1943           Manufactured for USAAF by Noorduyn Aircraft Ltd, at their Cartierville factory just north of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

21Aug43     Delivered to USAAF as a Mk.VI UC-64A Serial 43-5188 fitted with a 600hp Pratt & Whitney R1340-AN1 Wasp engine.

23Aug43     Transferred to RAAF under Lend-Lease and flown to Newark, New Jersey and prepared for shipment to Australia by the US War Shipping Administration, New York USA.

26Oct43    Arrived at Pitman Wharf Sydney.

31Oct43     Received by No 2 Aircraft Park, Bankstown Airport NSW for assembly and testing.

27Oct43    Allotted RAAF Serial A71-1.

23Dec43    Allocated to No 5 Communications Unit (5CU) at RAAF Base Garbutt, QLD.

10Jan44     Received by 5CU.

18Jul44     Test flown by A405709 WOFF H.J. Angus following 240 hourly inspection.

20Jul44     Engine modifications incorporated.

29Jul44     Test flown by O420042 FLGOFF H.A. Payne following modifications to the aircraft.

20Aug44    Departed Higgins Field, Horn Island, QLD for a flight to Merauke, Dutch New Guinea with an advance party  consisting of FSGT Rossiter, FLGOFF Payne and LAC Dunn for a short duration attachment. FSGT Rossiter and LAC Dunn returned to Horn Island to get more passengers and equipment and planned to return the following morning.

21Aug44     Departed Horn Island on a flight to Merauke with a crew of two and four passengers when the engine failed at approximately 1000hrs causing the aircraft to ditch eight miles SE of Boigu Island, PNG. All six people exited the ditched aircraft and set off to try and swim the eight miles to Boigu Island. Unfortunately, by the time a local arrived in a canoe some hours later three of the six survivors could not be found.  Pilot A432268 FSGT Frank Henry Rossiter (20) single of Bexley, NSW was missing presumed drowned; crewman A28046 LAC John Norman George Dunn (37) married of Port Pirie, SA was missing presumed drowned; passenger A76295 LAC Clifford David Searle (29) married of Hendra, QLD was missing presumed drowned; passenger A41715 LAC DR Tomasetti was rescued; passenger A33134 CPL VC Robinson was rescued; and, passenger A63374 LAC LJ Hart was rescued.

01Sep44      Approved for write-off. 262.15 total hours flown.

FSGT Rossiter is commemorated in the Sydney War Cemetery, Sydney Memorial, Panel 6

LAC Dunn is commemorated in the Sydney War Cemetery, Sydney Memorial, Panel 7

LAC Searle is commemorated in the Sydney War Cemetery, Sydney Memorial, Panel 7

1943            Manufactured for USAAF by Noorduyn Aircraft Ltd, at their Cartierville factory just north of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

21Aug43       Delivered to USAAF as a Mk. VI UC-64A Serial 43-5189 fitted with a 600hp Pratt & Whitney R1340-AN1 Wasp engine.

23Aug43       Transferred to RAAF under Lend-Lease and flown to Newark, New Jersey and prepared for shipment to Australia by the US War Shipping Administration New York, USA.

26Oct43       Arrived at Pitman Wharf Sydney.

31Oct43       Received by No 2 Aircraft Park, Bankstown Airport NSW for assembly and testing.

01Nov43       Allotted RAAF Serial A71-2.

30Nov43       Allocated to No 9 Communications Unit (9CU) at Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

07Dec43       Received by 9CU.

15Dec43       Request allocation to No 15 Aircraft Repair Depot (15ARD) at Port Moresby for repairs to [faulty] engine.

16Dec43       Allocated to 15ARD.

19Dec43       Received by 15ARD. Engine was not faulty, local modification rectified a manifold problem.

09Jan44       Allocated to 9CU.

13Jan44       Received by 9CU.

19Jan44       Allocated to No 5 Communications Unit (5CU) at RAAF Base Garbutt, QLD.

14Jan44       Received by 5CU.

02Aug44       Inspection revealed that the main spar was broken. Request whether aircraft can be flown to an aircraft depot for repairs.

03Aug44       Advised aircraft flyable only with light loading for one ferry flight to repair depot.

04Aug44       Allocated to No 6 Aircraft Depot (6AD) at Oakey airfield, 30km west of Toowoomba, QLD.

15Aug44       Ferried to 6AD by A405840 WOFF T.A. Clarke for main spar change

03Oct44       Allocated to 5CU

25Oct44       Received by 5CU following repairs. Inspection revealed two broken oil lines and loose exhaust brackets. Repaired locally and test flown by FLGOFF Purdon.

07Dec44       Allocated to No 13 Aircraft Repair Depot (13ARD) Breddan Field, QLD for 240 hourly inspection.

11Dec44       Allocation cancelled. 5CU directed to perform 240 hourly inspection.

11Apr45        On take-off from Garbutt a connecting rod in the engine failed causing an engine seizure. The pilot, A414174 WOFF John Henry Tippett, successfully landed the aircraft with no damage to the aircraft or injury to the three passengers.

31Oct45       Allocated to 13ARD for renewal of upper fabric. Returned to 5CU on completion.

18Jan46       Allocated to No 7 Aircraft Depot (7AD) at RAAF Station Tocumwal, NSW.

18Feb46       Request approval for conversion to spares.

28Feb46       Allocated to 13ARD for conversion.

20Mar46      Approved for conversion.

1943            Manufactured for USAAF by Noorduyn Aircraft Ltd, at their Cartierville factory just north of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

21Aug43       Delivered to USAAF as a Mk. VI UC-64A Serial 43-5190 fitted with a 600hp Pratt & Whitney R1340-AN1 Wasp engine.

23Aug43       Transferred to RAAF under Lend-Lease and flown to Newark, New Jersey and prepared for shipment to Australia by the US War Shipping Administration New York, USA.

26Oct43       Arrived at Pitman Wharf Sydney.

31Oct43       Received by No 2 Aircraft Park, Bankstown Airport NSW for assembly and testing.

