VH-OAS
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| Type: | L-18-56 Lodestar C-60A-5-LO |
| MSN: | 18-2538 |
| Previous Identities: | 42-56045 A67-5 VHRAE (callsign) VH-GRB |
| Subsequent Identities: | N4849V N667 (NTU) N1000S (NTU) N101S XB-SAO N102SD (NTU but flown) N2786Y |
History:
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42-56045
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| 43 | To United States Army Air Force as C-60A-5-LO serial 42-56045. |
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27JUL43
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Delivered ex Lockheed. (Source: 5) |
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11AUG43
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Arrived Long Beach. (Source: 5) |
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15AUG43
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Departed Long Beach. (Source: 5) |
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A67-5
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23AUG43
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Received at 3AD, Amberley ex USA as A67-5. Allotted to 37SQN same day. Long range trans-Pacific tanks to be removed at 37SQN. (Source: 6) |
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28AUG43
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Received at 37SQN ex 3AD. (Source: 6) |
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A67-5
/
VH-RAE |
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01SEP43
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Allocated callsign VH-RAE. (Source: 6) |
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15JUN44
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Departed Archerfield for transport duties. (Source: 6) |
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16DEC44
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Port engine failure. (Source: 6) |
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22FEB45
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Allotted to 1AD, Laverton ex 37SQN for modification for use by the Governor-General. (Source: 6) |
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23FEB45
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Received at 1AD ex 37SQN. (Source: 6) |
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15MAR45
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Received at 1 Communication Unit ex 1AD. (Source: 6) |
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10APR45
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Held at 1CU for use by the Minister for Air. (Source: 6) |
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12JUN45
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Allotted to 7AD, Tocumwal for trial repairs to fuel tanks. (Source: 6) |
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14JUN45
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Received at 7AD ex 1CU. (Source: 6) |
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16JAN46
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Work to cease. Aircraft to be stored under Cat D. (Source: 6) |
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08FEB46
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Stored at 7AD (later Care and Maintenance Unit) (Source: 6) |
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03FEB47
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Sold
to Mr. G. Board, c/- S. Godden, Potts Point, NSW for £1,000.
(Source: 6) Warren Penny later stated that Board and Godden had an argument over the aircraft and that Board bought Godden's share. See 08MAR48. (Source: 11) |
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27FEB47
|
The
aircraft was inspected at Tocumwal by Greg Board, Stan Godden and
Warren Penny all of whom had flown to Tocumwal in Penny's Proctor
G-AIEF. Photo Greg Board later stated that there were only two RAAF personnel on the base and that the Sergeant had opened up the store and invited Board to fill the Lodestar with spares. (Source: 11) |
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15MAR47
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Issued to purchaser. (Source: 6) |
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MAR47
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Test flown at Tocumwal and flown to Camden by Greg Board for conversion by Intercontinental Air Maintenance. (Source: 11) |
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MAY47
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Flown Camden-Bankstown by Greg Board when IAM moved to Bankstown. (Source: 11) |
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VH-GRB
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17SEP47
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Application for CofR by Gregory Richmond Board of Bellevue Hill, NSW. (Source: 4) |
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19SEP47
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Application for CofA by Gregory Richmond Board of Bellevue Hill, NSW. (Source: 4) |
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SEP47
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Test flown at Bankstown and Mascot as VH-GRB. Dual at Bankstown with Aubrey "Titus" Oates. (Source: 1) |
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01OCT47
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CofA 1346 issued as VH-GRB. (Source: 4) |
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02OCT47
|
The
Sydney Morning Herald of Friday 03OCT47 reported that the departure
of a Lodestar owned by Gregory Board was delayed by four hours on
Thursday 02OCT47 as the aircraft and crew were searched by Customs
at Mascot. The aircraft departed before noon. (Source: 11) The search was probably prompted by rumours that gold was being smuggled out of Australia. Note that Greg Board's log book records the departure date as 04OCT47 (which see). (Source: 1) |
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04OCT47
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Departed
Mascot for Charleville-Cloncurry-Darwin-Koepang-Sourabaya-Singapore.
