RAAF

Serial

Date

Potted Aircraft History

A71-1

23 Aug 43

Transferred to RAAF under Lend-Lease and flown to Newark, New Jersey and prepared for shipment to Australia by the US War Shipping Administration, New York, USA.

27Oct43

Received by No 2 Aircraft Park, Bankstown Airport, NSW for assembly and testing.

31 Oct 43

Allotted RAAF Serial A71-1.

23 Dec 43

Allocated to 5 Communications Unit (5CU) at RAAF Base Garbutt, QLD.

10 Jan 44

Received by 5CU.

20Aug44 

Departed Higgins Field, Horn Island, QLD for a flight to Merauke, Dutch New Guinea and returned.

21Aug44 

Departed Horn Island on a flight to Merauke with a crew of two and four passengers when the engine failed at approximately 1000hrs causing the aircraft to ditch eight miles South-east of Boigu Island, New Guinea. All six people exited the ditched aircraft and set off to try and swim the eight miles to Boigu Island. Unfortunately, by the time a local arrived in a canoe some hours later three of the six survivors could not be found. 

A71-2

23 Aug 43

Transferred to RAAF under Lend-Lease and flown to Newark, New Jersey and prepared for shipment to Australia by the US War Shipping Administration New York, USA.

31 Oct 43

Received by No 2 Aircraft Park, Bankstown Airport, NSW for assembly and testing.

1 Nov 43

Allotted RAAF Serial A71-2.

30 Nov 43

Allocated to 9 Communications Unit (9CU) at Port Moresby, New Guinea.

7 Dec 43

Received by 9CU.

14 Jan 44

Allocated to No 5 Communications Unit (5CU) at RAAF Base Garbutt, QLD.

19 Jan 44

Received by 5CU.

4 Aug 44

Allocated to 6 Aircraft Depot (6AD) at Oakey Airfield, Toowoomba, QLD.

15 Aug 44

Ferried to 6AD for main spar change.

3 Oct 44

Allocated to 5CU.

11 Apr 45

On take-off from Garbutt, a connecting rod in the engine failed causing an engine seizure. The pilot successfully landed the aircraft with no damage to the aircraft or injury to the passengers.

11 Dec 44

5CU directed to perform 240 hourly inspection.

31 Oct 45

Allocated to 13ARD for renewal of upper fabric. Returned to 5CU on completion.

18 Jan 46

Allocated to No 7 Aircraft Depot (7AD) at RAAF Station Tocumwal, NSW.

28 Feb 46

Allocated to 13ARD for conversion to spares.

28 Mar 46

Approved for conversion.

A71-3

23 Aug 43

Transferred to RAAF under Lend-Lease and flown to Newark, New Jersey and prepared for shipment to Australia by the US War Shipping Administration New York, USA. 

31 Oct 43

Received by No 2 Aircraft Park, Bankstown Airport NSW for assembly and testing.

1 Nov 43

Allotted RAAF Serial A71-2.

1 Dec 43

Allocated to 5 Communications Unit (5CU) at RAAF Base Garbutt, QLD.

19 Dec 44

On a travel flight from Archerfield to Townsville, the aircraft developed engine troubles and was forced to land on a sandbank in the Burdekin River, 12 miles South of Ravenswood, QLD at 1730hrs.

27 Dec 44

6 Central Recovery Depot tasked to recover the aircraft and deliver to 5CU.

18 Jan 45

Allocated to 3 Aircraft Repair Depot (13ARD) Detachment at Garbutt.

11 Mar 45

Received by 5CU.

18 Jan 46

Allocated to 7 Aircraft Depot (7AD) at RAAF Station Tocumwal, NSW.

11 Oct 46

Offered to Commonwealth Disposals Commission (CDC) for disposal.

2 Jun 49

Sold by CDC to The Zinc Corporation Ltd, Melbourne, VIC for 2,500 pounds.

28 Jun 49

Collected by purchaser and departed for Broken Hill, NSW and stored pending civil conversion.