01Nov43       Allotted RAAF Serial A71-2.

01Dec43       Allocated to No 5 Communications Unit (5CU) at RAAF Base Garbutt, QLD.

05Dec43       Ferried to 5CU by O402056 FLGOFF J.J. Hewson.

23May44      Test flown by O420790 FLGOFF T.B. Watts after 240 hourly inspection.

18Dec44       At 1800 hrs reported overdue on a flight from Archerfield to Townsville.

19Dec44       On a travel flight from Archerfield to Townsville the aircraft developed engine troubles and was forced to land on a sandbank in the Burdekin River, 12 miles S of Ravenswood QLD at 1730hrs. Pilot O616 SNQLDR WL Milne and 2^nd pilot A424146 WOFF MS Burcher were uninjured.

27Dec44       No 6 Central Recovery Depot tasked to recover the aircraft and deliver to 5CU. The aircraft was dismantled in-situ and freighted to Townsville by road. 

18Jan45       Allocated to No 13 Aircraft Repair Depot (13ARD) Detachment at Garbutt.

20Jan45       Received by 13ARD and repaired.

11Mar45       Received by 5CU.

18Jan46       Allocated to No 7 Aircraft Depot (7AD) at RAAF Station Tocumwal, NSW.

18Mar46       Received by 7AD and stored under cover as Category D.

11Oct46       Offered to Commonwealth Disposals Commission (CDC) for disposal.

24Nov48       Survey report showed dope on fabric cracked but fit to fly. Total hours 599.

02Jun49       Sold by CDC to The Zinc Corporation Ltd Melbourne VIC for 2,500 pounds.

28Jun49       Collected by purchaser and departed for Broken Hill, NSW and stored pending civil conversion.

Post RAAF History:

26Jun50       Registration application from Gibbes Sepik Airways, Wewak, New Guinea.

1950            Flown from Broken Hill to Bankstown Airport for civil conversion by Kingsford Smith Aviation Services (KSAS). During the flight fabric was torn from the wings by a dust storm near Parkes NSW causing a forced landing. A team of fabric workers from KSAS went to Parkes and repaired the aircraft. Converted to civil standard by KSAS.

20Oct50       Registered VH-BNT to Gibbes Sepik Airways. C of A for 2 crew and 16 passengers.

30Oct50       Ferried from Sydney to New Guinea carrying 600 live chickens for the Gibbes farm.

03Nov50       Minor damage at Tapini strip, Central Province, New Guinea.

Dec50          Temporarily repaired and flown to Port Moresby for complete repairs.

17Apr55       On a routine flight from Madang to Lalibu strip Southern Highlands Province and return the aircraft struck a soft patch when landing at Lalibu. Aircraft pitched over and landed on its back. The sole occupant Captain AH Nisbet was uninjured.

23Aug55       Fuel starvation caused an engine failure immediately after take-off from Minj field, Jawaka Province PNG, forcing a straight ahead crash landing. The aircraft was totally destroyed and, amazingly, the pilot (Captain John McDermott) received only minor injuries.

1943            Manufactured for USAAF by Noorduyn Aircraft Ltd, at their Cartierville factory just north of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

26Aug43       Delivered to USAAF as a Mk. VI UC-64A Serial 43-5191 fitted with a 600hp Pratt & Whitney R1340-AN1 Wasp engine.

27Aug43       Transferred to RAAF under Lend-Lease and flown to Newark, New Jersey and prepared for shipment to Australia by the US War Shipping Administration New York, USA.

20Oct43       Arrived Victoria Dock, Port Melbourne.

24Oct43       Received by No 1 Aircraft Depot RAAF Base Laverton for assembly and testing.

26Oct43       Allotted RAAF Serial A71-4.

17Mar44       Allocated to No 5 Communications Unit (5CU) at RAAF Base Garbutt, QLD.

20Mar44      Received by 5CU. Coded as KF-B

01Jul44        Crewed by O354 GRPCPT I.S. Podger and FSGT Kennedy flew a long distance trip to Melbourne via Bowen-Brisbane-Richmond-Albury and return to pick up urgent aircraft spares. RTB on 15Jul.

29Sep44      Allocated to No 13 Aircraft Repair Depot (13ARD) Breddan Field, QLD for 240 hourly inspection.

29Sep44      Allocated to 5CU on completion of inspection.

02Oct44       Received by 13ARD.

13Oct44       Received by 5CU.

Jan45          Aircraft received minor modifications to carry aerial cameras.

23Jan45      Trial aerial photography carried out over Townsville and surrounding areas by FLTLT Andrews and two unknown RAAF photographers. Results were very satisfactory.

12Jun45       Test flown by FLTLT Kitchen following 240 hourly inspection.

18Jan46       Allocated to No 7 Aircraft Depot (7AD) at RAAF Station Tocumwal, NSW.

13Feb46       Aircraft departed Garbutt to deliver rations to Iron Range Camp, 100km East of Weipa, QLD. Aircraft reached Cairns and remained overnight.

14Feb46       Departed Cairns for Iron Range Camp, stopped at Cooktown for fuel then encountered severe weather conditions near Iron Range. Radio contact was lost and the aircraft reported missing.  An aerial search was mounted over the next four days by RAAF and civilian search planes.

19Feb46       A Catalina located the wreckage near the old Claudie bush strip 10 miles south of Iron Range.  A RAAF Court of Enquiry determined that the aircraft crashed after it struck a tree at 1445 hrs when trying to land at Claudie strip in bad weather. The aircraft was destroyed and all three on board were killed.  Access to crash site was impossible because of flood waters.

25Feb46       Recommended for write off/conversion.

18Mar46       The bodies were recovered for burial.

20Mar46      Wreckage converted to components.

