Construction of this aircraft was completed at Oklahoma City plant - November 06, 1943

It was built as a Douglas C-47A-1-DK

It was allocated United States serial number '42-92274'

Transferred to Royal Australian Air Force under lend / lease agreement - January 7, 1944

Entered onto the Australian Military Aircraft Register as A65-29

It was operated using the radio callsign 'VHCTZ'

Allocated to No 34 & 35 Squadrons during the war

Withdrawn from use and struck-off charge - August 23, 1946

Sold to Trans-Australia Airlines - ?

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TAE - September 09, 1946

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne

The aircraft was named 'Gregory'

Operated its first revenue service with T.A.A. as a freighter - January 13, 1947

Leased to New Zealand National Airlines Corp - March 03 to December 08, 1960

During the lease it was crewed by T.A.A. staff

T.A.A. crew: Capts G. R. McDougall, M. C. Ostwald; First Officers A. W. Johnston, R. A. Hume

Reregistered as VH-SBL - December 08, 1960

It underwent conversion at Hawker de Havilland, Sydney to passenger/freight configuration - June 1964

Delivered to Lae, New Guinea to commence T.A.A. Sunbird Services - August 11, 1964

The aircraft was renamed 'Mt Hagen'

Sold to Air Nuigini - November 01, 1973

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - June 01, 1974

Entered onto the New Guinea Aircraft Register as P2-SBL - June 01, 1974

Reregistered as P2-ANR - November 18, 1975

Sold to Forrestair Pty Ltd, Melbourne

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-SBL - October 28, 1976

Registered to Forrester Stephen Pty Ltd, Melbourne

Converted to an all-freighter configuration and used mainly on Bass Strait services

Withdrawn from use and placed in open storage at Melbourne (Essendon) - November 1978

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - November 14, 1978

Sold to General Cargo Airways

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-SBL - February 24, 1981

Registered to Cranways Pty Ltd

Sold to Setair Pty Ltd - November 18, 1982

Sold to Gold Wings Air Cargo - July 28, 1983

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - February 24, 1984

Sold to Aero Yandee Pty Ltd - November 1985

The aircraft was refurbished and returned to a passenger configuration

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-SBL - October 09, 1986

Ferried to Western Australia and used for general joy flight and charter services

Sold to Air Rambler (Australia) Pty Ltd - t/a DC3 Queensland - March 09, 1988

Sold to P. P. Starr, N.S.W. t/a Dakota National - July 30, 1992

Aircraft had now flown a total of 48,080 hours to date

Sold to Dakota National Air (Australia) Pty Ltd - April 06, 1994

It was damaged when the undercarriage collapsed during pilot endorsement at Camden Airport - March 26, 1997

The aircraft was repaired and returned to service with Dakota National

Current status - ?

VH-TAE. Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Gregory' in the 'silver-tail' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(E. Coates Copyright Image 0251-111.)

VH-SBL. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - 'Gregory' in the 'white-tail' livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-854.)

VH-SBL. TAA Sunbird Services - 'Mt Hagen ' in the standard livery at Lae Airport, July 28, 1966.

(G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 0250-981.)

VH-SBL. TAA Sunbird Services - 'Mt Hagen ' in the standard livery at Port Moresby Airport, April 21, 1967.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-777.)

VH-SBL. TAA Sunbird Services - 'Mt Hagen' in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-335.)

VH-SBL. TAA Airlines of New Guinea - 'Mt Hagen' in the standard livery at Mt Hagen Airport, August 05, 1973.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-272.)

P2-SBL. Air Niugini - in the standard livery at Lae Airport, September 30, 1975.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-797.)

P2-ANR. Air Niugini - in the standard livery at Lae Airport, August 1976.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-387.)

P2-ANR. Forrestair - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, October 1976.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-057.)

VH-SBL. Forrestair - in the standard livery at over Port Phillip Bay, December 05, 1976.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-369.)

VH-SBL. Forrestair - in the standard livery at over Port Phillip Bay, December 05, 1976.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-464.)

