VH-ABH Silver City

Type: L-12A Electra Junior
MSN: 1236
Previous Identities: VH-ABH
VH-DMC
VH-TLX
VH-ASV
Owner: Ross Smith, Rolleston, Queensland

History:

11AUG37
 The Los Angeles Evening Citizen News published a photograph taken at the Lockheed factory at Burbank showing Broken Hill Associated Smelters' pilot Eric Chaseling with R. Denton-Samuel who was present to take delivery of Lockheed 12 VT-AJN (MSN 1237) for the Maharajah of Jodhpur. VH-ABH was MSN 1236 so it is most likely that both aircraft were together on the production line.
17AUG37
 The Los Angeles Times of 22AUG37 reported that Eric Chaseling was invited to a dinner ("last Tuesday") hosted by Arthur Powell in honour of his daughter, Mary the widowed Lady Kingsford Smith, with other guests including Lawrence Wackett and Robert Gross, presumably the Robert Gross of Lockheed.
25AUG37
 The Sun of 25AUG37 reported from Hollywood that Eric Chaseling had travelled to the USA "three months ago" to take delivery of the aircraft with the intention of shipping it to England from where he would fly it to Australia. It was also reported that the aircraft would be "the fastest in Australia".

Smith's Weekly, Sydney of 16OCT37 published a report from their representative in the United States, Barry Young. It was reported that Eric Chaseling suddenly took ill while at the Lockheed factory. His condition deteriorated with internal complications so serious that his wife and child were summoned from Australia. While a patient at the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital he was attended by "four of America's most prominent doctors". Over the crisis but still bedridden, he used his hospital bedside telephone to direct the preparation of the aircraft. Correspondent Young even claimed that Chaseling had asked Lockheed to fly the aircraft over the hospital so that he could "check the synchronisation of the two engines"
09SEP37
 Issued with U.S. Export Certificate of Airworthiness #E-3202.
10SEP37
 Handed over to Broken Hill Associated Smelters Pty Ltd.
SEP37
 The aircraft was flown from Burbank to Oakland where it was dismantled for shipping. Photo
13SEP37
 Departed San Francisco on the Norwegian freighter MV CORNEVILLE. (Source: Smith's Weekly, Sydney of 16OCT37)
07OCT37
 The Sydney Morning Herald of 08OCT37 reported that "the giant Lockheed was unloaded from the CORNEVILLE at Walsh Bay yesterday." The aircraft was subsequently transferred to the coastal freighter Momba.
11OCT37
 The Momba arrived at Port Melbourne. The aircraft was unloaded and trucked to Essendon for assembly by Ansett Airways.
10NOV37
 The Los Angeles Evening Citizen News of 10NOV37 reported that Eric Chaseling would sail "tonight" on the Monterey.
15NOV37
 Registered to Associated Airlines Pty Ltd as VH-ABH. (CofA #627, CofR #670).
17NOV37
 Entered service from its Essendon base flying B.H.P. officials to Newcastle. Chief Pilot, Pat Hall.
24NOV37
 Certificates reissued in the name of The Broken Hill Associated Smelters Pty Ltd.
29NOV37
 The Sydney Morning Herald of 30NOV37 reported that Eric Chaseling arrived "yesterday" on the Monterey escorted into Sydney Harbour by several aircraft flown by Chaseling's former pupils.
22JUN38
 Certificates reissued in the name of Associated Airlines Pty Ltd.
30JUN38
 Aircraft had accumulated 210.45 hours.
05MAR39
 First flight by Associated Airlines' new Chief Pilot, Len Diprose.
30APR42
 As a result of wartime congestion at Essendon, an agreement was reached whereby VH-ABH would be based at a new airstrip at Tullamarine, Melbourne. By this time, VH-ABH had been painted in camouflage although the aeroplane had escaped military impressment because it was deemed essential to the war effort.
22FEB43
 Starboard wing and engine cowl damaged at Essendon by Beaufort A9-39.
04MAR43
 Returned to service after repairs.
c.43
 Camouflage removed.
20DEC57
 Sold to Robert Glen Carswell t/a Carsair Air Service (PNG) Pty Ltd for use as a freighter in New Guinea and northern Australia.
MAR60
 Sold to Doug Muir, Darwin NT.
VH-DMC
  