O414048 FLGOFF Colin William Law (23) single of Blackall, Qld was buried with full military honours in the Townsville War Cemetery Grave E.B.12

A440276 FSGT John Brian Crawford (20) single of Redcliffe, QLD was buried with full military honours in the Townsville War Cemetery Grave E.B.13

A440279 FSGT George Morris Geisel (20) single of Dalby, QLD was buried with full military honours in the Townsville War Cemetery Grave E.B.14

1943            Manufactured for USAAF by Noorduyn Aircraft Ltd, at their Cartierville factory just north of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

24Nov43       Delivered to USAAF as a Mk. VI UC-64A Serial 43-5258 fitted with a 600hp Pratt & Whitney R1340-AN1 Wasp engine.

27Nov43       Transferred to RAAF under Lend-Lease and flown to Newark, New Jersey and prepared for shipment to Australia by the US War Shipping Administration New York, USA.

17Feb44       Arrived Victoria Dock, Port Melbourne.

20Feb44       Received by No 1 Aircraft Depot (1AD) RAAF Laverton VIC for assembly and testing.

21Feb44       Allotted RAAF Serial A71-5.

Feb44          Stored serviceable at 1AD.

31Oct44       Allocated to 1AD Ferry Flight (1ADFF) to be held until required by another unit.

14Nov44       Received by 1ADFF.

15Nov44       When landing in a moderate crosswind the aircraft weathercocked resulting in a ground loop and the stbd wing hitting the ground. Pilot O41461 FLTLT R.T.S Pratt was reprimanded for failing to prevent a swing developing by proper use of the engine and brakes.

06Feb45       Allocated to No 1 Communications Unit (1CU) Essendon Airport to replace A71-9.

08Feb45       Received by 1CU.

18Jan46       Allocated to No 7 Aircraft Depot (7AD) at RAAF Station Tocumwal, NSW.

01Feb46       Received by 7AD and stored under cover in Category D storage.

17Aug48       Selected for post war use, stored as Cat B pending use by the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition (ANARE).

09Sep49       Downgraded to Category D, no longer retained for use by ANARE.

13Feb50       Offered for sale on CDC Air List 6885. Good condition with 199hrs total time.

27Jun50       Sold to Gibbes Sepik Airways, Wewak New Guinea for 1,500 pounds [$3,000].

18Oct50       Flown from Tocumwal to Deniliquin by Mr Bobby Gibbes (ex-RAAF SQNLDR ace).

Post RAAF History:

31Oct50       Registration application from Gibbes Sepik Airways, Wewak, New Guinea.

1951             Civil conversion at Albury aerodrome NSW by Riverina Aircraft Service.

13Oct51       Test flown after civil conversion.

13Oct50       Registered VH-ASN to Gibbes Sepik Airways. C of A for 2 crew and 16 passengers.

1951             Delivered to Wewak.

18Aug52       Struck soft patch, tipped onto nose during first ever landing at a newly prepared strip at Tari Airstrip, Hela Province, PNG.

10Jul53        Engine failure caused by burst oil line on flight from Port Moresby to Goroka caused a forced landing at Menyamya strip, Morobe Province, PNG.  New engine flown in and aircraft recovered to Goroka.

21Jul57        Made an air drop near Koroba Village, Hela Province, PNG. Unfortunately falling supply sacks struck and killed two locals.

Nov 1958      Purchased by Mandated Airlines (MAL), Lae, PNG.

30Mar60      Registered as VH-GSE to Ansett-MAL, Lae PNG.

Dec62          Based in Wewak and fitted with side saddle seating. Flying occasionally.

29Jan63       Struck-off register and withdrawn from service.

12Sep63       Restored to register as VH-GSE with Mandated Airlines, Lae, PNG.

23Oct63       Purchased by Pay & Williamson Pty Ltd, Narromine NSW

17Nov63       Underwent conversion to crop-duster at Narromine, NSW.

26Sep66       While conducting crop dusting operations near Armidale NSW the aircraft failed to climb away after becoming airborne and struck a gully with its main wheels. On becoming airborne again it struck the top strand of a wire fence then alighted on the main wheels in a rock-strewn paddock, collided with a tractor, overturned and was destroyed by fire. Pilot Colin Pay was unhurt.

1943            Manufactured for USAAF by Noorduyn Aircraft Ltd, at their Cartierville factory just north of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

24Nov43       Delivered to USAAF as a Mk. VI UC-64A Serial 43-5259 fitted with a 600hp Pratt & Whitney R1340-AN1 Wasp engine.

25Nov43       Transferred to RAAF under Lend-Lease and flown to Newark, New Jersey and prepared for shipment to Australia by the US War Shipping Administration New York, USA.

17Feb44       Arrived at Victoria Dock, Port Melbourne.

20Feb44       Received by No 1 Aircraft Depot (1AD) RAAF Laverton VIC for assembly and testing.

21Feb44       Allotted RAAF Serial A71-6.

08Jun44       Allocated to No 1 Communications Unit (1CU) Essendon Airport VIC.

09Jun44       Received by 1CU

11Sep44        Allocated to No 4 Communications Unit (4CU) Archerfield, Brisbane QLD to replace A71-12.

14Sep44       Received by 4CU.

08Jan46       Allocated to No 7 Aircraft Depot (7AD) at RAAF Station Tocumwal, NSW.

17Jan46       Received by 7AD and stored under cover in Category D storage.

11Oct48       Offered to Commonwealth Disposal Commission (CDC) for disposal.

24Nov48       RAAF Inspection report stated a/c fit to fly although doping starting to crack. 318 hrs total time.

02Jun49       Sold by CDC to The Zinc Corporation Ltd Melbourne, VIC for 2,500 pounds [$5,000].

28Jun49       Flown out of Tocumwal by purchaser.

Post RAAF History:

1950            Purchased by Bobby Gibbes for Gibbes Sepik Airways, New Guinea.

27Oct50       Registration application from Gibbes Sepik Airways, Wewak, New Guinea.

1950            DCA approval given for A71-6 to be ferried to PNG for Gibbes Sepik Airways to perform the civil conversion at their workshops in Wewak.

21Jan51        Test flown following conversion.

05Feb51       Registered as VH-GSA. C of A issued.

14Oct51       Swung into ditch when landing at Lumli strip.

