GEOFF GOODALL'S AVIATION HISTORY SITE

Last updated 26 February 2023

AUSTRALIAN JUNKERS PRE-WAR TYPES

Compiled by Geoff Goodall

Three Junkers G31s operated by Guinea Airways Ltd waiting to load cargo at Lae aerodrome, New Guinea during the 1930s.
The G31 in the foreground has its roof hatch removed. Ben Dannecker collection

         Junkers Flugzeug und Motorenwerke A.G. was founded in 1895 by Hugo Junker and grew to become a leading Gerrnan aircraft and aero engine manufacturer. Following the end of World War I, the Junkers works at Dessau designed and built a range of rugged all-metal commercial aircraft and aero engines. A notable feature of many Junkers designs was their Duraluminium aluminium alloy corrugated skin surfaces, which provided added stength. The currugated external surface was also adopted by the American Ford Trimotor series.

        The majority of Junkers aircraft imported by Australian owners during the 1920s-30s were operated in New Guinea by Guinea Airways Ltd.
This was a business registered in Adelaide, South Australia to provide air transport for the booming gold fields in the New Guinea mountainous highlands. The Mandated Teritory of New Guinea (later renamed Territory of Papua New Guinea) was administered by Australia until its independence in 1975. Guinea Airways commenced operations at Lae, New Guinea in April 1927 with British biplanes, a DH.37 G-AUAA and DH.9 G-AUFB, but quickly recognised the high demand for air transport and the need for more durable aircraft able to carry over a ton payload, which could withstand the harsh New Guinea tropical climate and rough airstrips.
        Guinea Airways Board of Management in Adelaide decided on the all-metal Junkers aircraft range and set about raising the capital to order a Junkers W34 model. The Civil Aviation Branch (a predecessor of Department of Civil Aviation) advised the company that because Germany was not a member of ICAN (International Convention for Aerial Navigation), a forerunner of ICAO, German airworthiness certification could not be accepted - however Swedish certification for Junkers types built in Germany or Sweden by a Junkers associate company AB Flygindustri, would be acceptable to the Australian authorities. Accordingly, in October 1927 Guinea Airways cabled an order for a new Junkers W34 to Flygindustri at Malmo, Sweden.
        When put into service to the New Guinea goldfields in April the following year, that first Junkers G-AUGZ paid for itself within the first 3 months! During its first 4 months of operation, it carried over 400 passengers and 295 tons of freight, three times more than that carried by all mainland Australian airlines combined, earning healthy profits for the small company. The Lae station manager and Chief Pilot E.A. "Pard" Mustar, recommended the purchase of a second W34 to the airline's frugal Board of Directors in Adelaide, which reluctantly placed an order for a second W34 which became G-AUJD. At that time there was little development in New Guinea to attract shipping from Europe, so alternate ways were devised to take delivery of the early single-engined Junkers, including fitting floats to aircraft unloaded at Rabaul and Melbourne, flying them to Lae where landplane undercarriage was installed. Over the new few years port facilities at Lae harbour were improved, which allowed later Junkers orders to be shipped direct to Lae.

         All Guinea Airways Junkers models were modified with a removable roof hatch to enable bulky freight items to be loaded. The Junkers L5 engine powering most single-engined models proved underpowered for New Guinea conditions and Guinea Airways re-engined theirs with Bristol Jupiter, and later P&W Hornet radial engines. With its Junkers fleet Guinea Airways broke many world air cargo records. Throughout the 1930s Guinea Airways carried more freight each month than all the rest of the world's airlines carried that year. Between 1931-1941 Guinea Airways records show a gross airlift of 80,000 tons, including 8,804 tons during the year 1939, figures approached by no other aviation operator in the world.

         Australian agent for Junkers imports was Major H.J. Berryman, Melbourne, who played an enthusiastic personal role in securing orders and supporting Junkers aircraft when delivered. At one time he had a newly-shipped Junkers Junior in his suburban backyard to avoid hangarage fees at Essendon Aerodrome until he found a purchaser.

The heavy lifters - Junkers G31 trimotors

        Guinea Airways senior pilot E.A. Pard Mustar visited the Junkers works in December 1927 to take delivery of their first Junkers, W34 G-AUGZ. While there he was shown design plans for a larger trimotor designated Junkers G31 which would be able to carry three times the payload of the single engined range. Back in New Guinea, Placer Developments Ltd was proposing to establish a gold dredge operation at Wau or Bulolo - the large structures was to be built in Sydney and shipped in parts to Lae, where Placer would construct a road to the highlands minefields. Mustar cabled Junkers for reassurance that their G31 could lift the single heaviest dredge component, a 6,000 lbs (2,800 kg) tumbler shaft, then met with Placer directors to propose that Guinea Airways could fly the dredge components from the coast. As a result, a new business Bulolo Gold Dredging Company was formed in February 1930 to manage the installation and operation of a gold dredge.
       Guinea Airways had invited other aircraft manufacturers, including Bristol, Fokker and Stout Metal Airplane Co (Ford), to match the 6,000 lb payload, but none could supply a suitable aircraft. An order was placed with Junkers for three G31 freighters with a detachable roof loading hatch, two of which were purchased by Bulolo Gold Dredging Co and the third by Guinea Airways Ltd, which would operate all three. The airline's Lae manager Alan Cross sailed for Gemany in February 1930 to test fly and take delivery of the G31s. There was a surge of relief through Guinea Airways Adelaide and New Guinea management when Cross cabled from the Junkers works on 29 September 1930 the news that he had flown the first G31 carrying 7,150 lbs of ballast to 7,900 feet in 12 minutes - furthermore with one engine shut down at 3,000 feet altitude the aircraft could still maintain a slow rate of climb. Despite the antipated perfomance drop in New Guinea's "hot and high" tropical climate, all were encouraged that the G31s would be able to do the job. That they did, breaking many world records for air freight in the process.

       At Bulolo an airfield was constructed at the site of the proposed gold dredge, with a heavy duty crane to lift bulky cargo through the open roof hatch of the Junkers G.31s. Facilties at Lae airfield included a similar crane, sealed surface for the loading Junkers and underground aviation fuel lines. Within    the first year of the Bulolo dredge operation, the Junkers trimotorsflew 20 return flights each week from Lae , each carrying an average load of 5,400 lbs.
It was a great success, allowing Bulolo Gold Dredging Co to commence operations at Bulolo Dredge No.1 during March 1932, followed by Bulolo Dredge No.2 in October that year. It was a complete success, and Guinea Airways was to air deliver the entire structure components for a further six gold dredges, the last in November 1939. Dredges No.5 and 6 required a heavier tumbler shaft weighing a massive 7,550 lbs (3,450 Kg). This was above the payload limit for the G.31 but the Civil Aviation Branch reviewed the request and approved these overload flights.

      During 1933, although Bulolo Gold Dredging Company had no immediate requirement for another G31, their importance to the company's business justified the purchase of an additional aircraft VH-URQ. It was to be held as a back-up in the event of accidents and periods out of service for maintenance with the G31s already in service. The wisdom of this decision was confirmed only a few months after its delivery when VH-UOU suffered serious structural damage in a takeoff accident at Lae and was out of action for 19 months.

      The Guinea Airways Junkers trimotors could lift 16 tons of freight, which allowed a big drop in New Guinea air freight rates, which had to be matched by rival operators like Holdens Air Transport, Stephens Aviation, Mandated Airlines. Roads to the goldfields had not been built and the during the 1930s, the Junkers G31s flew the structures and machinery for a second dredge at Bulolo, also dredges and golf milling plants at Wau, Edie Creek and Golden Ridges, Bulwa. On one occasion, a large consignment of dredge parts arrived unscheduled by ship from Sydney, while several Guinea Airways G31 pilots were on leave in Australia. Ian Grabwosky personally flew 20 round trips Lae-Bulolo over 5 consecutive days in stifling tropical heat to deliver the heavy metal components. A remarkable feat by the pilot, ground cargo handlers, crane operators and machine.

