A pre-delivery publicity shot of the ill-fated VH-BPE. On October 29, 1953 it flew into the ground while on approach to San Francisco killing all 19 onboard including renowned violinist William Kapell. The accident led to the end of BCPA, owned by the Australian, New Zealand and British governments. Qantas took over the trans-Pacific route and TEAL, a joint NZ-Australian airline, took over BCPA's remaining DC-6s as it prepared to end flying boat services. Photo from: National Library of Australia

Delivered to BCPA on the 19 November 1948. Sold to Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL) in May 1954 - named Aotearoa III. To the RNZAF as NZ3631 in March 1961. To Royal Laos Airlines in November 1968. Crashed in Java on 01 February 1971. (Unknown Photographer)

BCPA was a joint UK, Australian and New Zealand airline formed to operate trans-Pacific services to North America. The partnership ended in 1953 and Qantas took over the routes to the US and Canada flying Super Constellations. The remaining BCPA DC-6s (one had crashed) were passed to TEAL, a joint Australian-New Zealand airline for trans-Tasman services. Nose section still survived as a full-size simulator in Finland by 2022. Photo from: Whites Aviation Collection/Alexander Turnbull Library

Ex VH-TAC with Trans Australia Airlines. Flew with BCPA from April 1948 until replaced by Douglas DC-6s. Sold to Qantas as VH-EBL in February 1949. VH-INY with Ansett-ANA from 1959 and later ZS-IGB. Photo from: Whites Aviation Collection/Alexander Turnbull Library

At the Pan American terminal across the field from the main terminal near the Coast Guard Air Station at San Francisco.

Taxiing into the Pan Am Terminal area at San Francisco.