DCA
DC-3 VH-CAO (c/n 14050) was acquired immediately after the Second World
War and refurbished as an airways
survey aircraft by Butler Air Transport, Mascot. It was based at
Melbourne/Essendon throughout its career. The aircraft was maintained
for DCA by Trans Australia Airlines.
The photo above shows VH-CAO at Essendon in September 1956 in the then new 'final' colour scheme of white upper fuselage, polished metal wings and lower fuselage with light blue and white stripes on the fuselage. The photo below was taken on Christmas Day 1961. Although the basic colour scheme is the same, note DCA's Flying Unit badge on the fin and also on the nose. Click here to see the aircraft in an earlier colour scheme.
The aircraft was sold to Brain & Brown Air Freighters at Melbourne/Essendon
on 10 March 1962 and re-registered as VH-BAB. It was converted to a freighter
and operated by Brain & Brown from 1962 to 1974. In October 1974 the
aircraft was cancelled from the Register while it underwent a major overhaul,
but it was returned as VH-BAB in February the following year.
VH-BAB was sold to Air Express Holdings in November 1976 and flew until withdrawn in 1979. In July 1979 it was delivered to the Chewing Gum Field museum, Tallebudgera, Qld. When that museum closed it went to Drage's Air World at Wangaratta, Victoria, and when the latter folded it was sold at auction. It is reportedly under restoration to fly again at Mareeba in North Queensland.
(Photos: John Hopton/The Collection)
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