This Stearman was built for the US Navy as an N2S-3, BuAer 07858. Post-war it was civilianised as N5004V. Joe Baugher reports the fuselage was noted derelict in external storage at Brownfield, TX in July 1986. The US registration was cancelled on 31 December 1992 on export to Australia. Following restoration, it was registered VH-PWS(3) on 14 March 1995 as VH-PWS. It wears its USN Bu number as a fictitious USAAF serial, '41-07858'.

VH-PWS was the National Parks and Wildlife Service's second Gazelle. Like VH-WLS, -PWS was also lost in an accident. It was written off at Mount Perisher, New South Wales, on December 13, 1985 when it landed heavily after the engine spooled down without warning.