VH-AGB
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Type: | Canadian Vickers Canso A |
MSN: | CV-359 |
Previous Identities: | 11055 CF-GKI |
Built by Canadian Vickers at Cartierville, Quebec. | |||||||
20MAR44
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Brought on charge by the RCAF with the serial number 11055. Known in RCAF service as a Canso A. Stored in reserve with Eastern Air Command. | ||||||
02MAY44
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With Eastern Air Command (Western Hemisphere Operations). | ||||||
15MAY44
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From this date served with No. 5 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron at Torbay, Yarmouth, Dartmouth, Mont Joli, Sydney and Gaspe. | ||||||
04JUN44
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Unserviceable for patrol duties due to faulty radio. Restricted to local flying only. | ||||||
28SEP44
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Allotted to No. 4 Repair Depot (Scoudouc, near Moncton, New Brunswick) for major inspection. | ||||||
03JUN45
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Last operational flight was out of Sydney, Nova Scotia to look for a missing Ventura. (Source: 3) | ||||||
14JUN45
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Placed in storage. | ||||||
11JUL45
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Stored in reserve with Eastern Air Command. | ||||||
With No. 6 Reserve Equipment Maintenance Unit at Mont Joli, PQ. | |||||||
With Reserve Equipment Maintenance Satellite, Mt. Pleasant, Prince Edward Island. REMS was a sub-unit of No. 6 REMU. | |||||||
23JAN46
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Awaiting disposal at REMS, Mt. Pleasant. | ||||||
26JUN47
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Time Since New 940:25 hours. Fitted with R-1830-92 engines s/n 350334/20110 and s/n A79812/20261. | ||||||
27JUN47
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Struck off charge by the RCAF and issued to War Assets Corp. for disposal. | ||||||
30DEC48
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Sold
for $15,000 by The Babb Company (Canada) Ltd of Montreal to Photographic
Survey Company Limited of Toronto. The aircraft was located in St.
John, Quebec.(Source: 1-1844) Photographic Survey Company was a wholly owned Hunting subsidiary in Canada. (Source: 3) | ||||||
01MAR49
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The aircraft was sold by Photographic Survey Company Limited to The Photographic Survey Corporation Limited (both of Toronto) for the sum of one dollar ($1.00). (Source: 1-1841) | ||||||
18MAR49
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The
aircraft was successfully test flown by Weston Aircraft, Oshawa after
conversion to a civil photographic aircraft on behalf of Kenting Aviation.
The work included the following: Fitment of a Janitrol heater. Blisters retained. Turret revolving mechanism made inoperative. Opening between turret and nose faired in with doped fabric. Pilot's escape hatch modified to permit opening from the outside. Emergency exit provided on the port side of the hull between bulkheads 6 and 7. Aircraft painted silver with Insignia Red trim. Registration CF-GKI applied. Stainless steel identification plate installed on aft face of bulkhead 7. Engines fitted are Pratt & Whitney S1C3G Twin Wasp s/n 11532 (left) s/n A79812 (right). (Source: 1-1829-1837) | ||||||
18MAR49
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Application for Certificate of Registration and Certificate of Airworthiness by Kenting Aviation Limited. Aircraft to be based at Oshawa, Ontario. (Source: 1-1845) | ||||||
21MAR49
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The aircraft was sold by The Photographic Survey Corporation to Kenting Aviation Limited (both of 1450 O'Connor Drive, Toronto) for the sum of one dollar ($1.00) to be paid over a period of four years! (Source: 1-1838) | ||||||
21MAR49
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CofA No. 3165 and CofR No. 8233 issued for CF-GKI for land and marine operations. Engines shown as R-1830-92. Maximum number of occupants approved is eight (8) and all must be provided with parachutes. When operated as a seaplane all occupants must be provided with life preservers. Maximum permissible gross weight must not exceed 30,500 pounds and is limited to hard surfaced runways and for water operations where the wave height does not exceed two feet. Maximum permissible landing weight is 27,000 pounds. (Source: 1-1854-1856 and 1909-1912) | ||||||