Captain Greg Board, Wireless Operator Morgan. (Source: 1) Operated by New Holland Airways. (Source: 11) |
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11OCT47
|
Aircraft
arrived at Mascot at 0900 hours from Singapore. Capt G. Board with
a crew of 4 and 15 passengers including Albanian citizen Enver Tare.
(Source: 11) Source: 1 shows 13OCT47. |
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17OCT47
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Departed Mascot for Charleville-Cloncurry-Darwin-Koepang-Sourabaya-Singapore. Captain Greg Board, Wireless Operator Morgan. (Source: 1) |
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22OCT47
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Arrived Darwin on a charter. Captain Greg Board, Wireless Operator Morgan. (Source: 1) |
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23OCT47
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Departed Darwin for Koepang-Sourabaya-Singapore arriving same day. Captain Greg Board, Wireless Operator Morgan. (Source: 1) |
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26OCT47
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Departed Singapore for Sourabaya-Bali-Koepang-Darwin-Cloncurry-Charleville-Mascot. Captain Greg Board, Wireless Operator Morgan. (Source: 1) |
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28OCT47
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Arrived Mascot with 15 passengers, all Greek immigrants. (Source: 11) |
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07NOV47
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Departed Mascot for Charleville-Cloncurry-Darwin-Koepang-Sourabaya-Singapore-Kota Baru-Bangkok-Rangoon-Calcutta-Allahabad-Lahore-Karachi-Jiwani-Bahrain-Lydda-Athens arriving 26NOV47. Captain Greg Board, Wireless Operator Morgan. (Source: 1) |
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07NOV47
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Departed Sydney for Athens. Capt G. Board. (Source: 11) |
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06DEC47
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Departed Athens for Lydda-Bahrain-Jiwani-Karachi-Allahabad-Nagpur-Calcutta-Rangoon-Penang-Singapore-Sourabaya-Bali-Koepang-Darwin-Cloncurry-Charleville-Mascot arriving 12DEC47. Captain Greg Board, Wireless Operator Morgan. (Source: 1) |
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13DEC47
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Arrived
at Mascot from Athens, Greece. The pilot, Greg Board, wrote the name
"Singapore Clipper" on the passenger manifest but it is
not known if this name was ever painted on the aircraft. (Source:
8) Source: 1 shows 12DEC47. |
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23DEC47
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CofR 1430 issued as VH-GRB. (Fees hadn't been paid, hence the different date of issue to that of the CofA.) (Source: 4) |
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01MAR48
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Departed Karachi for Bombay-Nagpur-Calcutta-Nagpur-Karachi arriving on 03MAR48. Captain Greg Board. (Source: 1) |
| Greg Board later stated: “I also flew GRB in India during partition, taking Muslims to Lahore and Hindus to Bombay and Calcutta. I managed to get about 32 pax in per flight without seats. The overload was such that the first hour was a battle to get up to 2000 feet. Also did one trip with a millionaire who was a leper. He chartered the plane for himself and three servants. The entire interior was covered with linen to prevent contamination.” (Source: 11) | |
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08MAR48
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A DCA memo of this date states that Greg Board had bought out Stan Godden's share in VH-GRB with money put up by a Mr Arrowsmith who, along with Gregory Hanlon, were principals in New Holland Airways. (Source: 11) |
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18MAR48
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Arrived at Mascot from Rome and Athens with 3 crew and 12 passengers. The pilot, Greg Board, wrote the name "Jade Star" on the passenger manifest but it is not known if this name was ever painted on the aircraft. (Source: 8) |
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08APR48
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Change of ownership to New Holland Airways, Potts Point, NSW. (Source: 4) |
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14APR48
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Aircraft departed Mascot at 1300 hours for Athens. (Source: 4) |
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03MAY48
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Arrived at Mascot from Rome with Capt F. Wiza, 4 crew and 15 passengers. (Source: 11) |
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JUN48
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Conversion for pilot Horlock by Greg Board. (Source: 1) |
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JUL49
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Change of ownership to Ron Howitt. (Source: 11) |
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20SEP49
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CofA expired. (Source: 4) |
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12APR50
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Letter from Australian National Airways that Gregory William Hanlon, who trades as New Holland Airways, is indebted to ANA and that they have a Bill of Sale over Lodestar VH-GRB. (Source: 4) |
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JUN50
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Captain Ron W. Howitt, who had been manager of New Holland Airways, joined Overland Air Services by this date as Chief Pilot and Operations Manager. (Source: 4) |
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VH-OAS
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01AUG50
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Change of ownership to Overland Air Services Pty Ltd, Condoblin, NSW and change of registration to VH-OAS. (Source: 4) |
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08OCT50
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Test flown at Sydney as VH-OAS by Greg Board. (Source: 1) |
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10OCT50
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Sydney-Bathurst-Sydney. (Source: 1) |
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17OCT50
