Aircraft History
Built by Douglas at Santa Monica as model DC-3-232A with seating for 21 passengers. Constructors Number 2030. Completed during September 1938. First flight was September 19.

Shipped overseas to Australia as deck cargo aboard the SS Tolken arriving on November 1. Assembled and test flown at Essendon Airfield on November 28. Assigned to Australian National Airways and registered with call sign VH-ACB and nicknamed "Warana" (blue sky) on December 1, 1938.

Wartime History
Impressed into military service for the RAAF on September 11, 1939. Returned to Australian National Airways service on June 4, 1940 but continued flying for the RAAF.

On February 18, 1942 at Archerfield Airfield this DC-3 piloted by Keith Virtue collided with B-17E "Naughty But Nice" 41-2430 while taxiing. The B-17 suffered damage to its starboard wing, tail and part of its fuselage. The DC-3 also badly damaged Lodestar LT9-22 parked along side.

Afterwards this DC-3 was repaired and began flying from Melbourne to Sydney to Brisbane service piloted by Captain D. E. Barker.

Mission History
On January 19, 1943 this DC-3 made a wheels up landing 3.8 miles north of Essendon Airfield and was written off after the crash. Some of the crew and passengers were wounded in the crash.

References
Golden Years of Aviation - Civi Aircraft Register - Australia VH-ACB
Oz@War - Crash of DC3 Civilan aircraft into USAAF B-17E and Dutch Lockheed Lodestar
AussieAirliners - VH-ACB Douglas DC-3

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Last Updated
January 18, 2022