VH-FMS


Type: L-12A Electra Junior
Msn: 1275
Previous Identities:
  • NC18977
  • 42-38348 (USAAF)
  • LA623 (RAF)
  • G-AGWN
  • VH-BHH

Owner: Museum of Victoria, Melbourne
Base: Historical Aircraft Restoration Society, Albion Park, NSW
History:

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. The pilot 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)
01FEB10 Moved from Nowra to HARS at Albion Park. The aircraft is on loan to HARS from the Museum of Victoria. It will be restored by HARS.
 


Issue Date Remarks
10 01SEP12
Added an image by Bob McCutcheon of VH-BHH at Essendon in 1959. Thanks to Geoff Goodall.
9 07AUG11
Added an image of the aircraft stored at Albury in 1985 thanks to David Eyre.
8 04MAR10
The aircraft has been moved from Nowra to Albion Park on loan to HARS.
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.
6 14JAN05
Added extra detail of RAF service thanks to Vic Smith.
5 13FEB04
Added a colour image of the aircraft in Zinc Corporation service thanks to Geoff Goodall.
4 30JUN01
Aircraft moved to Nowra.




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