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Sydney-Parkes. (Source: 1) |
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24OCT50
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Sydney-Cessnock-Dungog. (Source: 1) |
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25OCT50
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Dungog-Sydney. (Source: 1) |
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20NOV50
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Sydney-West Wyalong-Temora. (Source: 1) |
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21NOV50
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Temora-West Wyalong-Broken Hill-Alice Springs. (Source: 1) |
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22NOV50
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Alice Springs-Broken Hill-West Wyalong-Sydney. (Source: 1) |
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11APR51
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Change of address for Overland Air Services to Hangar 2, Lords Road, Mascot, NSW. (Source: 7) |
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27AUG51
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Aircraft taxied into a DCA fire trailer at Bathurst, damaging a prop. (Pilot: R.W. Howitt). Aircraft returned to service the same day. (Source: 4) |
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12OCT51
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Instrument check. (Source: 1) |
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16OCT51
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Instrument check. (Source: 1) |
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04JAN52
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Sydney-Cootamundra-West Wyalong-Temora-Cootamundra-Sydney. (Source: 1) |
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05JAN52
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Sydney-West Wyalong-Lake Cargelligo-Condobolin-West Wyalong-Sydney. (Source: 1) |
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16JAN52
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Alternate routes flown for Overland Air Services. (Source: 1) |
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17JAN52
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Alternate routes flown for Overland Air Services. (Source: 1) |
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18JAN52
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Alternate routes flown for Overland Air Services. (Source: 1) |
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19JAN52
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Alternate routes flown for Overland Air Services. (Source: 1) |
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21JAN52
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Alternate routes flown for Overland Air Services. (Source: 1) |
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22JAN52
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Alternate routes flown for Overland Air Services. (Source: 1) |
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23JAN52
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Alternate routes flown for Overland Air Services. (Source: 1) |
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24JAN52
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Alternate routes flown for Overland Air Services. (Source: 1) |
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27JAN52
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Sydney-Temora-Broken Hill-Alice Springs. (Source: 1) |
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28JAN52
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Alice Springs-Broken Hill-Temora-Sydney. (Source: 1) |
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30JAN52
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Sydney-West Wyalong-Lake Cargelligo-Condobolin-West Wyalong-Sydney. (Source: 1) |
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10APR52
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OAS went into voluntary liquidation. Charles A. Law appointed liquidator. (Source: 7) |
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26FEB53
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Bill of Sale to Aviation Export Co Inc as VH-OAS. (Source: 3) |
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N4849V
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16MAR53
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Bill of Sale from Aircraft Sales Ltd to Dorothy Clemente as N4849V. (Source: 3) (Source: 2 gives the purchaser's name as Dorothy Converso). |
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30MAR53
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Liquidator of Overland Air Services wrote to DCA to advise that (among other things) Lodestar VH-OAS had been sold for £4,700. (Source: 4) |
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08JUL53
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Liquidator wrote to DCA requesting that the aircraft be removed from the register as it has been sold to Aviation Export Co Inc, Los Angeles, USA. (Source: 3) |
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08JUL53
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An undated letter from DCA to the FAA (received on 20JUL53) confirms that the aircraft was struck off Australian Register on 08JUL53. (Source: 3) |
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18FEB54
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Bill of Sale from Dorothy Clemente to Aviation Export Co. Ltd. Inc. One Clair M. Waterbury was both a partner in Aircraft Sales Ltd. and president of Aviation Export Co. (Source: 3) |
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FEB54
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A planned conversion to a Pressurised Lodestar was apparently not proceeded with. (Source: 2) |
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19FEB54
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Bill of Sale from Aviation Export Co. Ltd. to Roy Gordon. (Source: 3) |
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N667
(NTU)
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01APR54
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Letter from Aviation Export to FAA requests that N4849V be re-registered N667. (Source: 3) |
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28JUN54
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Bill of Sale from Roy Gordon to Interstate Aircraft Co. (Source: 3) |
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N1000S
