A59-73




Type: L-237-27-01 Ventura PV-1
MSN: 237-6142
Previous Identities: 48906
Owner: East Arnhem Historical Society, Gove, NT

History:

22FEB44
Departed West Coast (Source: NAA via Gordon Birkett)
03MAR44
At Honolulu (Source: NAA via Gordon Birkett)
11MAR44
Departed Honolulu. (Source: NAA via Gordon Birkett)
13MAR44
Received at No 2 Aircraft Depot, Richmond.
02MAY44
Received at No 2 Aircraft Park, Bankstown ex 2AD.
08JUN44
Aircraft ran through a fence at Maryborough.
20JUN44
Received by 3AD for field repair at Maryborough.
15AUG44
Received at 2AD ex 3AD (Amberley).
10APR45
Received at 14ARD Reserve Pool ex 2AD.
11JUN45
Received at No 13 Sqn at Gove NT. Coded SF-O.
08AUG45
Damaged by fire during maintenance at Gove. Flight Sergeant J.D. Mayo extinguished the fire sustaining severe burns in the process. He was subsequently mentioned in despatches. The aircraft was later abandoned at Gove when 13 Sqn moved north to Labuan.
05OCT45
Allotted to 8CRD. Parts used in the repair of A59-75.
12OCT45
Approval given to convert to components. Airframe abandoned at Gove.
APR95
Fuselage and centre section trucked to Darwin for restoration by 13SQ and eventual return to Gove for display.
It was subsequently reported that the aircraft had been determined, in consultation with Malcolm Long, to be beyond restoration. As of September 2003, the aircraft is still located in Darwin pending return to Gove, which could take a year or two. It is the intention of the EAHS to restore the aircraft for display at Gove.
13MAY06
Phil Herdman advised that the aircraft is still stored under cover with 13 Sqn in Darwin. It is intended that the aircraft will be eventually returned to Gove for display albeit unrestored.
24FEB12
The aircraft was moved out of its hangar at Darwin. It is intended that the aircraft will be returned to Gove at the end of the wet season. Little has been done in the way of restoration.
28OCT12
Photographed on a semi-trailer at Noonamah (approx 50km south of Darwin) en route to Gove.

 

Detailed Notes on 13SQN Ventura A59-73

 

Issue Date Remarks
12 06NOV22
Added a link to Phil Herdman's detailed notes on A59-73.
11 09JAN17
Further details added from Status Card.
10 24DEC16
Updated details of the disposal ex 13 Sqn. Sourced from the 13 Sqn ORB.
9 31MAR16
Refreshed page layout with no change to data.
8 29DEC12
Added a recent image of the aircraft at Noonamah south of Darwin en route to Gove. Thanks to Russell Legg.
7 20JUN12
Added a recent image of the aircraft at Darwin awaiting return to Gove. Thanks to Robert Calaby.
6 25FEB12
The aircraft is being prepared for return to Gove. Thanks to Robert Calaby for this update.
5 25JUL06
Added the departure date ex West Coast and arrival Honolulu thanks to Gordon Birkett.
4 24JUN06
Added the departure date ex Honolulu thanks to Gordon Birkett.
Also added an update on the status of the aeroplane thanks to Phil Herdman.
3 06JAN04
Added the owner's name and an update on the status of the aircraft thanks to Phil Herdman who is President of the East Arnhem Historical Society. Phil has also supplied more details of the incident in which the aircraft was damaged by fire.
2 11JAN03
Added a colour image of the aeroplane in its compound at Gove thanks to Allyn Eckford.



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