PNGDF
Don Fetterly 2002
Justin Taylan 2005
Yohji Sakaida 2005
Former Unit Assignments
RAAF
2 ATU
34 Squadron
Aircraft
History
USAAF serial number 44-76545. Manufacture Number 32877.
Wartime History
Constructors Number 32877. Delivered to the RAAF in April 1945. Assigned RAAF iin April, 1945 and assigned serial number A65-84 and callsigns: H-RFA and VM-HJM. Assigned to 34 Squadron and 2 ATU.
Post War
Stationed at Butterworth Station with markings P65-002 and RAAF Richmond
until 1973. Civillianized into a DC-3, it became the second of seven
ex-RAAF C-47s donated by Australia to Papua New Guinea's PNGDF (Papua
New Guinea Defense Force) on August 11, 1975. In PNGDF service, it
carried tail markings P2-002, and served until the late 1980s. When
all the DC-3s were phased out, this aircraft was retained for display
in Port Moresby. It was stored at Jackson
Airport until 2003.
In January 2002 it was transported to the Airways Hotel, across from the airport. It was converted into the "Balus Bar" (Airplane Bar) / Dakota Lounge and displayed supported by struts next to the hotel in a flying position, opened in 2004. It is painted in Air Niugini markings.
C-47
