VH-TAI     'Oxley'                                                      c/n  9998

                                               Essendon, 1954

                                               Built on the same production line (only three hulls apart) from its stablemate VH-TAH,
                                               this machine was also a C-47A-1-DK, USAAF serial 42-24136.    It was A65-16
                                               with the RAAF (call sign VHCTP).    It flew continuously with the airline until 1968
                                               when it had the distinction of operating the last DC-3 passenger service for TAA in
                                               October of that year. It then flew for the short-lived JetAirlines of Australia in 1970
                                               until, in 1971, the Australian Dept of Foreign Affairs donated it (gifted it) to the Laotian
                                               Air Force where it became '998'.   Seen below are two Peter Gates' collection shots
                                               of VH-TAI in 'later life';  the upper one showing it in late1960s TAA livery, whilst the
                                               lower one illustrates it with the oddly named JetAirlines of Australia.  Barrie Colledge's
                                               image at the foot of the page shows a variatiuon of the Jetair scheme.  Essendon, 1970.