(photographer not known)

Built to USAAF order but delivered to the RAAF in 1945 as A65-72. Disposed of to Adastra Airways in 1959 becoming VH-AGU. In later years with East-West Airlines it became the test aircraft for the Interscan microwave landing system before being retired in 1979. Resurrected in the 1980s, it passed though the hands of a long list of small charter operators before being acquired by Jeff Trappett and restored in USAF gunship markings.

Jeff Trappet owns this DC-3 which is painted as a USAF Spooky Gunship.

Ex 44-76336 USAAF, A65-72 RAAF.

In open store at the time slowly being restored with rather unusual prop spinners...

Ex Dutch navy and came to Australian after the Japanese invasion of the Dutch East Indies. To RAAF as A50-27. Written off in a crash at Kempsey, NSW, on December 17, 1944. Remains sold with the RAAF's Ryan spares. Repaired and registered VH-AGU in April 1946. Reregistered VH-WEB in June 1957. Photo from: State Library of Queensland

At the Avalon Airshow 2013, Trade Day Two

Seen minus various flying surfaces.

Ex RAAF, VH-AGU's first years on the register starting in 1959 were in the aerial survey role. It then became the test aircraft for the Interscan microwave landing system before being retired in 1979. Resurrected in the 1980s, it passed though the hands of a long list of small charter operators before find a new life as a warbird in USAF Vietnam War markings.

VH-AGU seen during the time it was used to test the Interscan microwave landing system being developed jointly with the US. A light was fitted to the nose to help those on the ground track its approach path during testing at Melbourne-Tullamarine. Despite being adopted by ICAO as the world standard in 1978, Interscan came to halt 1994 when the US switched to a GPS based system. VH-AGU in the meantime had been sold in 1979 for charter work. Since 2013 it has been on the airshow circuit painted as a USAF AC-47 "Spooky" gunship.

Air Charter Centre operated VH-AGU from 1981 to early in 1983. It carries the name on the fin.

Ex RAAF A65-72, was bought by Adastra in 1959 for survey work. Acquired by East West in 1974