The currugated metal surfaces of the Junkers G31 trimotors can be seen in this view taken from the open roof hatch
of a Guinea Airways G31 at Lae circa 1936. Photo by Bert Heath, via Ben Dannecker collection

Junkers G31 VH-UOU at Lae, having its roof loading hatch lifted off by the steam driven crane mounted on rails.
Photo: Civil Aviation Historical Society

Guinea Airways pilot George Cannon in the left hand seat of a Junkers G31. Neil Follett collection

Junkers G31 cabin. Civil Aviation Historical Society

Aerodrome crane operator's view as a large freight item is lowered through a Junkers G31 roof loading hatch.
Civil Aviation Historical Society

Bulolo No.1 Dredge. All components had been manufactured in Sydney, shipped to Lae, then flown by Junkers G31
trimotors to Bulolo for assembly. Size can be gaged by the man in white overalls bending over on the bottom deck.
Photo: Civil Aviation Historical Society Ian Grabowsky collection

The Junkers Ju 86 airliner

              The delivery of a Junkers Ju 86 eight passenger airliner from Germany in March 1937 was the final Australian pre-war Junkers. Although it may seem to be a surprising aircraft type to bring to Australia for demonstration and hopefully sale, at that time the Ju 86 looked to be a viable all-metal airliner smaller than the DC-2 for services with lower passenger loadings. Australian Transcontinental Airlines proposed using Ju 86s on its Adelaide-Darwin routesand a small Melbourne airline Southern Airlines and Freighters Ltd had big plans to compete with ANA by importing seven Ju 86 airliners. SA&F Director Ian H. Grabowsky had previous flown Junkers aircraft with Guinea Airways in New Guinea.
                  In addition, the two largest Australian airllnes wanted to purchase new generation of all-metal all-weather airliners to replace their fleets of fabric covered British biplanes. Australian National Airways and Airlines of Australia were placing orders for Douglas DC-2s which had lengthy delivery delays. AofA purchased Stinson A trimotors in the interim, and there was concern that the new DC-2s and DC-3s would be too big for the passenger loads offering. The Junkers Ju 86 airliner seemed a good choice to fill a smaller all-metal airliner category. The Royal Australian Air Force was reportedly also interested in the Ju 86, but for what role is unclear.
                  Negotiations by Southern Airlines and Freighters Ltd to finance seven Ju 86s by off-setting partial cost against Australian wool, then in high demand worldwide, came to the attention of prominent Sydney wool broker Mr.E.F.H. Beinssen, who was also German Trade Commissioner. He was able to arrange a barter/exchange deal with Junkers for a Ju 86 demonstrator, paid for by a £23,000 (Australian) shipment of top grade Australian wool. Beinssen had already interested Mr.G.A.Robinson, Managing Director of Airlines iof Australia who agreed to lease the Ju 86 on arrival for evaluation on the AofA Sydney-Brisbane-Townsville route. Beinssen was confident the aircraft would be sold to AofA or one of the the other interested airlines.
                  It was not to be - refer Junkers Ju 86 VH-UYA at the end of the listing below.

After World War II, the sole survivor of the Junkers types listed below still flying was the Junior VH-UCC. It flew with a series of private owners for the next 40 years and lives on today in a German aviation museum. Following WWII the only Junkers aircraft imported were three Ju 52/3m trimotors purchased in 1955 from Sweden by Gibbes Sepik Airways for freight work in New Guinea. Refer Junkers Ju 52 page in this series.

Listing of Australian Junkers aircraft, presented in type order:

