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| 06OCT48 | Withdrawn from service and stored at Mascot.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). |
| 05JUL49 | Test flown at Camden by Warren Penny. (Source: 1) |
| 10JUL49 | DCA files show that the aeroplane returned to service on lease to Mandated Airlines on 10JUL49 but the following entry casts doubt on that claim. Clearly though, the aeroplane did return to PNG sometime before March 1950. |
| 16JUL49 | Flown Camden-Cootamundra-Mascot by Warren Penny. (Source: 1) |
| 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. |
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SOURCES
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1
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Log Book of Warren Penny referenced by Geoff Goodall. |
| Issue | Date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 10MAY21 |
Added
information at JUL49 from Source: 1.
|
| 6 | 17FEB00 |
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