DH60 Moth VH-UHS & VH-UHP

These two DH60 Moths, VH-UHS (cn 880) in the foreground and VH-UHP (cn 877) in the left background, were both operated from new by the Australian Aero Club (Victorian Section) but, like so many other Moths, were on loan from the Civil Aviation Branch as part of the subsidised flying training programme. Although the rudder stripes in this black and white photo give the initial impression of these being RAAF machines, identifying rudder stripes were actually de rigeur in the Aero Club movement up until the 1960s.

These two Moths, only three apart on the production line, were actually different models. They were both constructed at De Havilland's factory at Stag Lane, UK, and shipped to Australia. VH-UHP was a DH60X Moth powered by an 80 hp Cirrus Mk II, whereas VH-UHS was a DH60G Gipsy Moth fitted with the new 98 hp DH Gipsy I engine. (It's possible that by the time this photo was taken, c.1932-39, VH-UHP had been also fitted with a Gipsy).

VH-UHP was first registered as G-AUHP on 30 August 1929 under the early registration allocation system, with Certificate of Registration number 321. By 31 December 1932 the registration had been changed to VH-UHP. On 20 July 1935 it suffered a broken propeller following a mid-air collision with DH60 Moth VH-UAS, another CAB Moth on loan to the Aero Club. The upper wings were damaged in another mid-air collision on 2 February 1936, this time with Moth VH-UII owned by Victorian Flying School and Taxi Services Pty. Ltd., and finally on 5 June 1937 it was damaged in a collision with Moth VH-ULB owned by the Royal Victorian Aero Club (as the Aust. Aero Club - Vic. Section had become in 1936). Perhaps surprisingly, this accident-prone Moth survived the '30s to be impressed by the RAAF at the outset of the Second World War on 22 July 1940 as A7-100. It didn't last much longer though, as it crashed on take off at Essendon on 24 August that year and was reduced to components by 5 September.

VH-UHS had a similar, though shorter, career. It was also initially registered as G-AUHS on 4 March 1929 with CofR number 271 (some months before G-AUHP although later in production and registration sequence). Likewise, it was loaned to the Australian Aero Club (Victorian Section) and had its registration changed to VH-UHS by 31 Decmber 1932. On 16 August 1937 ownership changed outright to the Royal Victorian Aero Club and it operated for another two years before being destroyed by fire following a ground collision at Essendon with Moth VH-UNP, owned by Australian National Airways Pty. Ltd., as that aircraft was taking off.

(Photo: CAHS collection)

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De Havilland DH60 Moths VH-UHS & VH-UHP

These two DH60 Moths, VH-UHS (cn 880) in the foreground and VH-UHP (cn 877) in the left background, were both operated from new by the Australian Aero Club (Victorian Section) but, like so many other Moths, were on loan from the Civil Aviation Branch as part of the subsidised flying training programme. Although the rudder stripes in this black and white photo give the initial impression of these being RAAF machines, identifying rudder stripes were actually de rigeur in the Aero Club movement up until the 1960s. These two Moths, only three apart on the production line, were actually different models. They were both constructed at De Havilland's factory at Stag Lane, UK, and shipped to Australia. VH-UHP was a DH60X Moth powered by an 80 hp Cirrus Mk II, whereas VH-UHS was a DH60G Gipsy Moth fitted with the new 98 hp DH Gipsy I engine. (It's possible that by the time this photo was taken, c.1932-39, VH-UHP had been also fitted with a Gipsy). VH-UHP was first registered as G-AUHP on 30 August 1929 under the early registration allocation system, with Certificate of Registration number 321. By 31 December 1932 the registration had been changed to VH-UHP. On 20 July 1935 it suffered a broken propeller following a mid-air collision with DH60 Moth VH-UAS, another CAB Moth on loan to the Aero Club. The upper wings were damaged in another mid-air collision on 2 February 1936, this time with Moth VH-UII owned by Victorian Flying School and Taxi Services Pty. Ltd., and finally on 5 June 1937 it was damaged in a collision with Moth VH-ULB owned by the Royal Victorian Aero Club (as the Aust. Aero Club - Vic. Section had become in 1936). Perhaps surprisingly, this accident-prone Moth survived the '30s to be impressed by the RAAF at the outset of the Second World War on 22 July 1940 as A7-100. It didn't last much longer though, as it crashed on take off at Essendon on 24 August that year and was reduced to components by 5 September. VH-UHS had a similar, though shorter, career. It was also initially registered as G-AUHS on 4 March 1929 with CofR number 271 (some months before G-AUHP although later in production and registration sequence). Likewise, it was loaned to the Australian Aero Club (Victorian Section) and had its registration changed to VH-UHS by 31 Decmber 1932. On 16 August 1937 ownership changed outright to the Royal Victorian Aero Club and it operated for another two years before being destroyed by fire following a ground collision at Essendon with Moth VH-UNP, owned by Australian National Airways Pty. Ltd., as that aircraft was taking off. (Photo: CAHS collection) Back to CAB DH60 Moth index page If this page appears without menu bars at top and left, click here