VH-UYU  de Havilland D.H.86B Express            (c/n  2359)

                                
                                
                                     On 30 May 1937 W.R. Carpenter Airlines opened an Australia to New Guinea air mail service.
                                     initially using D.H.84 Dragons.  In 1938 three new D.H.86Bs were added to the fleet to operate
                                     the Sydney - Port Moresby - Salamau - Rabaul route.   VH-UYU was the first one delivered
                                     and arrived in Sydney in March 1938.  It was named 'RMA Carmania', and is seen above (at
                                     Archerfield?) in this shot by Gus Grulke, courtesy of the John Wilson collection.    The service
                                     was suspended in January 1942 when the frequency of Jap raids on New Guinea airfields made
                                     further participation impracticable, not to say unhealthy.    VH-UYU was impressed into RAAF
                                     service in 1941 becoming A31-8.