Next is VH-AFU, originally A21-23. Was operated by Queensland Flying Services, Archerfield Airport Qld from 1946. It appears to be Silver overall with Red and Black markings.

VH-AFU Queensland Flying Service (Archerfield Airport) insignia on the rudder. Photo State Library of Queensland

Profile of VH-AFU in the simple scheme of Silver overall with Red markings on wings and tail and Black fuselage rego.

Now we move onto VH-AFV, originally A21-15. There is a very long writeup for this one on Geoff Goodall's site, and photos on there and https://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austa/VH-AFV.html. Between 1945 and 1955 it had an incredible ten changes of ownership. In 1955 it was noted as Yellow with Blue trim. At one stage it had a Sharkmouth (image on Geoff Goodall's site).

This John Hopton image shows it derelict at Moorabbin. The fuselage was eventually destroyed after it deteriorated in the weather and was later burnt., the wings stored in a garage were eventually used in the rebuild of VH-ACS.

Profile of VH-AFV in a scheme of Yellow overall with Black rego on fuselage and dark Blue trim.

Profile of VH-AFV in the scheme with the Sharkmouth. At this stage it appears to be Silver overall with Black regos on fuselage and trim. Appears to be a polished metal cowl.

The last one covered this time is VH-AGO (A21-14 with RAAF). It was originally registered as VH-AGL, in 1957 it crashed and was struck off the register. By 1978 it had been rebuilt and registered as VH-AGO (as AGL was no longer available). See Geoff Goodall's site for a photo taken in 1984 when it was White with Blue trim.

Profile of VH-AGO in the scheme of White overall with likely Blue trim. Rego on tail in Black

By the 1990s the White fuslage had been replaced by Yellow (see image on Geoff Goodall's site).

Profile of VH-AGO in the scheme of Yellow overall with likely Blue trim. Rego on tail in Black

This is part 2 of what will be a 3 part series as there are still more profiles to present. Major references and acknowledgements are as follows:

The major reference is Geoff Goodall's page at 'https://www.goodall.com.au/australian-aviation/dh94/dh94mothminor.htm'. This lists every RAAF serial, owner, change of rego etc with dates and other detail such as colour schemes with many photos. Highly recommended.

Another major source is Eddie Coates' website at https://www.edcoatescollection.com/ which has comprehensive info on Australian civil airframes. You have to access each rego's page separately from his main index.

I would like to thank Alan Flett for the assistance he has given to me to do this series. In addition Alan Flett and Dave Welsh have given permission to use images that they hold copyright on.

Use the index button to return to the main issue 39/3 index.