A30 Douglas DC-2, DC-3
At the start of World War II, the RAAF was short of many aircraft types including transports, and to alleviate the problem four Australian National Airways DC-2s were impressed into service on 11 September 1939 (A30-1 to 4). These aircraft were flown by No 8 Squadron but were returned to ANA between February and June 1940, leaving a gap that was not filled until ten ex-Eastern Airlines machines were imported from the USA, arriving between 18 November 1940 and 1 May 1941.
These later aircraft were given the serials A30-5 to 14 and served with No 36 Squadron until replaced by DC-3 Dakotas, after which they served in the secondary units such as the Wireless Air Gunners School and Parachute Training School.
One DC-2 was shot down on a flight between Sourabaya and Koepang (A30-8), while four others were lost in operational accidents, and one (A30-9) was transferred to the Civil Register for use by CSIRO in May 1943. The remaining aircraft were sold to Marshall Airways after being withdrawn from service in 1946.
TECHNICAL DATA: Douglas DC-2
DESCRIPTION:
Medium transport, 14 passengers.
CREW:
Two
POWER PLANT:
Two 750 hp Wright SGR-1820 Cyclone radial engines
DIMENSIONS:
Wingspan 25.91 m (85 ft 0 in); Length 18.90 m (62 ft 0 in); Height 4.98 m (16 ft 4 in).
WEIGHTS:
Empty 5670 kg (12 500 lb); loaded 8255 kg (18 200 lb)
PERFORMANCE:
Max Speed 325 km/h (175 kt); Cruise speed 307 km/h (166 kt); Ceiling 20,000 ft (6,096 m); Range 1770 km (960 nm).
