VH-UQK de Havilland D.H.80A Puss
Moth
(c/n 2067)
This photograph, from the Geoff Goodall
collection shows the Puss Moth VH-UQK departing
Mascot on 9 October 1935 for an attempt on the Australia-England
record, flown by O.F.Y.
Thomas and F. R. Maguire. It departed Darwin two days later and
indeed, made it to England
(but
whether a record was broken or not I don't know) becoming G-AEIV.
It was later
impressed
during the war as DP853, but struck off charge in September 1942.
(Poor old
thing was
probably worn out). All Puss Moths had their Certificates of
Registration suspended
in September 1932, pending investigation on a
number of crashes. Most were restored within
six months, but -UQK's was not done so
until the following July.