VH-ABV R.M.A. Gascoyne

History:

11OCT38	Construction completed at Burbank.
05DEC38	Arrived (together with VH-ABW) at Port Adelaide on the "Tolken". Subsequently towed to Parafield for assembly under the supervision of Capt H.C. Miller, Managing Director of MacRobertson Miller Aviation and F. Colquhoun, Chief Engineer of MMA. The Chief Pilot of MMA, Capt James Woods arrived from Perth via Darwin on the scheduled Guinea Airways Electra for familiarisation.
15DEC38	Registration application from MacRobertson Miller Aviation Co., Perth, W.A.
17DEC38	While running up the engines at Parafield before departing for Perth, the undercarriage collapsed. There were no injuries but VH-ABV was damaged. While VH-ABV was being repaired, VH-ABW was prepared for delivery in its place.
20DEC38	CofR No 727 issued as VH-ABV.
06JAN39	Named "R.M.A. Gascoyne", VH-ABV departed for Perth crewed by Captains Woods and Cooper. Guinea Airways' Chief Pilot, Capt J. Jukes, travelled in an advisory capacity. Passengers comprised Horrie Miller, C.R. Matheson, a DCA Aeradio officer and the wife of a GAL pilot. Refuelled at Ceduna, Forrest and Kalgoorlie and arrived over Perth late in the afternoon.
FEB39	Entered service on MMA's Perth-Darwin route (2,300 miles with 12 stops!).
16JAN42	Forced landing 70 miles north east of Derby, W.A. due engine failure. No injuries to five passengers and crew but minor damage to aeroplane. The engine was repaired and a rough strip cleared to enable a take-off. The aircraft reached Perth on 19th February.
DEC42	MMA's two Electras were flown to Melbourne to operate essential airline services on the east coast, replacing aircraft participating in the Buna campaign. By this time the aeroplane was painted in camouflage.
24MAR43	Badly damaged on take-off from Port Hedland, W.A. Ran off runway and struck piles of gravel and other anti-invasion obstructions. No injuries to the five passengers.
10APR43	Ferried to Perth after temporary repairs with parts supplied by GAL.
18AUG43	Test flown at Perth by Capt James Woods after repairs and subsequently returned to MMA service.
05NOV45	Damage to port wing, tailplane and undercarriage at Halls Creek, W.A.
46	Based at Derby, W.A. to operate MMA's services to remote cattle stations in the Kimberley district. On some flights a doctor was carried for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
31OCT48	Re-registered VH-MMD as ABV had become a prohibited registration.
26JUN49	Force landing in scrub on "Napier Downs" Station due to failure of the port engine while en route Derby-Wyndham. No damage. (Capt Syd Goddard).
MAR51	Based at Derby with annual CofA inspections done in Perth.
06OCT52	Port undercarriage collapsed on landing at Nookenbah, W.A. Port wing and propeller damaged. (Capt Jack Murray).
23OCT52	CofA renewed after repairs.
26FEB53	Annual CofA inspection performed by MMA engineers at Derby. Total Time: 20,190 hours.
07FEB54	Sold to Phelan Aircraft Materials Co., Burbank, California. Departed Perth for Sydney where it was dismantled by Kingsford Smith Aviation Services.
25FEB54	Departed Sydney for Los Angeles as deck cargo on the "Sonomia". Struck off the Australian Register same day.
54	Registered N4886V to Jerome Eddy, Mountain Airlines, Burbank.
61	Sold to Richard O. Boggs by this date.
63	Sold to Mercer Airlines, Burbank by this date.
	Sold to Suburban Airways, Fullerton, California.
	Sold to Gibbons-O'Keefe Air Ambulance, Chicago, Illinois.
66	Sold to Walter E. Heller & Co., Los Angeles, California by this date.
69	Sold to Westernair of Albuquerque Inc by this date.
75	Re-registered N19HL to Florida Hendry Land Development Co., West Palm Beach, Florida by this date.
03AUG75	Noted at West Palm Beach as N19HL.
80	Struck off the U.S. Register.
JUN87	Restored as N19HL to Valiant Air Command, Titusville, Florida having been donated to the VAC by Mr Hendry.
15JAN88	Letter from Don Lockler of Valiant Air Command states that the aircraft has not flown since 1976 but that it is being prepared for a ferry flight to Titusville where a full airworthy restoration to U.S. military markings will commence.
AUG89	Noted at Titusville under restoration by the Valiant Air Command under contract to the Emil Buehler Foundation. After a substantial investment in an airworthy restoration, work was suspended.
08OCT96	Gifted to the National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola, Florida by the Emil Buehler Foundation.
02DEC96	The National Museum of Naval Aviation took possession of the aircraft which was transported by barge on the Indian River from Titusville to Fort Lauderdale.
17JUL99	Full title transferred to the National Museum of Naval Aviation. The aircraft is stored, disassembled at Pensacola pending availability of funds for a static restoration.
JUL09	The restored aircraft was placed on display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida after having been converted to an L-10E/R2O-1 and marked with the fictitious Bureau Number 1130.

Issue	Date	Remarks
12	28NOV22	Added a slideshow.
11	16DEC17	Added 5 new images thanks to Geoff Goodall. Image 1 Image 2 Image 3 Image 4 Image 5
10	16AUG16	Added a panoramic image of VH-MMD thanks to Colin Hayes and Phil Vabre of the CAHS.
9	03APR16	Refreshed page layout with no change to data.
8	28SEP15	Added a recent image of the aircraft on display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation at Pensacola. Thanks to David Prossor.
7	29DEC13	Added two images of the aircraft on display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation at Pensacola. Thanks to John Vogel.
6	21JUL09	Added an update on the restoration with photos provided by John Kerr and Peter Clukey.
5	27OCT04	Added an image of the aircraft as VH-ABV. Thanks to Ed Coates.
4	13FEB04	Added 4 new images thanks to Gary Killion, Geoff Goodall and Phil Vabre of the Civil Aviation Historical Society.
3	09JUL03	Added an image of N4886V thanks to Gary Killion.

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