History After RAAF Service

26 Jun 50

Registration application from Gibbes Sepik Airways, Wewak, New Guinea. Flown from Broken Hill to Bankstown Airport for civil conversion by Kingsford Smith Aviation Services (KSAS). During the flight fabric was torn from the wings by a dust storm near Parkes NSW causing a forced landing. A team of fabric workers from KSAS went to Parkes and repaired the aircraft. Converted to civil standard by KSAS.

20 Oct 50

Registered VH-BNT to Gibbes Sepik Airways. Certificate of Airworthiness (C of A) for two crew and 16 passengers.

30 Oct 50

Ferried from Sydney to New Guinea.

3 Nov 50

Minor damage at Tapini strip, Central Province, New Guinea.

17Apr55 

On a routine flight from Madang to Lalibu strip, Southern Highlands Province and return, the aircraft struck a soft patch when landing at Lalibu. Aircraft pitched over and landed on its back.

23 Aug 55

Fuel starvation caused an engine failure immediately after take-off from Minj field, Jawaka Province, PNG, forcing a straight-ahead crash landing. The aircraft was totally destroyed.

A71-4

27 Aug 43

Transferred to RAAF under Lend-Lease and flown to Newark, New Jersey and prepared for shipment to Australia by the US War Shipping Administration New York, USA.

24 Oct 43

Received by No 1 Aircraft Depot RAAF Base Laverton for assembly and testing.

26 Oct 43

Allotted RAAF Serial A71-4.

17 Mar 44

Allocated to 5 Communications Unit (5CU) at RAAF Base Garbutt, QLD.

20 Mar 44

Received by 5CU. Coded as KF-B.

29 Sep 44

Allocated to 13 Aircraft Repair Depot (13ARD) Breddan Field, QLD for 240 hourly inspection.

Jan 45

Aircraft received minor modifications to carry aerial cameras.

23 Jan 45

Trial aerial photography carried out over Townsville and surrounding areas.

18 Jan 46

Allocated to No 7 Aircraft Depot (7AD) at RAAF Station Tocumwal, NSW.

13 Feb 46

Aircraft departed Garbutt to deliver rations to Iron Range Camp, 100km East of Weipa, QLD.

14 Feb 46

Departed Cairns for Iron Range Camp, stopped at Cooktown for fuel then encountered severe weather conditions near Iron Range. Radio contact was lost and the aircraft reported missing. 

19 Feb 46

A Catalina located the wreckage near the old Claudie bush strip, 10 miles south of Iron Range.  A RAAF Court of Enquiry determined that the aircraft crashed after it struck a tree at 1445 hrs when trying to land at Claudie strip in bad weather. The aircraft was destroyed and all three on board were killed. 

25 Feb 46

Recommended for write off/conversion.

20 Mar 46

Wreckage converted to components.

A71-5

27Nov43  

Transferred to RAAF under Lend-Lease and flown to Newark, New Jersey and prepared for shipment to Australia by the US War Shipping Administration New York, USA.

20 Feb 44

Received by 1 Aircraft Depot (1AD) RAAF Laverton, VIC for assembly and testing.

21 Feb 44

Allotted RAAF Serial A71-5.

31 Oct 44

Allocated to 1AD Ferry Flight (1ADFF) to be held until required by another unit.

15 Nov 44

When landing in a moderate crosswind the aircraft weathercocked resulting in a ground loop and the stbd wing hitting the ground.

6 Feb 45

Allocated to 1 Communications Unit (1CU) Essendon Airport, Melbourne VIC to replace A71-9.

18 Jan 46

Allocated to No 7 Aircraft Depot (7AD) at RAAF Station Tocumwal, NSW.

1 Feb 46

Received by 7AD and stored under cover in Category D storage.

17 Aug 48

Selected for post war use, stored as Cat B pending use by the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition (ANARE).

