| VHCXE in service
with GHQ at an unknown location and date. The significance of this photograph
cannot be over-emphasised, for it establishes a sequence of three identities which
were assigned to this particular DC-3. Clearly evident on the original photograph
are the following: Between the door and the star insignia are the over-painted letters "ALW". This establishes that the aeroplane was indeed once PK-ALW of KNILM. On the fin and rudder are four over-painted characters. From the shape of the over-painting there is little doubt that the characters underneath are "1944". This is the manufacturer's serial number of DC-3 PK-ALW. This number was unofficially adopted as a USAAF tail number. The fact that there are only four over-painted characters indicates that the tail number was presented as "1944" and not as "11944" as might have been the case with an official fiscal 1941 serial number. On the fin and rudder is the radio call-sign "VHCXE" which was assigned to this aeroplane by the Allied Directorate of Air Transport (ADAT). Note that the call-sign is presented without a hyphen. Thus is established the sequence of identities: PK-ALW 1944 VHCXE. Other noteworthy features of this photographs are: The officer adjacent to the rear wheel of the truck is Brigadier General (later Major General) Spenser B. Akin, head of the Central Bureau SWPA. Visible forward of the door is the wind deflector fitted to enable the rearmost cabin window to be used as a machine gun position. Photo: MacArthur Memorial Archives (#00006486A) |