VH-BFQ
| Type: | L-414-56 Hudson Mk IIIA/A-29 |
| Msn: | 6417 |
| Previous Identities: | 41-23600 BW738 A16-156 |
| Subsequent Identities: | 2602 (Israeli Air Force) |
| 16MAR42 | Received 2 AD Richmond. (Source: 3) |
| 02APR42 | Departed 2 AD Richmond en route 2 Sqn via Cloncurry. (Source: 3) |
| 06APR42 | Received 2 Sqn ex 2 AD. (Source: 3) |
| 15APR42 | Aircraft damaged in accident. (Source: 3) |
| 23APR42 | Received 1 AD Laverton ex 2 Sqn. (Source: 3) |
| 21MAY42 | To be fitted "only with beam guns" at 1 AD. (Source: 3) |
| 31MAY42 | Issued 13 Sqn ex 1 AD. (Source: 3) |
| 02JUL42 | Received 1 RSU es 13 Sqn. (Source: 3) |
| 30JUL42 | Received 13 Sqn ex 1 RSU. (Source: 3) |
| 24SEP42 | Received 1 RSU ex 13 Sqn. (Source: 3) |
| 03NOV42 | Received 13 Sqn ex 1 RSU. (Source: 3) |
| 24DEC42 | Issued 1 RSU ex 13 Sqn for engine change and starboard mainplane change. (Source: 3) |
| 17JAN43 | Allotted 13 Sqn ex 1 RSU. (Source: 3) |
| 16MAR43 | Received 1 RSU ex 13 Sqn. (Source: 3) |
| 14APR43 | Received 2 Sqn ex 1 RSU. (Source: 3) |
| 21MAY43 | Received 4 RSU ex 2 Sqn. (Source: 3) |
| 31MAY43 | Received 2 Sqn ex 4 RSU. (Source: 3) |
| 26JUN43 | Received 4 RSU ex 2 Sqn. (Source: 3) |
| 05JUL43 | Received 2 Sqn ex 4 RSU. (Source: 3) |
| 27JUL43 | Received 4 RSU ex 2 Sqn. (Source: 3) |
| 17AUG43 | Received 2 Sqn ex 4 RSU. (Source: 3) |
| 29OCT43 | Received 3 AD Amberley ex 2 Sqn for survey and complete overhaul. (Source: 3) |
| 11OCT44 | Received by Australian National Airways, Parafield for conversion to air ambulance (Source: 3). |
| 18NOV44 | Received 2 AAU ex ANA. (Source: 3) |
| 20AUG45 | Received 2 AD Richmond ex 2 AAU. Aircraft time expired and all fuel tanks leaking. (Source: 3) |
| 19NOV45 | Issued 2 AD for storage. (Source: 3) |
| 24SEP47 | Sold to European Air Transport, Sydney for £170. (Source: 3) |
| 12NOV47 | Collected by purchaser. (Source: 3) |
| Ferried from Richmond to Mascot for conversion by Butler Air Transport. (Source: 2) | |
| Ferried from Mascot to Bankstown for completion of conversion by Curtis Madsen Aircrafts Pty Ltd. (Source: 2) | |
| 17DEC47 | Registration application from European Air Transport, Sydney (c/- Nicholas Marcello, Kings Cross). Aircraft is configured for 14 passengers. (EAT was formed in 1947 to operate migrant charters to Australia, mainly from Italy and Greece). (Source: 4) |
| FEB48 | CofA overhaul was completed in late February. The Managing Director of EAT, Nicholas Marcello, advised DCA that EAT is engaged in international charter operations and VH-BFQ would shortly be departing Australia on a charter. The aircraft was named Kythira, the same name given to VH-JCM when it operated two earlier charters on behalf of EAT. (Source: 4) |
|
08MAR48
|
A DCA internal report states that EAT have a Hudson under conversion by Butler Air Transport (believed to be VH-BFQ) and another under conversion by Curtis Madsen (believed to be VH-BIA). (Source: 2) |
|
08MAY48
|
Arrived in Sydney from Athens under the command of Capt H. Gibson-Lee with 4 crew and 14 passengers. (Source: 2) |
| 11NOV48 | Change of ownership to George Marcel, Kings Cross. (Source: 4) |
| 13NOV48 | Marcel advised DCA that he wishes to take VH-BFQ "on a private business trip overseas". (Source: 4) |
| 13FEB49 | VH-BFQ
and VH-BIA departed Australia together on delivery to Israel. VH-BFQ
was flown by J.L.D. 'Wac' Whiteman with engineer 'Skeeter' Clayton.