9 Sep 49

Downgraded to Category D, no longer retained for use by ANARE

13 Feb 50

Offered for sale on CDC Air List 6885.

27 Jun 50

Sold to Gibbes Sepik Airways, Wewak New Guinea for 1,500 pounds [$3,000].

18 Oct 50

Flown from Tocumwal to Deniliquin by ex-RAAF SQNLDR Bobby Gibbes.

History After RAAF Service

31Oct 50

Registration application from Gibbes Sepik Airways, Wewak, New Guinea.

13 Oct 51

Civil conversion at Albury aerodrome NSW by Riverina Aircraft Service. Registered VH-ASN to Gibbes Sepik Airways. C of A for two crew and 16 passengers.

1951

Delivered to Wewak, PNG.

18 Aug 52   

Struck soft patch, tipped onto nose during first ever landing at a newly prepared strip at Tari Airstrip, Hela Province, PNG.      

10 Jul 53 

Engine failure caused by burst oil line on flight from Port Moresby to Goroka caused a forced landing at Menyamya strip, Morobe Province, PNG.  New engine flown in and aircraft recovered to Goroka.

Nov 58

Purchased by Mandated Airlines (MAL), Lae, PNG.

30 Mar 60

Registered as VH-GSE to Ansett-MAL, Lae, PNG.

29 Jan 63

Struck-off register and withdrawn from service.

12 Sep 63

Restored to register as VH-GSE with Mandated Airlines, Lae, PNG.

23 Oct 63

Purchased by Pay & Williamson Pty Ltd, Narromine, NSW

17 Nov 63

Converted to crop-duster at Narromine, NSW.

26 Sep 66

While crop dusting near Armidale, NSW, the aircraft failed to climb away after becoming airborne and struck a gully with its main wheels. Airborne again, the aircraft struck the top strand of a wire fence then alighted on the main wheels in a rock-strewn paddock, collided with a tractor, overturned and was destroyed by fire.

A71-6

25 Nov 43

Transferred to RAAF under Lend-Lease and flown to Newark, New Jersey and prepared for shipment to Australia by the US War Shipping Administration New York, USA.

20 Feb 44

Received by 1 Aircraft Depot (1AD) RAAF Laverton, VIC for assembly and testing.

21 Feb 44

Allotted RAAF Serial A71-6.

8 Jun 44

Allocated to 1 Communications Unit (1CU) Essendon Airport, Merlbourne, VIC.

11 Jun 44

Allocated to 4 Communications Unit (4CU) Archerfield, Brisbane, QLD to replace A71-12.

8 Jan 46

Allocated to 7 Aircraft Depot (7AD) at RAAF Station Tocumwal, NSW.

11 Oct 48

Offered to Commonwealth Disposal Commission (CDC) for disposal.

2 Jun 49

Sold by CDC to The Zinc Corporation Ltd Melbourne, VIC for 2,500 pounds [$5,000].

28 Jun 49

Flown out of Tocumwal by purchaser.

History After RAAF Service

1950

Registration application from Gibbes Sepik Airways, Wewak, New Guinea. DCA approval given for A71-6 to be ferried to PNG for Gibbes Sepik Airways to perform the civil conversion at their workshops in Wewak

5 Feb 51

Registered as VH-GSA. C of A issued.

4 Oct 56  

Aircraft was diverted to Mount Hagen when on a flight from Tari to Minj. Aircraft landed short of the strip and overturned.

26 Sep 57  

Flew to Lake Kapiagu to search for crashed Gibbes Sepik Airways Norseman VH-BNE. Later dropped supplies to the ground party who were dismantling VH-BNE for ground transportation.

8 Aug 58

A cargo flight from Minj to Mendi carrying a load of bagged cement encountered a thunderstorm and was unable to land at Mendi because of the weather.  The pilot then became lost in clouds and crashed into surrounding hills killing him.

A71-7

24 Nov 43

Transferred to RAAF under Lend-Lease and flown to Newark, New Jersey and prepared for shipment to Australia by the US War Shipping Administration, New York, USA.

