|
Aircraft History
Owned by the Earl of Lovelace and registered as G-ABHO and flown in East Africa. Later registered as NC401H.
Sold
to Guinea Airways in New Guinea, and registered VH-UBI on
October 26, 1935. Operated in civilian service in New Guinea until February 1942.
Wartime History
Impressed into RAAF service
on February 6, 1942 as A-45-1 along with Trimotor A-45-2 (VH-UDY). Assigned to 24 Squadron.
Returned to Guinea AIrways for an overhaul on March 17, 1942 and converted into an air ambulance on July 24, 1942 and pressed into service evacuating troops during
the fighting on the Kokoda
Trail.
Next assigned to 1 AD on October 11, 1942 then assigned to 36 Squadron October 31, 1942 and 33 Squadron on November 16, 1942.
Mission History
On November 24, 1942, the trimotor slipped
on muddy ground and flipped over, crashing at Myola
Lake.
After the crash, it was assigned to 15 RSU on November 30, 1942 and converted to components on February 17, 1943.
Wreckage
Wreckage remained were it was abandoned until 1979.
Recovery
The fuselage was recovered by the RAAF in 1979, and the wings
during the following year and brought to the PNG Museum at Port
Moresby.
Bruce Hoy recalls:
"[The recovery to the US] was only an idea of Bill
Chapman at
the time of the AMPNG - and Yesterday's Air Force collaborations
in 1974. It never got past the thought stage.
Almost came to a full stop in 1979
though due to misunderstanding of the local people when the RAAF dropped
in to have a look at it first. The RAAF saw all these folk with shotguns,
and they pissed off! I tried to re-assure them that that was normal
with any village hunting party. Cost us a helicopter charter and then
a flight across to Kokoda to sort things out."
Display
Today, this wreck is on display at the PNG
War Museum in Port Moresby.. The
plane's wings are removed, and stored separately. Despite this plane's
age and long history, it is in exceptional condition.
References
Thanks to Daniel Leahy for RAAF information and registration
codes.
Pacific Aircraft Wrecks page 61 (lower), 69
Contribute
Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?
Last Updated
October 1, 2009
|
