USAAF
5th AF
374th TCG
21st TCS
Circa 1942
Destroyed November 6, 1942
Aircraft History
Built by Dougla at El Segundo, California. Constructor number 424.
Brtish Airways also originally ordered this aircraft for use on the London to Berlin route and one of nine ordered by the company for this purpose. Allocated the registration of G-AFYI. With the outbreak of war in Europe the Air Ministry instructed the company not to proceed with the order and the deposit paid was transferred to other Douglas aircraft for use by the Air Force.
Sold to Dutch KLM Airlines and initially assigned tail code PH-AXA. Served in the West Indies with KLM with tail code PJ-AIW and later PK-ADD with LNILM.
Escaped Java and was turned over to Allied Directorate of Air Transport (ADAT), and assigned Australian registration VH-CXB.
Wartime History
Escaped the Dutch East Indies and was pressed into service for the USAAF, assigned to the 21st Troop Carrier Squadron and designated C-110-DE USAAF Serial Number 44-83231 (administratively). Served as a transport flying supplies from Australia to Port Moresby area airfields.
Mission History
On November 6, 1942, during a flight in Queensland, this DC-5 suffered an engine failure and force landed near Charleville. During the landing, an ant hill damaged the wing and undercarriage.
Damaged in force landing November 6, 1942 east of Charleville, Queensland. and used for spares with VH-CXC.
Postwar
During 1946 the wreckage offered for sale, but no buyers were interested. Scrapped at Essendon later in 1946.
References
Thanks to Joseph Baugher Serial Numbers for aircraft history
Thanks to William Bartsch for additional information
History of DC-5 VH-CXB
