Construction was completed at the Douglas Oklahoma City plant - October 14, 1943

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

Delivered to the United States Army Air Force - ?

It was allocated the U. S. serial number '42-92194'

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

Entered onto the Australian Military Aircraft Register as A65-20

It was operated using the radio callsign 'VHCTU'

Allocated to No 33 & No 35 Squadrons during the war

Withdrawn from use and struck off charge - August 1946

Sold to Trans-Australia Airlines - August 22, 1946

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TAF - October 11, 1946

Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission, Melbourne

The aircraft was named 'Warburton' and later 'Champion'

Operated its first revenue service - August 16, 1947

Reregistered as VH-SBM - April 13, 1961

This aircraft was modified to enable the retransmission of television programs

Entered service in this mode by flying a holding pattern over Nhill, Victoria - January 23, 1963

Transferred to New Guinea to operate 'TAA Sun Bird' services - February 1965

Withdrawn from service and stored Brisbane pending its sale - January 26, 1968

Sold to Australian Aircraft Sales (ACT) Pty Ltd - March 30, 1968

Sold to Seulewah Air Services, Indonesia

It was named 'Windu Kentjana'

Departed Brisbane on the delivery flight to Jakarta - September 26, 1968

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - November 28, 1968

Entered onto the Indonesian Aircraft Register as PK-RDE

The final fate of aircraft not confirmed but presumed scrapped

VH-TAF. TAA Trans-Australia Airlines - in the 'silver tail' livery with additional 'Air Freight Services' titles at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(B. Colledge Copyright Image 0251-112.)

VH-SBM. TAA Sunbird Services - 'Champion' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-341.)

VH-SBM. TAA Sunbird Services - 'Champion' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, January 1965.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-169.)

VH-SBM. TAA Sunbird Services - 'Champion' in the standard livery at Lae Airport, July 1968.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 0250-982.)