VH-BKY. Lockheed 414-08 Hudson IVA c/n 6034.

Was also registered as: VH-EWB; VH-EWS; VH-SMO; VH-AGP.

 

This aircraft was built as a Lockheed 414-08 Hudson Mk IVA

It was allocated the United Stares serial number '41-23175'

Transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force under the lend / lease scheme

Delivered to R.A.A.F. 2 Aircraft Depot, Richmond - December 05, 1941

Entered onto the Australian Military Aircraft Register as A16-105

Issued to 1 OTU (Special Transport Flight) Bairnsdale - December 20, 1941

Damaged when skidded off runway and went through a fence whilst landing at West Junction, Tasmania - July 10, 1942

Transferred to North Eastern Area to transport troops and supplies - December 10, 1942

Operational flying was based at Ward's Airstrip, Port Moresby then to Soputa and Dobodura

Returned to 1 OTU - January 23, 1943

Modified by having dual controls fitted - August 28, 1943

Iussed to 2 Aircraft Depot, Richmond - April 03, 1945

Withdrawn from use and stored by 2 Aircraft Depot, Richmond - November 19, 1945

It was deemed to be surplus to requirements and sold to European Air Transport (EAT), Sydney - September 24, 1947

The sale price was quoted as being 200 Pounds

Released to European Air Transport - November 25, 1947

Struck-off-charge - December 11, 1947

Accepted by European Air Transport at Sydney (Richmond) - December 12, 1947

Aircraft was not converted to civilian standards

Application to register aircraft as 'VH-CMA' was refused - March 01, 1949

Purchased by Curtis Madsen Aircrafts from the liquidators of European Air Transport - October 1949

When acquired the aircraft was in full military configuration and was subsequently converted to basic civil standards

Test flown after overhaul - October 31, 1949

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-BKY - October 31, 1949

Registered to Curtis Madsen Aircrafts Pty Ltd

The aircraft was named 'Riverina'

It was utilised on regular services from Sydney to Cootamundra, Temora and West Wyalong

Curtis Madsen were experiencing financial difficulties and the aircraft was sold to East-West Airlines - October 1950

Registered to East-West Airlines Ltd, Tamworth - October 21, 1950

Curtis Madsen ceased operations - November 17, 1950

Curtis Madsen's assests excluding the two Hudsons was taken over by Overland Air Services

East-West Airlines acquired VH-BKY and VH-JCM and other spare parts for 14,000 Pounds - November 20, 1950

The aircraft was erried to Tamworth where it was converted to full civilian standards

This aircraft did not enter service with East-West Airlines whilst registered as VH-BKY

Reregistered as VH-EWB - December 21, 1950

It was renamed 'Cathederal City'

Operated its first East-West revenue service - December 21, 1950

Ownership was transferred to South Coast Airways Pty Ltd - August 26, 1953

It was damaged whilst landing at Brisbane Airport when the starboard undercarriage collapsed - July 20, 1954

It was operating the scheduled Tamworth - Glen Innes - Brisbane service

Withdrawn from passenger service and transferred to the Special Projects Division - 1957

Converted for high altitude aerial photography work for the N.S.W. Lands Department contract

The conversion was estimated to have cost 14,000 Pounds

Reregistered as VH-EWS - March 21, 1958

Commenced initial aerial photography / mapping contract - July 21, 1958

Handed over to N.S.W. Lands Department at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - November 17, 1958

The aircraft was renamed 'George Vincent' (in honour of the N.S.W. Surveyor-General)

Withdrawn from service by East-West Airlines - August 11, 1960

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - May 30, 1961

South Coast Airways was wound up - March 31, 1962

Sold to Jon Fairfax & Sons t/a Herald Flying Services - September 10, 1962

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-SMO - October 04, 1962

Leased to Adastra Aerial Surveys Pty Ltd, Sydney - October 04, 1962

Experienced an in-flight fire in the starboard engine whilst operating over Richmond, N.S.W. - June 02, 1965

Returned to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) where the damage was repaired over the next 3 months

Registered to Sepal Pty Ltd, Mascot - June 24, 1966

Reregistered as VH-AGP - May 02, 1967

Withdrawn from use and stored at Tamworth Airport - 1971

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - November 17, 1971

Ferried Tamworth - Melbourne (Moorabbin) under a 'Permit To Fly' - November 10, 1976

Sold to Malcolm Long - November 1976

It was restored to 'military' configuration and marked as A16-123 'FX-F'

During the restoration a stock Hudson nose was obtained from New Zealand and grafted onto the airframe

This was necessary as the existing nose had been heavily modified for survey work

Ferried Melbourne (Moorabbin) - Melbourne (Point Cook) - December 05, 1976

It was a static exhibit at the Point Cook Air Show marked as 'A16-123' - November 1977

Transferred to Wings of Yesterday Museum, Tallebudgera, Queensland - November 21, 1981

Ferried Melbourne (Pt Cook) - Tamworth - Coolangatta under 'Permit To Fly' - November 22, 1981

Transported by road to Chewing Gum Museum where it was placed on display

Australian registration VH-FXF was reserved but not taken up

Ferried Melbourne (Moorabbin) - Wangaratta for display at the Airworld Museum - March 1986

It was repainted with the correct R.A.A.F. serial 'A16-105'

Sold to the Australian War Memorial, Canberra - January 15, 2001

On display in the ANZAC Hall, Australian War Memorial, Canberra as A16-105 'FX-F'

 

 

VH-AGP. Adastra Aerial Surveys - in the old livery over Sydney, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1806-018.)

VH-AGP. Adastra Aerial Surveys - in the final livery at Sydney Bankstown Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1806-003.)

VH-AGP. Adastra Aerial Surveys - in the final livery at Tamworth Airport, December 18, 1974.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1806-023.)

VH-AGP. Adastra Aerial Surveys - in the final livery at Tamworth Airport, November 1975.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 1806-030.)