355
VH-AAH at Cootamundra, N.S.W..
Photo: Greg Banfield © March 1979 - Eddie Coates Collection
Photo: Unknown photographer © 07 February 1979 - John Rodger Collection - Aird Archives

I asked Peter Reardon about the appendage on the side of VH-AAH - he replied:

It is the ‘sprayer’ refill connection for pumping the load into the hopper. You can see other photos of her with the spray booms on and some without the booms, but the boom mounts under the wings are still at the attach points. There were not too many with the ‘quick connect’ refill, as I recall. The hopper needed a lining, anti-slosh baffles.

The super spreader hopper outlet / base was changed to add the pump, pump brake and plumbing, plus the booms, of course. The Beaver was too docile in tight, ‘obstruction filled’ treatment areas but nice and steady on ‘the wide open spaces’. The DHC POH has some illustrations of the sprayer config, but there were many ‘operator variations’ to the standard DHC kit, mate.

Regards

Peter Reardon
VH-AAH with spray bars, at Moorabbin.
Photo: Peter Keating © 22 November 1978 - Michael J. Ody Collection
VH-AAH at Cootamundra, N.S.W..
Photo: David Carter © September 1977 - Aird Archives
VH-AAH with Super Spread logo on tail.
Photo: Unknown photographer © 1976 - Kenneth I. Swartz Collection
VH-AAH at Bankstown, N.S.W.
Photo: Fred Barnes © 30 October 1973
VH-AAH performs for RAeS at Camden, N.S.W.
Photo: Greg Banfield © October 1972 - Eddie Coates Collection
Photo: Alan Flett © October 1972 - Aird Archives
VH-AAH at Bankstown, N.S.W.
Photo: John Roger © 08 November 1970 - Aird Archives
Photo: Peter Keating © 21 June 1970 - Michael J. Ody Collection
P1236-0027 : de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver - ain 355
 VH-AAH - 07 Feb 66 at Bankstown, N.S.W.

Aerial Agriculture, Ltd. (© John Hopton)
51-16554 sporting code F. Location could be Downsview?
Photo: Wm. J. Balogh Sr. © Dave Menard Collection
Photo: Unknown photographer and date © Wayne Mutza Collection - Aird Archives

355

51-16554

VH-AAH

x

• 51-16554 USAF #1163. L-20 No: 164. Command AF-1. Delivered 19-Sep-1952. Built as L-20A.

• VH-AAH Aerial Agriculture Pty., Bankstown, NSW. Regd 20-Dec-1962. Canx 21-Feb-1975 as withdrawn from service. Restored 26-Jan-1977.

• VH-AAH Later used for periods by associate company Super Spread Aviation at Moorabbin.

Accident: 25-Jul-1979 Bulgroo, North of Yarrowitch, N.S.W. Details unknown other than in a manoeuvring phase of flight presumably while crop dusting. Sole occupant, the pilot survived. Aircraft damaged beyond repair.

• VH-AAH Canx 25-Jul-1979.

• Fate Unknown •

USAF History

51-16554 was made available on 28-Aug-1952 and accepted on 10-Sep-1952 by the 6600th Air Depot AMO (Air Material Overseas Unit), at Downsview, Ontario after which it was delivered to the Tactical Air Command at Shaw AFB., SC., where it was attached to the 2nd Liaison Squadron where it remained until 03-Jun-1956. After this lengthy stay it had a shorter stay at Hill AFB, UT with the 461st Light Bombardment (BL) Wing until 28-Jun-1956. It then returned to Shaw AFB but this time was attached to the 363rd Reconnaissance Combat Training Wing remaining until 16-Jun-1974It then passed back to Hill AFB and the 461st Light Bombardment Wing.

It was next on the move in Apr-1955 when it moved back to the de Havilland Aircraft facility at Downsview, Toronto presumably for maintenance and this lasted until 14-Jun-1955. It returned to active service with the 461st Light Bombardment (BL) Wing at Hill AFB until 01-Oct-1955 after which the unit moved to Blytheville AFB., AR., where it was re designated as 461st Tactical Bombardment Wing and included a short deployment to Wendover AFB., during the period 20-Jul-1956 to 08-Aug-1956. Its time with the 461st lasted until 05-Aug-1957.

It was next re assigned to the Alaskan Air Command and moved north to Elmendorf AFB where it was attached to the 5039th Air Transport Squadron until 03-Jun-1958 with a short transfer to the 5039th Operations Squadron in Oct-1957,

Another re assignment saw it move to the Strategic Air Command, initially at Malmstrom AFB., MT., with the 4061st Air Base Group until 21-Jul-1958 after which it moved north again to Goose Bay AFB., where it was initially attached to the 22nd Helicopter Squadron. This lasted until 05-Feb-1959 after which it moved across to the host unit, the 4082nd Air Base Group. This was re designated as the 4082nd Combat Support Group on 01-Oct-1959 and then the 4082nd Strategic Wing on 02-Mar-1960. This lasted until 21-Mar-1960

A move south saw it arrive at Langley for the Tactical Air Command joining the 4440th Air Delivery & Ferry (ADF) Group at Langley AFB, VA but only until 04-Apr-1960 after which another re assignment saw it move to Minot AFB, ND, the Air Defence Command and the 32nd Fighter Group. This attachment lasted until 06-Nov-1961.

After this the aircraft’s record card shows that reclamation was authorised, the reason for which is currently unknown.