Seen above on the apron in front of the DCA hangar at Melbourne/Essendon, Avro 652A Anson I VH-CAD was built A V Roe & Co, Newton Heath (c/n R3/LW/96790). It was taken on RAAF charge as AW519 in October 1941.

The aircraft was recorded as sold to the Department on 19 August 1953 - although Department documents claim purchase on 22 January 1953. After civil conversion at Essendon, the aircraft was added to the register as VH-CAD on 22 December. The rare colour photo below shows the standard DCA colour scheme of the time of silver dope overall with medium blue cheatlines. Not visible are the Flying Unit logos on the nose and fin, which can be seen in the shot above.

In Departmental service the aircraft was based at Adelaide/Parafield until withdrawn from service on 14 September 1960. It was parked at Parafield, stripped for parts and burnt for fire practice in August 1962.

This was the second DCA aircraft to carry the registration VH-CAD; the previous one was a De Havilland Tiger Moth.