Junkers F 13L Mount Wedge VH-UKW

4.29	Built at Dessau by Junkers Flugzeug und Motorwerke A.G. Junkers F 13L, c/n 2044. One 310hp Junkers L5 six cyclinder inline engine.
	Ordered by a newly-formed company Eyre Peninsular Airways Ltd, Adelaide, South Australia The company was registered 2.11.28 in Adelaide with directors J.H.Moate and Albert G.Packer, to operate airline services from Adelaide to South Australian regional towns on Eyre Peninsular.
18.4.29	Swedish CofA was issued in the Luftvardighetsbevis series for aircraft receiving Swedish CofA but no Swedish registration. This was a Junkers arrangement to cover foreign exports while Germany was not a member of ICAN, making German airworthiness certification unacceptable to Australia. Sweden was an ICAN member and Swedish certification was acceptable to the Australian Civil Aviation Branch.
5.29	Shipped from Hamburg to Australia
19.6.29	Arrived Port Melbourne on ship SS Karrnak. Moved by road to Essendon Aerodrome for assembly
25.6.29	Test flown Essendon after assembly, pilot A.E."Pard" Mustar of Guinea Airways, who was highly experienced on Junkers single-engined types.
25.6.29	Registered VH-UKW: Eyre Peninsular Airways Ltd, Adelaide SA
25.6.29	Australian CofA issued
	Named "Mount Wedge" after Mount Wedge Station on Eyre Peninsular, whose owner John Bascomb was the main shareholder in Eyre Peninsular Airways.
9.7.29	Delivered from Melbourne to Adelaide by Pard Mustar. Based Parafield Aerodrome, Adelaide
21.7.29	VH-UKW arrived Port Lincoln from Adelaide on a preliminary survey flight to assess landing grounds around Eyre Peninsular. Pilot was James Mollison, Aero Club of SA instructor, who had been engaged by EPA as its only pilot.
8.29	Commenced scheduled passenger services from Parafield Aerodome, Adelaide, pilot Mollison: Twice weekly: Parafield-Whyalla-Cowell-Port Lincoln-Elliston-Streaky Bay-Parafield
7.1.30	Forced landing Windsor SA due boiling radiator on a hot day, no damage. Pilot Orm Denny was ex RAAF and had been engaged by EPA to replace Jim Mollison
8.1.30	Flew Adelaide-Broken Hill NSW return. Inaugural scheduled new weekly service began 15.1.30.
9.3.30	Forced landing Darkes Peak, Caralue SA when the propeller sheared off in flight at 3,000 feet altitude due to crankshaft failure. Pilot Orm Denny made a long glide to find a suitable clearing to land, selecting a flat farm paddock with only minor damage. Passengers were taken to Adelaide by road.
3.30	Replacement engine installed in situ and aircraft flown out by Denny.
7.30	Eyre Peninsular Airways ceased operations and the company was in liquidation. The Directors blamed increased Government duty of fuel and onerous sales tax requirements. Ownership of VH-UKW was transferred to company Director Mr.J.H.Moate, Adelaide.
30	A new company Goldfields Air Navigation Ltd was formed at the mining town Kalgoorlie WA by Mr.J.H.Moate to take over the assets and organisation of Eyre Peninsular Airways and operate regular air services from Kalgoolie to Wiluna and Esperance.
18.12.30	VH-UKW arrived Kalgoorlie on ferry flight from Parafield, pilot Captain Haddow. After arrival its scarlet paintwork was repainted in silver and black.
7.1.31	Civil Register change of ownership: Goldfields Air Navigation Ltd, Kalgoorlie WA Company Secretary Mr.J.H.Moate
1.31	GAN had planned to commence services from Kalgoorlie from 1 January 1931 but was delayed while waiting for sellected landing grounds to be prepared at Leonora, Wiluna, Norseman, Salmon Gums and Esperance. Company pilot was Captain D.P.Hadow .
2.2.31	Inaugural GAN sheduled service, Kalgoorlie-Wiluna, pilot Stewart E. "Sutty" Sutcliffe. The weekly service was scheduled to connect at Kalgoorlie with the West Australian Airways Perth-Adelaide service, but the GAN service was discontinued after a month due to poor patronage.
20.2.31	VH-UKW arrived at Perth on a charter flight.
23.2.31	Landing at Merredin WA during the return flight from Perth, the tail skid struck a tree stump,wrecking the assembly and severing the rudder control cable, which snapped back into the cockpit injuring pilot S.E.Sutcliffe's leg.
4.31	Pilot G.K.Rice-Davey was engaged by EPA to replace S.E. Sutcliffe who had been employed by West Australian Airways
6.31	Goldfields Air Navigation request CAB approval for the WAA Kalgoorlie-based engineer to sign out maintenance on the Junkers VH-UKW.
24.8.31	Flew a passenger charter from Kalgoorlie to Leonora. Next day flew to Wiluna and Kalgoorlie.
10.31	Goldfields Air Navigation has ceased operations and is in liquidation. Guinea Airways is negotiating the purchase of their only aircraft VH-UKW.
15-20.10.31	VH-UKW ferried from Kalgoorlie to Sydney by Captain Charles Snook, carrying 5 passengers. (Snook was based in Kalgoorlie at that time in charge of two DH.84 Dragons operating a two-year minining aerial survey for Western Mining Co. He later formed Airlines (WA) Ltd at Perth.)
21.10.31	Change of ownership: Guinea Airways Ltd, Lae, New Guinea Fleet Number "Junkers No.6"
	Shipped from Sydney to Lae. Total airframe time on arrival was 890 hours. Accompanied on the ship by pilot Orm Denny who had been engaged by Guinea Airways. Overhaul by Guinea Airways at Lae before entering service, retained passenger seating to be used to operate a planned new service linking the goldfields with the capital city Port Moresby. Denny surveyed the route in a Fox Moth on 29.2.32, recording possible forced landing sites.
23.3.32	VH-UKW operated the inaugural scheduled service Port Moresby-Wau, pilots Orm Denny and Frank Drayton. The service was three-weekly to connect with the coastal mail steamer ship from Australia. Average flying time was 2 hours.
5.32	CAB inspection report: airframe time now 1,031 hours
28.9.32	Frank Drayton & Orm Denny made the first landing at a newly constructed strip at Kokoda carrying supplies for American mining engineer J.Ward Williams. Followed by many supply runs to Kokoda.
30.9.32	Inaugural official airmail service Port Moresby-Wau carrying mail transferred from boat from Australia, pilot Frank Drayton.
10.32	Extended overhaul by Guinea Airways at Lae during which the Junkers L5 engine was replaced by an uncowled 425 hp Bristol Jupiter VI 9-cylinder radial to improve performance and for standardisation with Guinea's other singe-engined Junkers.
1.12.32	Returned to service after overhaul.
2.12.33	While operating a second Port Moresby-Wau service that day, flown by Orm Denny with newly-arrived pilot Aub Koch, caught in cloud and attempted to return to Port Moresby. After 3 hours with fuel state low, Denny saw a gap in the cloud and made a landing on a hard sand beach near Kukipi without damage. Denny and two passengers set off on foot to find help, found a disabled launch in which they reached Port Moresby that same evening. The Junkers was flown out the next day.
	Following the Kukipi forced landing, an extra fuel tank was installed to increase endurance by an hour.
11.35	Completed overhaul at Lae by Guinea Airways during which the 425hp Bristol Jupiter was replaced by an uncowled 525 hp P&W R-1690 Hornet A2 9-cylinder radial engine. Total airframe time now 2,371 hours
11.11.37	Damaged when swung violently during landing at Slate Creek, New Guinea. Pilot Syd N.Wiltshire
15.10.38	Undercarriage collapsed landing Salamaua. Pilot W.J.Robins
26.8.39	Crashed at Narakapor, near Nadzab, New Guinea due to engine failure. Pilot Les H. Ross
	Wreckage transported to Lae where stored in a Guinea Airways hangar pending rebuild. Total airframe time 4,846 hours
17.1.42	CofA renewed at Lae after rebuild
21.1.42	Destroyed by Japanese air raid on Lae Aerodrome which demolished the Guines Airways base and parked aircraft.
	Note: several souces quote VH-UKW as the derelict Junkers which remained at Alexischhafen Mission until the 1980s, but that was VH-UIW.

This and the following picture show Eyre Peninsular Airways' VH-UKW visiting Yorktown SA during 1929-1930.
Geoff Goodall collection

Forrest WA, probably during VH-UKW's ferry flight from Adelaide to Kalgoorlie in late 1930. Behind at left is the
West Australian Airways hostel for overnighting passengers on the WAA Adelaide-Perth DH.66 Hercules services.
Nigel Daw collection

VH-UKW with Goldfields Air Navigation on a service to Esperance WA in 1931, using Pink Lake as a landing ground.
The pilot is leaning out of the the opened right cockpit window. Photo via Nicholas Kleinig

Two views of VH-UKW being barged ashore at Lae after being shipped from Sydney for Guinea Airways.
Both courtesy of the Civil Aviation Historical Society Ian Grabowsky collection

VH-UKW in New Guinea during 1932, still with the Junkers L-5 in-line engine and passenger seating.
Civil Aviation Historical Society

Now re-engined by Guinea Airways with a Bristol Jupiter radial. Alan Bovelt collection

At Guinea Airways' base Lae airfield, cabin windows have now been covered. South Australian Aviation Museum

