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VH-TAC. Douglas DC-4-1009. c/n 43067-63.
It was also registered as: VH-BPA; VH-EBL and VH-INY.
This aircraft was ordered new by Trans Australia Airlines - ? Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-TAC - August 28, 1946 Registered to the Department of Civil Aviation, Melbourne Registered to Australian National Airlines Commission - October 22, 1946 Departed Burbank on the delivery flight to Australia - October 28, 1946 Arrived Melbourne (Essendon) on compoletion of the delivery flight - October 31, 1946 The aircraft was named 'John Forrest' Operated first revenue service - December 01, 1946 Sold to British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines - April 22, 1948 Reregistered as VH-BPA - April 22, 1948 The aircraft was renamed 'R. M. A. Resolution' Operated first revenue service with B.C.P.A. - April 25, 1948 Route: Sydney - Nadi - Canton Island - Honolulu - San Francisco Flight crew: Captains J. W. Bennett, V. Polley, J. Bonnington This was the first service operated by B.C.P.A. utilising an aircraft owned by the airline Sold to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd - February 15, 1949 Reregistered as VH-EBL - February 15, 1949 The aircraft was renamed 'Hong Kong Trader' Operated survey flight Sydney - Darwin - Labuan - Hong Kong (Captain E. Simms) - March 03, 1949 Operated first Qantas DC-4 flight Sydney - Iwakuni (Japan) return (Captain L. M. Hampshire) - April 21 - 24, 1950 It operated the last Qantas DC-4 flight to Noumea - December 1959 Sold to Ansett-ANA - January 13, 1961 Reregistered as VH-INY - January 13, 1961 Registered to Ansett-ANA, Melbourne Ferried Sydney - Melbourne (Essendon) on delivery to Ansett-ANA - January 15, 1961 Operated first Ansett-ANA revenue service Melbourne (Essendon) - Devenport - January 17, 1961 Leased to McRobertson Miller Airlines - November 16, 1965 Converted to freighter configuration at Melbourne (Essendon) Airport - 1968 It had flown some 33,856 hours at time of conversion Ownership transferred to Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd, Melbourne - December 18, 1969 Withdrawn from service at Melbourne (Essendon) Airport - December 24, 1969 Prepared for sale to the Marine Diamond Company Entered onto the South African Aircraft Register as ZS-IGB - January 01, 1970 Registered to Marine Diamond Company, Johannesburg, South Africa Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - January 02, 1970 Accepted by Marine Diamond Company at Melbourne (Essendon) - January 05, 1970 Departed Melbourne (Essendon) on the ferry flight to South Africa - January 05, 1970 Arrived Johannesburg on completion of the ferry flight - January 10, 1970 Ownership was transferred to Consolidated Diamond Mines - January 1972 Sold to Suidwes Lugdiens / Southwest Airways - May 1972 The aircraft was named 'Ondangua' Withdrawn from service and stored at Windhoek, South Africa - October 05, 1977 Scrapped at Eros Airport, Windhoek for parts - January 1979 This aircraft had the distinction of being owned and operated by all four Australian airlines |
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VH-BPA. British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines Airlines - 'R.M.A. Resolution' in the standard livery at Nadi Airport, May 05, 1948. (Whites Aviation Copyright Image WA-13029F via P. Sheehan Collection 1125-673.) |
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VH-BPA. British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines Airlines - 'R.M.A. Resolution' in the standard livery at Nadi Airport, May 05, 1948. (Whites Aviation Copyright Image WA-13988F via P. Sheehan Collection 1125-674.) |
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VH-BPA. British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines Airlines - 'R.M.A. Resolution' in the standard livery at Nadi Airport, May 05, 1948. (Whites Aviation Copyright Image WA-13988F via P. Sheehan Collection 1125-674.) |
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VH-BPA. British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines Airlines - 'R.M.A. Resolution' in the standard livery at Nadi Airport, May 05, 1948. (Whites Aviation Copyright Image WA-13990F via P. Sheehan Collection 1125-675.) |
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VH-BPA. British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines Airlines - 'R.M.A. Resolution' in the standard livery at Nadi Airport, date unknown. (P. Sheehan Collection Copyright Image 1125-501.) |
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VH-BPA. British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines Airlines - 'R.M.A. Resolution' in the standard livery at Nadi Airport, July 05, 1948. (Whites Aviation Copyright Image WA-13992F via P. Sheehan Collection 1125-676.) |
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VH-EBL. Qantas - 'Hong Kong Trader' in the standard livery at Hong Kong Kai Tak Airport, July 1957. This was the last Qantas DC-4 service to Hong Kong. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1125-522.) |
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VH-EBL. Qantas - 'Hong Kong Trader' in the standard livery at Noumea Airport, December 1959. This was the last Qantas DC-4 service to Noumea. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1125-556.) |
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VH-EBL. Qantas - 'Hong Kong Trader' in the standard livery at Noumea Airport, December 1959. This crew of the last Qantas DC-4 service to Noumea. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1125-557.) |
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VH-EBL. Qantas - 'Hong Kong Trader' in the standard livery at Noumea Airport, December 1959. This was the last Qantas DC-4 service to Noumea. (Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1125-521.) |
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VH-EBL. Qantas - 'Hong Kong Trader' in the standard livery at Lae Airport, date unknown. (K. Gould Copyright Image 1125-309.) |
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VH-EBL. Qantas - 'Hong Kong Trader' in the standard livery at Port Morseby Airport, date unknown. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-477.) |
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VH-INY. Ansett-ANA - 'Skymaster' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown. (G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 1125-380.) |
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VH-INY. Ansett-ANA - 'Skymaster' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, March 1967. (G. Bennett Collection Copyright Image 1125-379.) |
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VH-INY. Ansett-ANA - 'Skymaster' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-282.) |
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VH-INY. Ansett-ANA - 'Skymaster' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-293.) |
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VH-INY. Ansett-ANA - 'Skymaster' in the standard livery at Sydney RAAF Base Richmond, May 12, 1967. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-025.) |
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VH-INY. Ansett-ANA - 'Cargomaster' in the standard livery at Brisbane Airport, date unknown. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-193.) |
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VH-INY. Ansett-ANA - 'Cargomaster' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-248.) |
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VH-INY. Ansett-ANA - 'Cargomaster' in the standard livery at Melbourne Essendon Airport, date unknown. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-286.) |
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ZS-IGB. South West Airways - in the standard livery at Johannesburg Airport, May 1973. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-128.) |
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ZS-IGB. South West Airways - in the standard livery at Johannesburg Airport, May 1973. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-135.) |
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ZS-IGB. Suidwes Lugdiens - in the standard livery at Johannesburg Airport, July 1973. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-214.) |
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ZS-IGB. Suidwes Lugdiens - in the standard livery at Johannesburg Airport, August 1973. (R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 1125-400.) |