19SEP49
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The Department of Transport wrote to Kenting Aviation enclosing CofR No 8233, CoA No 3165 and aircraft log books. (Source: 1-1858) | ||||||
17APR50
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The aircraft was inspected and test flown by Weston Aircraft Limited, Oshawa. (Source: 1-1865) | ||||||
11MAY51
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Kenting Aviation applied for the renewal of CofA and CofR. Total Time Since New: 2448-15 hrs. The Time Since Overhaul is also shown as 2448-15 hrs which implies that the aircraft was zero-timed during its civil conversion. (Source: 1-1869) | ||||||
22JUN51
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Kenting
Aviation wrote to the Department of Transport requesting dispensation
to carry more than eight persons on the aircraft. "At present
the aircraft is operating in Northern Quebec from Knob Lake Airstrip
and Aeromagnetic Surveys Limited have requested that a representative
of their customer be allowed to carry on official observation duties
in the aircraft from time to time during the period dating from the
present until October 15th of this year." (Source: 1-1873) This request was approved on a per case basis on 04JUL51. (Source: 1-1874) | ||||||
24APR52
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The Royal Canadian Mounted Police wrote to the Department of Transport regarding a low flying aircraft at the Falconbridge Radio Station, Ontario reported on 10APR52. The document does not identify the aircraft and the file contains no other correspondence on the subject. (Source: 1-1879) | ||||||
17MAR52
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Kenting Aviation applied for the renewal of CofA and CofR. Total Time Since New: 3106 hrs. (Source: 1-1876) | ||||||
10NOV52
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Kenting
Aviation wrote to the Department of Transport requesting permission
to ferry Canso CF-GKI to Papua New Guinea to conduct an aeromagnetic
survey for Aeromagnetic Surveys Limited of Toronto on behalf of the
Hunting Group for approximately five months departing on or about
15NOV52 and returning on or about 01APR53. The proposed route was
Oshawa-Montreal-Gander-Azores-Lisbon or Gibraltar-Luqa-Nicosia-Cyprus-Baghdad-Bahrein-Karachi-Allahabad-Nagpur-Calcutta-Rangoon-Kota
Bharu-Singapore-Soerabaja-Timor-Darwin-Thursday Island-Port Moresby-Daru
where the aircraft will be based. The aircraft is currently being
overhauled for a new CofA. Both engines will be changed and an APU
and bilge pump will be installed. Crew will be: W.M. Howes - Captain R. Pettus - Co-pilot C.C. Fisher - Navigator F.E. Birchall - Radio Operator K. Mitchell - Engineer H.J. Sandau - Magnetometer Operator J.R. Gray - Magnetometer Operator Kenting requested approval for an overload on the Gander-Azores leg where it is proposed to carry 1100 gallons of fuel which will result in a 4.9% overload of 1500 pounds. | ||||||
10NOV52
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Kenting Aviation advised the Department of Transport that the aircraft is now planned to depart on 22NOV52. Some equipment has been separately air-freighted to reduce the weight of the aircraft for the Gander-Azores leg. Kenting wish to keep the two magnetometer operators on the aircraft as "they come in damned handy helping maintain the aircraft." (Source: 1-1884) | ||||||
17NOV52
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The Department of Transport approved the operation. (Source: 1-1886) | ||||||
05DEC52
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Kenting Aviation applied for the renewal of the CofR and CofA. Total Time Since New: 3825 hrs 20 min. (Source: 1-1888) Approved same day. (Source: 1-1887) | ||||||
08DEC52
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Departed Oshawa for Montreal. (Source: 3) | ||||||
14DEC52
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Departed Montreal. (Source: 3) | ||||||
08JAN53
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Overnighted Darwin. This was the aircraft's first visit to Australia. | ||||||
09JAN53
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Arrived at Port Moresby, PNG. (Source: 3). Alternative source states 10JAN53. | ||||||
14JAN53
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Commenced
an aeromagnetic survey from a base on the Kikori River, Papua.
