Tuesday 24 November 2020

QANTAS Founders Museum - Douglas C-47A

This time we have a look at the Douglas C-47A, Hayden, our tour guide, didn't spend a lot of time on this one as we couldn't climb inside or go underneath for a look so it was just a brief overview.









Facts about VH-EAP. 
Douglas C-47A-20-DK. CN 12873.
This aircraft has also been registered as: VH-EBY, VH-SBG & VH-BPL.

This aircraft was constructed at the Douglas Oklahoma City plant in March 1944
It was built as a Douglas C-47A-20-DK
It was allocated U. S. serial number '42-93009'
Delivered to the United States Army Air Force on the 28th March 1944
It was transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force under the 'lend / lease' agreement on the 12th April 1944
It entered onto the Australian Military Aircraft Register as A65-44 and was allocated to No 33 and 38 Squadrons, No 86 Transport Wing during the war
It was sold to Qantas Empire Airways in April 1948
It was entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAP on the 08th June 1948
Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd
It was re registered as VH-EBY on the 29th July 1957
It was then sold to Trans-Australia Airlines (T.A.A) on the 1st September 1960 and it operated its first revenue service with TAA on the same day.
It was re registered as VH-SBG on the 8th December 1960
Withdrawn from use and stored pending sale on the 31st October 1973
Sold to Air Nuigini on the 12th February 1974
The aircraft entered onto the Papua New Guinea Aircraft Register as P2-SBG on the 1st June 1974
Withdrawn from service and stored at Port Moresby on the 31st July 1977
Sold to Air Queensland in October 1982
Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-BPL on the 15th October 1982
Registered to Air Queensland Ltd, Cairns
Operated by Air Queensland in a freighter configuration
Withdrawn from use and stored at Cairns when Air Queensland ceased operations - April 1988
VH-EAP was later donated to Qantas Founders Museum by John Williams, with the aircraft being dismantled, transported to Longreach and repainted in its original Qantas Empire Airways colours by retired and serving Qantas staff.







Information sourced from Wikipedia, QANTAS Founders Museum and aussieairliners.org

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