Argentina - 1946

Entered onto the Argentinean Aircraft Register as LV-ABP - ?

Transferred to Aerolineas Argentinas when the airlines was merged - May 1949

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TAC - August 21, 1951

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne

Sold to Trans-Australia Airlines - November 18, 1951

It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the delivery flight - November 24, 1951

Delivery route: London - Ciampino - Cyprus - Bahrein - Karachi - Singapore - Darwin - Melbourne

Aircraft was named 'John Gould'

Entered service with Trans-Australia Airlines - December 01, 1951

It was converted to freighter configuration - 1959

The aircraft was renamed 'Nat Buchanan'

Operated its last revenue service as a freighter Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Melbourne (Essendon) - April 23, 1969

Placed in open storage at Melbourne (Essendon)

Reactivated due to Melbourne dockstrike and operated Melbourne - Hobart - Launceston - Melbourne - May 27, 1969

Returned to open storage at Melbourne (Essendon)

The Trans-Australia Airlines titles were removed at Melbourne (Essendon) - November 15, 1969

Chartered to Ansett-ANA - December 05 to December 31, 1969

During this charter it was operated in the basic T.A.A. livery without titles

Ferried Melbourne - Brisbane on a 2-year lease to Air Express Frozen Foods - March 15, 1970

Intended lease did not proceed and the aircraft ferried Brisbane - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) for storage - April 02, 1970

Sold to Air Siam, Bangkok, Thailand - April 1970

Entered onto the Thai Aircraft Register as HS-VGX - May 1970

The aircraft was repainted in standard Air Siam livery at Sydney (Kingsford Smith)

It was named 'Nackorn Rachasima'

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on the ferry flight to Thailand (Bangkok) - November 03, 1970

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - November 05, 1970

Sold to Eagle Aircraft Services - March 29, 1974

Entered onto the British Aircraft Register as G-BCDT (CofR R.1450/1) - April 29, 1974

Registered to Eagle Aircraft Services, Leavesden Airport, Watford, Herts

Aircraft is believed to have remained stored in Thailand

Cancelled from the British Aircraft Register - November 21, 1974

Sold to Royal Air Lao - January 1975

Entered onto the Loatian Aircraft Register as XW-PKH - ?

Aircraft was destoyed during a communist attack on Phnom Penh - April 10, 1975

VH-TAC. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Nat Buchanan' in the original 'Cargomaster' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-538.)

VH-TAC. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Nat Buchanan' in the original 'Cargomaster' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-537.)

VH-TAC. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Nat Buchanan' in the original 'Cargomaster' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, February 1966.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 1125-386.)

VH-TAC. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Nat Buchanan' in the final 'Cargomaster' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, February 04, 1967.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-031.)

VH-TAC. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Nat Buchanan' in the final 'Cargomaster' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, March 1968.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 1125-388.)

VH-TAC. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Nat Buchanan' in the final 'Cargomaster' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 1125-387.)

VH-TAC. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Nat Buchanan' in the original 'Cargomaster' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, November 03, 1969.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-032.)

VH-TAC. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Nat Buchanan' in the final 'Cargomaster' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, November 03, 1969.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-242.)

VH-TAC. Ansett-ANA - in the basic T.A.A. livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 25, 1969.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 1125-385.)

VH-TAC. TAA - in the basic livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 20, 1970.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1125-495.)

VH-TAC. Air Siam Cargo - 'Nackorn Rachas Ma' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, October 17, 1970.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1125-212.)

VH-TAC. Air Siam Cargo - 'Nackorn Rachas MA' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, October 1970.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-252.)

VH-TAC. Air Siam Cargo - 'Nackorn Rachas MA' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, October 20, 1970.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1125-470.)

VH-TAC. Air Siam Cargo - 'Nackorn Rachas MA' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, October 20, 1970.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1125-471.)

HS-VGX. Air Siam Cargo - in the basic livery at Bangkok Airport, December 1973.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-480.)

HS-VGX. Air Siam Cargo - in the basic livery at Hong Kong Kai Tak Airport, August 13, 1974.