VH-BDN
Petunia
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| Type: | L-414-08 Hudson Mk IVA |
| MSN: | 6044 |
| Previous Identities: | 41-23185 A16-115 [VH-RBB] |
| 05DEC41 | Received 1 AD ex USA. |
| 05JAN42 | Received 14 Sqn ex 1 AD. |
| 14JAN43 | Received 32 Sqn ex 1 AD. |
| 24APR43 | Received 6 Sqn ex 32 Sqn. |
| 23SEP43 | Received 7 AD ex 6 Sqn via 15 ARD for transport conversion. |
| 06JAN44 | Allotted radio callsign VH-RBB. |
| 26MAY44 | Received 3 CU ex 7 AD for experimental duties with the Radio Physics Laboratory. |
| 12AUG44 | Allocated for use of AOC Eastern Area. |
| 05MAR45 | Received 2 AD ex 3 CU. |
| 16JUL45 | Received 1 OTU ex 2 AD. |
| 03DEC45 | Allocated to Bush Fire Patrol by 1 OTU until 31MAR46 after which aircraft to proceed to 2 AD for storage. |
| 16APR46 | Received 2 AD ex 1 OTU for storage. |
| 31MAR47 | Sold to W.R. Carpenter & Co, Sydney for £1,250. |
| 05MAY47 | Issued to purchaser. |
| 27MAY47 | Registration application from Mandated Airlines Ltd., Lae. To be used as a freighter. |
| 26AUG47 | Added to register as VH-BDN. |
| 06OCT48 | Withdrawn from service and stored at Mascot. |
| 27JUN49 | Sold to Fawcett Aviation Engineering Service, Sydney. Operated with Fawcett Aviation Service titles and named "Petunia". (Doug Fawcett advises that the name was derived from a popular song which was often played in the hangar while the Hudson was being worked on). |
| 10JUL49 | Returned to service on lease to Mandated Airlines. |
| 25MAR50 | Crashed
at Lae while on a test flight. The port engine failed and the aircraft
returned to the airfield but had to go around as there was a DC-3
still on the runway. The aircraft hit telephone wires at the end of
the strip and crashed into a house killing a young honeymooning couple.
The pilot, Captain Gibson-Lee DFC, AFC died from third degree burns
ten days later. Two mechanics on board escaped unhurt. [Extracted from Balus Vol 1 by James Sinclair.] |
| JUL50 | Struck off register. |