Junkers F 13L Glorious Queensland VH-UPL

.30	Built at Dessau by Junkers Flugzeug und Motorwerke A.G. Junkers F 13L, c/n 2075 One 460hp Armstong Siddeley Jaguar 14 cylinder two row radial engine without cowlings
	Leased from Junkers by Bishop and O'Sullivan Aircraft Service, trading as Sky Travel Pty Ltd, Brisbane Queensland
	Sky Travel Pty Ltd, Brisbane was registered in Queensland, and had no connection with Sky Travel Ltd at Sydney which was formed in January 1928 by partners Ruppert King (flying instructor) and George Mills (Dentist with pilot licence). Both companies went out of business around the same time due to the slump in demand because of the 1930s Depression.
	The Queensland Sky Travel Pty Ltdc was formed by Messrs T.H.Bishop and M.O'Sullivan, both Brisbane insurance assessors who had previously had hired light aircraft to travel for insurance work. First aircraft was DH.60 Moth G-AUGH, which was mostly used for joyriding. During 1929 it was painted with "Wunda" under the wings to advertise Wunda Wax floor polish and flown on tours of Queensland towns by company pilot T.R."Tommy" Young. He had been employed in December 1928, having previously been a ground engineer with Qantas at Longreach and Archerfield. For a period during 1929 the Moth was fitted with neon tubes under the wings to spell out "Wunda" and flown at night over Brisbane by Young. Second aircraft was a three seater Simmons Spartan VH-UMP purchased newin December 1929.
	: "Sky Travel then leased, in November 1930 the Junkers F13L VH-UPL. This was a five passenger aircraft fitted with a 14 cylinder Jaguar engine. It had seating for two pilots out in the weather in an open cockpit. I wasn't a very comfortable aeroplane to fly because you had no shelter but at the time it was the most modern aeroplane in the country. It was fitted with extra instruments for night flying and landing lights and search lights. In the cabin you could walk behind the rear seat to a lavatory at the back. Lavatories in aircraft were unheard of in those days."
	Swedish CofA was issued in the Luftvardighetsbevis series for aircraft receiving Swedish CofA but no Swedish registration. This was a Junkers arrangement to cover foreign exports while Germany was not a member of ICAN, making German airworthiness certification unacceptable to Australia. Sweden was an ICAN member and Swedish certification was acceptable to the Australian Civil Aviation Branch.
	Shipped to Australia on board SS Tancred
28.10.30	Arrived Port Melbourne. Unloaded and moved to Essendon Aerodrome for assembly. Australian Junkers agent Major H.J.Berryman had arranged for former Junkers engineers Gustav Mueller now with Guinea Airways and Carl Isler who was to maintain VH-UPL during its lease, to be in Melbourne to carry out the assembly. With their experience, assembly took less than two days.
	Former Junkers test pilot Captain Walter Rothe was staying at Major Berryman's home in Melbourne at the time, following his misadventures in New Guinea flying the F.13 VH-UIW - see below.
1.11.30	Test flown Essendon by Walter Rothe
2.11.30	Walter Rothe checked out Sky Travel's pilot Captain T.R.Young on the aircraft. (Rothe then returned home to Germany)
6.11.30	Registered VH-UPL: Sky Travel Pty Ltd, Brisbane QLD
6.11.30	Australian CofA issued
15.11.30	Departed Essendon on delivery flight to Brisbane, flown by Captain Young and carrying Junkers engineer Carl Isler. Reached Archerfield Aerodrome, Brisbane 18.11.30. (Isler was to stay on in Australia after the VH-UPL lease and join Guinea Airways)
11.30	VH-UPL was named Glorious Queensland in a ceremony at Archerfield.
	Tom Young later recalled: "It was the most beautiful aeroplane to fly and you could side-slip or do anything with it. It did however have a nasty habit of ground-looping because of loss of rudder control due to blanketing and the Jaguar engine wasn't very reliable. I had four force landings due engine trouble. We used the Junkers on joyriding between the airline runs."
	Sky Travel proposed to use the Junkers to operate scheduled airline services: Brisbane-Toowoomba-Goondiwindi-St George Brisbane-Toowoomba-Kingaroy-Murgon-Nanango-Wandai-Goomeri-Mundubbera
21.11.30	Captain T.R.Young flew VH-UPl Brisbane-Goondiwindi to promote the planned air service. The town had no airfield so a salt pan near town was used to conduct joy flights.
22.11.30	Flew to St George where Young landed on the town racecourse.
29.11.30	Sky Travel commenced airline services Brisbane-Goondiwindi-St George. On board for the inaugural flight were politicians, a newspaper reporter and company Director T.H.Bishop. Services commenced on other routes including Maroochydore
6.12.20	Flew Brisbane-Maryborough where conducted joyrides (total 125 passengers)
26-27.12.20	Joyrides from a new landing gound at Maroochydore (total 304 passengers)
2.31	Sky Travel Ptyy Ltd ceased scheduled services because ofpoor poor patronage. Final service to Maroochydore 10.1.31, Kingaroy 17.1.31 and St George 11.2.31.
15.2.31	Final joyriding session, conducted at Eagle Farm airfield, Brisbane.
	VH-UPL was retired at Archerfield. The Lease from Junkers was terminated.
27.8.31	Tom Young departed Archerfield on a ferry flight to Melbourne with engineer Carl Isler, to return the aircraft to Junkers agent Major Berryman.
	Berryman arranged a enroute demonstration to Lismore motor dealer George A. Robinson, founder and Managing Director of New England Airways operating Sydney-Lismore-Brisbane scheduled services with a Ryan B.1 and DH.80 Puss Moth but planning to purchase Avro 10s. Young landed at Lismore to collect Mr.Robinson who accompanied him to Sydney.
28.8.31	Forced landing at Illabo NSW (near Junee) because of engine magneto problems while flying in poor weather. The magneto drive problem was rectified and the flight continued to Melbourne.
	Dismantled at Essendon and packed for shipping by engineer Carl Isler
	Shipped to South Africa
6.32	Registered ZS-ADR Union Airways Pty Ltd, Durban, South Africa
.34	Change of name to South African Airways when the SA Government took over Union Airways
c40	ZS-ADR was impressed by South African Air Force as serial 1429
	Fate unknown
	Compiler's comment: aviation historians have sometimes questioned why this aircraft was exported rather than being purchased by Guinea Airways, an enthusiastic Junkers operator. The answer probably lies in the financial reality that by the time Junkers agreed to end the lease of VH-UPL and sell it within Australia, Guinea Airways had just negotiated the purchase of Junkers F13 VH-UKW from the defunct Goldfields Air Navigation Co at a business liquidation low price.

VH-UPL at Essendon in November 1930 after assembly, Air Travel titles on the nose.. Civil Aviation Historical Society

In South Africa in service with Union Airways, forerunner of South African Airways

Junkers F 13ke Papua VH-UTS

	Built at Dessau by Junkers Flugzeug und Motorwerke A.G. Junkers F 13ke, c/n 2074. One 310hp Junkers L5 six cylinder inline engine.
22.8.30	Registered G-ABDC Personal Flying Services Ltd, Heston Aerodorme, London
22.8.30	Delivered via Rotterdam to Croydon Aerodrome, London
23.8.30	British CofA issued
10.4.33	Change of ownership Brooklands Airways Ltd, Brooklands Aerodrome, Surrey
34	The Neuendettelsau Lutheran Mission in New Guines had mission stations at Nadzab, Kaiapit, Amari, Kambaidam, Mumeng and Boana and keeping them supplied overland was difficult. It was decided an aeroplane was needed. The Board of Lutheran Missions at Neuendettelsau, Bavaria approached Junkers, which offered a second-hand Junkers F13 fully overhauled in perfect condition. The purchase price was raised by New Guinea missionaries and evangelists deducting sums from their monthly allowances.
12.34	Registered in Sweden SE-AEC Lutheran Mission Germany This Swedish registration was a clerical exercise to obtain a Swedish CofA to satisfy the Australian authorities. Swedish CofAs for earlier Junkers imports had not required a Certificate of Registration, but such earlier arrangements had probably ceased since Hitler's National Socialists Party had come to power in Germany.
8.12.34	Shipped from Hamburg
19.2.35	Arrived Lae by ship, accompanied by former Lufthana Captain Fritz Loose, who had signed a two year contract to fly the Junkers for the New Guinea mission. He was a WW1 German fighter pilot who had been banned from airline flying in Germany because of his personal disagreement with policies of Hitler's Nazi Government. A German engineer followed.
	Junkers was erected at Lae aerodrome by Guinea Airways assisted by Fritz Loose. Fitted with 4 passenger seats on arrival.
28.2.35	First test flight at Lae by Fritz Loose
7.3.35	Registered VH-UTS Lutheran Mission, Finschhafen, New Guinea Named "Papua" which was painted in white on the black nose cowling
7.3.35	Australian CofA issued. Fitted with 6 passenger seats, easily removable for freight.
17.4.35	Dedication ceremony for the Junkers and its crew was held at Heldsbach airfield at the Finschhafen Lutheran Mission headquarters.
	Junkers was at first based at Lae airfield but in May 1935 moved to a new airfield built on mission land a short distance away at Malahang. It had a busy schedule flying supplies and personnel between the outstation missions which had cleared basic airstrips. The engineer accompanied the pilot on all flights.
3.36	Aircraft inspection report: total airframe time: 879 hours
	Fritz Loose returned to Germany in February 1938: he had flown a total of 280 tons of freight and many passengers in VH-UTS without serious problems. He was replaced by Werner Garms, a young German national with limited flying experience, who spoke little English.
11.3.38	Damaged, heavy landing and ran off Kundiawa airstrip Chimbu. Pilot Werner Garms unhurt.
	The Junkers L5 engine gave inadequate performance for New Guinea flying. DCA received a report that mission pilot Garms and aircraft engineer Paul Raabe intend to change the engine on VH-UTS to a P&W Wasp radial salvaged from Sikorsky S-38B VH-UZE which crashed and sank landing on the Kikori River on 27.12.37. DCA sent a letter to the Lutheran Mission reminding them of Departmental requirements before a change of engine could be approved. No reply, nothing further in DCA file. However it is reported that the mission purchased two P&W Hornet engines.
11.38	While Garms was away on leave, a relief pilot Captain Habenstein badly damaged VH-UTS when he lost control during on his first familiarisation flight at Malahang airfield, Lae.
2.39	Returned to service after repair at Lae airfield. Guinea Airways allowed the Junker's engineer Paul Raabe to use a Guinea Airways workshop hangar for his rebuild, labour provided by mission staff.
9.39	With the outbreak of war in Europe on 1 September 1939 and Australia's declaration of war against Germany, Werner Garms and Paul Raabe were anxious to avoid being interned. The pair had flown VH-UTS on a routine supply run from Malahang strip, Lae to Ogelbeng Lutheran Mission station near Mount Hagen. They decided to steal the Junkers to fly out of Australian territory then make their way back to Germany to join the Luftwaffe.
5.9.39	Garms and Raabe flew VH-UTS from Mount Hagen to Edie Creek airfield where they topped up fuel from the Lutheran Mission fuel stocks. They tnen flew to Merauke, Dutch New Guinea. After landing at Merauke Aerodrome, the pair abandoned the aircraft and stealthily made their way into town.
	Garms and Raabe managed to get themselves on a ship for Japan (German ally), then by Trans Siberian railway across Russia back to Germany. Werner Garms joined the Luftwaffe and was promoted to rank Oberleutenant when he was posted missing in a Ju 88 over the Crimea region on 1 March 1942.
14.9.39	VH-UTS Struck-off Australian Register (back-dated when DCA became aware of the defection)
	Fate of aircraft after abandoned at Merauke unknown

