VH-ASD (2)  Auster j/5B Autocar                    (c/n  2936)

                                         

                                              The only image I have been able to glean of -ASD as an Auster is this copy from an old AHSA
                                              newsletter, via Auster specialist Ian W. O'Neill.         It had a fairly short life, being imported by
                                              Maurice Oliver in June of 1951 ostensibly for castle mustering in the Northern Territory.    Turns
                                              out this was not a particularly successful operation (the cattle kept hiding in gullies), and the aircraft
                                              was sold in 1954 to North Australian Aviation Services of Darwin.    It was written off in a crash
                                              on 9 February 1955 near Quamby whilst flying between Normanton and Cloncurry, Queensland.
                                              In 2002, some 45 years on, correspondent James Venables was working on a mineral exploration
                                              program in the area and came upon the remains (below).  Apparently the aircraft had been forced
                                              down in a violent storm.     The pilot walked some 20 km out of the bush to get help for the injured
                                              passenger..