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SKYTRAIN/44-76969

Serial #: 44-76969
Construction #: 16553/33301
Civil Registration:
  VH-MMD
  P2-MMD
  P2-ANU

Model(s):
  C-47B-35-DK Skytrain
Name: None
Status: Restoration?
Last info: 2007

History:
Built at the Douglas Oklahoma City plant - May 1945.
Delivered to United States Army Air Force as 44-76969.

• BOC: May 19, 1945

Delivered to RAAF as A65-109.

• BOC: May 31, 1945
• Received at 3 Aircraft Depot, Brisbane, June 05, 1945
• Allocated radio call-sign 'VHRGX'
• Assigned to No. 1 CU - June 11, 1945.
• Transferred to No. 111 Air-Sea Rescue flight for use by the GOC 8th Military District, February 27, 1946
• Transferred to No. 36 Squadron for special duties,May 31, 1946
• Transferred to No. 38 Squadron (86 Transport Wing) via Parafield,October 28, 1946
• Airframe was stripped of camouflage paint, polished.
• Fitted with 12 passenger seats.
• Returned to 86 Transport Wing - February 05, 1947
• Transferred to 91 Transport Wing, November 03, 1950
• Transferred to 86 Transport Wing, May 17, 1951
• Transferred to 90 Transport Wing, Malaya to replace Dakota A65-102, August 16, 1952
• Transferred to 86 Transport Wing, December 05, 1952
• Transferred to Base Squadron, Darwin to replace Dakota A65-69, August 09, 1954
• Transferred to No. 2 Aircraft Depot, February 12, 1958
• Aircraft was deemed to be surplus to requirments
• SOC: May 27, 1958
• All radio equipment was removed prior to the aircraft being offered for sale, June 09, 1958
• Allocated to the Commonwealth Disposal Commission for sale by tender, June 16, 1958
• Total time on airframe: 4,657 hours

Commercial Aviation Co, Guildford, Western Australia, June 24, 1958.

• Registered as VH-MMD, October 08, 1958.
• Ferried from R.A.A.F. Pearce to Perth Airport by a R.A.A.F. crew, June 28, 1958
• Converted to Douglas DC-3C-S1C3G civil standard by MMA at Perth Airport, October 08, 1958
• Operated the inaugural 'Explorer Tours of Western Australia and Northern Territory', June 11, 1962
• Leased to MacRobertson Miller Airlines Ltd, Dec. 22, 1966.
• Named 'RMA Durack'
• Withdrawn from service at Perth Airport with 27,668 hours on the airframe, January 31, 1969

Ansett Airlines of PNG, February 10, 1969.

• Departed Perth on the ferry flight to New Guinea, February 10, 1969

Ansett Ltd, May 23, 1973.
Air Niugini, November 01, 1973.
Papua New Guinea National Airline, Port Morseby, February 18, 1974

• Registered as P2-MMD, June 01, 1974.
• Registered as P2-ANU, Dec. 3, 1975.
• Withdrawn from service at Port Moresby, June 28, 1977.

Travmar Holdings Pty Ltd, August 12, 1977.

• Registered as VH-MMD.
• Ferried Port Moresby - Sydney (Bankstown) on delivery to Travmar, July 22, 1977
• Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register, July 10, 198
• 35,374:03 hours on airframe

Setair, Australia, November 1982-1983.

• Stored at Sydney Bankstown, November 1982.

National War Museum, June 25, 1984.

• Traded for a Hawker Sea Fury held by the Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, Sydney, August 16, 1984.
• Transported by road by the R.A.A.F to the Power House Castle Hill depot, December 09, 1984
• Loaned to the Australian Aviation Museum, Bankstown, December 18, 1999
• Wore basic Travmar livery.
• Stored at Sydney (Bankstown) Airport, December 03, 2003

Reported undergoing slow restoration at Bankstown Airport, 2007.

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