Click here for more information on this survey. | ||||||
06MAR53
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Last survey flight from Kikori. | ||||||
12MAR53
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The aircraft arrived in Cairns and over-nighted before departing for Sydney where the crew were to go on leave. (Source: Cairns Post, Friday 13 March 1953) | ||||||
08JUL53
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Ferried through Croydon, U.K. | ||||||
10JUL53
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Canadian Department of Transport telegraph to Field Aviation, Oshawa approving a fifty hour extension on both engines to enable the aircraft to return to Canada from England. (Source: 1-1892) | ||||||
16JUL53
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Ferried through Dublin, Ireland. | ||||||
06OCT53
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Kenting Aviation applied for the renewal of the CofR and CofA. Total Time Since New: 4879:00 hrs. Time Since Overhaul: 1015:20. (Source: 1-1896) | ||||||
29JUL54
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The Department of Transport wrote to Field Aviation Company Limited of Oshawa, Ontario acknowledging their request of 28JUL for the aircraft to revert to Experimental status. DoT confirm that the registration should be changed to CF-GKI-X and that "application should be made for return to normal status when approval has been obtained for the proposed installation." (Source: 1-1898) | ||||||
24SEP54
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The Department of Transport authorised the removal of Experimental status pending final checking of the weight and balance report. The letter X may be removed from the aircraft. (Source: 1-1899) | ||||||
03JUN55
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Aircraft Accident Report filed. Pilot J. Greenshields reported after departure from Duluth, Minnesota, the port engine discharged copious amounts of oil through the stacks. The aircraft returned to Duluth where metal chips were found in the oil screens. Diagnosed as a failure of the piston in the #7 cylinder. The engine was changed. (Source: 1-1902) | ||||||
AUG56
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Adastra technicians undertook electronics equipment familiarisation with Photographic Survey Co/Kenting Aviation at Toronto and Kapuskasing. (Source: Ken Richards) | ||||||
18SEP56
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For the purposes of a ferry flight to Australia, Kenting Aviation requested approval for a once only take-off from Gander (to the Azores) at 2,440 pounds in excess of certified gross weight. The proposed route was Azores-Portugal-Malta-Syria-Iraq-Pakistan-India-Thailand-Malay States-North Borneo-Netherlands New Guinea. The request was approved on 21SEP56. (Source: 1-1907-1908) | ||||||
24SEP56
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Sold to Hunting Aero Surveys Ltd., Boreham Wood, Herts., U.K. (Source: 1-1914) | ||||||
28SEP56
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The
Department of Transport wrote to Kenting Aviation enclosing CofR No.
8233 and CofA No. 3165, the latter renewed to 26SEP57. "You will
note that the old Certificates of Registration and Airworthiness have
been replaced by new type Certificates." (Source: 1-1913) The old type was foolscap sized with provision for a photograph of the aircraft. The new type was seemingly about half of a quarto page with no requirement for a photograph. | ||||||
OCT56
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Ferried from Canada to Sydney. Ferry pilot was Jim Greenshields, Chief Pilot of Kenting Aviation. (Source: Doug Morrison) | ||||||
07NOV56
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Australian Registration Application by Adastra Hunting Geophysics Pty Ltd. (Source: 2) | ||||||
08NOV56
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Adastra applied for an airwork licence for one Canso. (Source: 2) | ||||||
16NOV56
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Registered VH-AGB to Adastra Hunting Geophysics, Sydney, NSW. CofR No 2868. CofA issued same day. (Source: 2) | ||||||
24NOV56
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Adastra pilot, Ted McKenzie, commenced conversion training on the Catalina. (Source: Ted McKenzie) | ||||||
18JAN57
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DCA issued Adastra with an airwork licence for the aircraft. (Source: 2) | ||||||
15OCT57
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Test flown at Mascot after CofA renewal. (Source: 2) | ||||||
JUL58
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Letter to DCA from Adastra Hunting Geophysics Pty Ltd: "This company carries out survey operations with electronic equipment designed to investigate the physical properties of the ground over which the aircraft flies. Generally this equipment is satisfactorily effective at heights of 500-600 feet at which the aircraft have in the past operated. Later trends in these methods of investigation however indicate that it would be more effective to operate at lower heights with our present equipment." Request approval to operate at 200 feet AGL. DCA approve the request but add a proviso that the Crown Solicitor warns that the company will be liable for any legal action that might be taken by persons on the ground. (Source: 2) | ||||||
58
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The
wing tip floats were removed to reduce weight and thus enable the
uplift of extra fuel. At the same time, some of the controls were
removed from the pylon. (Source: Les Snape, March 2004) | ||||||
01JUN59
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Test flown at Mascot by Ken Rowlands after CofA renewal. (Source: 2) | ||||||
29JUN59
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Memo from DoT Toronto to DoT Ottawa:
(Source: 1-1914. This is the final document in the file.) | ||||||
JUL59
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Adastra request renewal of their airwork licence for the Canso. Later the same month, Adastra advise that the airwork licence for VH-AGB is no longer required. (Source: 2) | ||||||
09AUG59
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The
aircraft commenced an aeromagnetic survey of the Great Artesian Basin
in the Tambo-Augathella area of Queensland with the aircraft based
at Charleville and Roma. The contract covering approximately 25,250
square miles was awarded by Magellan Petroleum Corporation to Aero
Service Corporation of Philadelphia but because Aero Service were
fully committed elsewhere, the survey was subcontracted to Adastra.
