Converted to survey configuration in 1957. It was operated by Trans Australia Airlines on behalf of the South Australian Department of Lands. East West acquired the aircraft and contract in 1975. A year later -DAS was withdrawn from use. Sold to Travmar in 1978 for spare parts and flown to Maitland. It was later dismantled and trucked to Queensland as a prop for the 1986 movie Sky Pirates. Remains last reported derelict at Kuranda Homestead, Cairns. Mike Madden photo.

These are the mortal remains of VH-DAS, rotting away at Kuranda. Built as a C-47-DL, USAAF serial 41-38668 and arrived in Australia in January 1943. Sold to the Australian Department of Civil Aviation in July 1944 and converted for civil use, registered VH-AEO on 9 March 1945. Leased to ANA and Guinea Airways, then transferred to TAA in 1946. Re-registered VH-DAS in 1958 and retired in 1977. Used in the 1984 film 'Sky Pirates', then left for scrap in Cairns before being rescued and transported to Kuranda as a tourist attraction.

These are the mortal remains of VH-DAS, rotting away at Kuranda. Built as a C-47-DL, USAAF serial 41-38668 and arrived in Australia in January 1943. Sold to the Australian Department of Civil Aviation in July 1944 and converted for civil use, registered VH-AEO on 9 March 1945. Leased to ANA and Guinea Airways, then transferred to TAA in 1946. Re-registered VH-DAS in 1958 and retired in 1977. Used in the 1984 film 'Sky Pirates', then left for scrap in Cairns before being rescued and transported to Kuranda as a tourist attraction.

These are the mortal remains of VH-DAS, rotting away at Kuranda. Built as a C-47-DL, USAAF serial 41-38668 and arrived in Australia in January 1943. Sold to the Australian Department of Civil Aviation in July 1944 and converted for civil use, registered VH-AEO on 9 March 1945. Leased to ANA and Guinea Airways, then transferred to TAA in 1946. Re-registered VH-DAS in 1958 and retired in 1977. Used in the 1984 film 'Sky Pirates', then left for scrap in Cairns before being rescued and transported to Kuranda as a tourist attraction.

This pile of junk is all that's left of C-47 VH-DAS, "preserved" in a wreck setting in Kuranda near Cairns. When the aircraft arrived here in 1984, it carried USAAF markings used in a movie, but no trace of that is left in this photo. Instead the aircraft's former Trans Australia Airlines cheatline, titles and logos have re-appeared and can now clearly be seen.

The cockpit section of C-47 VH-DAS, part of a wreck setting in Kuranda near Cairns. When the aircraft arrived here in 1984, it carried USAAF markings used in a movie, but no trace of that is left in this photo. Instead the aircraft's former Trans Australia Airlines cheatline, titles and logos have re-appeared and can now clearly be seen. TAA's kangaroo can be seen top right, just above the small window.

Preserved as a crashed aircraft in Kuranda Cultural Rainforest Village since 1984. It is still in fake USAAF markings as "6903077 / B5", a left-over of its role in the movie "Sky Pirates" (released in 1984). This was TAA's first registered aircraft, in 1946 as VH-AEO, re-regd to VH-DAS in January 1958 when it was transferred to the South Australian Department of Lands.

VH-DAS was used for aerial survey. TAA sold it to East West in 1975. In 1978 EWA sold it to Travmar for spares. Photographer not known.