VH-EQB Douglas
DC-3CS1C3G
(c/n 14381/25826)
Another of the
oddly-named Jetairlines of Australia DC-3s. Photo by Ron
Cuskelly at Sydney
in December 1970. This was the former RAF KJ881 based at the
Woomera Rocket Range in SA.
It had an
all white paint scheme towards the end of its military days and had
heightened cockpit win-
dows so that a photographer could record
missile firings and other tests as the ancient bird stooged
down range. These were left as is when
civilianized. Offered for disposal in
1969 from RAAF
Edinburgh it joined
the startup fleet of the short-lived Jetair as VH-EQB. When this
company ceased
operations in March 1971 it was sold to the Department of Foreign
Affairs in Canberra and then
donated to Royal Air Lao. It later
was seconded to the Royal Laotian Air Force where it was given
the serial '565', being the 'last three'
of its original USAAF serial of 43-48565 when it began life as a
C-47B.