VH-CDC
Douglas DC-3CS1C3G
(c/n 16435)
This photo was taken by Eric Allen, (The Collection p1789-0021) at
Bankstown in 1960,
just before the aircraft was sold in Israel as 4X-AOB. It was
first civilianized in April
1960
and was
one of three similar machines overhauled by
Fawcett Aviation for Aeroquipment
of
Australia and given the regos
VH-CDA/B/C for sale overseas. Just why the
Australian
registration was painted on so crudely is inclear, and, in the event,
it was repainted as 4X-AOB
somewhat more
neatly before it left Sydney. Perhaps it had been
envisaged delivering it as
VH-CDC and due
to the still, by then, jittery nature prevailing in Isreal of "strange"
aircraft
entering
their airspace they did not want lack of identity to be a problem!
VH-CDA and
VH-CDC both went to the IDFAF (through actual sales to Israeli
Aircraft
Industries), while
VH-CDB
wound up
going to the the Royal Cambodian Air Force.