Aircraft History
Built by Lockheed at Burbank, CA, completed July 31, 1937. Lockheed Constructors Number 1108. Purchased by Guinea Airways and registered as VH-AAU.

Shipped overseas aboard the Wairuna. Assembled at Essendon, first test flight on October 15, 1937. Then, flown from Essendon to Parafield Airfield.

On March 5, 1938 returning from Sydney in bad weather, this aircraft entered a spin and losing considerable altitude, but recovered. On November 2, chartered by DCA for testing Lorenz naviagatoin beacons on the main Australian air routes.

During a 1939 flight flown by pilot Scott and first officer Corlette experienced bad weather and strong winds, the aircraft drifted to the east and subsequently descended through tree tops at Lobethal in the Adelaide Hills. After landing safely, the aircraft was found to have foliage in the undercarriage and damaged leading edges.

Wartime History
On July 22, 1939 took off from Darwin on a survery flight to Dili Airfield in preparation for Qantas flying boat operations, with Minister for Civil Aviation, J. V. Fairbairn as a passenger. On December 11, 1939 chartered to RAAF Richmond.

On March 28, 1941 landed wheels up at Parafield Airfield piloted by Godsell, with minimal damage and no injuries. During September 1941, chartered by ANA for air service from Adelaide to Mount Gambier to Melbourne.

During Decemember 1942 arrived at Port Moresby to join the "Special Transport Flight" carrying troops and supplies for the Buna campaign. This aircraft made 31 trips from Port Moresby to Dobodura Airfield carrying 209 troops and 13.5 tons of supplies. It also evacuated wounded to Townsville.

Next, December 1943 used on the Adelaide to Darwin courier run with numerous forced landings.

On January 30, 1944 suffered an unscheduled landing at Parafield Airfield with an unservicable Sperry artificial horizon instrument. During the rest of the year, operated as Guinea Airways aircraft servicing to Batchelor Field.

Postwar
Withdrawn from Australian register on August 26, 1946. Sold to Union Airways on Agusut 28, disassembled at Essendon and shipped from Melbourne to New Zealand. Arrived October 5, and stored at Rongotai near Wellington.

Registered in New Zealand as ZK-ALI. Ferried to Wellington to Palmerston North, nicknamed "Koweka". Last scheduled passenger flight on October 20, 1949, and flown for the last time on the 29. Stored at Palmerston North and dismantled and transported to New Plymouth.

Wreckage
Dropped from the register on November 24, 1953 and scrapped in 1961.

References
VH-AAU - The Lockheed File
Thanks to Stan Gajda for additional information.

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Last Updated
October 23, 2019