VH-FMS
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Type: L-12A Electra Junior
Msn: 1275
Previous Identities:
| 14DEC39 | Delivered to the Pittsburgh Steel Company as NC18977. |
| 14MAR42 | Impressed by the USAAF as a UC-40D-LO with serial 42-38348. (Source: Vic Smith) |
| 27JUL42 | Transferred to the RAF under lend/lease as LA623. (Source: Vic Smith) |
| 05SEP42 | To 24 Sqn RAF, Hendon. (Source: Vic Smith) |
| 01SEP44 | Entered service with Metropolitan Communications Sqn at Hendon. (Source: Vic Smith) |
| 07SEP44 | Allotted to Metropolitan Communications Sqn at Hendon. (Source: Vic Smith) |
| 07SEP45 | Last logged operation: Hendon-Ronaldsway-Long Kesh-Hendon. Pilot: F/Lt Morgan. (Source: Vic Smith) |
| 17NOV45 | Struck off charge by RAF. (Source: Vic Smith) |
| 19FEB46 | Registered to Sidney Cotton's company Aeronautical and Industrial Research Corporation as G-AGWN. |
| 21MAY47 | UK CofA validation No. 269 issued, aircraft having been converted for civil use by Shorts at Belfast who issued conversion number SH.50C. |
| MAY47 | Sold to Skyways Ltd. |
| JUN50 | Sold to The Zinc Corporation as G-AGWN. Operated on executive duties in Europe until early 1952. |
| 10APR52 | Ferried from Fisherman's Bend to Essendon for CofA overhaul by Ansett. Aircraft was fitted with additional long range tanks and configured for 2 crew and 4 passengers. Aircraft was named "Silver Star". |
| 18APR52 | Registration application from The Zinc Corporation as VH-BHH. To be operated by Silver City Airways, a subsidiary of The Zinc Corporation. |
| 24OCT52 | Test flown at Essendon by Len Diprose. |
| 31OCT52 | Further test flight by Len Diprose after which Certificates of Airworthiness and Registration were issued. |
| OCT57 | Sold to the Bush Church Aid Society for Australia and Tasmania. |
| 02NOV57 | Ferried from Essendon to Ceduna, SA by A.E. Chadwick and G.M. Job. Operated in the aerial ambulance role. Later renamed "S.J. Kirkby". |
| 24JUN59 | Re-registered VH-FMS (Flying Medical Service). |
| 17MAR60 | Undercarriage collapsed on landing at Ceduna, SA. Pilot G.M. Job and 4 passengers were unhurt but the aeroplane was severely damaged. The aeroplane was trucked back to Parafield, SA and stored in Robby's hangar. |
| 04NOV60 | Cancelled from Australian Register. |
| 19AUG62 | Trucked to Moorabbin, VIC having been purchased by Allan Rae. Restoration was begun but suspended after the acquisition of VH-ASV. |
| late 67 | Sold to Dr Anthony Fisher. |
| end 67 | Wings trucked to Dr Fisher's property near Jerilderie, NSW. |
| 17FEB68 | Fuselage departed Moorabbin for Dr Fisher's property. |
| 84 | Remains of VH-FMS sold to John G. Love and trucked to Albury, NSW. |
| Registration VH-JGL reserved but not taken up. | |
| JUL95 | Acquired from John Love by the National Air and Space Museum of Australia. (NASMA traded Catalina parts to the RAAF Museum. The RAAF Museum traded C-47 A65-64, subsequently VH-JGL, to John Love and John Love traded VH-FMS to NASMA!) As of 17SEP97, the fuselage is still at Albury with John Love and all other components are at Point Cook. |
| FEB98 | With the demise of the NASMA project, the aircraft's ownership reverted to the Museum of Victoria. |
| 20DEC00 | The fuselage arrived at Australia's Museum of Flight at Nowra, NSW on long term loan from the Museum of Victoria. The wings will be collected from Melbourne later. Additional components have been acquired from the U.S. (Source: AMOF) |
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See
also Sidney Cotton's Kolossal Lockheeds
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| Issue | Date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 10NOV05 |
Corrected
the name applied to the aeroplane to "S.J. Kirkby". Previously
shown as "Kirby". (See 02NOV67). Photographic evidence supplied
by Geoff Goodall.
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| 6 | 14JAN05 |
Added
extra detail of RAF service thanks to Vic Smith.
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| 5 | 13FEB04 |
Added
a colour image of the aircraft in Zinc Corporation service thanks
to Geoff Goodall.
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| 4 | 30JUN01 |
Aircraft
moved to Nowra.
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