This aircraft was built as a Douglas C-54A-5-DO

Delivered new to the United States Army Air Force - February 24, 1944

It was allocated the U. S. serial number '42-107450'

Sold to Braathens-SAFE - December 26, 1949

Entered onto the Norwegian Aircraft Register as LV-HAV - January 20, 1947

The aircraft was named 'Norse Explorer'

Cancelled from the Norwegian Aircraft Register - October 07, 1950

Sold to Trans Caribbean Airways - October 17, 1950

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N1220V - October 1950

Leased to Seaboard & Western Airlines Inc for use as a freighter - October 1950

The aircraft was named 'Hawaiian Airtrader'

Returned to Trans Caribbean Airways - January 20, 1953

Leased to Seaboard & Western Airlines - 1958 to 1959

Sold to Aero Factors Corp, Luxembourg - September 01, 1959

Sold to Interocean Airways - March 07, 1961

Entered onto the Luxembourg Aircraft Register as LX-LMK - ?

Leased to the United Nations for use in The Congo on relief flights - March 07, 1961

Returned to Luxembourg and stored without engines - 1963

Sold to Aviation Traders Ltd - April 09, 1964

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TAF - December 11, 1964

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne

Sold to Trans-Australia Airlines - December 15, 1964

Departed Southend on the ferry flight to Australia - December 20, 1964

It arrived at Melbourne (Essendon) on completion of the ferry flight - January 04, 1965

Ferry route: Southend - Rome - Beirut - Damascus - Bahrain - Bombay - Calcutta - Colombo -

Cocos Island - Perth - Melbourne

The aircraft was named 'George Grey'

Entered service with Trans-Australia Airlines as a freighter - January 19, 1965

Operated its final revenue service with T. A. A. - March 22, 1969

Placed in open storage at Melbourne (Essendon) Airport

Sold to Flying Tigers - October 1969

Sold to Air Vietnam - November 08, 1969

Departed Melbourne (Essendon) on the ferry flight to Hong Kong - November 08, 1969

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - January 09, 1970

Entered onto the Vietnamese Aircraft Register as VX-NUM - ?

The aircraft was seriously damaged when a hijacker detonated explosives inside the cabin - February 20, 1974

It was on a scheduled service from Qui Non to Da Nang when the pilots diverted to Hue

On learning of this deception the hijacker killed himself and 3 other passengers

The aircraft was repaired, and later withdrawn from service at Phu-Bai airport

The exact fate of this aircraft is not known at this time

VH-TAF. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'George Grey' in the final livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, February 11, 1967.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1125-034.)

VH-TAF. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'George Grey' in the final livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, September 1967.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1125-325.)

VH-TAF. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'George Grey' in the final livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, September 30, 1967.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1125-035.)

VH-TAF. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'George Grey' in the final livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(J. Hopton Copyright Image 1125-006.)

VH-TAF. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'George Grey' in the final livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-243.)

VH-TAF. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'George Grey' in the final livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 1125-394.)