20 Feb 44

Received by No 1 Aircraft Depot (1AD) RAAF Laverton VIC for assembly and testing.

2 May 44

Allocated to 1 Communications Unit (1CU) Essendon Airport VIC.

18 Jan 46

Allocated to No 7 Aircraft Depot (7AD) at RAAF Station Tocumwal, NSW.

17 Aug 48

Selected for post war use by Antarctic Expedition. To be stored as Category B.

9 Sep 49

Downgraded to Category D, no longer retained for use by the Antarctic Expedition.

13 Feb 50

Offered for sale on CDC Air List 6885

27 Jun 50

Sold to Gibbes Sepik Airways, Wewak New Guinea for 1,500 pounds [$3,000].

18 Oct 50

Flown from Tocumwal to Deniliquin by ex-RAAF SQNLDR Bobby Gibbes.

History After RAAF Service

30 Oct 50

Registration application from Gibbes Sepik Airways, Wewak, Papua New Guinea.

28 Mar 51

DCA approval to export to PNG.

23 May 51

Registered VH-ASR to Gibbes Sepik Airways. C of A for two crew and 16 passengers.

6 Oct 51

Crashed during a forced landing 16 miles South-West of Madang due to engine structural failure while on a flight from Madang to Mendi. Aircraft extensively damaged and declared a write-off.

A71-8

24 Nov 43

Transferred to RAAF under Lend-Lease and flown to Newark, New Jersey and prepared for shipment to Australia by the US War Shipping Administration New York, USA.

20 Feb 44

Received by No 1 Aircraft Depot (1AD) RAAF Laverton VIC for assembly and testing.

21 Feb 44

Allotted RAAF Serial A71-8.

2 May 44

Allocated to 1 Communications Unit (1CU) Essendon Airport, Melbourne, VIC.

11 Jul 44

Allocated to 5 Aircraft Depot (5AD) at RAAF Forest Hills, NSW for use by Air Officer Commanding, 2 Training Group.

13 Jan 46

Issued to 5AD Store for under cover storage. Stored as Category D.

1 Aug 47

Offered to Commonwealth Disposal Commission (CDC) for disposal.

28 Nov 47

Sold by CDC to P.H Burton, PO Box 184 Bourke NSW for 1,050 pounds [$2,010].

23 Feb 48

Removed from Tocumwal by purchaser.

History After RAAF Service

1 Jun 48

Registration application from Bourke Airways Pty Ltd, Bourke NSW.

9 Jun 48

Registered as VH-BLM.  C of A issued for two crew and seven passengers.

8 Jul 49

CofA expired, not renewed.

5 May 50

Sold to Gibbes Sepik Airways, Wewak, Papua New Guinea.

12 May 50

CofA renewed. Ferried to Wewak by ex-RAAF SQNLDR Bobby Gibbes.

17 Jun 50

Tyre burst on landing at Jackson Strip, Port Moresby. Aircraft ran off strip causing major damage to undercarriage and port wing. 

17 Dec 50

Repaired at Port Moresby and CofA renewed.

13 Jun 52

Engine failed on flight from Wewak to Angoram causing a forced landing at Tring East, Sepik Province. VH-BLM later flown out.

4 Jun 53

Hit a concealed log and overturned when landing at Vanimo, Sanduan Province, PNG. Aircraft suffered significant damage. Aircraft shipped to Sydney for repair. Ferried back to PNG when repaired.

25 May 56

Wing dug in causing ground loop when landing at Wewak. Repaired at Wewak and returned to service November 1956.

Nov 58

Sold to Mandated Airlines Ltd, Lae. PNG

Apr 59

Registered as VH-GSC.

15 Dec 60

Ansett-MAL freighter was posted missing in bad weather on a scheduled flight from Minj to Mendi, PNG.  A large aerial search was launched and the wreck found two days later at height of 2,285 metres, 18 miles East of Mt Hagen.  The aircraft was totally destroyed.

