VH-AJN  (1)  Supermarine Sea Otter                                 (c/n    ?)

                           
                       
                              This Sea Otter, along with sister-craft VH-AJO was civilianized in September 1949 and spent just about
                              all of its time in New Guinea, presumably working on the goldfields trade.  Having said that, the image
                              above was taken at Rose Bay flying boat base before the aircraft left for the mandate, and is courtesy
                              of the John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland collection.    The photograph below was taken
                              at Goroka, PNG, by a co-worker accountant friend of mine (whose name, unfortunately, eludes me fifty
                              years on) who was transferred to New Guinea with the Australian Department of Civil Aviation.  (He
                              actually volunteered to go up there).  His instructions, from yours truly, upon departing Melbourne, were
                              to photograph anything of an aeronautical nature!    By the time he "got to" the Sea Otter (circa 1955),
                              it had been "reduced to produce".    VH-AJN was the former Royal Australian Navy Sea Otter JN188
                              while -AJO was ex JN242   Frank Shipway, who worked as an apprentice with Qantas in 1949, and
                              later with them in New Guinea, indicates that the airline operated a couple of these amphibians on behalf
                              of the Australian Petroleum Company.  The engine nacelle complete with Mercury engine of one of them
                              was seen in a small ravine between Jacksons Airport and Bootless Bay as late as 1968.  The ravines
                              were later filled during the extension of the runway.     .