VH-MML was part of the Air Beef scheme. With the poor roads that were impassible in the wet season in remote Western Australia, cattle had to be walked to the Wyndham abattoir. They lost as much as 35kg in weight. To overcome this, in 1949 an abattoir was built at Glenroy Station and chilled carcasses flown out in a fleet of DC-3s and Bristol 170s to Wyndham and Derby. By 1962 roads had improved and become all-weather. Trucks took over moving live cattle to abattoirs in coastal towns and the Glenroy abattoir closed. Photo from: State Library of Western Australia

Another Warbird in the Paul Bennet Fleet is VH-MML, A TBM-3 Avenger, and Australia's only flying/preserved example.

Built to a USN order as US Navy BuAer 53857. After Navy service, it was civilianised in 1963 as N7017C. To Forest Protection Ltd, Fredericton, New Brunswick in May 1976 as C-GFPM as a firebomber 'Tanker 21'. Sold to Australia in 2004 and restored at Coolangatta, first flight 6 April 2006. Currently operated by Paul Bennet Airshows.

Built to a USN order as US Navy BuAer 53857. After Navy service, it was civilianised in 1963 as N7017C. To Forest Protection Ltd, Fredericton, New Brunswick in May 1976 as C-GFPM as a firebomber 'Tanker 21'. Sold to Australia in 2004 and restored at Coolangatta, first flight 6 April 2006. Currently operated by Paul Bennet Airshows.

Transferred to Papua New Guinea within the Ansett Group in 1969. Acquired by Air Niugini as P2-MML in 1973 after it became the national carrier.

Seen in her original Oxley Airlines livery on the western G.A. apron.

Delivered new to Oxley Aviation and merged into Impulse March 1994. Sold as ZS-OYB 9th Jan 2003

Delivered new to Oxley Aviation and merged into Impulse March 1994. Sold as ZS-OYB 9th Jan 2003

VH-MML was registered in September 2005.

One of two very similar Avengers owned by Steve Searle, both of which appeared at the Wide Bay International Airshow. Built to a USN order as US Navy BuAer 53857. After Navy service, it was civilianised in 1963 as N7017C. To Forest Protection Ltd, Fredericton, New Brunswick in May 1976 as C-GFPM as a firebomber 'Tanker 21'. Sold to Australia in 2004 and restored at Coolangatta, first flight 6 April 2006.

One of two very similar Avengers owned by Steve Searle, both of which appeared at the Wide Bay International Airshow. Built to a USN order as US Navy BuAer 53857. After Navy service, it was civilianised in 1963 as N7017C. To Forest Protection Ltd, Fredericton, New Brunswick in May 1976 as C-GFPM as a firebomber 'Tanker 21'. Sold to Australia in 2004 and restored at Coolangatta, first flight 6 April 2006.

Crashed less than a year later, on 20 Jan 1984. 35mm Slide scanned with a Epson Perfection V700 Flatbed scanner.

VH-MML flew into Ben Lomond, New South Wales, on January 20, 1984. The aircraft was on a regular run carrying time-sensitive documents for banks when it hit the cloud-shrouded mountain. The pilot, the only person on board, was killed.