A71-9

25 Nov 43

Transferred to RAAF under Lend-Lease and flown to Newark, New Jersey and prepared for shipment to Australia by the US War Shipping Administration, New York, USA.

20 Feb 44

Received by 1 Aircraft Depot (1AD) RAAF Laverton VIC for assembly and testing.

21 Feb 44

Allotted RAAF Serial A71-9.

9 May 44

Allocated to 1 Communications Unit (1CU) Essendon Airport VIC.

2 Feb 45

AT 1015hrs the engine back-fired on start-up which started a fire in the engine bay. Foam was sprayed on the burning aircraft to no avail and the aircraft was destroyed.

12 Feb 45

Allocated to 1 Central Recovery Depot (1CRD) at Werribee airfield for conversion.

21 Feb 45

Approved for conversion.

A71-10

5 Dec 43

Transferred to RAAF under Lend-Lease and flown to Newark, New Jersey and prepared for shipment to Australia by the US War Shipping Administration New York, USA.

20 Feb 44

Received by 1 Aircraft Depot (1AD) RAAF Laverton VIC for assembly and testing.

21 Feb 44

Allotted RAAF Serial A71-10.

30 Mar 44

Allocated to 1 Aircraft Performance Unit (APU) at RAAF Laverton for performance testing and trials of a modified tail wheel strut.

31 May 44

Performance testing completed; a new tail wheel lock designed to improve taxying.

16 Aug 44

Allocated to 5 Communications Unit (5CU) RAAF Garbutt, QLD.

27 Aug 44

Received by 5CU. Coded as KF-H.

18 Jan 46

Allocated to No 7 Aircraft Depot (7AD) at RAAF Station Tocumwal, NSW.

14 Mar 46

Received by 7AD Care & Maintenance Unit and stored under cover in Category D storage.

1 Aug 47

Offered to Commonwealth Disposal Commission (CDC) for disposal.

28 Nov 47

Sold by CDC to Kingsford Smith Aviation Services, PO Box 23, Mascot, NSW for 500 pounds.

10 Feb 48

Removed from Tocumwal by purchaser.

History After RAAF Service

27 Jul 49

Registration application from Gibbes Sepik Airways (GSA), Wewak, Papua New Guinea.

25 Nov 49

Registered as VH-BNL. C of A issued for two crew and seven passenger seats or 16 lap-straps on bench seats.

Nov 49

Ferried to Wewak and in service with GSA as their second Norseman.

12 Jul 50

When taking off from the clearing five miles South-East of Goroka, the port wing struck an earth mound concealed by the kunai grass causing the aircraft to crash.  The aircraft was severely damaged. The aircraft was dismantled in-situ and carried out in sections to Goroka by native porters.

May 51

DCA advised aircraft would now be used for spares.

29 May 51

Struck off register and C of A withdrawn.

14 Nov 57

Aircraft rebuilt and registered as VH-BNL.

Nov 58

Sold to Mandated Airlines Ltd, Lae. PNG

30 Mar 60

Reregistered as VH-GSF with Ansett-MAL, Lae, PNG.

4 Oct 63

Sold to Pay & Williamson Pty Ltd Narromine, NSW

10 Nov 63

Arrived Bankstown for conversion to agricultural use.

Jan 64

Delivered to Scone, NSW.

17 Feb 68

Withdrawn from service.

15 Jan 69

Restored to register with Skyservice Aviation Pty Ltd, Camden, NSW.

18 Jan 70

Engine failed burst into flames during a skydiving display off Manly Beach. The aircraft struck the sea six miles off the beach, five miles North-East of Sydney Heads

A71-11

15 Dec 43

15Dec43       Transferred to RAAF under Lend-Lease and flown to Newark, New Jersey and prepared for shipment to Australia by the US War Shipping Administration New York, USA.

