VH-ARD at Haifa after being delivered to the fledgling Israeli air force. It had been acquired in Italy on 28 May 1948, in exchange for DC-3 I-TROS which became VH-BNH. The DC-5 was being used for migrant charters when the exchange took place, and with the Israelis it was later used as a makeshift bomber. Photo by: -Lieutenant D.A.S. MacKay / Flight

VH-ARD photographed by Dr Alan Wood on its way to Rome to pick up migrants. This might have been the flight from which it did not return, instead diverting to Israel where it became a makeshift bomber.

Formerly PK-ADD with KNILM and flown to Australia in 1942 to escape the Japanese advance through Indonesia. Impressed by the USAAF, it was operated by Australian National Airways (note small "ANA" on the nose) with the call sign VHCXC. It was given a temporary serial of 41-426 and later, after it was withdrawn from use, an official serial of 44-83232 and the official type designation C-110.
ANA bought the DC-5 after the war and it became VH-ARD. After a couple of changes of ownership, it went to Israel in 1948 as a makeshift bomber. It ended its days in a children's playground. Scanned from the original negative, now held by Bill Gray. Photographer's name unknown.