VH-ARZ
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| Type: | L-18-40/56 Lodestar |
| MSN: | 18-2102 |
| Previous Identities: | LT907 41-907 42-68347 VHCAA (callsign) |
| Subsequent Identities: | ZK-ANA N4632V N89K N1716E (?) N796G XA-TAP N796G N3998S (?) N796G |
History:
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15MAY41
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Delivered to Netherlands East Indies Air Force (NEIAF) as LT907. |
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MAR42
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With the fall of the NEI, the aircraft was evacuated to Australia. (Source: 3) |
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17MAR42
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Was one of eleven Lodestars sold to the USAAF. (Source: 3) |
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17MAR42
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Impressed by USAAF as a C-56B-LO. Operated by 21TCS. Operated by ADAT with callsign VHCAA. |
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APR42
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Issued to 22TCS as 41-907. This was evidently an interim USAAF serial which was allocated "in the field" by adding the prefix 41- to the three digit Dutch serial. This practice was common with impressed foreign civil aircraft at the time. Subsequently the aircraft was retrospectively allocated a formal 42- serial. |
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17MAY42
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Allocated USAAF serial 42-68347 as C-56B-LO |
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05NOV42
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Issued to Qantas at Archerfield as VHCAA |
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01DEC42
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Application for CofR and CofA by Qantas Empire Airways, 43 Creek St., Brisbane. (Source: 4) |
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02DEC42
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Officially signed for by Qantas. |
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03DEC42
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DCA approve civil operations of VHCAA by Qantas pending CofA. Flew Archerfield to Port Moresby same day. |
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03DEC42
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Memo from DCA, Archerfield to DCA, HQ advising that the aircraft is airworthy and expected to be operating with Qantas from this date. (Source: 4) |
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03DEC42
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Entered service with Qantas, Brisbane to Port Moresby, Capt Denny. (Source: Synopsis of Events: Q.E.A. Operations from Commencement of war with Germany 3/9/1939 compiled by I Isaacs, 31 August 1943, on file W2 War - Qantas WW2, file 3 of 3. Qantas Heritage Collection) |
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04DEC42
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Commenced operations on the Port Moresby to Buna supply shuttle. (Source: Synopsis of Events: Q.E.A. Operations from Commencement of war with Germany 3/9/1939 compiled by I Isaacs, 31 August 1943, on file W2 War - Qantas WW2, file 3 of 3. Qantas Heritage Collection) |
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05DEC42
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Part of nose cut off by USAAF C-47 at Port Moresby. Aircraft repaired and returned to service within two days. |
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JAN43
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On completion of Buna shuttle VHCAA (and VHCAK) returned to the ADAT shuttle Brisbane/Townsville/Port Moresby. During their time on the Buna shuttle, VHCAA and VHCAK made 77 return trips to Buna carrying 339 passengers in, 96 sick and wounded out as well as 95 tons of freight. VHCAA operated 32 trips from Port Moresby to Buna and return. |
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22JAN43
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Special CofA X-7 issued by DCA. (Source: 4) |
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28JAN43
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Crashed on take-off from Townsville for Port Moresby when the First Officer prematurely retracted the undercarriage with damage to both props and the underside of the fuselage. The leading edge of one wing was damaged during removal of the aircraft from the runway. Date of accident shown as 28JAN but was previously thought to have been 29JAN. (Source: 4) |
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06FEB43
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Ferried from Townsville to Archerfield for full repairs. (Source: 4) |
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01MAY43
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CofA suspension lifted after repairs, having been suspended since 28JAN43. (Source: 4) |
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24JUN43
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Flew Archerfield-Rockhampton-Townsville operated by Qantas as VHCAA. (Source: Harrison Air Log, John T. Harrison) |
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20MAY44
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Returned to USAAF |
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OCT44
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Qantas used VHCAA on civil operations. Troop benches were replaced by chairs from DH-86s VH-USF and VH-USC. |
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14NOV44
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This aircraft was one of 12 listed in a memorandum from the U.S. Government offering an assortment of Douglas and Lockheed types to the highest bidder for cash. VHCAA was said to be in daily operation having accumulated an estimated 3170 hours. (Source: John Hopton) |
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09FEB45
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Minor damage in crosswind landing at Winton, QLD. |
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APR46
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Last flight with QEA |
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MAY46
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Sold by the Foreign Liquidation Commission in Manila to an Australian customer. The aircraft was located at Archerfield. (Source: 3) |
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MAY46
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Import Licence #264 issued in respect of this aircraft. (Source: 4) |
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29MAY46
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CofA renewed to Aircrafts Pty Ltd, Archerfield. |
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08AUG46
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Registration changed to VH-ARZ. By this time, the aircraft was being described as type L-18-56. (Source: 4) |
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09AUG46
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Application for CofA by Aircrafts Proprietary Ltd., Archerfield, Brisbane. Seating configuration shown as 3 crew plus 14 passengers. (Source: 4) |
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19AUG46
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Interim CofA #1157 issued but no CofR issued as Aircrafts Pty Ltd intended to sell the aircraft in New Zealand and not operate it themselves. (Source: 4) |
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25AUG46