The flying was completed on 10OCT59. VH-AGB was crewed by: Ken Rowlands (Captain) Bruce Sellick (Co-pilot) Joe Tidey (Navigator) Bob Cozens (Engineer) Maurie Miller (Chief Electronic Technician) Les Snape (Technician) (Source: Bureau of Mineral Resources, Petroleum Search Subsidy Acts, Publication No. 31, 1963) | ||||||
25NOV59
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The aircraft commenced an aeromagnetic survey of the Roma district in Queensland. Report | ||||||
04JAN60
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The aircraft was unserviceable (oil cooler port engine). This was the only day the aircraft was u/s on the Roma survey. | ||||||
11FEB60
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The Roma survey was completed. | ||||||
01JUN60
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CofA expired. (Source: 2) | ||||||
08JUN62
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Change of ownership to Trans-Australia Airlines, Melbourne, Vic. Parked at Bankstown, NSW and used as a source of spares for TAA's Catalina VH-SBV. (Source: 2) | ||||||
09MAR66
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Sold to Australian Aircraft Sales Pty Ltd. (Source: 2 - see 01MAY67) | ||||||
12MAY66
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Struck off Australian Register. | ||||||
01MAY67
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DCA Internal Memo: TAA have advised that AGB & SBV have both been sold to Australian Aircraft Sales Pty Ltd, effective dates being 15.3.66 for SBV on the slipway at Port Moresby and 9.3.66 for AGB "fuselage located at Bankstown Aerodrome". AAS agree to remove AGB within 40 days of sale and are liable for any storage charges after 9.3.66 imposed by Hawker deHavilland or DCA. "Hawker deHavilland is being pressed by DCA to remove AGB from the aerodrome" (Source: 2) | ||||||
04MAY67
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Broken up at Bankstown by Garthon Scrap Metals of Caringbah. |
SOURCES
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1
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Canadian
Department of Transport : Civil aircraft registration, inspection
and operation files, 1920-1986 : T-7502. (Images 1815 to 1914) https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_t7502/1918 |
2
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NAA: DCA files accessed by Geoff Goodall. |
3
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Legg, David, Consolidated PBY Catalina. Airlife England, 2002 |
Operating the Catalina - by Ted McKenzie |
Issue | Date | Remarks |
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20 | 15MAY25 |
Updated
the aircraft's Canadian history from Source: 1.
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19 | 17JAN23 |
Added
an aerial image of CF-GKI thanks
to Doug Morrison.
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18 | 31DEC22 |
Added
a Slideshow
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17 | 14DEC21 | |
16 | 20OCT19 |
Added
details of a survey of the Tambo-Augathella area commencing
on 09AUG59. Thanks to Doug Morrison.
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15 | 30MAY18 |
Added
details of a survey of the Roma district in NOV59.
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14 | 15JUN17 |
Added
detailed notes on the 1953
survey of Papua. Thanks to Doug Morrison.
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13 | 23MAY17 |
Added
the name of the pilot who ferried the aeroplane to Australia
in OCT56. Thanks to Doug Morrison.
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12 | 02MAR13 |
Added
several references to Adastra's airwork licence for VH-AGB.
These additions are attributed "NAA via Geoff Goodall".
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11 | 18OCT04 |
Several
additions extracted from Department of Civil Aviation files
in the National Archives of Australia by Geoff Goodall. All
are annotated "DCA files" in the above chronology,
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10 | 14JUL04 |
Several
additions, all attributed to National Archives of Canada via
Doug Morrison.
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9 | 10JUL04 |
Several
additions, all attributed to David Legg.
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8 | 27APR04 |
Added
a reference to the removal of the floats in 1958 thanks to Les
Snape.
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7 | 13SEP03 |
Added
six new images thanks to Bob Love.
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6 | 16JUN03 |
Added
extra detail of Canadian military service received from Jerry
Vernon via Doug Morrison.
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5 | 07JUN03 |
Added
a reference to the further use of experimental marks
Clarified the reference to the 1953 Kikori River survey. Doug Morrison has pointed out that the Kikori River was the base for the operation and that the survey was conducted over a much wider area than the river itself. Also added a reference to TAA's date of purchase. Also added reference to radio unserviceability in 1944 and airframe hours in 1947 thanks to Doug Morrison. |
4 | 18MAY03 |
Added
further details of the aircraft's survey career thanks to Doug
Morrison.
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3 | 15MAY03 |
Corrected
the aircraft type from PBV-1A to Canso A and also added details
of its RCAF service. Thanks to Ragnar Ragnarsson and Doug Morrison.
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