VH-UQF (1)    Fokker F.III                                       (c/n 1663)

                               

                                                                    
                                       There is some doubt as to whether the above (shocking) image from the Geoff Goodall coll-
                                       depicts the first VH-UQF, a Fokker F.III, or its replacement aircraft, a similarly registered
                                       Fokker F.VII.  .However, inasmuch as the first aircraft of this rego crashed at Salamaua. I
                                       am going with the conclusion that it is, in fact,  this machine, even though it was never officially
                                       given its Certificate of Registration.  (Several other ntu VH- aircraft have been, over time,
                                       painted with their registration letters).  Anyway, VH-UQF (1) had been delivered to KLM
                                       in the fall of 1925 as H-NABV, and fitted with a 420 hp Gnome-Rhône air-cooled 6 cylinder
                                       engine, and was used mainly for freight and photographic work.  In 1928 it was fitted with a
                                       new 420 hp Gnome-Rhône Titan engine and a metal Curtiss Reed propellor, and continued
                                       to fly for KLM being re-registered PH-ABV in 1929. . One year later, in November 1930
                                       it was sold for £ 300, sans engine, to Australian Ray Parer, owner of the Bulolo Goldfields
                                       & Co, and shipped out to New Guinea.  As indicated, it crashed on take off at Salamaua,
                                       NG on 18 March 1931.  Below are photos of it as H-NABV and PH-ABV, the latter being
                                       via the Nederlandeluchvaart collection.

                                        H-NABV  Fokker F.III                   (c/n 1663)