G-ABDC while in service with Personal Flying Services in England circa 1932

VH-UTS after the landing accident at Chimbu in March 1938. Name "Papua" can be seen on the engne cowling.
Photo: Civil Aviation Historical Society

Junkers W 33 The Lady Lettie VH-UIW

29	Built under licence by Junkers' Swedish subsidiary company AB Flygindustri at Linhamm, Malmo. Junkers W 33, c/n 2575. One 310hp Junkers L5 six cyclinder inline engine.
23.12.29	Swedish CofA was issued in the Luftvardighetsbevis series for aircraft receiving Swedish CofA but no Swedish registration. This was a Junkers arrangement to cover foreign exports while Germany was not a member of ICAN, making German airworthiness certification unacceptable to Australia. Sweden was an ICAN member and Swedish certification was acceptable to the Australian Civil Aviation Branch.
	Shipped from Hamburg to Australia on board SS Mosel, accompanied by Junkers test pilot Walter Rothe. Also on board was Junkers W33 VH-UNR which was off-loaded at Sydney. At that time few large ships called at New Guinea due to low demand because of the limited development.
7.2.30	Arrived Port Melbourne on board SS Mosel. Moved to RAAF Point Cook for assembly
26.2.30	CAB Inspection Report at RAAF Point Cook after assembly, fitted with floats
	Test flown by Walter Rothe from Point Cook slipway, later water handling trialks at St Kilda Beach, Melbourne by owner G.L.Bond
8.2.30	Registered VH-UIW: James S.Taylor and Godfrey L.Bond, Salamaua, New Guinea Fitted as a floatplane, named "The Lady Lettie"
26.2.30	Australian CofA issued
3.3.30	Departed Point Cook on delivery flight to New Guinea, flown by Walter Rothe accompanied by the owners J.S.Taylor and G.L. Bond who were triained on the aircraft enroute. They were farewelled by Australian Junkers agent Major Berriman.
7.3.30	Arrived Cairns, moored opposite the Strand Hotel for the night
12.3.30	Reached Salamaua
23.4.30	CAB Inspection Report at Salamaua, New Guinea, had been fitted with land undercarriage on arrival
	The Junkers J-5 engine required servicing every 200 flying hours and the aircraft was unprofitable against the Guinea Airways Junkers W34s with British radial engines. Legal action against Junkers and the Junkers pilot Walter Rothe, resulted in Rothe being awarded £522 in back wages. This led to the desolving of the Taylor and Bond partnership and the seizing of the aircraft by the Sheriff. G.L. Bond paid off the debt and retained ownership of the aircraft.
12.30	Operated on a hire arrangement by Ray Parer trading as Pacific Aerial Transport Ltd, Wau. It replaced PAT's DH.9 VH-UFS while out of service for overhaul. Parer was a popular character and flew the Junkers on charters to the New Guinea goldfields
1.2.31	Change of ownership: Pacific Aerial Transport Ltd, Wau, New Guinea c/o Ray Parer
15.6.31	Test flown Salamaua after maintenance, pilot Ray Parer. Total airframe time 502 hrs
30.8.31	Test flown Salamaua after maintenance, pilot Les Ross. Total airframe time 866 hrs
16.6.32	CofA expired. CAB Melbourne wrote to PAT advising CofA would not be renewed until the company complied with CAB reuests for engineer's certification regarding a taiplane modification using parts despatched from Junkers.
4.10.32	Emergency landing without damage at Salamaua airfield after engine failed at 2,000 feet inbound from Port Moresby, pilot Ray Parer. Fuel tanks were found to be empty.
18.10.32	Damaged during takeoff Wau airfield. A swing to the right could not be corrected by pilot Ray Parer, who shut down the engine as the aircraft ran off the strip and struck the Pacific Aerial Transport hangar at a slow speed. Metal skin on the leading edges of both wings were badly damaged. No injuries but serious damage to hangar and office, although PAT's Fokker FVII VH-UQF inside the hangar was unscathed.
11.32	CAB Melbourne recommended legal action against PAT and pilot Ray Parer for commercial operation of VH-UIW without a valid CofA. However CAB later accepted PAT's explanation of misunderstandings combined with two month delays to letters because of shipping schedules from Australia.
9.33	PAT Manager, Kevin Parer (Ray's brother) wrote to CAB Melbourne detailing their efforts to engage a licenced ground engineer to sign off the repair of VH-UIW's wings. Qualified men worked for Guinea Airways, which would not allow them to certify the repair job because PAT was a competitor. The repairs have been amost completed but they are unable to have the work approved.
4.5.35	Ready for CAB inspection after more extensive repairs had been completed, including cabin floor, installation of Junkers tailplane modification and engine overhaul.As a concession, CAB approved the work to be certified by an engineer with Junkers experience but without the required level of licence.
27.6.35	CofA renewal inspection at Wau. Test flown by Kevin Parer. Total airframe time 1,700 hrs
28.6.35	Restored to Register as VH-UIW. CofA renewed same day.
17.3.36	Badly damaged when starboard undercarriage leg collapsed during takeoff at Wau. Aircraft swung during takeoff roll, causing a strut of the undercarriage to fail as it became airborne with the strut hanging free. Pilot Kevin Parer was unaware and continued his flght. A W.R.Carpenter pilot immediately took off in his Fox Moth to chase him and guide him back to Wau. Parer made a gentle landing but the airframe was badly damaged.
27.6.36	CofA lapsed. PAT advised CAB that the aircraft is out of service at Wau pending an overhaul at that time and a new application will be made when work is completed.
27.6.36	Struck-off Register
1.10.36	Change of ownership: Mandated Airlines Ltd, Salamaua New Guinea W.R.Carpenter Co/Mandated Airlines took over PAT, including PAT aircraft Junkers VH-UIW, DH.50 VH-UEK and DH.60 VH-ULE.
21.1.37	Mandated Airlines Ltd requested CAB to renew the Certificate of Registration for VH-UIW to cover a ferry flight from Wau to to MAL's base Salamaua for rebuild. The rebuild is expected to take until May 1937
	Departmental file ends. No indication in the file that the CofR was renewed, or that the ferry flight or rebuild took place.