04Oct56       Aircraft was diverted to Mount Hagen when on a flight from Tari to Minj. Aircraft landed short of the strip and overturned. Captain John Downie unhurt.

26Sep57       Flew to Lake Kapiagu to search for crashed Gibbes Sepik Airways Norseman VH-BNE. Later dropped supplies to the ground party who were dismantling BNE for ground transportation.

08Aug58       A cargo flight from Minj to Mendi carrying a load of bagged cement encountered a thunderstorm and was unable to land at Mendi because of the weather.  The pilot then became lost in clouds and crashed into surrounding hills killing the pilot, Captain Ron de Forest.

1943            Manufactured for USAAF by Noorduyn Aircraft Ltd, at their Cartierville factory just north of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

23Nov43       Delivered to USAAF as a Mk. VI UC-64A Serial 43-5260 fitted with a 600hp Pratt & Whitney R1340-AN1 Wasp engine.

24Nov43       Transferred to RAAF under Lend-Lease and flown to Newark, New Jersey and prepared for shipment to Australia by the US War Shipping Administration New York, USA.

17Feb44       Arrived at Victoria Dock, Port Melbourne.

20Feb44       Received by No 1 Aircraft Depot (1AD) RAAF Laverton VIC for assembly and testing.

21Feb44       Allotted RAAF Serial A71-7.

20Apr44       Visited Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation at Fishermans Bend Melbourne VIC.

02May44      Allocated to No 1 Communications Unit (1CU) Essendon Airport VIC.

07May44      Received by 1CU.

18Jan46       Allocated to No 7 Aircraft Depot (7AD) at RAAF Station Tocumwal, NSW.

08Feb46       Received by 7AD and stored under cover in Category D storage.

17Aug48       Selected for post war use by Antarctic Expedition. To be stored as Category B.

09Sep49       Downgraded to Category D, no longer retained for use by the Antarctic Expedition.

13Feb50       Offered for sale on CDC Air List 6885. Good condition with 244hrs total time.

27Jun50       Sold to Gibbes Sepik Airways, Wewak New Guinea for 1,500 pounds [$3,000].

18Oct50       Flown from Tocumwal to Deniliquin by Mr Bobby Gibbes (ex-RAAF SQNLDR ace).

Post RAAF History:

30Oct50       Registration application from Gibbes Sepik Airways, Wewak, Papua New Guinea.

1951             Civil conversion at Albury aerodrome NSW by Riverina Aircraft Service.

28Mar51       DCA approval to export to PNG.

23May51       Registered VH-ASR to Gibbes Sepik Airways. C of A for 2 crew and 16 passengers.

06Oct51       Crashed during a forced landing 16 miles SW of Madang due to engine structural failure while on a flight from Madang to Mendi. The propeller shaft broke and the propeller flew off. Pilot R. H. Gibbes and newly arrived Gibbes Sepik Airways pilot Tom Lumme on familiarization, received minor lacerations. Aircraft extensively damaged and declared a write-off but the cargo was saved.

1943            Manufactured for USAAF by Noorduyn Aircraft Ltd, at their Cartierville factory just north of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

23Nov43       Delivered to USAAF as a Mk. VI UC-64A Serial 43-5261 fitted with a 600hp Pratt & Whitney R1340-AN1 Wasp engine.

24Nov43       Transferred to RAAF under Lend-Lease and flown to Newark, New Jersey and prepared for shipment to Australia by the US War Shipping Administration New York, USA.

17Feb44       Arrived at Victoria Dock, Port Melbourne.

20Feb44       Received by No 1 Aircraft Depot (1AD) RAAF Laverton VIC for assembly and testing.

21Feb44       Allotted RAAF Serial A71-8.

02May44      Allocated to No 1 Communications Unit (1CU) Essendon Airport VIC.

15May44       Received by 1CU.

11Jul44        Allocated to No 5 Aircraft Depot (5AD) at RAAF Forest Hills, NSW for use by AOC of No 2 Training Group.

17Jul44        Received by 5AD.

13Jan46       Issued to 5AD Store for under cover storage. Stored as Category D.

01Aug47       Offered to Commonwealth Disposal Commission (CDC) for disposal.

28Nov47       Sold by CDC to P.H Burton, PO Box 184 Bourke NSW for 1,050 pounds [$2,010].

23Feb48       Removed from Tocumwal by purchaser.

Post RAAF History:

01Jun48       Registration application from Bourke Airways Pty Ltd, Bourke NSW.

1948            Civil conversion carried out by Marshall Airways, Mascot Airport Sydney NSW.

09Jul48        Registered as VH-BLM.  CofA issued for 2 crew and seven passengers.

08Jul49        CofA expired, not renewed.

05May50      Sold to Gibbes Sepik Airways, Wewak, Papua New Guinea.

12May50       CofA renewed.

May50          Ferried to Wewak by Bobby Gibbes.

17Jun50       Tyre burst on landing at Jackson Strip, Port Moresby. Aircraft ran off strip causing major damage to undercarriage and port wing.  Captain Alf Clark unhurt.

17Dec50       Repaired at Port Moresby and CofA renewed.

25May52      Minor damage cause by ground loop.

13Jun52       Engine failed on flight from Wewak to Angoram caused a forced landing at Tring East Sepik Province. Pilots Rinus Zuydam and Patricia Graham walked out to Wewak. VH-BLM later flown out after a new engine was installed.

04Jun53       Hit a concealed log and overturned when landing at Vanimo, Sanduan Province PNG. Pilot Peter Manser was uninjured. Aircraft suffered significant damage.

1953            Aircraft shipped to Sydney for repair. Ferried back to PNG when repaired.

25May56      Wing dug in causing ground loop when landing at Wewak. Pilot Ray Shaw uninjured nut aircraft severely damaged.

Nov56          Repaired at Wewak and returned to service.

Nov58          Sold to Mandated Airlines Ltd, Lae. PNG

April59         Registered as VH-GSC.

