VH-FAB
 |
 |
| Type: | L-18-56 Lodestar C-60A-5-LO |
| MSN: | 18-2603 |
| Previous Identities: | 43-16443 LT934 VHRDR (callsign) VH-AKZ (NTU) |
| Subsequent Identities: | F-OALK |
History:
|
19OCT43
|
Delivered to the USAAF as a C-60A-5-LO as 43-16443. (Source: 2) |
|
21OCT43
|
To Jackson for fitment of long range tanks. (Source: 2) |
| Transferred under lend lease to Netherlands East Indies Air Force as LT934. | |
|
24DEC43
|
Ferried to Australia by First Lt J.C. Meeuwenoord arriving in Canberra in early JAN44. (Source: 3) |
| NOTE: This aircraft was originally shown as LT933 but this is now believed to be incorrect and that it is in fact LT934. The following entries from the RAAF status card (Source: 1) apply to LT934. | |
|
MAR44
|
LT934 was withdrawn from service in need of a 240 hourly overhaul. (Source: 3) |
|
14APR44
|
Received 37SQN ex NEI on loan. (Source: 1) |
| Allotted callsign VHRDR. (Source: 3) (Allocation does not appear on status card) | |
|
15APR44
|
Allotted ANA ex 37SQN for 480 (subsequently changed to 240) hourly and engine change. (Source: 1) |
|
20APR44
|
Issued ANA, Parafield ex 37SQN. (Source: 1) |
|
24APR44
|
Received ANA, Parafield ex 37SQN. (Source: 1) |
|
MAY44
|
Offered to the RAAF on loan from NEI. (Source: 3) |
|
24MAY44
|
Allotted 37SQN ex 1AD on receipt ex ANA, Parafield. (Source: 1) |
|
05JUN44
|
Transferred to the RAAF on loan. (Source: 3) |
|
02JUL44
|
Issued and received 34SQN via 1AD ex ANA, Parafield. (Source: 1) |
|
11JUL44
|
Issued and received 37SQN ex 34SQN. (Source: 1) |
|
22SEP44
|
To be returned to NEI. NEI HQ to arrange collection. (Source: 1) |
|
27SEP44
|
Received 2 NEI Transport Sqn ex 37SQN. (Source: 3) |
|
28SEP44
|
Returned NEI ex 37SQN. (Source: 1) |
|
28SEP44
|
Departed Essendon with LT933 and LT936 for Archerfield. (Source: 3) |
|
07NOV44
|
Transferred to 1 NEI Transport Sqn. (Source: 3) |
|
22MAY45
|
Aircraft will be available for handing over to RAAF in June. (Source: 1) |
|
31MAY45
|
Allotted 37SQN ex NEI on loan. (Source: 1) |
|
13JUN45
|
Received 37SQN ex NEI. (Source: 1) |
|
10JUL45
|
Allotted 7AD, Tocumwal ex 37SQN for inspection and possible repair (probably fuel tanks). (Source: 1) |
|
09AUG45
|
Issued and received 7AD ex 37SQN. (Source: 1) |
|
16JAN46
|
Allotted 1AD ex 7AD for storage. (Source: 1) |
|
22JAN46
|
Allotment to 1AD cancelled. (Source: 1) |
|
01OCT46
|
To be stored Cat D. (Source: 1) |
|
06JUL48
|
Sold
by Foreign Liquidation Commission "to an American citizen in
Manila." (Source: 1) This "American citizen" was Warren MacMillan who operated in the Philippines under the name Southern Eastern. (Source: 4) |
|
28JUN49
|
To be released to James Hosie or agent. (Source: 1) |
|
18JUL50
|
Aircraft removed from CMU Tocumwal at 0600 hrs. (Source: 1) |
|
21JUL50
|
"Mr Douglas Fawcett, 21 Monterey St, Kogarah, NSW produced original disposal documents contract of sale and also other documents which establish ownership." (Source: 1) |
|
01SEP50
|
Registration application from Air Cargo Pty. Ltd., Bankstown signed by Doug Fawcett. Previous identity quoted as C-60A c/n 2603 previously 43-16443. (Source: 5) |
|
SEP50
|
DCA allocated registration VH-AKZ (Source: 5) |
|
03OCT50
|
DCA memo allocated VH-FAB in lieu of VH-AKZ on request of Mr Fawcett. (Source: 5) |
|
13OCT50
|
Test flown at Bankstown and CofA and CofR issued to Air Cargo Pty Ltd as VH-FAB (Source: 5) |
|
NOV50
|
Used to uplift wool bales owing to floods at Moree, NSW. The aircraft flew extensively between "Yarraldool" Station and Narrabri, uplifting 15 bales of wool on each trip. The aircraft was crewed by Captain Whitfield and F/O Nancy Ellis and carried up to 70 bales each day. The aircraft also flew from various other properties using specially prepared airstrips. |
|
05DEC50
|
The wool airlift was almost completed by this date. |
|
DEC50
|
The aircraft operated a TAA contract to carry cargo between Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Tasmania using TAA flight numbers. |
|
JUL51
|
The aircraft was noted at Mascot painted grey and white with green trim and large "AIR CARGO" titles above the cabin windows. |
|
02NOV51
|
CofA renewed at Bankstown. (Source: 5) |
|
08APR52
|
Weighed at Bankstown. |
|
27NOV52
|
CofA renewed at Bankstown. (Source: 5) |
|
28NOV52
|
Change of ownership to Ronald W. Howitt (Aviation Sales), Sydney. (Source: 5) |
|
NOV52
|
The aircraft was ferried to Saigon as VH-FAB by Ron Howitt. |
|
15DEC52
|
Change
of ownership to Societe Indochinoise Ravitaillement, Saigon care of
Mrs Max Worms (Source: 5) Identity quoted as "F-74". (Source: 2) |
|
15DEC52
|
Struck off the Australian Register. (Source: 5) |
|
DEC52
|
Re-registered F-OALK. |
|
13APR54
|
Crashed on takeoff from Xien-Khouang, Laos. Aircraft destroyed and all sixteen on board killed. Aircraft was loaded outside trim limits. Crash also reported to have occurred at Phnom Penh and the date is also reported as 13JUL54. (Source: 2) |
|
SOURCES
|
|
|
1
|
RAAF Form E/E.88. |
|
2
|
Marson, Peter J., The Lockheed Twins, Air-Britain, 2001 |
|
3
|
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. |
|
4
|
Geoff Goodall, The Migrant Caper |
|
5
|
NAA, DCA file on VH-FAB |
| Issue | Date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 26DEC22 |
Added
information from Source: 4
|
| 6 | 25SEP22 |
This
aircraft is reported as having used the callsigns VHRDR and VHRDU
but VHRDR is most likely correct.
|
| 5 | 11JUL22 |
Corrected
Dutch identity from LT933 to LT934.
Added RAAF history from the status card of LT934. Added references from Source: 3 |
| 4 | 03APR16 |
Refreshed
page layout with no change to data.
|
| 3 | 05MAR06 |
Major
update drawn from the aircraft file in the National Archives of
Australia. Thanks to Geoff Goodall.
|
| 2 | 16APR99 | - |
Return to the Lockheed File
