Reregistered VH-SBD in December 1960

Originally allocated to the RAF in 1944 as FZ471 this aircraft was purchased by Qantas in 1949 and registered VH-EAN. It also carried registrations VH-EBF and VH-EBU until sold to TAA in 1960 . TAA registered it as VH-SBD for service in New Guinea. In 1973 it was sold to Air Niugini as P2-SBD and later changed to P2-ANO. In 1981 it was sold to Bush Pilots Airways and used for spares in Cairns.

To P2-SBD on Papua New Guinea independence.

Resting on the hardstand at Eagle Farm.

First Australian registration as VH-ANO with Qantas Empire Airways. Later as P2-ANO with Air Niugini.

Ex P2-ANO of Air Niugini, N5590C was sold to Bush Pilots Airways for spares in 1981. In 1984 it was mounted on a pole at Cairns airport as the fake "VH-BPA" until corrosion forced its removal in 2008.

Not the real VH-BPA, but ex N5590C painted as such. There never was a DC-3 registered VH-BPA.

This photograph shows it in the colours of Air Queensland, shortly before being painted in Bush Pilots colours. The aircraft carries a spurious registration, it is in fact ex N5590C, which carried many Australian regs: ex VH-SBD, VH-EBU, VH-EBF and VH-EAN.It was also P2-SBD and P2-ANO with Air Niugini.

Built as C-47A 42-92392 but passed to RAF as FZ631. Bought by Qantas in 1949 as VH-EAN, later VH-EBF and VH-EBU. Sold to Trans Australian as VH-SBD in 1960. Latterly VH-BPA but broken up at Cairns in 2009 because of corrosion. From Qantas 50 years ago.