15Dec60       Ansett-MAL freighter was posted missing in bad weather when on a scheduled flight from Minj to Mendi, PNG.  A large aerial search was launched and the wreck found two days later at height of 2285 metres, eight miles from the Kuli mission, which is 18 miles East of Mt Hagen.  Captain Desmond J. Gleeson and one native passenger were both killed. The aircraft was totally destroyed.

1943            Manufactured for USAAF by Noorduyn Aircraft Ltd, at their Cartierville factory just north of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

24Nov43       Delivered to USAAF as a Mk. VI UC-64A Serial 43-5268 fitted with a 600hp Pratt & Whitney R1340-AN1 Wasp engine.

25Nov43       Transferred to RAAF under Lend-Lease and flown to Newark, New Jersey and prepared for shipment to Australia by the US War Shipping Administration New York, USA.

17Feb44       Arrived at Victoria Dock, Port Melbourne.

20Feb44       Received by No 1 Aircraft Depot (1AD) RAAF Laverton VIC for assembly and testing.

21Feb44       Allotted RAAF Serial A71-9.

09May44      Allocated to No 1 Communications Unit (1CU) Essendon Airport VIC.

12May44       Received by 1CU.

02Feb45       AT 1015hrs the engine back-fired on start-up which started a fire in the engine bay. A crew of a nearby RAAF fire tender were unable to operate the tender and by the time a DCA fire tender was brought into action the fire had taken a too strong a hold. Foam was sprayed on the burning aircraft to no avail and the aircraft was destroyed.

12Feb45       Allocated to No 1 Central Recovery Depot (1CRD) at Werribee airfield for conversion.

21Feb45       Approved for conversion.

1943            Manufactured for USAAF by Noorduyn Aircraft Ltd, at their Cartierville factory just north of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

02Dec43       Delivered to USAAF as a Mk. VI UC-64A Serial 43-5279 fitted with a 600hp Pratt & Whitney R1340-AN1 Wasp engine.

05Dec43       Transferred to RAAF under Lend-Lease and flown to Newark, New Jersey and prepared for shipment to Australia by the US War Shipping Administration New York, USA.

17Feb44       Arrived at Victoria Dock, Port Melbourne.

20Feb44       Received by No 1 Aircraft Depot (1AD) RAAF Laverton VIC for assembly and testing.

21Feb44       Allotted RAAF Serial A71-10.

30Mar44      Allocated to No 1 Aircraft Performance Unit (APU) at RAAF Laverton for performance testing and trials of a modified tail wheel strut.

05Apr44       Received by 1APU.

31May44       Performance testing completed; a new tail wheel lock designed to improve taxying; and, a modification to the aileron flap design that improved slow speed handling qualities.

Jun44          Trial installation of a radio compass.

16Aug44       Allocated to No 5 Communications Unit (5CU) RAAF Garbutt, QLD.

27Aug44       Received by 5CU. Coded as KF-H.

31Aug44       Acceptance test flight flown by O420042 FLGOFF H.A. Payne

18Jan46       Allocated to No 7 Aircraft Depot (7AD) at RAAF Station Tocumwal, NSW.

28Feb46       Departed on ferry flight to 7AD flown by O413781 FLGOFF Eric Walter Mammatt.

14Mar46       Received by 7AD Care & Maintenance Unit and stored under cover in Category D storage.

01Aug47       Offered to Commonwealth Disposal Commission (CDC) for disposal.

28Nov47       Sold by CDC to Kingsford Smith Aviation Services PO Box 23 Mascot NSW for 500 pounds.

10Feb48       Removed from Tocumwal by purchaser.

Post RAAF History:

 27Jul49        Registration application from Gibbes Sepik Airways (GSA), Wewak, Papua New Guinea.

Sep49          Civil conversion at Mascot Airport by Kingsford Smith Airline Services.

25Nov49       Registered as VH-BNL. CofA issued for 2 crew and 7 passenger seats or 16 lap-straps on bench seats.

Nov49          Ferried to Wewak and in service with GSA as their 2^nd Norseman.

11Jul50        When approaching Goroka for landing the pilot (Frank J Goosens) could not see the runway due to smoke  and was forced to land in a kunai grass clearing 5 miles SE of Goroka. The pilot remained in the aircraft overnight.

12Jul50        When taking off from the clearing the port wing struck an earth mound concealed by the kunai grass causing the aircraft to crash.  The aircraft was severely damaged and the pilot received minor injuries. The aircraft was dismantled in-situ and carried out in sections to Goroka by native porters.

Aug50          DCA advised aircraft would be rebuilt by GSA.

May51          DCA advised aircraft would now be used for spares.

29May51       Struck off register and CofA withdrawn.

Jun51           DCA advised aircraft would be rebuilt by GSA.

14Nov57       Aircraft rebuilt and registered as VH-BNL

Nov58          Sold to Mandated Airlines Ltd, Lae. PNG

30Mar60      Reregistered as VH-GSF with Ansett-MAL Lae PNG.

29Jul63        Withdrawn from service.

04Oct63       Sold to Pay & Williamson Pty Ltd Narromine, NSW

10Nov63       Arrived Bankstown for conversion to agricultural use.

Jan64          Delivered to Scone.

17Feb68       Withdrawn from service.

15Jan69       Restored to register with Skyservice Aviation Pty Ltd, Camden NSW.

18Jan70       Engine failed burst into flames during a skydiving display off Manly Beach. Eight parachutists bailed out, followed by pilot Ken Andrews (co-owner of Skyservice Aviation) at 5,000 feet. As he floated down under his parachute the circling Norseman came very close to hitting him. All nine parachutists were rescued by local boats. The Norseman struck the sea six miles off the beach, five miles NE Sydney Heads

1943            Manufactured for USAAF by Noorduyn Aircraft Ltd, at their Cartierville factory just north of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

13Dec43       Delivered to USAAF as a Mk. VI UC-64A Serial 43-5282 fitted with a 600hp Pratt & Whitney R1340-AN1 Wasp engine.

15Dec43       Transferred to RAAF under Lend-Lease and flown to Newark, New Jersey and prepared for shipment to Australia by the US War Shipping Administration New York, USA.

