VH-EAM Douglas DC-3

VH-EAM. Douglas C-47A-20-DL. c/n 9286.

Was also registered as: A65-9; VH-EWA; VH-EWF; VH-PWN; ZK-AMS; VH-CWS.

Construction of this aircraft was completed at the Douglas Long Beach, California plant - March 1943

It was built as a Douglas C-47A-20-DL

Allocated the U. S. serial number '42-23424'

Delivered to the United States Army Air Force - March 25, 1943

Transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force under the 'lend / lease' agreement - April 1943

Delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force at Brisbane (Archerfield) - April 30, 1943

Entered onto the Australian Military Aircraft Register as 'A65-9'

Operated in Australia using the radio callsign 'VHCTI'

It was allocated to No. 36 Squadron and 34 Squadron - ?

It was attached to the British Mission in Japan - August 27, 1945 to September 16, 1945

Returned to No 3 Aircraft Depot - May 03, 1946

Sold to Qantas Empire Airways for $A 12, 500 - April 06, 1946

Struck off charge by the R. A. A. F. - December 10, 1946

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EAM - December 12, 1946

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd, Sydney

Converted to civilian standards by Qantas at Brisbane with seating for 21 passengers

It crashed on take-off during C of A test flight at Brisbane (Archerfield) - August 19, 1948

The accident was caused by crossed aileron control cables the result of inadequate inspection during overhaul

The aircraft required extensive repairs and rebuilding before it resumed service

Crew: Captain D. A. Tennant

The aircraft was withdrawn from service and prepared for sale to East-West Airlines - 1953

Sold to East-West Airlines - July 1953

Registered to East West Airlines Ltd, Tamworth - July 21, 1953

Ferried Brisbane (Archerfield) - Tamworth (Captains R. Walesby, B. McKenzie) - July 22, 1953

It retained the red Qantas Airways c/line and the Australian flag on the tail

The 'East-West Airlines' titles were added later by East-West

It operated a promotional flight Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - West Wyalong - Cowra - Sydney - August 01, 1953

Reregistered as VH-EWA - September 01, 1953

The aircraft was named 'Peel City'

It had the distinction of flying the shortest service between two airfields - January 15, 1954

It flew from the old Tamworth airfield to the new Tamworth airfield with total flight time of two minutes

Flight crew: Captain R. Walesby; F/O E. McKillop; Hostess V. Scott

It was converted to seat 28 passengers by East-West at Tamworth - 1956

Reregistered as VH-EWF - May 01, 1959

It was renamed 'Oxley City'

Leased to Westralian Air Surveys - December 23, 1961

Leased to Airlines of South Australia - June 02, 1965 to December 1965

Reregistered as VH-PWN - November 27, 1967

The East West DC-3 fleet were reregistered to free-up the 'EW-' block for the growning Friendship fleet

Leased to Queensland Pacific Trading Co. Pty Ltd - September 1969

Leased to Adastra Aerial Surveys Pty Ltd - May 08, 1972

Sold to Bush Pilots Airways (PNG) Pty Ltd - September 1972

Registered to Bush Pilots Airways Ltd - September 22, 1972

Registered to B. P. A. (PNG) Pty Ltd - June 19, 1973

Registered to Bush Pilots Airways Ltd - January 27, 1977

Registered to Great Pacific Aeroplane Company, Essendon - August 10, 1979

Bush Pilots Airways Ltd changed its name to Air Queensland Ltd - 1982

Registered to Air Queensland Ltd - January 04, 1982

Withdrawn from use and stored at Cairns - September 1987

Ferried Cairns - Brisbane for storage at the T. A. A. Maintenance facility - ?