29 Feb 44

Received by No 2 Aircraft Park (2AP) Bankstown Airport NSW for assembly and testing.

1 Apr 44

Allotted RAAF Serial A71-11.

29 Apr 44

Received 7 Communications Unit (7CU) RAAF Pearce, WA.

4 May 44

Ground looped after landing causing major damage. Repaired.

4 Sep 44

Allocated to 4 Communications Unit (4CU) at Archerfield, QLD and received by 4CU following ferry flight from Pearce to Archerfield.

12 Dec 44

Allocated to 3 Communications Unit (3CU) at Mascot Airport, NSW. Used for the movement of essential spare parts from 6 Aircraft Depot (6AD) at Oakey, QLD to Mascot airport for Aircraft Operationally Grounded awaiting spares.

4 Aug 45

Ground-looped after landing from a local training flight the aircraft caused the undercarriage to collapse and inflict significant damage to the aircraft.

8 Sep 45

Allocated to 2AD to effect repairs.

14 May 46

Received by 7AD Care & Maintenance Unit and stored under cover in Category D storage.       

17 Aug 48

Selected for post war use. To be stored as Category B pending use by Antarctic Expedition.

9 Sep 49

Downgraded to Category D, no longer retained for use by the Antarctic Expedition.

13 Feb 50

Offered for sale on CDC Air List 6885.

27 Jun 50

Sold to Gibbes Sepik Airways, Wewak, New Guinea for 1,500 pounds [$3,000].

18 Oct 50

Flown from Tocumwal to Deniliquin by ex-RAAF SQNLDR Bobby Gibbes (ace).

History After RAAF Service

30 Oct 50

Registration application from Gibbes Sepik Airways (GSA), Wewak, Papua New Guinea.

21 Sep 52

Registered as VH-ASS. C of A issued for two crew and seven passenger seats or 16 lap-straps on bench seats.

1952

Ferried to Wewak, PNG.

29 Oct 56

Engine failure caused forced landing whereupon aircraft overturned.

20 Jun 57

Sold to Carsair Air Service, Port Moresby PNG.

1960

Sold to Robert G. Carswell, Hangar 71, Archerfield Airport, Qld.

1964

Purchased as spares source by Pay & Williamson Pty Ltd, Scone, NSW.

Jul 64

Trucked from Bankstown to Scone. Currently no additional information.

A71-12

9 Dec 43

Transferred to RAAF under Lend-Lease and flown to Newark, New Jersey and prepared for shipment to Australia by the US War Shipping Administration New York, USA.

7 Mar 44

Received by No 3 Aircraft Depot (3AD) RAAF Amberley, QLD for assembly and testing.

8 Mar 44

Allotted RAAF Serial A71-12.

14 Mar 44

Issued to 6 Aircraft Depot (6AD) at Oakey, QLD

18 Apr 44

Allocated to 4 Communications Unit (4CU) at Archerfield, QLD.

8 Jan 46

Allocated to No 7 Aircraft Depot (7AD) at RAAF Station Tocumwal, NSW.

17 Jan 46

Received by 7AD Care & Maintenance Unit and stored under cover in Category D storage.

1 Aug 46

Offered to CDC for disposal.

28 Nov 47

Sold by CDC to Kingsford Smith Aviation Services, PO Box 23, Mascot, NSW for 500 pounds.

4 Feb 48

Flown from Tocumwal to Mascot by purchaser.

History After RAAF Service

18 Jan 49

Registration application by Silver City Airways (Australia) Pty Ltd, Broken Hill’ NSW

15 Feb 49

Registered as VH-BHG. C of A issued for two crew and six passengers.

18 Dec 51

Sold to Zinc Corp Ltd, Melbourne, VIC.

May 53

Bobby Gibbes of Gibbes Sepik Airways placed a deposit on the agreed price of £8,000 for VH-BHG.

17 Jul 53

Sold to Gibbes Sepik Airways, Wewak, PNG.

Nov 58

Sold to Mandated Airlines Ltd, Lae PNG.