26Feb44       Arrived at Pitman Wharf Sydney.

29Feb44       Received by No 2 Aircraft Park (2AP) Bankstown Airport NSW for assembly and testing.

01Apr44       Allotted RAAF Serial A71-11.

17Apr44       Allocated to No 7 Communications Unit (7CU) RAAF Pearce, WA.

29Apr44       Received by 7CU after a flight from Richmond via Broken Hill-Parafield-Cook -Kalgoolie-Pearce.

04May44      Ground looped after landing causing major damage. Repaired at unit with local industry assistance. Pilot 406896 PLTOFF C.E. Wright; 2^nd pilot O413361 PLTOFF R.F. Elworthy; navigator A427810 FSGT K.L. Deulin and rigger A436167 AC1 L.G. Smith received minor bruising and some lacerations.

18Aug44       Allocated to No 4 Communications Unit (4CU) at Archerfield, QLD.

04Sep44       Received by 4CU following ferry flight from Pearce to Archerfield.

12Dec44       Allocated to No 3 Communications Unit (3CU) at Mascot Airport, NSW.

19Dec44       Received by 3CU and used exclusively for the movement of essential spare parts from No 6 Aircraft Depot at Oakey, QLD to Mascot airport for Aircraft Operationally Grounded awaiting spares.

16Jan45       Allocated to 2AD for repairs.

22Jan45       Received by 2AD.

03Aug45       Received by 3CU after repairs complete.

04Aug45       Ground-looped after landing from a local training flight the aircraft caused the undercarriage to collapse and inflict significant damage to the aircraft. Pilot A403906 WOFF R.W. Charlier, 2^nd pilot O414439 FLGOFF R.G. Wecker and navigator O401849 FLTLT E.A. Moodie were uninjured apart from minor bruising and shock.

06Aug45       Damaged assessed as beyond Unit capability, request allocation for repair.

07Aug45       Allocated to 2AD for repairs.

08Aug45       Allocation cancelled. 3CU to repair aircraft with 2AD assistance when required.

08Sep45       Allocated to 2AD to effect repairs.

28Sep45       Received by 2AD.

22Jan46       Allocated to No 7 Aircraft Depot (7AD) at RAAF Station Tocumwal, NSW.

14May46       Received by 7AD Care & Maintenance Unit and stored under cover in Category D storage.       

17Aug48       Selected for post war use. To be stored as Category B pending use by Antarctic Expedition.

09Sep49       Downgraded to Category D, no longer retained for use by the Antarctic Expedition.

13Feb50       Offered for sale on CDC Air List 6885. Good condition with 244hrs total time.

27Jun50       Sold to Gibbes Sepik Airways, Wewak New Guinea for 1,500 pounds [$3,000].

18Oct50       Flown from Tocumwal to Deniliquin by Mr Bobby Gibbes (ex-RAAF SQNLDR ace).

Post RAAF History:

30Oct50       Registration application from Gibbes Sepik Airways (GSA), Wewak, Papua New Guinea.

1951             Civil conversion at Albury aerodrome NSW by Riverina Aircraft Service. Aircraft was stripped of parts to provide spares for other Norseman already under conversion.

21Sep52       Registered as VH-ASS. CofA issued for 2 crew and 7 passenger seats or 16 lap-straps on bench seats.

1952            Ferried to Wewak, PNG.

Nov53          Flew police and supplies to Telefolmin, Sandaun Province following riots and killings.

29Oct56       Engine failure caused forced landing whereupon aircraft overturned.

20Jun57       Sold to Carsair Air Service, Port Moresby PNG.

1960            Sold to Robert G. Carswell, Hangar 71, Archerfield Airport, Qld.

1964            At Bankstown airport in Austerserve hangar. Aircraft dismantled.

1964            Purchased as spares source by Pay & Williamson Pty Ltd, Scone NSW

Jul64           Trucked from Bankstown to Scone.

No further information

1943            Manufactured for USAAF by Noorduyn Aircraft Ltd, at their Cartierville factory just north of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

02Dec43       Delivered to USAAF as a Mk. VI UC-64A Serial 43-5278 fitted with a 600hp Pratt & Whitney R1340-AN1 Wasp engine.

09Dec43       Transferred to RAAF under Lend-Lease and flown to Newark, New Jersey and prepared for shipment to Australia by the US War Shipping Administration New York, USA.

26Feb44       Arrived at Pitman Wharf Sydney.

07Mar44      Received by No 3 Aircraft Depot (3AD) RAAF Amberley, QLD for assembly and testing.

08Mar44      Allotted RAAF Serial A71-12.

14Mar44       Issued to No 6 Aircraft Depot (6AD) at Oakey, QLD

18Apr44       Allocated to No 4 Communications Unit (4CU) at Archerfield, QLD.

21Apr44       Received by 4CU.

08Jan46       Allocated to No 7 Aircraft Depot (7AD) at RAAF Station Tocumwal, NSW.

17Jan46       Received by 7AD Care & Maintenance Unit and stored under cover in Category D storage.

01Aug46       Offered to CDC for disposal.

28Nov47       Sold by CDC to Kingsford Smith Aviation Services PO Box 23 Mascot NSW for 500 pounds.

31Dec47       Serviced by KSAS technicians in preparation for ferry flight, delayed pending RAAF approval to depart with W/T equipment installed.

04Feb48       Flown from Tocumwal to Mascot by purchaser.

Post RAAF History:

1948            Civil conversion at Mascot Airport by Kingsford Smith Airline Services.

18Jan49       Registration application: Silver City Airways (Australia) Pty Ltd. Broken Hill NSW

15Feb49       Registered as VH-BHG. CofA issued for 2 crew and six passengers.

31May50       CofA renewed at Broken Hill, NSW.

18Dec51       Sold to Zinc Corp Ltd, Melbourne Vic

May53          Bobby Gibbes of Gibbes Sepik Airways placed a deposit on the agreed price of £8,000 for VH-BHG.