Stored at Brisbane Airport - December 19, 1987 to February 1988

Air Queensland ceased operations - April 1988

Sold to Air Rambler (Australia) Pty Ltd t/a DC-3 Queensland - April 07, 1988

DC-3 Queensland obtained their Air Operators Certificate - June 03, 1988

The aircraft was then utilised on scenic outback charter services throughout northern Queensland

Sold to R. P. Lang, Highbury, S.A. t/a Desert Air Safaris - June 10, 1991

Sold to Pionair Adventures Ltd, New Zealand - April 1993

Departed Adelaide (West Beach) on the ferry flight to New Zealand - May 01, 1993

It arrived Auckland on completion of the ferry flight - May 03, 1993

The aircraft was overhauled and restored by Fieldair at Palmerston North

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - June 16, 1993

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-AMS - July 15, 1993

Registered to Pionair Ltd

The aircraft was named 'Spirit of Queenstown'

Ferried Auckland - Norfolk Island - Lord Howe Island - Brisbane - July 25, 2001

Departed Cairns on a scenic 12 day 'Aussie Outback Tour' - July 31, 2001

The tour concluded at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - August 12, 2001

Returned to New Zealand - ?

Ferried Christchurch - Kaitaia - Lord Howe Island - Sydney (Bankstown) - May 02 - 03, 2004

Leased to Pionair Australia Pty Ltd

It was utilised in Australia for outback tourist charter flights

Advertised for sale for $NZ 550,000 - late 2005

Cancelled from the New Zealand Aircraft Register - March 03, 2006

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-CWS - March 14, 2006

Registered to Classic Wings, Midland, W.A.

Overhauled at Sydney (Bankstown) and prepared for the ferry flight to Western Australia

Departed Sydney (Bankstown) on the ferry flight to Perth - August 25, 2006

It arrived at Perth (Jandakot) - August 28, 2006

Limited charter and scenic flights were carried out from Perth (Jandakot)

Operations were suspended pending the granting of an Air Operators Certificate - February 21, 2007

The Air Operators Certificate (AOC) was issued - September 09, 2008

The final service flown by Classic Wings - January 10, 2009

The aircraft was repossessed by the Westpac Banking Corporation

Registered to Westpac Banking Corporation - January 12, 2009

It was stored at Perth (Jandakot) awaiting sale

Departed Perth (Jandakot) on the ferry flight to Maitland Airport - June 01, 2009

It arrived at Maitland on completion of the ferry flight - June 11, 2009

Ferry route: Perth - Kalgoorlie - Forrest - Ceduna - Port Augusta - Broken Hill - Parkes - Maitland

It was auctioned by Slattery's Auctions - July 23, 2009

Registered to Slattery Auctions Australia Pty Ltd, Hexham, N. S. W.

Sold to JNP Enterprises Pty Ltd, Broome, W. A.

Registered to JNP Enterprises Pty Ltd, Broome, W. A. - June 24, 2010

It was intended to be operated by Peter Christoudias, Broome t/a Broome Air Services

The aircraft was advertised for sale - October 2012

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - December 11, 2015

It was dismantled at Sydney (Bankstown) for shipping to South Korea - January 22, 2016

Trucked Sydney (Bankstown) - Wollongong (Port Kembla) by Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics

Shipped on the vessel 'Tamarlane' for Masan, South Korea - March 2016

Possibly for the Korean Naval Academy Museum, Masan

Current status - ?

VH-EWA. East-West Airlines - in the basic Qantas livery at an unknown location, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-153.)

VH-EWA. East West Airlines - 'Peel City' in the original livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, August 18, 1957.

(B. Colledge Copyright Image 0250-704.)

VH-EWA. East West Airlines - 'Peel City' in the original livery at Tamworth Airport, date unkown.

(E. D. Daw Collection Copyright Image 0251-190.)

VH-EWA. East West Airlines - 'Peel City' in the original livery at an unknown airport, date unkown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-689.)

VH-EWF. EWA East-West Airlines - 'Peel City' in the revised livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unkown.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0250-921.)

VH-EWF. East-West Airlines - 'Peel City' in the new livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, February 02, 1964.

(E. D. Daw Collection Copyright Image 0251-280.)

VH-PWN. East-West - in the final livery at Canberra Airport, date unkown.

(E. D. Daw Copyright Image 0250-314.)

VH-PWN. East-West - in the final livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 15, 1967.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-569.)

VH-PWN. East-West - in the final livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, December 15, 1967.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-570.)

VH-PWN. East-West - in the final livery at Tamworth Airport, October 27, 1968.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-252.)

VH-PWN. Queensland Pacific Trading Company Pty Ltd - in the basic East-West livery at Cairns Airport, January 1972.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-292.)

