VH-FAB
|
|
|
Type: L-18-56 Lodestar C-60A-5-LO
Msn: 2603
Previous Identities:
| Built as a C-60A-5-LO for the USAAC as 43-16443 | |
| Transferred under lend lease to Netherlands East Indies Air Force as LT-933 | |
| NOTE: This aircraft is also reported as LT-934 but LT-933 is believed to be correct. Because of this uncertainty and because the RAAF status cards are indexed under LT numbers, the RAAF usage of this aeroplane is not shown | |
| 14APR44 | Allotted
to 37 Sqn RAAF on loan from the NEIAF. (This applies equally to LT-933 or
LT-934) The aircraft retained its Dutch LT serial while on loan to the RAAF although it is believed that it was allocated the radio call-sign VHRDU. |
| 01SEP50 | Registration application from Air Cargo Pty. Ltd., Bankstown signed by Doug Fawcett. Previous identity quoted as C-60A c/n 2603. No mention of earlier history. (NAA) |
| SEP50 | DCA allocated registration VH-AKZ (NAA) |
| 03OCT50 | DCA memo allocated VH-FAB in lieu of VH-AKZ on request of Mr Fawcett. (NAA) |
| 13OCT50 | Test flown at Bankstown and CofA and CofR issued to Air Cargo Pty Ltd as VH-FAB (NAA) |
| NOV50 | Used to uplift wool bales owing to floods at Moree, NSW. The aircraft flew extensively between "Yarraldool" Station and Narrabri, uplifting 15 bales of wool on each trip. The aircraft was crewed by Captain Whitfield and F/O Nancy Ellis and carried up to 70 bales each day. The aircraft also flew from various other properties using specially preparde airstrips. |
| 05DEC50 | The wool airlift was almost completed by this date. |
| DEC50 | The aircraft operated a TAA contract to carry cargo between Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Tasmania using TAA flight numbers. |
| JUL51 | The aircraft was noted at Mascot painted grey and white with green trim and large "AIR CARGO" titles above the cabin windows. |
| 02NOV51 | CofA renewed at Bankstown. (NAA) |
| 08APR52 | Weighed at Bankstown. |
| 27NOV52 | CofA renewed at Bankstown. (NAA) |
| 28NOV52 | Change of ownership to Ronald W. Howitt (Aviation Sales), Sydney. (NAA) |
| NOV52 | The aircraft was ferried to Saigon as VH-FAB by Ron Howitt. |
| 15DEC52 | Change of ownership to Societe Indochinoise Ravitaillement, Saigon care of Mrs Max Worms (NAA) |
| 15DEC52 | Struck off the Australian Register. (NAA) |
| DEC52 | Re-registered F-OALK. |
| 13APR54 | Crashed on takeoff from Xiengkhouang, Laos. Aircraft destroyed and all on board killed. Aircraft was loaded outside trim limits. Crash also reported to have occurred at Phnom Penh and the date is also reported as 13JUL54. |
| Issue | Date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 05MAR06 |
Major
update drawn from the aircraft file in the National Archives of Australia.
Thanks to Geoff Goodall.
|
| 2 | 16APR99 | - |