Jan 59

Reregistered as VH-GSB.

Apr 60

Sold to Ansett-MAL Ltd, Lae, PNG.

1962

Bobby Gibbes swapped his newly imported personal Cessna 185 VH-RHG with Ansett-MAL for a Norseman VH-GSB fresh from overhaul.

11 Jun 62

Re-registered as VH-RHG to Robert H. Gibbes, Goroka, PNG.

1964

Sold to Pay & Williamson for crop dusting, ferried from New Guinea to Bankstown to have agricultural hopper installed.

5 Mar 65

Restored to Register VH-GSG: Pay & Williamson Pty Ltd, Scone NSW.

15 Jul 65

While spreading superphosphate near Murrurundi, NSW engine power was lost shortly after takeoff in the subsequent forced landing the aircraft overturned.

1968

Sold to Ed Fleming of Skyservice Aviation Pty Ltd, Camden Airport, NSW.

1970

Leased to Air Research Pty Ltd, Sydney NSW. Fitted for aerial mineral survey.

4 Nov 71

Change of ownership to finance company Mercredits (WA) Ltd, Sydney. Struck off the register.

17 Nov 72

Reregistered to Edward G. Fleming, Sydney NSW.

21 Jul 73

Struck off register and shipped to Canada when Canadian Ed Fleming, co-owner of Skyservice Aviation, returned to Canada after Skyservice ceased operating in Australia.

1974

Registered as CF-ISM to Edward G. Fleming, Vancouver, British Columbia.

Jun 74

Sold to D. C. Jorgenson, Ignace, Ontario.

10 Apr 76

Sold to Grand Rapids Air, St-Norbert, Manitoba.

16 Jun 78

Crashed on take-off from Lake Witchai, Manitoba. Investigators estimated that the aircraft was at or over the maximum authorized weight limit.

A71-13

9 Dec 43

Transferred to RAAF under Lend-Lease and flown to Newark, New Jersey and prepared for shipment to Australia by the US War Shipping Administration New York, USA.

7 Mar 44

Received by 3 Aircraft Depot (3AD) RAAF Amberley, QLD for assembly and testing.

8 Mar 44

Allotted RAAF Serial A71-13.

14 Mar 44

Issued to and received by 6 Aircraft Depot (6AD) Oakey, QLD.

18 Apr 44

Allocated to 4 Communications Unit (4CU) at Archerfield, QLD.

8 Jan 46

Allocated to No 7 Aircraft Depot (7AD) at RAAF Station Tocumwal, NSW.

17 Jan 46

Received by 7AD Care & Maintenance Unit and stored under cover in Category D storage.

1 Aug 46

Offered to CDC for disposal.

28 Nov 47

Sold by CDC to Kingsford Smith Aviation Services PO Box 23 Mascot NSW for 500 pounds.

17 Feb 48

Flown from Tocumwal to Mascot by purchaser.

History After RAAF Service

29 Oct 48

Sold to R.H. Gibbes for £5,500. Registration application: Gibbes Sepik Airways (GSA), Wewak, PNG.

18 Nov 48

18Nov48       Registered as VH-BNE. C of A issued.

10 Dec 48

Made the inaugural GSA commercial flight with a Norseman aircraft. Goroka-Angoram-Goroka.

13 Nov 53

Overturned on landing at Telefomin, Sandaun Province when a wheel struck a soft spot on the strip. On-site repairs took one year to complete.

16 Nov 54

Ferried Telefolmin-Goroka by Bobby Gibbes, with a rough repair of the wing spar. Aircraft then commenced a major rebuild in the company workshop at Goroka.

29 Jun 57

Overturned during forced landing in swamp at Lake Kopiago while air-dropping supplies to patrol officers. They were rescued from an area of constant native tribal fighting by Qantas floatplane Beaver VH-EAU which landed on the lake.