VH-PWN. Queensland Pacific Trading Company Pty Ltd - in the basic East-West livery at an unknown airport, June 1972.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-222.)

VH-PWN. Queensland Pacific - in the original Bush Pilots livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-327.)

VH-PWN. Bush Pilots Airways - in the original livery at Cairns Airport, November 1972.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0251-156.)

VH-PWN. Bush Pilots Airways Australia - in the original livery at Cairns Airport, January 1973.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0251-155.)

VH-PWN. Bush Pilots Airways Australia - in the original livery at Brisbane Airport, December 10, 1972.

(E. D. Daw Copyright Image 0251-374.)

VH-PWN. Bush Pilots Airways - in the original livery at Cairns Airport, December 1974.

(E. D. Daw Collection Copyright Image 0251-339.)

VH-PWN. Bush Pilots Airways - in the revised livery at Cairns Airport, April 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-410.)

VH-PWN. BPA Australia's Northern Airline - in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, August 10, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-253.)

VH-PWN. BPA Australia's Northern Airline - in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, December 1980.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-085.)

VH-PWN. BPA Australia's Northern Airline - in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, December 1980.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0251-157.)

VH-PWN. BPA Australia's Northern Airline - in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, December 1980.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0251-158.)

VH-PWN. BPA - in the modified livery at Brisbane Airport, November 1981.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0251-161.)

VH-PWN. BPA - in the modified livery at Cairns Airport, January 1982.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-160.)

VH-PWN. Air Queensland - in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, November 1982.

(E. D. Daw Copyright Image 0251-340.)

VH-PWN. Air Queensland - in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, September 06, 1983.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-084.)

VH-PWN. Air Queensland - in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, March 31, 1984.

(E. D. Daw Copyright Image 0251-341.)

VH-PWN. Air Queensland - in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, November 1986.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-469.)

VH-PWN. Air Queensland - in the Australian Airlines livery at Cairns Airport, October 1987.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0251-162.)

VH-PWN. Air Queensland - in the Australian Airlines livery at Cairns Airport, October 1987.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0251-163.)

VH-PWN. Air Queensland - in the Australian Airlines livery at Brisbane Airport, December 1987.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-411.)

VH-PWN. DC-3 Queensland - in the Australian Airlines livery at Cairns Airport, September 1988.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-088.)

VH-PWN. DC-3 Queensland - in the Australian Airlines livery at Cairns Airport, September 1988.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-087.)

VH-PWN. DC-3 Queensland - in the revised livery at Cairns Airport, February 1990.

(E. D. Daw Copyright Image 0251-342.)

VH-PWN. DC-3 Queensland - in the revised livery at Cairns Airport, September 1990.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-592.)

VH-PWN. Dick Lang's Desert Air Safaris - 'Spirit of Australia' in the basic DC-3 Queensland livery at an unknown airport, February 1993.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-090.)

ZK-AMS. Dick Lang's Desert Air Safaris - 'Spirit of Australia' in the basic DC-3 Queensland livery at an unknown airport, June 1993.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-246.)

ZK-AMS. Pionair - in the standard livery at Wigam Air Force Base, March 28, 1996.

(J. Mounce Copyright Image 0251-391.)

ZK-AMS. Pionair - in the standard livery at Queenstown Airport, December 1996.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-837.)

ZK-AMS. Pionair - in the standard livery at Queenstown Airport, December 1996.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-381.)

ZK-AMS. Pionair - in the standard livery at Wigram Airport, October 1998.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-838.)

ZK-AMS. Pionair - in the special 'Lion Nathan' livery at Auckland Airport, March 1999.

(J. Mounce Copyright Image 0250-839.)

ZK-AMS. Pionair - in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, July 31, 2001.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-829.)

ZK-AMS. Pionair - in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, August 2001.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-828.)

VH-CWS. Classic Wings - in the basic Pionair livery at Sydney Bankstown Airport, May 2006.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-822.)

VH-CWS. Classic Wings - in the basic Pionair livery at Adelaide West Beach Airport, August 27, 2006.

(R. Brown Copyright Image 0251-571.)