(NTU) |
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18NOV54
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Potter Aircraft Service cable the FAA requesting that the aircraft be re-registered N1000S. (Source: 3) |
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22DEC54
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Bill of Sale from Interstate Aircraft Co. to Utex Exploration Co Inc. (Source: 3) |
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N101S
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15JUN56
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Certificate of Registration corrected to show N101S. (Source: 3) |
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12FEB58
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Underwent Howard mods (ACA-337) (Source: 3) |
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01DEC58
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Underwent Howard mods (ACA-337) (Source: 3) |
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22MAY59
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Bill of Sale from Utex Exploration to Howard Aero Inc. (Source: 3) |
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23MAY59
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Bill of Sale from Howard Aero Inc. to Celanese Corp of America. (Source: 3) |
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30DEC59
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Converted to a Howard 250 (ACA-337) (Source: 3) |
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05APR67
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To J.P. Silva. (Source: 2) |
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XB-SAO
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06APR67
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Celanese cable the FAA requesting that N101S be cancelled as the aircraft has been transferred to Celanese Mexicana SA as XB-SAO. (Source: 3) |
| AUG74 | Landed at Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport in Washington State with engine trouble. The two crew identified themselves to the airport manager as John Hernandez and Dale Robertson. After parking the aircraft they stated that they would return in two or three days but it wasn't until November that they returned to work on the aircraft. In consultation with Ottman Aviation (the local FBO at the time) they diagnosed a defective cylinder on the port engine. The two crew departed again promising to return but it was around March 1975 that they reappeared claiming that the aircraft had been sold. They replaced a piston and tested the engine to their satisfaction and departed again leaving the aircraft behind. (Source: 9) |
| 05MAY75 | John Hernandez and Dale Robertson returned to Pullman-Moscow and departed in the Lodestar for Guadalajara, Mexico. Shortly after departure, the port engine failed and the aircraft returned to Pullman-Moscow and the two pilots were never seen again. (Source: 9) |
| 21JUN75 | The airport manager received a telephone call from a Los Angeles attorney claiming to represent the owners. He advised that John Hernandez had been killed in an air crash and that the other pilot, who used the alias Dale Robertson, could not be contacted. However, the Mexican owners still had an interest in recovering the Lodestar. (Source: 9) |
| OCT75 | Around OCT-NOV75 two mechanics arrived and removed the failed port engine and departed for California with the engine. Nothing further was heard from the owners and the aircraft was effectively abandoned. There were several enquiries about acquiring the aircraft but the legal difficulties always proved insurmountable. In the interim, the Lodestar suffered at the hands of local vandals. (Source: 9) |
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14DEC77
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Cancelled from the Mexican register. (Source: 3) |
| 04SEP79 | Pullman-Moscow Airport workers returned from the Labor Day holiday to find that the Lodestar was gone, leaving behind wheel tracks across the adjoining wheatfields. (Source: 9) |
| 15OCT79 | Local cropduster Dale E. Schoepflin confirmed to the local newspaper that he had towed the Lodestar 18 miles through wheatfields to his farm. During the ensuing years, Schoepflin managed to obtain legal ownership of the Lodestar. (Source: 9) |
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05NOV82
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Bill of Sale from Capt. Sergio Ariza Lizana to Westernair of Albuquerque, NM. (Source: 3) |
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13NOV82
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Dale's Flying Service of Palouse, Washington wrote to the FAA stating that the aircraft has been grounded since 12MAY74 and has been in their custody for the past 5 years, still marked as XB-SAO. (Source: 3) |
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N2786Y
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02DEC82
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Re-registered N2786Y. (Source: 2) |
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N102SD
(NTU) |
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09DEC82
|
Allotted
registration N102SD but this was not taken up. (Source: 3) Although officially not taken up, the registration was crudely applied to the aeroplane and it did fly under that registration. (Source: 9) |
| 84 | After replacing the port engine, Schoepflin traded the Lodestar for two single-engine Cessnas with a person in New Mexico. With the new owner and Schoepflin as pilots, the Lodestar was flown out of the 1,800 foot strip on Schoepflin's farm back to Pullman-Moscow Airport from which it had been liberated. This flight, subsequent test flights and the delivery flight to New Mexico were under the registration N102SD which was crudely applied to the rear fuselage. Although this registration was officially not taken up, there is photographic evidence that the Lodestar did fly under this registration. (Source: 9) |
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25JAN84
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Bill of Sale from Westernair to Pedro Pables. (Source: 3) |
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26JUL84
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To CBI Aircraft Inc. (Source: 2) |
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19SEP84
|
Bill
of Sale (undated) from Pedro Pables to CBI Aircraft received by the
FAA on this date. Pedro Pables was Vice-President of CBI Aircraft.
