ADF-SERIALS
Australian & New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History
RAAF A3 & A33 De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
A3 Serials
| RAAF. Serial | Construction Number | Aircraft History |
| A3-1 | 6270 | Air Britain tells us
that A3-1 c/n 6270 Delivered 02/07/35 1 Sqn/North Australia
Survey Flt. Diverted to civil use and registered VH-UFF on 30/12/35 to Holyman's Airways PTY Ltd. Various owners before being impressed by RAAF on 17/07/40 as A33-3.  |
| A3-2 | 6314 | Air Britain tells us
that A3-2 c/n 6314 Delivered 04/36 as VH-UVG, another report
is that it was VH-UBI. A3-2, still carrying its call sign VH-UVG, was pressed into RAAF service to begin work based at Port Hedland as part of the North Australian Survey Flight (NASF). Force landed in the bush away from Camooweal 13/04/36. Found on 22/04/36 and trucked to No 1 AD at Laverton. Returned to service in 1937. Force landed on a dried up lakebed in the Gibson Desert 21/05/37. Salvaged and flown out 30/05/37. Finally written off on landing when wingtip hit the ground at Laverton 03/02/38. |
A33 Serials
| RAAF. Serial | Construction Number | Aircraft History |
| A33-1 | 6259 | Ex ZK-ACO. Registered VH-UUO 10/06/35 to 08/07/40 with several different Airlines. Impressed into RAAF 08/07/40. Taken over from Guinea Airways. Received 3 EFTS 7/40, 1 AOS 8/40-4/42. Transferred to civil aviation and re-registered VH-UUO 20/04/42 to Commonwealth Govt. Operated by ANA till it was officially returned to Guinea Airways post war. Was extant as VH-UUO till 08/09/52. Damaged 23/05/52 at Tooraweenah NSW.  |
| A33-2 | 6318 | Registered VH-UVI
15/04/36 to 17/07/40. Impressed by RAAF 17/07/40. Transferred from Guinea Airways 3/9/40. Received 3 EFTS 9/40, 1 AOS 10/40-6/41. Damaged in force landing 20/6/41, Approval given to write off 30/7/1941. |
| A33-3 | 6270 | Ex A3-1 and Ex VH-UFF.
Impressed in 17/07/40 from Airlines of Australia. Received 3 EFTS 7/40, to ANA for mod 7/40, 1 AOS 10/40-6/42. To De Havilland 6/42 for it is believed outfitting for Transport role. Operated with 3 C.F briefly then 36 Sqn in camouflage and carrying the ADAT callsign VHCRP. Transferred to civil aviation and re-registered VH-UFF 21/11/43 to Commonwealth Govt. Operated by Guinea Airways till it was officially allocated to them post war. Registered VH-UFF 21/11/43 to 11/04/53. Exported to New Caledonia as F-OAVG or F-OCFC.  |
| A33-4 | 6346 | Impressed during 1940.
Ex VH-UXT came from Australian National Airways. Received 3 EFTS 7/40, to ANA for mod 7/40, 1 AOS 10/40-4/42. Transferred to civil aviation and re-registered VH-UXT 16/04/42 to Commonwealth Govt. Operated by ANA till it was officially returned to them post war. |
| A33-5 | 6253 | Registered VH-UBN
17/08/36 to 09/08/40. Impressed on 09/08/40 from Airlines of Australia. Received 3 EFTS 8/40, to ANA for mods & engine overhaul 8/40, 1 AOS 11/40-4/42. Transferred to civil aviation and re-registered VH-UBN 16/04/42 to Commonwealth Govt. Operated by Guinea Airways. Crashed 20/07/44 at Mt Kitchener SA. The aircraft encountered carburetor icing and crashed into the side of the hill. The pilot and six passengers were killed. |
| A33-6 | 6384 | Impressed in 1940 from
Airlines of Australia ex VH-UZY. Received 3 EFTS 8/40, To ANA for modifications 8/40, 1 AOS 11/40-2/42. To Ansett 2/42 for it is believed outfitting for Transport role. A33-6 served with 32 Sqn from June 1942, then with 33 Sqn and 1 Rescue & Communication Flight until it went to De Havilland for a major overhaul at the end of the year. In May 1943 it was assigned to 2 Air Ambulance Unit but was operated by 1 Rescue & Communication Squadron unless required for ambulance duties. It was probably operated in camouflage and carrying the ADAT call sign VHCRQ. Transferred to civil aviation and shipped to Airlines (WA) Ltd in Perth 3/44. The airframe required extensive overhaul however and was not re-registered as VH-UZY till 19/11/44. Returned to airlines after war. |
| A33-7 | 6341 | Ex EI-ABP, G-AENO and
VH-ADE. Impressed on 25/08/40 from Guinea Airways. With GAL till it was received 3 EFTS 11/40, To 1 AOS 1/41-4/42. Transferred to civil aviation and re-registered VH-ADE 16/04/42 to Commonwealth Govt. Operated by ANA 21/04/42 to 27/01/44. Damaged in Forced Landing 26/01/44 at Cape Sidmouth QLD. Written off and spares holding at Cairns transferred to Airlines (WA) Ltd to assist in overhaul of VH-UZY. |
The Authors of this page are Darren Crick and Steve Mackenzie (updated by Brendan Cowan)
Source: Air Britain, CASA Aircraft Records. RAAF Aircraft Status cards, Eddie Coates website, IPMS (NSW) Magazine 'in Miniature' issue 22-4
Emails: Stig Jarlevik, Carl Tacey, Joop de Wit, Tjalling Boelman, Martin Edwards.
Updated 11 August 2014
It is our policy to only show historical events, no current operational information will be displayed on this website.
"The ADF-Serials team give permission to use the content of this page, excluding images, providing that it contains an acknowledgement to the adf-serials team and any other listed sources."