VH-BIA was flown by Franciszek 'Frank' Antoni Wiza with A.J. Hurst
as co-pilot. Both aircraft were said to be in "shocking condition".
The delivery route included stops at: Darwin Chittagong Rangoon Calcutta Allahabad Sharjah Bahrein Baghdad (3 days) Nicosia (3 days) During the stopover in Baghdad the aircraft operated two side trips to Mecca with pilgrims who sat on a layer of straw on the cabin floor! The delay in Nicosia was awaiting clearance to Rome on the pretext that the aircraft, which were not fitted with passenger seats, were to be refitted as passenger aircraft in Italy. After departing Nicosia, the aircraft diverted to Israel, to be escorted to Lydda by IAF fighters. (Source: 2 - account by Whiteman) |
| The aeroplane later entered service with the Israeli Air Force with the serial 2602 (subject to confirmation). It is assumed that the aircraft was subsequently destroyed in combat or scrapped. | |
| 04APR49 | Australian Certificate of Airworthiness expired. (Source: 4) |
| 10AUG49 |
On this date, a letter was addressed to the Director General of Civil
Aviation, Melbourne from R.M. Seymour, Civil Aviation Liaison Officer,
Australia House, London detailing an interview with Mr. A.J. Hurst
who had been a pilot on several aircraft that had been delivered from
Australia to Israel. "As far as Mr. Hurst is concerned, I am
convinced that his interest in the matter was as a pilot being employed
by the purchasers of these aircraft simply on delivery flights. Before
being engaged in this traffic, Mr. Hurst was in the employ of Mr.
Warren Penny when Inter-Continental Airlines were operating. During
our conversation Mr. Hurst gave me details of at least six Australian
aircraft which included 4 Hudson aircraft, one Lodestar and a DC5,
which have left Australia and are now definitely in the hands of the
Israeli Air Force. The details of these machines are as follows:- "Two Hudson aircraft, registered VH-BFQ and VH-BIA, were delivered during this year, leaving Australia during February and March. These aircraft were owned by a company which is believed by Mr. Hurst to be named the Southern European Transport Company (sic) registered in Sydney. The person who represented this company and with whom Mr. Hurst had contact is a Mr. G. Marcel. Mr. Hurst understands that Marcel owns a Milk Bar in Sydney and is not himself actually interested in the operation of aircraft. He tells me the aircraft are both serviceable and were equipped as passenger liners. He also understands that the transfer was made on the basis that the aircraft have been chartered by the Israeli Government for a period of 5 years. He also understands that the registration letters of these aircraft have now been cancelled. "Another Hudson, VH-BLB, belonging to Guinea Air Traders was delivered to Palestine leaving Australia in February. He tells me that this aircraft is also on charter to the Israeli Government, is in the hands of their Air Force, and is flying under Australian registration. He also believes that one other Hudson aircraft was definitely delivered. He did not know the registration letters, nor the owner, but he told me that the aircraft has since crashed in Palestine and has been written off." (This would be VH-BIH. Ed) The letter goes on to describe the other aircraft types but these details are not shown here. (Source: 4) |
| 11OCT49 | Struck off Australian Register as "improper sale overseas". (Source: 4) |
See: The Israeli Air Force Hudsons
|
SOURCES
|
|
|
2
|
Geoff Goodall The Migrant Caper |
|
3
|
RAAF Form E/E.88 Airframe Record Card A16-156. |
|
4
|
NAA Series MP 113/1, DCA file on VH-BFQ accessed by Geoff Goodall. |
|
The conversion of former RAAF Hudsons to airliners was largely driven by the upsurge in migration from Europe in the immediate post-war years. Several entrepreneurs began operating charter flights, mainly from Rome and Athens, in what became known amongst the main players as The Migrant Caper. These operations are covered in exquisite detail in Geoff Goodall's seminal work. The following link will take you to Geoff Goodall's Aviation History Site: |
| Issue | Date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 23DEC22 |
Added
information from Source: 2.
|
| 3 | 30NOV22 |
Added
sources to the chronology and expanded the information from
Source: 4.
|
| 2 | 13FEB98 |
Added
Israeli Air Force serial 2602.
|
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