(Source: 3) Note that Source: 2 has the date of sale as 26JUL84 (see above). |
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87
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Noted carrying the name "Maya". (Source: 2) |
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N2786Y
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14FEB90
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Bill of Sale from CBI Aircraft to Peter Pess. Registration shown as N2786Y. (Source: 3) |
| 09MAR90 | Registered N2786Y to Peter Pess, Roswell, NM. (Source: 10) |
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APR99
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Reported parked at Albuquerque, NM |
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26APR02
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Photographed at Albuquerque by John Vogel. |
| 18DEC12 | N2786Y cancelled from the FAA Register. (Source: 10) |
The Liberation of Lodestar XB-SAO
|
Several Australian Lodestars were used on migrant flights from Europe in the immediate post-war years. Several entrepreneurs began operating charter flights, mainly from Rome and Athens, in what became known amongst the main players as The Migrant Caper. These operations are covered in exquisite detail in Geoff Goodall's seminal work. The following link will take you to Geoff Goodall's Aviation History Site: |
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SOURCES
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1
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Log Book of Gregory R. Board photographed by Matthew Denning and transcribed by Geoff Goodall. |
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2
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Peter Marson, The Lockheed Twins, Air-Britain Historians, 2001. |
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3
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FAA, Washington, USA via Gary Killion and Gordon Reid. |
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4
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NAA, MP113/1 VH/OAS Part 1 via Geoff Goodall. |
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5
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NAA, MAC Air Case 200 via Gordon Birkett. |
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6
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RAAF Status Card Form E/E.88. |
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7
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List of defunct companies held at State Records, Kingswood, NSW. |
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8
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NAA, C3458/2 Rolls 2 & 4 Inward Passengers. |
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9
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Greg Otterson |
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10
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FAA Register accessed 21APR21. |
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11
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Geoff Goodall, The Migrant Caper |
| Issue | Date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | 11OCT23 |
Added
an image of N2786Y at Albuquerque on12OCT97.
Attempts to contact the photographer, Roger Syratt, were unsuccessful.
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| 15 | 25DEC22 |
Added
details from Source: 11.
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| 14 | 15DEC22 |
Added
an image of A67-5 thanks to Geoff Goodall.
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| 13 | 21APR21 |
Added
details from Source: 10.
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| 12 | 18SEP19 |
Added
the full story of the aircraft's time at Pullman-Moscow thanks
to Greg Otterson (Source: 9). Added an air-to-air image
of the aircraft as N102SD thanks to Greg Otterson. Also expanded
the Sources table.
|
| 11 | 10AUG18 |
Added
details from Source: 1.
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| 10 | 03APR16 |
Refreshed
page layout with no change to data.
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| 9 | 26JUN06 |
Added
delivery details thanks to Gordon Birkett.
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| 8 | 06MAR06 |
Additional
references to Overland Air Services at JUN50 and 30MAR53. Thanks
to Geoff Goodall.
|
| 7 | 13JUL04 |
Added
a rare photo of the aircraft as VH-OAS with Overland Air Services.
Thanks to Peter Anderson and Geoff Goodall.
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| 6 | 22JAN04 |
Added
several events extracted from various sources by Chris O'Neill.
Added several references from the RAAF Status Card. Added several references from "The Lockheed Twins" by Peter Marson. Added several references from the FAA files in Washington thanks to Gary Killion and Gordon Reid. All of these entries are shown with sources. |
| 5 | 08MAY02 |
Added
recent sighting at Albuquerque.
|
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