18MAR60
 Registered VH-DMC to Muir Aviation.
APR62
 Acquired by South Australian Air Taxis Ltd and ferried to Adelaide SA.
VH-TLX
  
31MAY62
 Registration changed to VH-TLX.
OCT62
 Starboard undercarriage collapsed on landing at Pelican Waterhole SA. Due to the remoteness of the location, the aeroplane was deemed a write off and abandoned.
01JAN63
 Ferried to Moorabbin VIC having been acquired by Allan Rae of Air Surveys Australia.
VH-ASV
  
APR63
 Registered to Air Surveys Australia as VH-ASV. It is believed that the aircraft was never equipped for aerial survey work despite carrying Air Surveys Australia titles.
29-31MAR64

Competed in the Ansett Brisbane to Adelaide Air Race under Race Number 69. The aircraft was entered in the Open Handicap Category under the name D.B. McClure of Mentone, Vic. Handicaps for the aircraft were: Sydney 23 mins, Melbourne 21 mins, Adelaide 19 mins. (Source: Official Race Program)

Actual times for VH-ASV were:

Sector
Total Time
Net Handicap
Total Net Time
Total Race Time
Archerfield-Bankstown
3:11
0:20
2:51
-
Bankstown-Moorabbin
1:26
0:10
1:16
-
Moorabbin-Parafield
2:35
0:18
2:17
6:24

The Open Handicap section was won by Cessna 182A VH-CWB Race Number 67 entered by D.G. Wills of Brewarrina NSW with a Total Race Time of 6:04.

(Source: The Ansett Air Race Report, Supplement to Aircraft magazine April 1964)

65
 Traded in to Masling Aircraft Sales & Service, Cootamundra with 7,827 hours on the airframe. Used for general charter work.
JAN66
 Cancelled from the Register.
02FEB66
 Aircraft struck by Cessna 172 VH-CNA causing minor damage.
11NOV66
 Registered to Business Aviation Pty Ltd after repair and overhaul.
29JUN67
 Sold to Coronet Cars Pty Ltd and shortly thereafter to Australian Aircraft Sales (ACT) Pty Ltd.
15AUG71
 Photographed at Bankstown outside the Marshall Airways hangar parked wing tip to wing tip with L-10B VH-ASM. VH-ASV was missing both propellers.
Marshall Airways performed maintenance on VH-ASV for many years. (Source: Bill Pike, Jan 2026)
11JAN72
 Registered to Carnarney Pastoral Co Pty Ltd (Dr Tony Fisher).
21-22JUL73
 Participated in the NSW Air Race with Race Number 26. The route was Bankstown-Maitland-Taree-Coffs Harbour on 21 July and Coffs Harbour-Taree-Maitland-Scone-Mudgee-Dubbo on 22 July. (Source: Trevor W. Boughton, JAHSA Sep-Oct 1973)
The aircraft was flown by Bill Pike. (Source: Bill Pike, Jan 2026)
JUL75
 Purchased by John Love.
MAR76
 Operated in bare metal, but still as VH-ASV.
17JUL76
 Damaged in a collision with aviation enthusiast/photographer Reg Swinnerton at Pakenham Aerodrome VIC. Aircraft and photographer survived!
 

David Prossor was on location at the time of the accident:

I was there less than five minutes after it happened. John Love who was flying the aircraft, was on final approach to land on runway R27 when an aviation photographer, Reg Swinnerton, decided to get a picture of the aircraft head-on as it came in to land. Looking in the viewfinder of his tele lens camera he misjudged the distance of the machine to himself. A parachutist named Roy Marker could see that Reg was about to be hit by the prop on the right engine. He dived forward, grabbed Reg and saved him from being struck by the prop but Reg was hit by the right mainwheel causing the leg stay to fail and the wheel folded back. The aircraft continued down the runway with the right wing slowly lowering to the ground. I could see no wing damage but there must have been some. An ambulance was called and Reg was taken to hospital with a broken leg and arm and internal injuries. He survived but was never the same again.

