DC-3 – Aviation Historical Society of Australia

DerekB10/03/202511/05/2025

Ticket sales have closed for the DC-3 flights from Essendon to Ballarat 17 & 18 May 2025

The Ballarat branch of the Air Force Association (BAFA) is chartering the Shortstop Jetcharter (SJC) Douglas DC-3 VH-OVM to operate Essendon-Ballarat return flights on...

1942 Lockheed Hudson MkIIIA A16-193 operated by 32 Sqn RAAF went missing over the Torres Strait on 4 July 1942. The aircraft departed Horn Island for Salamaua on a bombing raid with three other Hudsons of 32 Sqn (A16-198, 205 and 223) at 1300 Zulu. The crew; FLTLT Patrick Randal McDonnell Serv#260545, PLTOFF Alexander Mackay Petrie Serv#405647, PLTOFF Randolph Loring Fairfax Serv#408986 and FLTSGT Murray Charles Ellis Serv#407360 were all listed as missing in action, presumed killed. Sources: ADF-Serials; aviation-safety.net website

1992 Ansett Boeing 727-277 VH-ANA experienced engine failure and a fire on take-off from Brisbane on 4 July 1992, requiring emergency return. The aircraft took off from runway 01 at Brisbane Airport at 0707 hours on a regular public transport flight to Sydney. As the landing gear was retracting, the crew heard a loud bang emanate from the rear of the aircraft. This was followed by cockpit indications of a fire in, and a loss of thrust from, the no. 2 (centre) engine. Ground witnesses saw large flames streaming from the rear of the aircraft. The crew shut down the engine, completed the engine-fire checklist, and flew a circuit for a landing on runway 01. During the landing roll, the crew were advised that there were still signs of fire around the centre engine, so a decision was taken by the aircraft captain to evacuate the aircraft. After clearing the runway and stopping the aircraft, the evacuation of passengers and crew was carried out from the two front doors and the forward left overwing exit. During the evacuation, two passengers received minor injuries. The fire was extinguished quickly by airport fire personnel. The investigation revealed that a fatigue failure had occurred in the first-stage compressor fan disc of the no. 2 engine leading to disruption of the engine. The fire resulted when a section of engine disc severed the main fuel line to the engine. Deficiencies were also revealed in the Brisbane Airport emergency plan and in some aspects of the training of rescue and fire- fighting personnel. Source: ATSB Occurrence Report, 15 July 1993. via aph.gov.au website