c39	Moved to Catholic Mission, Alexishafen, New Guinea. How it got from Wau to Alexishafen and for what purpose is a mystery. It is assumed the fuselage was moved by Junkers G31 and the wings carried overland by native teams. The dismantled Junkers was left at the mission airfield Danip along with a P&W Wasp radial engine. .
1.43	During WWII, Japanese Army forces occupied Alexishafen and used Danip airstrip for fighters. The damaged Junkers was of no value and was left at the side of the airfield.
4.44	Australian Army regained control of Danip airfield and found the Junkers and the crated P&W Wasp engine. Airframe left in situ, where it was soon covered in jungle growth.
1964	Remains of VH-UIW still at Danip airfield, which was now disused and taken over by jungle. Fuselage was mounted on fuel drums, all cabin and cockpit fittings had been stripped. Tears to the skin and structural damage was clearly visible, assumed to be from Kevin Parer's Wau landing accident 17.3.36.
82	Unmoved at Danip strip. A part plate was located "Junkers W33 Z82061 part 4513"
c84	National Museum, Port Moresby modern history director Bruce Hoy arranged for a party from the Papua New Guinea Defence Force Air Transport Squadron based in Lae to salvage the fuselage. The outer wings and tailplane had been removed many years earlier.
11.85	Fuselage was noted at Lae Airport, at the TAA hangar.
	Bruce Hoy's hopes of moving the fuselage to the National Museum at Port Moresby to join salvaged wartime wrecks were unfulfilled. The fate of the Junkers fuselage is unknown.

VH-UIW as a floatplane during water trials at St Kilda beach Melbourne February 1930.
This and the following picture came from Junkers agent H.J.Berryman, courtesy his grandson Hugh Batters.

Refuelling at Hamilton on the Brisbane River during the 1930 delivery flight from Melbourne to New Guinea

Pacific Aerial Transport's VH-UIW in New Guinea on wheels, Ray Parer (left) and his brother Kevin Parer.

Although the circumstances involving the grounded VH-UIW being moved to the Alexishafen Catholic Mission remain
unknown, this and the next picture show a wing being carried by natives and the fuselage at the mission airstrip.
Photos: Civil Aviatiion Historical Society Ian Graboswsky collection

Confusion over the identity of the Junkers wreck at Alexischhafen can be clarified by this picture clearly showing VH-UIW.

The full fuselage was exposed from jungle growth in this photo during the 1960s. Ben Dannecker collection

Left side covered by spreading jungle Alexishafen, New Guinea circa 1975.
This and the previous picture show torn metal skinning below the engine mounts on both sides.

Junkers W 33/34f VH-UOX, A44-2

	Built under licence by Junkers' Swedish subsidiary company AB Flygindustri at Linhamm, Malmo Junkers W 33/34f, c/n 2702 One 420hp Bristol Jupiter VI radial engine uncowled
	Ordered new by Guinea Airways Ltd, Lae, Territory of Papua New Guinea
1.11.30	Swedish CofA was issued in the Luftvardighetsbevis series for aircraft receiving Swedish CofA but no Swedish registration. This was a Junkers arrangement to cover foreign exports while Germany was not a member of ICAN, making German airworthiness certification unacceptable to Australia. Sweden was an ICAN member and Swedish certification was acceptable to the Australian Civil Aviation Branch.
	Swedish CofA form erroneously quoted c/n as "1368" which was a production batch number. The Australian Civil Aviation Branch used 1368 as this aircraft's identity.
	Shipped from Hamburg to New Guinea on board SS Temerairie, which also carried Junkers G.31 VH-UOU. They were accompanied by Guinea Airways engineer Gustav Mueller who had been receiving training on the G.31 at the Junkers works.
29.12.30	SS Temerairie arrived Lae. Both Junkers were unloaded and moved to Lae airfield for assembly by Guinea Airways Ltd.
9.1.31	Test flown at Lae after assembly. Civil Aviation Branch, Melbourne gave approval to commence operations pending formal certification.
1.31	Undercarriage collapsed during landing at Bulolo, pilot Bob Gurney
18.2.31	Crashed Bulolo during landing, swung off strip demolishing the undercarriage. Serious damage but pilot E.F.Selk was unhurt. Repair on site supervised by Guinea Airways engineer Sid Marshall.
25.3.31	Registered VH-UOX: Guinea Airways Ltd, Lae, New Guinea. Quoted identity "1368". Fleet Number "Junkers 5"
25.3.31	Australian CofA issued. Clerical exercise by CAB Melbourne: the aircraft at that time was in fact far from airworthy, undergoing repair from the 18.2.31 accident.
11.31	Returned to service after major rebuikd
6.34	Bristol Jupiter engine replaced by P&W Hornet radial engine.
3.35	Commenced several month's aerial survey and supply work, flown by Aubrey Koch on charter to the British Papuan Concessions Ltd expedition searching for gold. Took part in the aerial search for expedition pilot Stuart Campbell when he went missing in his Short Scion floatplane G-ACUX along the Fly River during July 1935
25.5.36	Damaged landing at Slate Creek, New Guinea, rolled into creek after landing. Pilot Geoff Hemsworth
10.9.36	Port undercarriage collapsed landing at Slate Creek, New Guinea, pilot Aub Koch
12.4.37	Starboard undercarriage collapsed while taxying at Lae, pilot Les Ross
8.9.38	Tailplane damaged at Salamaua, struck by landing Guinea Airways DH.83 Fox Moth VH-UQU flown by Eric Chater. The Fox Moth had skidded on wet boggy surface.
14.1.39	Damaged landing at Lae, port undercarriage collapsed during landing roll, pilot Norman D.Fader
9.2.39	Crashed during landing at Wau, struck rough ground on airfield when engine failed on approach. Pilot W.John Robins unhurt.
17.10.40	Starboard undercarriage collapsed landing at Dumpu, Ramu Valley, New Guinea, pilot Leslie H.Ross
12.41	Took part of air evacuation of civilians from Finschhafen to Lae ahead of Japanese advances
1.42	Took part of air evacuation of civilians from Lae and Wau
7.2.42	Impressed by Australian Government for RAAF use.
5.3.42	Taken on RAAF strength as A44-2. Received No.24 Squadron Townsville ex Guinea Airways. (24 Squadron operated Hudsons and Wirraways and had been recalled to Townsville from Rabaul after losing 8 Wirraways to enemy action at Rabaul during February 1942)
17.4.42	Now with No.33 Squadron Townsville. Allotted Guinea Airways Parafield Aerodrome, Adelaide for overhaul ex 33 Squadron (33 Squadron was established in February 1942 at Townsville as a transport unit to operate ex-Qantas Short Empire flying boats to carry military supplies to New Guinea and bring back wounded servicemen. Initially it also had an assortment of landplanes: Dragons, Tiger Moths, Ansons)
9.5.42	Unserviceable at 33 Squadron
22.5.42	Awaiting shipment to Mackay
30.5.42	Shipped to Port Adelaide on SS Allana.
	Overhaul by Guinea Airways Ltd at the airline's Adelaide base at Parafield Aerodrome.
10.11.42	Received No.1 Aircraft Depot Laverton ex Guinea Airways, Parafield
12.11.42	A44-2 and A44-3 (VH-UNM) held by 1AD unservicable for indefinite period
16.6.43	Approval for conversion to components by 1AD Laverton
	Engine and useful parts removed then broken-up for scrap metal.

