Aircraft History
Previously registered in the United Kingdom as G-ABEF and NC9678.

Registered as VH-UDY on October 7, 1935 by Holden's Air Transport Services in New Guinea based at Lae Airfield during the 1930's, along with Trimotor VH-USX until October 10, 1936.

On April 12, 1937 registered to Guinea Airways and flown in civlian service until the Japanese attacked New Guinea, and this trimotor was fown to Australia during early February 1942.

RAAF Service
impressed into service with the RAAF on February 6, 1942, along with Trimotor A45-1 (VH-UBI) and returned to New Guinea to make emergency flights.

Flown by F/L Norm Fader of 11 Squadron flew this aircraft in to Wau Airfield, Bulolo Airfield, Kokoda Airfield, and Garina Airfield to bring out engines, instruments, and mercury of the Bulolo Gold Dredging company. Fader had flown this aircraft on many occasions prior to the war.

Destroyed On the Ground
After four successful flights, it was destroyed on the ground at 7-Mile Strip at Port Moresby during a Japanese strafing attack in March 1942. The exact date of the straffing is not exactly known. Sources list the date of the strafing as March 11th or 13th, or 20th.

Bruce Hoy recalls:
"I brought in one of the main undercarriage and wheel of VH-UDY rescued from an old military dump on the north-western end of Jacksons and brought into the PNG Museum in October 1979 and formed part of my first display in December 1979 to mark 75 years of powered flight. Last known to be in the shed at the department of Modern History, Ahuia Street, Gordon."

References
Thanks to Bruce Hoy, Daniel Leahy and Wynnum Graham for this information.

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009