17Jul53        Sold to Gibbes Sepik Airways, Wewak, PNG.

Nov58          Sold to Mandated Airlines Ltd, Lae PNG.

Jan59          Reregistered as VH-GSB.

Apr60          Sold to Ansett-MAL Ltd, Lae PNG

1962            Bobby Gibbes swapped his newly imported personal Cessna 185 VH-RHG with Ansett-MAL for a Norseman VH-GSB fresh from overhaul. He used the aircraft to carry supplies to his Tremearne coffee plantation.

11Jun62        Reregistered as VH-RHG to Robert H, Gibbes at Goroka, PNG.

22Jun64       Reregistered as VH-GSG.

1964            Sold to Pay & Williamson for crop dusting, ferried from New Guinea to Bankstown to have agricultural hopper installed. Still painted as VH-RHG.

05Mar65      Restored to Register VH-GSG: Pay & Williamson Pty Ltd, Scone NSW.

06Mar65      Flew from Bankstown to Scone on delivery.

15Jul65        While spreading superphosphate near Murrurundi, NSW engine power was lost shortly after takeoff in the subsequent forced landing the aircraft overturned. The engine failure was caused by a faulty ignition switch. Pilot N.E. Hanel was uninjured.

1968            Sold to Ed Fleming of Skyservice Aviation Pty Ltd, Camden Airport NSW.

22Oct68      Civil register change of ownership to Skyservice Aviation Pty Ltd.

1970            Leased to Air Research Pty Ltd, Sydney NSW. Fitted for aerial mineral survey.
Fitted at Camden with additional fuel tanks to give 200 gallon capacity for long endurance survey missions.

04Nov71       Change of ownership to finance company Mercredits (WA) Ltd, Sydney.

04Nov71       Struck of register.

17Nov72       Reregistered to Edward G. Fleming, Sydney NSW.

21Jul73        Struck off register and shipped to Canada when Canadian Ed Fleming, co-owner of Skyservice Aviation, returned to Canada after Skyservice ceased operating in Australia.

1974            Registered as CF-ISM ‘Norseman 6’ to Edward G. Fleming, Vancouver, British Columbia.

28Feb74       Canadian CofA issued.

Jun74          Sold to D. C. Jorgenson, Ignace, Ontario.

10Apr75       Commercial CofA issued to Ignace Airways Ltd, Ignace, Ontario.

1976            Sold to Grand Rapids Air, St-Norbert, Manitoba.

16Jun78       Crashed on take-off from Lake Witchai, Manitoba. The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff from the lake at 1230 local time, at about 350 feet altitude, he found the aircraft very difficult to control. To avoid trees ahead he started a turn to the left back over the lake. He was unable to control the aircraft and it struck the water heavily in a nose down attitude. The passenger drowned when the aircraft sank.  Investigators estimated that the aircraft was at or over the maximum authorized weight limit.

The Canadian Accident Report further stated: “The Norseman had been manufactured in Canada in 1943 and exported as a military aircraft. It had been licensed as a civil aircraft in Australia and modified in various ways to improve its performance. Because the written records of its mechanical history were incomplete there was considerable difficulty in obtaining a Canadian Certificate of Airworthiness. The certificate was finally issued and the Norseman was operated commercially.

The parts of the wreckage recovered from the water showed there had been an unapproved modification to the wing struts (shortening). This had the effect of altering the dihedral of the wings, changing the flight characteristics.

The pilot had flown floatplanes for 300 hours and this Norseman for about 30 hours and should have been familiar with its performance. The flight difficulties appear to be related to a combination of heavy load, degraded performance of the aircraft due to the unauthorized modifications, and finally, to the increased stalling speed brought about by the attempt to turn back to the lake."
 

1943            Manufactured for USAAF by Noorduyn Aircraft Ltd, at their Cartierville factory just north of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

06Dec43       Delivered to USAAF as a Mk. VI UC-64A Serial 43-5280 fitted with a 600hp Pratt & Whitney R1340-AN1 Wasp engine.

09Dec43       Transferred to RAAF under Lend-Lease and flown to Newark, New Jersey and prepared for shipment to Australia by the US War Shipping Administration New York, USA.

26Feb44       Arrived at Pitman Wharf Sydney.

07Mar44      Received by No 3 Aircraft Depot (3AD) RAAF Amberley, QLD for assembly and testing.

08Mar44      Allotted RAAF Serial A71-13.

14Mar44       Issued to and received by No 6 Aircraft Depot (6AD) Oakey, QLD.

18Apr44       Allocated to No 4 Communications Unit (4CU) at Archerfield, QLD.

21Apr44       Received by 4CU.

08Jan46       Allocated to No 7 Aircraft Depot (7AD) at RAAF Station Tocumwal, NSW.

17Jan46       Received by 7AD Care & Maintenance Unit and stored under cover in Category D storage.

01Aug46       Offered to CDC for disposal.

28Nov47       Sold by CDC to Kingsford Smith Aviation Services PO Box 23 Mascot NSW for 500 pounds.

17Feb48       Flown from Tocumwal to Mascot by purchaser.

Post RAAF History:

01Apr48       R.H. Gibbes took an option on this aircraft while it was undergoing civil conversion overhaul by KSAS.

29Oct48       Sold to RH Gibbes for £5,500.

29Oct48       Registration application: Gibbes Sepik Airways (GSA), Wewak, PNG.

18Nov48       Registered as VH-BNE. CofA issued.

Nov48          Ferried to Wewak carrying a cargo of ten lambs and food.

10Dec48       Made the inaugural GSA commercial flight with a Norseman aircraft. Goroka-Angoram-Goroka.

06Apr50       Minor damage in accident at Wewak airport.

17Jul52        Engine seized during landing at Tapini field, no damage.

10Feb53       Re-engined with a P&W R1340-S1H1G geared engine with 3-bladed prop.

13Nov53       Overturned on landing at Telefomin in Sandaun Province when a wheel struck a soft spot on the strip. Captain Robin Gray and another GSA pilot Roy Shaw were unhurt, but the passenger who was seated on bags of rice suffered a broken leg.  On-site repairs took one year to complete.