VH-SBL. Forrestair - in the standard livery with additional 'Wards Air Cargo' titles at Melbourne Essendon Airport, February 1977.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-349.)

VH-SBL. Forrestair - in the standard livery with additional 'Wards Air Cargo' titles at Melbourne Essendon Airport, July 1977.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0251-166.)

VH-SBL. Forrestair - in the standard livery with additional 'Wards Air Cargo' titles at Melbourne Essendon Airport, July 1977.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0251-167.)

VH-SBL. Forrestair - in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, November 1977.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-481.)

VH-SBL. Forrestair Cargo - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 12, 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-539.)

VH-SBL. Forrestair Cargo - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 14, 1978.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-489.)

VH-SBL. Forrestair - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, February 1978.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0251-168.)

VH-SBL. Forrestair - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, May 1978.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0251-169.)

VH-SBL. Forrestair - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, November 1978.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0251-171.)

VH-SBL. Forrestair - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 1979.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-095.)

VH-SBL. Forrestair - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 12, 1980.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-794.)

VH-SBL. Forrestair - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, April 1980.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0251-170.)

VH-SBL. Forrestair - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 1980.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 0251-172.)

VH-SBL. General Cargo Australia - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, March 26, 1981.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-778.)

VH-SBL. General Cargo Australia - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, April 1981.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-410.)

VH-SBL. General Cargo Australia - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, May 1981.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-097.)

VH-SBL. General Cargo Australia - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, August 1981.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-290.)

VH-SBL. Setair - in the 'all-metal' livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, May 1983.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-596.)

VH-SBL. Gold Wings - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 28, 1983.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-597.)

VH-SBL. Gold Wings - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 1983.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-098.)

VH-SBL. Gold Wings - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, December 1983.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-781.)

VH-SBL. Gold Wings - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, January 07, 1984.

(E. D. Daw Copyright Image 0251-350.)

VH-SBL. Gold Wings - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, April 25, 1984.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-351.)

VH-SBL. Travair Western Australia - in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, October 1986.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-853.)

VH-SBL. Travair Western Australia - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-414.)

VH-SBL. O.T.M.S. - 'Overland Voyager 1' in the basic 'Travair' livery at an unknown airport, November 22, 1987.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-100.)

VH-SBL. NorthEast - in the basic 'OTMS' livery at Cairns Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-099.)

VH-SBL. DC-3 Queensland - in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, September 1988.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-094.)

VH-SBL. DC-3 Queensland - in the standard livery at Cairns Airport, September 1988.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-795.)

VH-SBL. Dakota National Air - in the standard livery at Sydney Bankstown Airport, September 1992.

(E. D. Daw Copyright Image 0251-347.)

VH-SBL. Dakota National Air - in the standard livery at Sydney Bankstown Airport, June 17, 1993.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-438.)

VH-SBL. Dakota National Air - in the standard livery at Sydney Bankstown Airport, June 29, 1993.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-855.)

VH-SBL. Dakota National Air - in the standard livery at Sydney Bankstown Airport, December 01, 1993.

(E. D. Daw Copyright Image 0251-346.)

VH-SBL. Dakota National Air - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-092.)

VH-SBL. Dakota National Air - in the standard livery at an unknown airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-093.)

VH-SBL. Dakota National Air - in the standard livery at Sydney Bankstown Airport, September 16, 1995.

(E. D. Daw Copyright Image 0251-348.)

VH-SBL. Dakota National Air - in the standard livery at an unknown location, April 28, 1996.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0251-468.)

VH-SBL. Dakota National Air - in the standard livery at Sydney Bankstown Airport, November 12, 1996.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-793.)

VH-SBL. Dakota National Air - in the standard livery at Sydney Bankstown Airport, November 27, 1999.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0251-796.)

VH-SBL. Dakota National Air - in the revised livery at Sydney Bankstown Airport, January 2002.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 0250-602.)

VH-SBL. Dakota National Air - in the revised livery with additional 'HSBC Warathas' decals at Sydney Bankstown Airport, January 2004.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-413.)