A67-9


Type: L-18-56 Lodestar C-60A-5-LO
MSN: 18-2614
Previous Identities: 43-16454
Subsequent Identities: VHRAI (callsign)
ZK-APU
N633


History:

  Delivered to the United States Army Air Force as C-60A-5-LO serial 43-16454
05NOV43
Delivered ex Lockheed. (Source: 2)
16NOV43
Arrived Long Beach. (Source: 2)
01DEC43
Departed Long Beach. (Source: 2)
08DEC43
Received 3AD Amberley on delivery to RAAF as A67-9. (Source: 1)
09DEC43
Received 37SQN ex USAAF. (Source: 1)
The 37SQN ORB states 10DEC43. (Source: 7)
  Allocated callsign VHRAI. (Source: 1)
31JAN44

Forced landing on North Road 10 miles south of Stirling Creek (Alice Springs area) owing to engine trouble. (Source: 1)

12FEB44
Ferried back to 37SQN after temporary repairs. (Source: 1)
21JUL44
Allotted 1AD, Laverton ex 37SQN for modification for special duties. (Source: 1)
25AUG44
Issued and received 1AD ex 37SQN. (Source: 1)
04OCT44
Allotted 1CU ex 1AD on completion of modification. Aircraft to be loaned to UK Air Liaison Staff and to be made available to Chief of Staff as required. (Source: 1)
12OCT44
Damaged electrical installation and flying control cables in vicinity front luggage storage. Cause due petrol leak being ignited by spark at electrical relay. No structural damage. Repairs expected to take 3-4 weeks. (Source: 1)
26NOV44
Issued 1CU ex 1AD. (Source: 1)
01DEC44
Allotted 26RSU, Noemfoor Island ex 1CU temporarily for use by AOC First TAF RAAF. (Source: 1)
On the same date, 26 Repair and Salvage Unit was renamed 26 Repair and Servicing Unit. (Source: 5)
04DEC44
Received 1CU ex 1AD. (Source: 1)
11DEC44
Issued 26RSU ex 1CU. (Source: 1)
12DEC44
Received 26RSU ex 1CU. (Source: 1)
19DEC44
Allotted and received ANA, Essendon ex 26RSU for engine change. (Source: 1)
19DEC44
Allotted No. 47 Operational Base Unit, Noemfoor Island ex 26RSU. (Source: 1)
20DEC44
Allotted 26RSU ex 37SQN (sic) on receipt from ANA. Aircraft to proceed via Brisbane to uplift urgent equipment for Pacific Echelon. (Source: 1)
26DEC44
Issued 47OBU ex ANA, Essendon. (Source: 1)
09JAN45
Flown Morotai-Noemfoor by Flt Lt M.O. Guthrie. (Source: Harrison Air Log, John T. Harrison)
10JAN45
Received at 47OBU ex 26RSU. (Source: 1)
23MAR45
Allotted 4CU, Archerfield ex 47OBU "and to carry all spares your area when issued. Aircraft not to be issued until seats removed and installed in A59-80.88. Provision of seats for this aircraft being made as soon as possible." (Source: 1)
11MAY45
Issued 4CU ex 47OBU. (Source: 1)
25MAY45
Received 4CU ex 47OBU. (Source: 1 - states 25.4.45)
10JUL45
Allotted 7AD, Tocumwal for inspection and possible tank repair. (Source: 1)
19JUL45
Received 7AD ex 4CU. (Source: 1)
16JAN46
Work to cease. Aircraft to be stored. (Source: 1)
08FEB46
Received 7AD Storage ex 7AD. (Source: 1)
03FEB47
Sold to Kingsford Smith Aviation Services, Mascot for £1,200. (Source: 1)
15MAY47
Issued to purchaser. (Source: 1)
47
Sold to NZNAC.
27JUN47
Registered ZK-APU. Named Korimako (Bellbird). (Source: 3)
05SEP47
Flown from Whenuapai to Brisbane via Norfolk Island and Sydney (Commander A.G. Gerrand) for refitting as an airliner by Qantas. (Source: 3) Image
  ZK-APU was the only NAC Lodestar to be painted in the second NAC livery with window line and tail stripes as carried by the NAC DC-3 fleet in the fifties. (Source: 3)
  Sold to Page Airways as N633. (Source: 4)
APR54
To Robert J. Dienst as N633. (Source: 4)
JUN63
To Pinellas Aircraft Inc. as N633. (Source: 4)
JAN64
To Raymond J. Leeward as N633. (Source: 4)
11MAY67
To Vanal Inc, Miami FL as N633. (Source: 6)
23NOV70
Cancelled from FAA Register. Fate unknown. (Source: 4)

 

SOURCES
1
RAAF Form E/E.88.
2
MAC Air Case 200. NAA via Gordon Birkett.
3
Waugh, Layne & McConnell, The Illustrated History of NZNAC 1947-1978, Kynaston Charitable Trust, 2007.
4
Marson, Peter J., The Lockheed Twins, Air-Britain, 2001.
5
Units of the RAAF, Maintenance Units, RAAF Historical Section, 1995
6
FAA Register.
7
NAA Series A9186 RAAF Unit History sheets (Form A50) [Operations Record Book - Forms A50 and A51] Number 37 Squadron Jul 43 - Feb 48


Issue Date Remarks
9 22JUN22
Chronology greatly expanded from Sources: 1 & 4.
8 01APR16
Refreshed page layout with no change to data.
7 19SEP15
Added further details of the aircraft's service with NAC.
6 06SEP15
Added entry at 09JAN45 thanks to Geoff Goodall.
5 24JUN06
Added delivery details thanks to Gordon Birkett.
4 05MAR06
Added more detail of the forced landing on a main road. Although the date is shown on the status card as 01FEB44 it is now known to have been on 31JAN44. Thanks to Geoff Goodall.
3 16APR99 -





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