VH-UOX in service in New Guinea, showing its corrugated aluminium surfaces Ed Coates Collection

This view shows the P&W Hornet radial engine installation. Fred Niven collection

VH-UOX with a gathering of New Guinea tribesmen Ben Dannecker collection

Accident scene at Slate Creek after the port undercarriage collapsed 10 September 1936, pilot Aub Koch was unhurt
and went on to fly Short Empire flying boats for Qantas. Photo: South Austraklian Aviation Museum

Dismantled at Slate Creek ready to be transported to Lae for repair. Fred Niven collection

Junkers W 34b G-AUGZ, VH-UGZ

	Built under licence by Junkers' Swedish subsidiary company AB Flygindustri at Linhamm, Malmo. Junkers W 34b, c/n 2601 One 420hp Bristol Jupiter VI radial engine uncowled
	Ordered by Guinea Airways Ltd, Lae, Territory of Papua New Guinea
24.12.27	Registered in Germany as D-1294 Junkers Flugzeugwerke A.G.
12.27	Guinea Airways senior pilot E.A. "Pard" Mustar visited the Junkers works at Dassau to test fly the aircraft and finalise payment. He made several flights to confirm that the aircraft could lift a ton of payload, as per Guinea Airways specification.
12.27	Purchase included landplane undercarriage and a set of floats which were packed in wooden cases with the dismantled aircraft for shipping
12.27	Swedish CofA was issued in the Luftvardighetsbevis series for aircraft receiving Swedish CofA but no Swedish registration. This was a Junkers arrangement to cover foreign exports while Germany was not a member of ICAN, making German airworthiness certification unacceptable to Australia. Sweden was an ICAN member and Swedish certification was acceptable to the Australian Civil Aviation Branch.
1.28	Shipped ex Hamburg to Rabaul, New Britain.
20.3.28	Ship reached Rabaul.
	Assembled with floats on the beach at Rabaul.
20.3.28	Registered G-AUGZ Guinea Airways Ltd, Salamaua, later Lae, New Guinea
10.4.28	Test flown on floats at Rabaul by Pard Mustar
11.4.28	Departed Rabaul on floats on delivery to Guinea Airways' base at Lae, flown by Pard Mustar acompanied by Guinea Airways engineer E.R.Chambers. Reached Salamaua that day after a stop enroute at Lindenhafen harbour, New Britain to refuel from fuel drums carried on board.
12.4.28	Salamaua-Lae. Mustar brought the floatplane on to the beach at the end of the Lae airstrip. The wings were removed, floats replaced by the landplane undercarriage. The aircraft was then moved on its wheels to the aistrip where the wings were reattached.
14.4.28	First commercial flight, Pard Mustar carried 2,300 lbs freight and 2 passengers to Wau.
12.28	By the end of the year G-AUGZ had carried over 500 passengers and 300 tons of freight, earning revenue that saved Guinea Airways from shutting down following the loss of its earlier biplanes.
1.29	Having made 400 flights, commenced a major inspection at Lae by Junkers engineer Gustav Mueller, who was seconded to Guinea Airways. Replaced in service by W.34 G-AUJD which had just arrived at Lae.
.29	Reregistered VH-UGZ when Australian aircraft nationality markings changed to VH- . Junkers Fleet No.1
12.29	Damaged when swung violently during landing at Wau in heavy mist. Pilot E.F.Selk.
2.30	Flew a 400 lbs (180 Kg) metal casting to Wau to prove Guinea Airways' capability to fly in suitably dismanted components to assemble heavy gold mining machinery at the highlands goldfields.
6.3.30	Crashed on landing approach to Wau, New Guinea. Aircraft stalled on approach to land while carrying a full load of bottled beer to the Wau Hotel. Came to rest vertically, nose down among tall trees, pilot Rex Boyden minor injuries.
30.6.30	Stuck-off Civil Register

G-AUGZ on floats at Lae or Salamaua, prior having the Australian registration applied.
The aircraft's identity is confirmed by this enlargement of the tail showing c/n (Werk Nummer) 2601
Charles D. Pratt photographs courtesy Kevin O'Reilly collection

G-AUGZ at Lae now fitted with landplane undercarriage, but prior to having the Australian registration applied.
Photo by Charles D. Pratt, whose DH.60 Moth G-AUHJ can be seen in the hangar behind.

Photo by New Guine patrol officer Steve Cottingham

Junkers W 34b G-AUJD, VH-UJD

.28	Built under licence by Junkers' Swedish subsidiary company AB Flygindustri at Linhamm, Malmo. Junkers W 34b, c/n 2604 One 425 hp Bristol Jupiter VI radial engine uncowled
6.28	Ordered by Guinea Airways Ltd, Lae. New Guinea
	Swedish CofA was issued in the Luftvardighetsbevis series for aircraft receiving Swedish CofA but no Swedish registration. This was a Junkers arrangement to cover foreign exports while Germany was not a member of ICAN, making German airworthiness certification unacceptable to Australia. Sweden was an ICAN member and Swedish certification was acceptable to the Australian Civil Aviation Branch.
	Shipped to Australia, unloaded in Melbourne. At that time few large ships called at New Guinea due to low demand because of the limited development.
11.28	Assembled at RAAF Point Cook, near Melbourne and fitted with the floats previously used by G-AUGZ. The floats set had been shipped from Lae to to Melbourne for this second Junkers.
4.12.28	Registered G-AUJD: Guinea Airways Ltd, Lae, New Guinea Fleet Number "Junkers No.2"
13.12.28	Departed Point Cook for a 6 day delivery flight to New Guinea as a floatplane, flown by Guinea Airways senior pilot E.A. Pard Mustar, with company engineer A.C.McMurtrie . Mustar took a coastal route, landing on sheltered waters to refuel from small fuel drums carried in the aircraft's cargo hold: Sydney (Rose Bay),Southport, Gladstone, Bowen, Cooktown, Thursday Island, Daru, Port Moresby, Samarai. Reached Lae 21.12.28
21.12.28	On arrival Lae the floats were quickly removed and replaced by landplane undercarriage. Civil Aviation Branch, Melbourne cabled approval to commence operations.
19.12.28	Australian CofA issued. Issued retrospectively several months later by CAB in Melbourne, based on receipt of a Guinea Airways engineer's inspection report on arrival at Lae. At that time CAB had no staff stationed in New Guinea and mail to Australia was carried by sea.
11.29	Minor damage landing Upper Watut, pilot E.F. Selk
.29	Reregistered VH-UJD when Australian aircraft nationality markings changed to VH- .
28.4.30	CAB inspection report at Lae, total airframe time 1265 hours.
17.1.31	Badly damaged when undercarriage collapsed during landing at Bulolo New Guinea. Pilot C.R. Gurney unhurt.
	Damaged aircraft was dismantled into sections which were flown to Lae as back-loading by the Junkers G31s. The wings, which would not fit througn the G31 roof loading hatch, were carried by native labourers overland to Lae. Rebuild commenced in the Guinea Airways hangar at Lae airfield but abandoned because of the extent of damage.
2.11.31	Last entry in DCA file: Guinea Airways Lae letter to CAB Melbourne: "VH-UJD is not at present in use but is being rebuilt and is expected to be finished about the end of December. As soon as this is done we shall re-apply for a renewal of the Certificate of Airwhorthiness. "
	Damage was beyond economical repair at Lae. Used for spare parts.

