VH-AET
c/n '6013' previous Identity: 41-18652
As far as is known, the aircraft was
unnamed.
I have no photograph of this aircraft. It was
acquired by ANA on 20 December, 1944
and crashed into the Derwent River
estuary some 10 minutes after takeoff from Hobart,
Tasmania, on 10 March, 1946.
Investigation showed that the cause was the
inadvertent engagement of the autopilot in
mistake for the fuel cross feed.
VH-AET would have been one of the
DC-3s acquired by the Australian National Airways
Commission destined for use by
TAA. Since Trans Australia Airlines did not commence
operations until September 1946 this machine was clearly never painted
in TAA markings.
It is possible that it flew in an
all-over natural metal finish or even, possibly, camouflage.