4 Jul 57

An aircraft retrieval team trekked from Tali to the crash site. The aircraft was dismantled in-situ and prepared for transportation by the native porters. Engine was discarded in situ.

15 Aug 57

The retrieval team reached Tari after an arduous journey of some 113 km, including being forced to hack a path through 60 km of virgin jungle along the way. The then Director of Civil Aviation, Mr V.A. Rule declared the salvage operation was “an amazing feat, unique in the history of Commonwealth aviation”.

57/58

The recovered pieces were flown to Goroka and the aircraft rebuilt by GSA engineers.

Nov 58

Sold to Mandated Airlines Ltd, Lae, PNG.

18 Jun 60

Reregistered as VH-GSD.

19 Mar 60

When taking off from Lalibu strip in Southern Highlands Province, a drop in fuel pressure forced an attempted return to the strip but the engine power failed completely and the aircraft overturned on rough terrain.

Mar 60

MAL flew a team of engineers to Lalibu to collect all parts that could be salvaged. VH-GSD was pulled back on to its wheels, the engine and wings removed, the fuselage cut into sections and carried to Mount Hagen where it was loaded into a Ju52 and flown to Goroka for repair.

Jun 60

Sold to Ansett-MAL, Lae, PNG

12 Sep 60

Struck-off register. Currently no further information known.

A71-14

9 Dec 43

Transferred to RAAF under Lend-Lease and flown to Newark, New Jersey and prepared for shipment to Australia by the US War Shipping Administration New York, USA.

7 Mar 44

Received by 3 Aircraft Depot (3AD) RAAF Amberley, QLD for assembly and testing.

8 Mar 44

Allotted RAAF Serial A71-14.

20 Mar 44

Issued to, and received by, 6 Aircraft Depot (6AD) at Oakey, QLD.

21 Apr 44

Allocated and received 7 Communications Unit (7CU) at RAAF Pearce, WA

19 Oct 44

Allocated to No 13 Aircraft Repair Depot (13ARD) Breddan, QLD.

4 Dec 44

Ferried from Pearce to Breddan via Kalgoolie – Cook - Parafield- Broken Hill – Amberley -Rockhampton.

14 May 45

Temporary allocation to 5CU until A71-2 or A71-3 become serviceable.

18 Jan 46

Allocated to No 7 Aircraft Depot (7AD) at RAAF Station Tocumwal, NSW.

19 Jan 46

Received by 7AD Care & Maintenance Unit and stored under cover in Category D storage.

1 Aug 46

Offered to CDC for disposal.

28 Nov 47

Sold by CDC to Kingsford Smith Aviation Services, PO Box 23, Mascot, NSW for 500 pounds.

27 Jan 48

Flown from Tocumwal to Mascot by purchaser.

History After RAAF Service

Feb 48

Civil conversion at Mascot by Kingsford Smith Aviation Service. Fitted with two additional cabin windows and seven passenger seats from an ex-RAAF Dragon.

5 Mar 48

Registration application: Zinc Corporation Ltd (Aviation Division), Broken Hill NSW. Registered as VH-BHF.

14 Apr 48

CofA issued as Mascot.  The first civilianized Norseman in Australia.

26 Apr 48

Arrived at Broome, WA. Based at Broome to support remote survey parties.

20 Jun 48

Returned to Broken Hill.

1 Aug 48

Change of ownership to Silver City Airways (Australia) Pty Ltd, Broken Hill NSW

20 Apr 49

Ferried to Mascot for inspection and C of A renewal by Marshall Airways.

May 49

Returned to Broken Hill.

1 Aug 50

Ferried to Essendon Airport, Melbourne VIC for inspection and CofA renewal by Australian National Airways.

18 Dec 51

Change of ownership to Zinc Corporation Ltd, Melbourne VIC.

17 Sep 52

The aircraft caught fire on the ground at Mainoru airstrip, Arnhem Land NT due to an electric fault in the HF radio. Aircraft totally destroyed.

Dec 52

Struck-off register.