DCA’s Douglas DC-3 VH-CAN
(c/n 13506) was formerly VH-ASD and took
up its new identity on 9 August 1950 following a change
of policy concerning Departmental registration marks. It is seen
in the photo above in flight at an unknown date in the 1950s in the Melbourne area. The colour scheme is natural metal overall with dark blue trim.
This aircraft went on to have a long career with the Department, being the last of the DC-3s to be retired. It was engaged on airways survey work for much of that time.
The lovely photo below shows VH-CAN in the DCA hangar at its Melbourne/Essendon base c.1959. It is painted in its second colour scheme, one that it wore with minor variations for the rest of its career with the Department. This photo also shows to good effect the DCA Flying Unit logo on the nose.
Below, VH-CAN parked on the apron in front of the Department’s hangar
at Melbourne/Essendon in November 1967. The colour scheme is similar to previously, but with light blue trim.
The photo below shows the Department's workhorse DC-3 VH-CAN on the apron in front
of the Department’s hangar at Melbourne/Essendon some time before November 1973 with one of the Department's Fokker F.27 Friendships in the background.
Below is a very similar view of VH-CAN
in 1978. Note
that the DCA logo is gone
from the nose as by this time the organisation was part of the Department
of Transport.
Behind VH-CAN is Departmental Fokker 27 VH-CAV, and behind that Fokker 28 VH-ATD in the new Department of Transport colour scheme.
Shortly
after the previous photo was taken VH-CAN was retired by the Department. The photo below shows it waiting to be sold in the 'graveyard' at Essendon, devoid of any Departmental titling or logos.
(Photos: 1&2 - CAHS collection / 3 - Geoff Goodall / 4 - CAHS/Ben Dannecker collection / 5 - CAHS collection / 6 - CAHS/Ben Dannecker collection)
Back to the main Departmental DC-3
index
If this page appears without menu bars at top and left, click
here