VH-ANG Douglas DC-4-1009

VH-ANG. Douglas DC-4-1009. c/n 42918-14.

Was also registered as: NC10203; VH-BPD; VH-EBM; N600Z; OD-AEC.

This aircraft was built new for Western Airlines

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as NC10203 - April 1946

Delivered to Western Airlines - April 10, 1946

Sold to Australian National Airways - July 09, 1947

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-ANG - August 26, 1947

Registered to Australian National Airways Pty Ltd, Melbourne

The aircraft was named 'Palana' (star)

Sold to British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines - April 22, 1948

Reregistered as VH-BPD - April 22, 1948

Registered to British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines Ltd

The aircraft was renamed 'Discovery'

Handed over to B.C.P.A. on completion of the last A.N.A. crewed service

Route: Vancouver - San Francisco - Honolulu - Canton Island - Nadi - Sydney

Sold to Qantas Empire Airways - May 06, 1949

Reregistered VH-EBM - May 09, 1949

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd, Sydney

The aircraft was renamed 'Philippine Trader'

Operated the inaugural Sydney - Darwin - Labuan - Hong Kong service as EM202 - June 26, 1949

Crew: Captain J. M. Hampshire

It was badly damaged at Hong Kong (Kai Tak) - September 16, 1949

Chartered by T.E.A.L. to operate first Melbourne - Christchurch (Harwood) - Melbourne service - June 29, 1951

It was under the command of Captain D. F. McMaster

The aircraft suffered major nose damage whilst landing at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - November 08, 1951

The nose wheel collapsed during the landing roll

It was operating the Singapore - Sydney service (Captain G. Condell)

It was repaired and returned to service

Sold to Zantop Air Transport Inc, Detroit - October 16, 1959

Departed Sydney on the ferry flight to Burbank, California (Captain Christensen) - October 16, 1959

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - November 05, 1959

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N600Z - November 1959

Sold to Trans Mediterranean Airways, Beirut - April 1962

Entered onto the Lebanese Aircraft Register as OD-AEC - ?

It crashed into the sea off Brindisi, Italy shortly after take-off - July 09, 1962

It was operating the Beirut - London - Frankfurt - Brindisi - Beirut service as Flight 104

All six people on board the aircraft were killed

The cause of this accident was attributed to the loss of power in No. 1 and 2 engines, resulting in loss of altitude

Crew fatigue was a possible contibuting factor

For more information regarding this accident please click 'HERE'

VH-ANG. Australian National Airways Pty Ltd - 'Palana' in the all-metal livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown.

(B. Colledge Copyright Image 1125-999.)

VH-BPD. British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines - 'Discovery' in the standard livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(E. D. Daw Collection Copyright Image 1125-142.)

VH-EBM. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Philippine Trader' in the all-metal livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, June 26, 1949.

This was the inaugural service to Hong Kong Kai Tak Airport.

The crew from left to right: Flight Steward R. McAlister; Flight Steward R. Hogan; F/O S. A. Lindsay; H/O J. Hodges; R/O H. W. Taylor; F/O A. J. Somerville; R/O J. E. Hills; N/O E. C. Richards; Captain K. D. Meares; Captain A. R. H. Morris; Captain J. H. Hampshire.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1125-523.)

VH-EBM. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Philippine Trader' in the all-metal livery at Hong Kong Kai Tak Airport, September 16, 1949.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1125-543.)

VH-EBM. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Philippine Trader' in the all-metal livery at an unknown airport, November 1949.

(P. Sheehan Collection Copyright Image 1125-498.)

VH-EBM. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Philippine Trader' in the all-metal livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, date unknown.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1125-524.)

VH-EBM. Qantas Empire Airways - 'Philippine Trader' in the all-metal livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, circa 1950.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1125-535.)

VH-EBM. Qantas - 'Philippine Trader' in the original livery at an unknown location, date unknown.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1125-525.)

VH-EBM. Qantas - 'Philippine Trader' in the original livery at an unknown location, date unknown.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1125-593.)

VH-EBM. Qantas - 'Philippine Trader' in the original livery at an unknown location, date unknown.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1125-733.)

VH-EBM. Qantas - 'Philippine Trader' in the original livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, November 08, 1951.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1125-539.)

VH-EBM. Qantas - 'Philippine Trader' in the original livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, November 08, 1951.