16Nov54       Ferried Telefolmin-Goroka by Bobby Gibbes, with a rough repair of the wing spar. Fabric tore away from port wing during the flight. Aircraft then commenced a major rebuild in the company workshop at Goroka.

29Jun57       Overturned during forced landing in swamp at Lake Kopiago while air-dropping supplies to patrol officers. Pilot Helly Tschuchnigg and the three-man drop crew received minor injuries. They were rescued from an area of constant native tribal fighting by Qantas floatplane Beaver VH-EAU which landed on the tiny lake.

04Jul57        An aircraft retrieval team consisting of two GSA engineers; 120 native porters and 12 police trekked from Tali to the crash site. The aircraft was dismantled in-situ and prepared for transportation by the native porters. Engine was discarded at the site.

28Jul57        The retrieval team began their journey back to Tari.

15Aug57       The retrieval team reached Tari after an arduous journey of some 113 km, including being forced to hack a path through 60 km of virgin jungle along the way. Hundreds of tribesmen enroute greatly assisted the team. GSA aircraft regularly dropped supplies to the team during the return trip. The then Director of Civil Aviation, Mr V.A. Rule declared the salvage operation was “an amazing feat, unique in the history of Commonwealth aviation”.

1957/58       The recovered pieces were flown to Goroka and the aircraft rebuilt by GSA engineers.

Nov58          Sold to Mandated Airlines Ltd, Lae PNG.

18Jun60       Reregistered as VH-GSD.

19Mar60       When taking off from Lalibu strip in Southern Highlands Province the pilot noticed a drop in fuel pressure when he was committed to continue the takeoff, so he used the wobble pump to obtain a height of 200 feet. He then attempted to return to the strip but the engine power failed completely and the aircraft overturned on rough terrain. The pilot John Sutcliffe sustained minor injuries.

Mar60          MAL flew a team of engineers to Lalibu to collect all parts that could be salvaged. VH-GSD was pulled back on to its wheels, the engine and wings removed, the fuselage cut into sections and carried to Mount Hagen where it was loaded into a Ju52 and flown to Goroka for repair.

Jun60          Sold to Ansett-MAL, Lae PNG

12Sep60       Struck-off register. No further information known.

1943            Manufactured for USAAF by Noorduyn Aircraft Ltd, at their Cartierville factory just north of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

04Dec43       Delivered to USAAF as a Mk. VI UC-64A Serial 43-5281 fitted with a 600hp Pratt & Whitney R1340-AN1 Wasp engine.

09Dec43       Transferred to RAAF under Lend-Lease and flown to Newark, New Jersey and prepared for shipment to Australia by the US War Shipping Administration New York, USA.

26Feb44       Arrived at Pitman Wharf Sydney.

07Mar44      Received by No 3 Aircraft Depot (3AD) RAAF Amberley, QLD for assembly and testing.

08Mar44      Allotted RAAF Serial A71-14.

20Mar44      Issued to, and received by, No 6 Aircraft Depot (6AD) at Oakey, QLD.

18Apr44       Allocated to No 7 Communications Unit (7CU) at RAAF Pearce, WA

21Apr44       Received by 7CU after a flight from Oakey via Broken Hill-Parafield-Cook -Kalgoolie-Pearce.

18Aug44       Allocated to No 5 Aircraft Depot (5AD) RAAF Forest Hills, NSW.

25Aug44       Allocation cancelled.

25Aug44       Allocated to No 5 Communications Unit (5CU) RAAF Garbutt, QLD.

27Aug44       Allocation cancelled.

19Oct44       Allocated to No 13 Aircraft Repair Depot (13ARD) Breddan, QLD.

04Dec44       Ferried from Pearce to Breddan via Kalgoolie – Cook - Parafield- Broken Hill – Amberley -Rockhampton.

14May45       Temporary allocation to 5CU until A71-2 or A71-3 become serviceable.

18May45       Received by 5CU.

05Jun45       Ferried to 13ARD by FLGOFF Purdon.

18Jan46       Allocated to No 7 Aircraft Depot (7AD) at RAAF Station Tocumwal, NSW.

19Mar46       Received by 7AD Care & Maintenance Unit and stored under cover in Category D storage.

01Aug46       Offered to CDC for disposal.

28Nov47       Sold by CDC to Kingsford Smith Aviation Services PO Box 23 Mascot NSW for 500 pounds.

31Dec47       Prepared by KSAS technicians for ferry flight, delayed pending RAAF approval to depart with W/T equipment installed.

27Jan48       Flown from Tocumwal to Mascot by purchaser.

Post RAAF History:

Feb48          Civil conversion at Mascot by Kingsford Smith Aviation Service. Fitted with two additional cabin windows and seven passenger seats from an ex-RAAF Dragon

05Mar48      Registration application: Zinc Corporation Ltd (Aviation Division), Broken Hill NSW

05Mar48      Registered as VH-BHF.

14Apr48       CofA issued as Mascot.  The first civilianized Norseman in Australia.

17Apr48       Ferried from Mascot to Broken Hill.

26Apr48       Arrived at Broome, WA. Based at Broome to support remote survey parties.

20Jun48       Returned to Broken Hill.

01Aug48       Change of ownership to Silver City Airways (Australia) Pty Ltd, Broken Hill NSW

20Apr49       Ferried to Mascot for inspection and CofA renewal by Marshall Airways.

May49          Returned to Broken Hill.

01Aug50       Ferried to Essendon Airport for inspection and CofA renewal by Australian National Airways.

18Dec51       Change of ownership to Zinc Corporation Ltd, Melbourne VIC.

17Sep52       The aircraft caught fire on the ground at Mainoru airstrip, Arnhem Land NT due to an electric fault in the HF radio. It was being used to transport workers to zinc and silver deposits found near Mainoru Station, 300 miles SE Darwin. Aircraft totally destroyed.

Dec52          Struck-off register.

c.2000          Engine removed and displayed in the Darwin aviation Museum.