VH-ANM. Douglas C-47A-65-DL. c/n 18923.

Was also registered as: 41-10460; ZK-CAW; VQ-FAI.

 

 

Construction was completed at the Douglas Long Beach, California plant - October 01, 1943

It was built as a Douglas C-47A-65-DL

Delivered to United States Army Air Force - October 15, 1943

It was allocated the United States serial number '41-10460'

It arrived at Brisbane (Archerfield) on delivery to 5th Air Force - December 07, 1943

Allocated to the 40th Troop Carrier Squadron (317th TCG) - December 19, 1943

It was operated using the radio callsign 'VHCKM'

It was loaned to No 36 Squadron, R.A.A.F. at Townsville - April 28, 1944

Returned to 4 Aircraft Depot at Brisbane (Archerfield) - October 27, 1944

It was allocated to 69th Troop Carrier Squadron

It was excluded from U.S.A.A.F. Inventory and stored at Tacloban, Philippines - December 31, 1945

Sold to Australian National Airways by the U. S. Foreign Liquidation Commission, Manila

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-ANM - February 06, 1947

Registered to Australian National Airways Pty Ltd, Melbourne

It was converted to civilian standards by Australian National Airways at Melbourne (Essendon)

This conversion included the installation of Wright Cyclone R1820 engines

The aircraft was named 'Yannana' (South Darling Downs)

It was utilised by Guinea Airways - 1947

Registered to Queensland Airlines Pty Ltd - February 04, 1956

This aircraft was converted to a 'Viewmaster' configuration by Butler Air Transport - 1957

Registered to Ansett-ANA Pty Ltd, Melbourne - December 07, 1958

Registered Airlines of N.S.W. - February 14, 1961

Sold to SPANZ - August 15, 1961

Conversion to SPANZ requirements was carried out at Melbourne (Essendon)

Conversion included the reinstallation of P&W engines, air-stairs and 4 aft-facing dickie seats at the front of the cabin

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-CAW - October 13, 1961

Registered to South Pacific Airlines of New Zealand Pty Ltd

The aircraft was named 'RMA George Bolt'

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - October 14, 1961

Departed Melbourne (Essendon) on the ferry flight to New Zealand - October 22, 1961

Ferry route: Melbourne - Sydney - Nolfolk Island - Auckland (Whenuapai)

Operated its first revenue service with SPANZ - October 1961

The air-stairs were replaced with a standard cabin door - August 1965

Sold to NZNAC for 14,100 NZ Pouds after SPANZ ceased operations - February 28, 1966

The aircraft had flown 45,340 hours to date

Cancelled from the New Zealand Aircraft Register - May 12, 1966

Leased to Qantas Empire Airways and sub-leased to Fiji Airways - June 04, 1966

Entered onto the Fiji Aircraft Register as VQ-FAI - June 06, 1966

Sold to Qantas Empire Airways for $A 28,000 - ?

The lease to Fiji Airways was terminated and the aircraft was returned to Qantas - August 05, 1969

Sold to New Zealand National Airways Corporation

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-CAW - August 05, 1969

Leased to Mount Cook Airlines as the registered operator - August 05, 1969

Registered to South Seas Airways Ltd, Auckland - May 07, 1971

This airline did not commence services due to licensing complications

Transferred to Fieldair Ltd t/a Airland - May 13, 1971

Converted for aerial agricultural work at Palmerston North

Commenced operations with Fieldair - November 22, 1972

The aircraft was named 'Whio'

Withdrawn from service having flown 56,232 hours - October 29, 1984

Towed to Wanganui with the view of returning it to airworthy status but this was abandoned due to the high costs

Sold to Richmond Harding of Wanganui Air Work - May 28, 1985

Towed by road to Taupo for refurbishment to 'Viewmaster' standards - 1989

Cancelled from the New Zealand Aircraft Register - July 10, 1990

It was displayed at Taupo Car Sales / Aeroplane Car Company car yard - 1990

Transferred to MacDonalds, Taupo, New Zealand - November 06, 1990

Preserved

 

 

VH-ANM. Australian National Airways - 'Yannana' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(B. Colledge Copyright Image 0250-657.)

VH-ANM. Australian National Airways - 'Yannana' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(B. Colledge Copyright Image 0250-424.)

VH-ANM. Australian National Airways - 'Yannana' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(B. Colledge Copyright Image 0250-658.)

VH-ANM. Australian National Airways - 'Yannana' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, circa 1954.

(E. Coates Copyright Image 0251-556.)

VH-ANM. Queensland Airlines Pty Ltd - in the 'A.N.A.' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(B. Colledge Copyright Image 0250-831.)

VH-ANM. Queensland Airlines Pty Ltd - in the 'Butler Air Transport' livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-615.)

VH-ANM. Butler Air Transport - in the 'powder-blue' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-875.)

VH-ANM. Butler Air Transport - in the 'powder-blue' livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-210.)

ZK-CAW. Airlines of New Zealand - in the 'Ansett-ANA' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, October 1961.

(A. Fraser Copyright Image 0250-709.)

ZK-CAW. Airlines of New Zealand - in the 'Ansett-ANA' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, October 1961.

(A. Fraser Copyright Image 0250-761.)

ZK-CAW. Airlines of New Zealand - in the 'Ansett-ANA' livery at Whenaupai Airport, March 1962.

(Whites Aviation WA-56979-F Copyright Image 0251-667.)

ZK-CAW. SPANZ South Pacific Airlines of New Zealand - 'R.M.A. George Bolt' in the standard livery at Christchurch Airport, February 1966.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-640.)

VQ-FAI. Fiji Airways - in the basic 'NAC' livery at Nadi Airport, October 1967.

(A. Fraser Copyright Image 0251-375.)

ZK-CAW. South Seas Airways - in the standard livery at Palmerston North Airport, May 1971.

(B. Lockstone Copyright Image 0251-588.)