Image 1 Image 2 Image 3

VH-ABH
  
06JUN78
 Re-registered VH-ABH to John Love by which time the aeroplane had been restored in its original livery as Silver City.
JUN85
 Acquired by the Airworld museum at Wangaratta VIC where it is currently on display.
15JUL03
 Change of ownership to Ross Smith of Rolleston, Queensland. The aircraft is still located at Wangaratta pending restoration to airworthiness. (The Airworld collection was dispersed after the closure of the museum).
01DEC04
 Rob Poynton (Panama Jack's Vintage Aircraft Company) and Harvey McBain (chief engineer for Nelson Aircraft Company) performed two successful test flights at Wangaratta. At the time, Rob Poynton was the only pilot in Australia still current on type. The aircraft had been prepared by Harvey and Ross Smith. (Source: Ross Smith)
02DEC04
 The aircraft departed Wangaratta for Rolleston, Queensland with Rob Poynton in command and Ross Smith as co-pilot earning his endorsement. It was again a hitch-free trip even though the weather was very hot. The aircraft then flew to Emerald. The arrival of the Lockheed at Emerald Airport caused a short delay in the loading of the Dash 8 flight for Brisbane that afternoon as the passengers and crew were all interested in the arrival of the vintage aircraft. (Source: Ross Smith)
03DEC04
 Rob Poynton did some endorsement training at Emerald with Ross Smith and Hedley Watts (Aero Professional Services). (Source: Ross Smith)
   


Issue Date Remarks
21 11JAN26
Added details of the aircraft's delivery to Australia from contemporary press reports. Thanks to Mick Raftery and Tim Kalina.
20 06JAN26
Added a reference to the NSW Air Race in July 1973.
Added an image from 15AUG71.
19 24DEC25
Added a William T Larkins image of the aircraft being prepared for shipment to Australia.
18 07JAN25
Added two colour images of the accident to VH-TLX at Pelican Waterhole thanks to Roger McCallum whose brother Tony took the photos.
Image 1 Image 2
17 16DEC24
Added an eyewitness account of the accident on 17JUL76 thanks to Dave Prossor.
16 16DEC24
Added three images thanks to Bert Van Drunick.
Image 1 Image 2 Image 3
15 15DEC24
Added two images from the Webmaster's collection.
Image 1 Image 2
14 15DEC24
Added no fewer than 11 images from the John Hopton Collection thanks to the CAHS.
Image 01 Image 02 Image 03 Image 04 Image 05 Image 06 Image 07 Image 08 Image 09 Image 10 Image 11
13 27DEC22
12 04DEC22
Added a slideshow.
11 20SEP22
Added details of the Ansett Air Race from sources shown.
Added an image of VH-DMC thanks to Eric Allen.
Added four images of VH-ASV during the Ansett Brisbane to Adelaide Air Race in 1964 thanks to Eric Allen.
Image 1 Image 2 Image 3 Image 4
10 10JUN21
Added an image of VH-ABH thanks to Eric Allen.
9 03APR16
Refreshed page layout with no change to data.
8 07SEP12
Added an image of VH-ABH with Carsair in PNG. Thanks to Phil Vabre of the CAHS and Mac Job.
7 02SEP12
Added a magnificent image of VH-ASV running-up at Moorabbin in 1964. The photographer was Barney Deatrick. Thanks to Geoff Goodall.
6 09FEB05
Added an update on the delivery flight to Rolleston contributed by the new owner of the aeroplane, Ross Smith. Thanks Ross!
5 16JUL04
Added an image of the aeroplane in Carsair livery. The photo was taken by Captain Keith Virtue and contributed by Graham Martin.
4 03SEP03 -




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