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At 0640 immediately after take-off from Bundaberg, the port engine failed and the aircraft returned for a safe landing. Captain W. McCallum, First Officer C. Storrey and no passengers. A DCA investigation revealed that the engine, which had been signed off as serviceable, had been purchased from the USAAF at Eagle Farm and not overhauled by APL. The engine had suffered a major failure with internal destruction. The failure was attributed to poor quality maintenance by the USAAF in the closing stages of the war. Later the same day, the relief aircraft, Lodestar VH-ARY returned to Bundaberg with a failed generator. (NAA MP1665/1 via G. Goodall) |
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16NOV46
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Sold to Union Airways of N.Z. (renamed NZNAC from DEC46) |
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16DEC46
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Added to N.Z. Register as ZK-ANA. |
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20DEC46
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Departed Brisbane on delivery to N.Z. Struck off Australian Register same day. (Source: 4) |
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20DEC46
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Arrived in NZ, the second Lodestar for NAC. NAC had intended to use the first two Lodestars to operate additional services over the Christmas holiday period but the need to fit different radio equipment delayed their entry into service. (Source: "NAC The Illustrated History" by Waugh, Layne and McConnell) |
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24FEB47
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Entered service with NZNAC named "Kawatere" (Red Crowned Parakeet) |
| Sold to Costine and Co., Boston MA. | |
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01JUN51
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Departed NZ as ZK-ANA crewed by Commanders H.C. 'Johnny' Walker and L.J. Ransom and/or Donald Ayson and Radio Operator L.M. Sweetman. ZK-ANA was the first NAC Lodestar to be retired. (Source: "NAC The Illustrated History" by Waugh, Layne and McConnell) |
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05JUN51
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Arrived Los Angeles after 27 hours 30 minutes flying time. |
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26JUL51
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Registered N4632V to K. Babb Co. |
| Howard
W. "Kroger" Babb (30 December 1906 – 28 January 1980) was an American
film and television producer and showman who used the name of "Mr.
Pihsnamwohs" (showmanship spelled backwards). This name was painted
on the aircraft which retained its basic NZNAC livery. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kroger_Babb |
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21APR54
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To Mountain States Aviation. |
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22APR54
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To F&S Construction Company. |
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31MAY56
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To Combs Aircraft Inc. |
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15JUL56
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To Industrial Leasing Corp. |
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29AUG56
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Re-registered N89K. (Also quoted as N86K). |
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14MAY59
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To S-G Aircraft |
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01FEB63
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Registered to Lear Siegler, Santa Monica as N89K. |
| Re-registered N1716E (?) | |
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10AUG66
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Re-registered to Lear Siegler, Santa Monica as N796G. |
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06SEP67
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To Carolina Aircraft Corp. |
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09NOV67
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To Omni Investment Corp, Washington DC as N796G |
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JAN77
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To Lineas Aereos Mexicanas, Mexico as XA-TAP but soon returned to the U.S. (Possibly never even delivered). |
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JUL77
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Reverted to N796G. |
| Re-registered N3998S (?) | |
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JAN99
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Still on U.S. Register as N796G |
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27FEB13
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N796G was cancelled from the U.S. Register due "expiration". (FAA website) |
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Does this aircraft still exist? Please report any recent sightings. |
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SOURCES
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1
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RAAF Form E/E.88. |
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2
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Marson, Peter J., The Lockheed Twins, Air-Britain, 2001 |
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3
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Boer, Dr P.C., Netherlands East Indies Air Transport units of the Militaire Luchtvaart KNIL (Army Aviation Corps of the Royal NEI Army) and their aircraft in Australia and Java, 16 January 1943-1 November 1946, February 2020. |
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4
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NAA, MP113/1 VH/ARZ Part 1 [337492] |
| Issue | Date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | 06JUL22 |
Added
details from Source: 3.
|
| 14 | 02APR16 |
Refreshed
page layout with no change to data.
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| 13 | 19SEP15 |
Added
arrival date in NZ 20DEC46 and names of the crew who ferried the
aircraft back to the U.S. on 01JUN51.
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| 12 | 12SEP15 |
Added
entry at 14NOV44 thanks to John Hopton and Geoff Goodall.
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| 11 | 06SEP15 |
Added
entry at 24JUN43 thanks to Geoff Goodall.
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| 10 | 23APR15 |
The
aircraft was cancelled from the U.S. Register on 27FEB13.
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| 9 | 06AUG12 |
Added
an image of the aircraft as N4632V
thanks to Paul Sheehan.
Also added details of the owner Kroger Babb. |
| 8 | 21JUN12 |
Added
details of Qantas acceptance of the aircraft. Sourced from the
Qantas Heritage Collection by Phil Vabre.
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| 7 | 07MAY12 |
Added
the interim USAAF serial 42-68347.
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| 6 | 04MAY12 |
Added
two wartime images thanks to Geoff Goodall.
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| 5 | 05MAR06 |
Added
a reference to an engine failure on 25AUG46. Thanks to Geoff Goodall.
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| 4 | 04NOV04 |
Added
further details of Australian service extracted from NAA, MP113/1
VH/ARZ Part 1 [337492] by Chris O'Neill.
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| 3 | 13FEB04 |
Added
an image of the aircraft in Qantas wartime service as VHCAA thanks
to Gary Killion.
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| 2 | 16APR99 | - |
