Aircraft N5590K Data

This aircraft was built as C-47A 42-24138 and delivered to USAAF on 8/5/43. On 8/23, the plane was handed over to the Royal Australian Air Force as Dakota A65-18, and served in the Pacific Theatre with Nos. 33, 35 and 38 Sqdns, and with No. 86 Transport Wing. After WWII it went to Qantas Empire Airways as VH-EBE. On 1/24/58 the plane was re-registered as VH-EBT. 9/1/60 found it operating with Trans-Australian AIrways. Three months later it was with TAA of New Guinea as VH-SBB and named “Cape Hoskins.” More changes of hands, registered as P2-SBB on 6/2/74, then P2-ANN on 11/6/75. WFU 7/31/77 and in October 1979 was placed in storage at Port Moresby. The plane was acquired for Red Cross work in Bangkok, Thailand on 3/13/80, registered as N5590K. Purchased by J.J. Ford III 6/30/81. Last known status is storage in Papua New Guinea, with registration P2-ANN still visible. (Information from Arthur Pearcy, “Douglas DC-3 Survivors,” copyright 1988)