128228PD: Loading the 'Durack', 1960s?

Year

1959?

Warnings and disclaimer

Title devised by cataloguer. Four of these images are found as both negatives and prints. BA1762/319 (128225PD) is the same as print at BA1762/427/12; BA1762/321 (128227PD) is the same as print at BA1762/427/14; BA1762/322 (128228PD) is the same as print at BA1762/427/13; BA1762/324 (128230PD) is the same as print at BA1762/427/11. A print which belongs to this series of photograph was found in the collection in an album titled Brownes Dairy Ltd accessioned at BA1762/426/6. This print was annotated with Illustrations Ltd job number 32177-6 dating it to probably 1959. This image has been preserved and made available by the Historical Records Rescue Consortium Project supported by Lotterywest. History of the aircraft (courtesy of Gil White): Manufactured by Douglas Aircraft Corporation at Oklahoma City, and rolled off the production line on 19/5/1945. Aircraft was designated as a C-47B-35-DK. During the war years allocated U.S. serial number 44-76969. On 31/5/1945 acquired by the Royal Australian Air Force under the terms of the Lend-Lease agreement and given the serial number A65-109 seeing war service with No 1 Communication Unit, No 111 Air Sea Rescue Flight, No's 36 and 38 Squadrons, No 90 Transport Wing in Malaya and finally with No 86 Transport Wing using the radio callsign VHRGX. Struck off charge on 27/5/1958 when withdrawn from use. On 24/6/1958 purchased by MacRobertson Miller Airlines P/L. Registered VH-MMD to Commercial Aviation P/L on 8/10/1958 named RMA 'Durack'. On 11/6/1962 aircraft inaugurated the company's 'Explorer Tours' of the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Ownership of aircraft transferred to MacRobertson Miller Airlines and registered to the company on 22/12/1966. On 10/2/1969 sold to Ansett Airlines of Papua New Guinea P/L and registered to the company on the same day. Departed Perth on the same day on the ferry flight to New Guinea and routed via Forrest, Whyalla, Broken Hill, Rockhampton, Cairns and arrived at Lae where it commenced operations shortly after arrival. On 1/11/1973 sold to Air Niugini, which was based at Port Moresby in New Guinea and reregistered P2-MMD on 1/6/1974. On 13/12/1975 reregistered P2-ANU. Purchased by Travmar Holdings P/L, which was based at Rutherford on 28/6/1977. Prior to departing New Guinea it entered the hangar at Port Moresby where it was overhauled and painted in Travmar's red/blue colour scheme. On 22/7/1977 departed New Guinea for Bankstown and was reregistered VH-MMD to the company on 12/8/1977. Whilst in service with Travmar it was mainly used for charter flights. When the company ceased trading withdrawn from service and parked at Bankstown where it slowly deteriorated in the weather. Later sold to Setair but the aircraft remained at Bankstown. Struck off the Australian civil register on 10/7/1980. On 9/12/1984 acquired by the Power House Museum in Sydney from the Australian War Memorial. The aircraft was de-accessioned from the Powerhouse Museum collection on 18/12/1997. The aircraft arrived at Australian Aviation Museum, Bankstown on 18/12/1999 where museum volunteers began a slow restoration to static display standard. As at January 2007, it was still under restoration see photo: http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5917243 (Information supplied by D. Eyre May 2008)

Subjects

• Milk trade -- Western Australia -- Photographs.
• Milk transportation -- Western Australia -- Photographs.
• Packaging -- Western Australia -- Photographs.
• View more on SLWA catalogue

Terms of use

For personal use only. To publish or display, contact the State Library of Western Australia.

Call Number

BA1762/319, 321-324