VH-PCD de
Havilland D.H.82A Tiger Moth (c/n 3508)
The VH-PC series were used by Air Agricutural
Control Ltd, based at Bankstown in the mid-
1950s. They
operated over a dozen crop dusting Tigers. This one, seen
adjacent to Sid
Marshall's area in
1954 (note DC-2 in background) was awaiting the fitting of spray bars.
This aircraft was actually the pre-war VH-UVZ civil
machine first registered in 1936. In April
of 1937 it was
circling a steamer departing from Circular Quay when it stalled and
fell into
Sydney Harbour. The
occupants were rescued with minor injuries and -UVZ was retrieved to
fly again. When war
came it was impressed into the RAAF as A17-691. Civilianized again
in 1947 it was
not restored as VH-UVZ but became VH-BBP. It assumed its above
identity
in 1950 when
acquired by the top dressing firm. Its registration lapsed in
1961 but the machine
remained in one
piece and in 1994 it was returned to flying condition and restored with
its
original VH-UVZ
registration. A contemporary image of it can be seen at:
http://www.adf-serials.com/gallery/DH82A-Tiger-Moth-A17-691/ME_2A17_691