VH-UXG      de Havilland D.H.84 Dragon II         (c/n  6077)

                                

                                     Nice contemporary shot by Phil Vabre at Swan Hill in April, 2005.   This aircraft was originally
                                     ex G-ACRF and was owned and operated by Aircrafts Pty Ltd (forerunner of Queensland Air-
                                     ways) in 1936.  It was basically destroyed in 1954 by a crash and fire at Archerfield.  However,
                                     Phoenix-like, it rose from the ashes and underwent a superb restoration.       Owner Des Porter
                                     finished in bright red as seen above        Sadly, VH-UXG crashed while returning to Caboolture
                                     from an air show at Monto on 1 October 2012 with the loss of six lives.        After an extensive
                                     search  involving many fixed and rotary wing aircraft the remains were located  in rugged country
                                     in the Borumba Dam area west of Nambour, Queensland.
                                     Two rare early shots of -UXG appear below.  The upper one, from the Dennis Gray collection,
                                     shows it in service with APL in the 1930s, while at the foot of the page is a 1949 image, from
                                     Geoff Goodall's collection, showing the Dragon in service with Queensland Flying Services to
                                     whom APL had sold it in November 1948.