Auster J.5 Autocrat VH-CAM (1)

Purchased new by DCA from the Australian Auster dealers, Kingsford Smith Aviation Service in Sydney, VH-CAM (c/n 2883) was among large numbers of Auster airframes shipped from the manufactuer in England to be assembled at Bankstown Airport and fitted with military disposals Gipsy Major 1 engines built in Australia during the war.

VH-CAM was registered on 28 October 1949. It was initially used on trials with the DCA's Operational Research Camera, where it is seen in the photo above at Melbourne/Fisherman's Bend. The aircraft was then allocated to DCA's Papua New Guinea Region.

(Photo: Herald-Sun/CAHS collection)

Auster J.5 Autocrat VH-CAM (1)

Purchased new by DCA from the Australian Auster dealers, Kingsford Smith Aviation Service in Sydney, VH-CAM (c/n 2883) was among large numbers of Auster airframes shipped from the manufactuer in England to be assembled at Bankstown Airport and fitted with military disposals Gipsy Major 1 engines built in Australia during the war. VH-CAM was registered on 28 October 1949. It was initially used on trials with the DCA's Operational Research Camera, where it is seen in the photo above at Melbourne/Fisherman's Bend. The aircraft was then allocated to DCA's Papua New Guinea Region. (Photo: Herald-Sun/CAHS collection)

VH-CAM was flown to its new base at Port Moresby where it flew on DCA duties for only two years until it crashed during a forced landing off Port Moresby harbour on 5 December 1951. The photo above shows it in New Guinea with an unknown Departmental officer at the controls. Click here to see another photo of VH-CAM in New Guinea. Four years later another Auster, a later model J/5G Autocar was purchased by DCA for Papua New Guinea and also registered VH-CAM. (Photo: CAHS collection) Back to Departmental Aircraft index page If this page appears without a menu bar at top and left, click here