Aircraft flying as Tanker 161 and seen on final for San Bernardino tanker base for a re-load

This was a bitter sweet moment, as it would be the final take off roll for this beautiful aircraft, as she unfortunately came down shortly after this photo was taken, during climb out from Fairbanks with the loss of both crew. Blue Skies.

Nearly brand new - TAA's Thomas Mitchell parked outside the TAA hangar at Essendon, as seen from the Bulla Road (now the Tullamarine Freeway). The aircraft had been registered just a few months earlier on 4 November 1946.

Delivered new to South African 10 May 1946 remaining with the airline until transferred to the SAAF's 44 Sqd 29 September 1967 as 6905. To the SAA Historical Flight as ZS-AUB December 1995. Leased to Swissair as ZU-ILI and painted in period colours and the fake registration HB-ILI celebrating 50 years of trans-Atlantic service by Swissair during the summer of 1997. Preserved at the SAA Museum at Rand. Seen here in the livery in which she was delivered in 1946. Photographer unknown

Delivered to the USAAF as 42-72312 September 1944, to American Airlines as N90437 post war, Air France as F-BBDR October 1949, after several French airlines she ended with Air Comores as F-BDDR in 1973, later D6-CAA. Sold to the SAAF as 6907 in a clandestine deal in 1981. Withdrawn from SAAF service in 1993 and sold to Africa Cargo Airlines, briefly registered ZS-XXX and then ZS-NJN, 7Q-YYY and finally 3D-NJN. Sold in 1998 as 3D-ADW and used for flights between South Africa and Angloa. Abandonded at Kinsasha late 1990s and scrapped there. Seen here at Rand in SAAF camouflage with ZS-XXX crudely applied and attempted removed. Photographer unknown

Delivered to the USAAF as 41-107469 in 1944. To Chicago & Southern Airlines as NC53103 in 1946, Philippine Air Lines as PI-C102 in 1948 and Pacific Overseas Airlines as HS-POE in 1951. To Thai Airways as HS-TSA in 1958 then to the Thai Air Force in 1960. Returned to Thai Airways in 1965 then to Botswana National Airways as VQ-ZEF in 1966. Reregistered as A2-ZEF in 1968. To Suidwes Lugdiens as ZS-IPR in 1972. To the SAAF as 6906 in 1981. Back to ZS-IPR in 1995 then to the Dutch Dakota Association as PH-DDY in 1997. Preserved at Lelystad from 2004 as NL-316 and PH-TAR from 2020. Photographer unknown

Delivered to the USAAF as 41-107469 in 1944. To Chicago & Southern Airlines as NC53103 in 1946, Philippine Air Lines as PI-C102 in 1948 and Pacific Overseas Airlines as HS-POE in 1951. To Thai Airways as HS-TSA in 1958 then to the Thai Air Force in 1960. Returned to Thai Airways in 1965 then to Botswana National Airways as VQ-ZEF in 1966. Reregistered as A2-ZEF in 1968. To Suidwes Lugdiens as ZS-IPR in 1972. To the SAAF as 6906 in 1981. Back to ZS-IPR in 1995 then to the Dutch Dakota Association as PH-DDY in 1997. Preserved at Lelystad from 2004 as NL-316 and PH-TAR from 2020. Photographer unknown

Delivered new to South African 10 May 1946 remaining with the airline until transferred to the SAAF's 44 Sqd 29 September 1967 as 6905. To the SAA Historical Flight as ZS-AUB December 1995. Leased to Swissair as ZU-ILI and painted in period colours and the fake registration HB-ILI celebrating 50 years of trans-Atlantic service by Swissair during the summer of 1997. Preserved at the SAA Museum at Rand. Seen here in the livery in which she was delivered in 1946. Photographer unknown

Delivered new to South African 10 May 1946 remaining with the airline until transferred to the SAAF's 44 Sqd 29 September 1967 as 6905. To the SAA Historical Flight as ZS-AUB December 1995. Leased to Swissair as ZU-ILI and painted in period colours and the fake registration HB-ILI celebrating 50 years of trans-Atlantic service by Swissair during the summer of 1997. Preserved at the SAA Museum at Rand. Here seen in a formation with Harvard ZS-WLP also of the SAA Historic Flight. Photographer unknown

Delivered to South African Airways as ZS-BMG June 1947. To 44 Sqd, SAAF January 1966. Preserved at the SAAF Museum, AFB Swartkop January 1993 with 31,131 hours. Here seen at AFB Port Elizabeth in the early white and polished metal livery. Photographer unknown

"Big John" wearing the promotional titles "BTM presents Star Truckin 75". The aircraft had been wet-leased to music promotion company BTM from August 1975, primarily to transport Status Quo on their European tour. The contract was cancelled and the aircraft temporarily WFU in January 1976.

"Big John" on short finals for Southend's runway 06. Made the last BAF car ferry flight in January 1977. WFU at Southend in February 1977. After years of deterioration it was re-painted, engines re-fitted and placed on temporary static display outside BAF Engineering in October 1981 until sold to a scrap dealer in December 1983 and broken up on-site despite attempts by a former BAF Captain to save it.

Photographer: Rainer Haufschild.