Finding visuals...
  • The Locator
  • Airframes Database

    Social media...
    Follow AV on facebook
    Follow AV on Twitter @aerial_visuals
    Follow the AV YouTube Channel

    Site navigation...
  • Home
  • Desktop Calendar
  • The Racers
  • FAQs
  • About Aerial Visuals
  • Comment on this Dossier
    • Search For Airframes Now
    Search - Index - Gallery - Reports - Lists - AV Needs You!

    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Douglas DC-1 / DC-2/R2D / DC-3 Dakota / C-47/R4D Skytrain / C-53 Skytrooper
    Latest Model:C-47-DL
    Last Military Serial:41-38668 USAAF
    Construction Number:06051
    Last Civil Registration:VH-DAS
    Compressed ID:Douglas C-47-DL sn 41-38668 USAAF c...
    Latest Owner or Location:Heritage Market, Kuranda, Queensland

    EDIT THE HISTORY HERE    		 If you can add to the history or would like to submit a correction please use the editor to do so.

    UPLOAD A PHOTO    		 If you have a photo of this airframe to share then use the photo upload tool.
    The Airframes Database depends on user contributions to stay current.
    If you have any news about this airframe or photos which you would like to share please do so
    by using the links above.
    The more you and others share the better the database becomes!

    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as a C-47-DL by Douglas at Long Beach, California, USA.

    29 November 1942

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 41-38668 and operated with these markings: Geronimo.

    9 March 1945

    To Commonwealth of Australia-Department of Civil Aviation with new c/r VH-AEO.
    Operated by Australia National Airways.

    18 June 1946

    To Trans Australian Airlines keeping c/r VH-AEO.
    Markings added: Cunningham

    1948

    Leased to Qantas Empire Airways.
    Used as a freighter.

    28 January 1958

    To South Australian Land Commission with new c/r VH-DAS.
    Operated with markings: Clive Hambridge
    Used for survey work.

    September 1962


    Photographer: Geoff Goodall
    Notes: VH-DAS was operated by TAA on long-term contract to the South Australian Department of Lands for aerial mapping.Seen at Adelaide in September 1962 before being repainted in TAAs 1960s white and blue scheme

    May 1965


    Photographer: Geoff Goodall

    3 September 1974


    Photographer: Danny Tanner
    Notes: At Adelaide International

    17 March 1975

    To East West Airlines, Tamworth keeping c/r VH-DAS.

    17 March 1977

    Civil registration, VH-DAS, cancelled.

    December 1978

    To Travmar Holdings.

    March 1984


    Photographer: Geoff Goodall
    Notes: c/n 6051 VH-DAS. Sunk on the Great Barrier Reef near Cairns during the making of the movie Sky Pirates, it was salvaged and brought by barge to Cairns where its remains are seen at Tonkins Scrap Metal in March 1984. From there it was moved to a rainforest market at nearby Kuranda as a tourist attraction

    Circa April 1984

    To Heritage Market, Kuranda, Queensland.
    View the Location Dossier

    June 1986


    Photographer: Danny Tanner
    Notes: At Kuranda

    9 August 2005


    Photographer: Terry Fletcher
    Notes: Broken remains of this aircraft in Kuranda Market place, Queensland
    This dossier is waiting for review by an editor.This airframe dossier is based on
    unreviewed imported data.
    If you can verify the documented history or add to it with additional text and/or photos please feel free to do so by using the upload tool and the history editor.
    Credits
     Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...
    Internet Sources
     Airbus, Boeing, Convair and Douglas Production List
    Individual Contributors
     Terry Fletcher
    Tell Others About this Airframe Dossier
    Forum Link: [URL=https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=62077][IMG]/home/users/web/b1393/nf.aerialvisuals/public_html/AV/Support/Logo_20x20.jpg[/IMG]Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Douglas C-47-DL, s/n 41-38668 USAAF, c/n 06051, c/r VH-DAS[/URL]
    Direct Link: https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=62077
    Copyright 1993-2025 AerialVisuals.ca
    The Aerial Visuals pages are best viewed with a screen at least 800 pixels wide.
    In case you are wondering Aerial Visuals is a huge fan Google Chrome. If you do not have Chrome installed why not?
    Aerial Visuals requires cookies and Javascript to function correctly. Please ensure these features are enabled in your browser.
    Aerial Visuals is powered by Netfirms.