Loading fuel drums through VH-UJD's roof hatch at Wau. Civil Aviation Historical Society Ian Grabowski collection

Junkers W 34d VH-UNM, A44-3

.29	Built under licence by Junkers' Swedish subsidiary company AB Flygindustri at Linhamm, Malmo. Junkers W 34d, c/n 2610 One 420hp Bristol Jupiter VI radial engine uncowled
	Ordered new by Guinea Airways Ltd, Lae, Territory of Papua New Guinea Airframe with fittings for a Jupiter engine, but engine not included in purchase.
27.8.29	Swedish CofA was issued in the Luftvardighetsbevis series for aircraft receiving Swedish CofA but no Swedish registration. This was a Junkers arrangement to cover foreign exports while Germany was not a member of ICAN, making German airworthiness certification unacceptable to Australia. Sweden was an ICAN member and Swedish certification was acceptable to the Australian Civil Aviation Branch.
	Shipped to New Guinea. Shipping schedules now allowed it to be unloaded at Lae harbour
12.29	Assembled at Lae by Guinea Airways. Civil Aviation Branch in Melbourne cabled approval to commence flying pending formal certification
6.12.29	Entered service at Lae
5.1.30	Undercarriage collapsed on landing at Wau, major damage, pilot E.F.Selk
5.3.30	Registered VH-UNM Guinea Airways Ltd, Lae, New Guinea Fleet Number "Junkers No.3"
5.3.30	Australian CofA issued. 8 passenger seats or freighter
26.9.30	Swung violently during landing at Lae, undercarriage wrecked, pilot Frank Dayton. Repaired in 8 days
7.10.30	Frank Dayton flew VH-UNM to Bulolo to collect Guinea Airways pilot W.P.Wiltshire who had crashed DH.60 Moth VH-UHJ while landing there in strong winds.
26.2.31	Forced landing on grassed area near Snake River, no airframe damage, pilot Bob Gurney. Aircraft was out of service for 10 days until the engine was repaired and flown out.
8.32	Modified from freighter to passenger cabin at Lae: seating for 8 passengers and cabin windows installed. Replaced Junkers F.13 VH-UKW during an overhaul and engine change. VH-UNM flew the Port Moresby-Wau scheduled service and many passenger charters betwen the goldfields and Port Moresby.
6.2.33	Damaged in forced landing near Lae when engine failed. Pilot Orm Denny unhurt
8.3.33	Commenced an extensive survey for the New Guinea Administration to take patrol officers to unexplored territory, pilot Ian Grabowsky. It was the first New Guinea overland expedition to rely on air supply.
10.34	Re-engined with a 500hp P&W Hornet radial engine uncowled
26.1.35	Damaged, swung off strip and struck trees landing at Evei, Kokoda. Pilot Orm Denny unhurt Extensive damage, under repair until late April 1935.
10.36	Fitted with floats at Lae, using the same float set stored since 1928 when used to ferry the first W23 from Melbourne. It was a hard-worked aeroplane but there was no time for an overhaul before commencing a two year contract to support land expeditions by Papuan Oil Development Company. Pilot Aub Koch agreed to be the initial pilot
10.12.36	Flown by pilot Koch with engineer Carl Isler from Port Moresby to the Fly River expedition campsite to commence the contract, which continued to April 1937.
4.37	Operated as floatplane to supply an Investors Ltd gold search up Strickland River, Sepik District, pilots Koch and engineer Isler.
6.5.37	Commenced a floatplane contract for Island Exploration Company
37	Operated on floats on contract with Fly River Oil Exploration Company.
19.10.37	Commenced a floatplane contract to carry supplies to a newly established Government and Police Station at Lake Kuttabu. Pilot Aubrey Koch departed Kikori with the first load of supplies, taking experienced patrol officer Ivan Champion as a guide. Returned due engine trouble. Departed Kikori again 21.10.37 and successfully landied on the water at Lake Kittabu. The station was dependent on air supply for the next three years until it was closed during 1940.
2.40	Based on floats at Port Moresby, being operated for RAAF Survey Flight
10.2.42	Taken over by RAAF at Horne Island, Queensland after an evacuation flight from New Guinea following the Japanese air raids.
10.2.42	Impressed by Australian Government for RAAF use, Impressment No.9035.
24.3.42	Taken on RAAF charge as A44-3. Aircraft on floats, located Townsville Qld
31.3.42	Issued to RAAF Rathmines NSW seaplane station
15.11.42	Received 1AD Laverton Victoria ex Rathmines
19.11.42	A44-3 and A44-2 (VH-UOX) held by 1AD unservicable for indefinite period
16.6.43	Approval for conversion to components by 1AD Laverton
	Engine and useful parts removed then broken-up for scrap metal.

Guinea Airways "Junkers No.3" in New Guinea. Greg Thom collection

During October 1937 Guinea Airways fitted VH-UNM with floats. Frank Walters Collection

VH-UNM on floats supporting an oil expedition along the Fly River in 1937. Peter N. Johnson collection

VH-UNM at a slipway in Port Moresby harbour 24 February 1940 while being used by RAAF Survey Flight.
Photo: Australian War Memorial

Being lifted from the water at Port Moresby harbour. John Hopton Collection

Another view of VH-UNM at Port Moresby, with RAAF airmen, date not given. Bill Baker collection

Junkers W 34d VH-UNR

29	Built under licence by Junkers' Swedish subsidiary company AB Flygindustri at Linhamm, Malmo. Junkers W 34d, c/n 2611 One 420hp Bristol Jupiter VI radial engine uncowled
	Ordered by Guinea Airways Ltd, Lae, Territory of Papua New Guinea Airframe with fittings for a Jupiter engine, but engine not included in purchase.
31.12.29	Swedish CofA was issued in the Luftvardighetsbevis series for aircraft receiving Swedish CofA but no Swedish registration. This was a Junkers arrangement to cover foreign exports while Germany was not a member of ICAN, making German airworthiness certification unacceptable to Australia. Sweden was an ICAN member and Swedish certification was acceptable to the Australian Civil Aviation Branch.
	Shipped from Hamburg to Australia on SS Mosel accompanied by German engineers P.Walther and E.W.Haynes recruited by Guinea Airways. Also on board was Junkers W33 VH-UIW. At that time few large ships called at New Guinea due to low demand because of the limited development.
7.2.30	SS Mosel arrived Melbourne where Junkers W33 VH-UIW was off-loaded. The ship continued to Sydney where VH-UNR was transferred to anothee vessel for Lae.
7.3.30	Reached Lae by sea.
31.3.30	Registered VH-UNR Guinea Airways Ltd, Lae, New Guinea Fleet Number "Junkers No.4"
	Assembled by Guinea Airways at Lae, Bristol Jupiter VI engine from spares stock installed. Civil Aviation Branch in Melbourne cabled approval to enter service pending formal certification
2.6.30	Australian CofA issued. Freighter only.
2.8.30	Damaged in forced landing in swampy country near Snake Valley, Morobe District, when the engine seized enroute Lae-Wau. Pilot E.F.Selk. Undercarriage torn away.
10.30	Retured to service after repairs
1.5.31	CofA renewed after repair
22.5.31	Destroyed, struck mountain near Wampit. Pilot Leslie J. Trist was carrying 1,831 pounds of cargo from Lae to Bulolo, but did not arrive. Posted as missing, a lengthy aerial and ground search was unsuccessful.
13.8.31	Wreckage located by tribal natives, pilot had been killed instantly. Natives took the pilot's head to Lae airfield where it was identified as Les Trist.
8.31	Guinea Airways Manager Alan Cross with a ground party accompanied the natives back to the crash site to recover aircraft parts. The impact was so severe that nothing could be salvaged. The pilot's remains were recovered to be later buried at Waverley Cemetery in Sydney.
	A lake near the crash site was named Lake Trist in the pilot's honour.

Junkers G 31go Paul VH-UOU

30	Built at Dessau by Junkers Flugzeug und Motorwerke A.G. Junkers G 31go, c/n 3011 Three BMW German built 500hp Pratt & Whitney Hornet A2 radial engines uncowled
22.5.30	Ordered by Bulolo Gold Dredging Ltd, Bulolo New Guinea. Order for two G.31s freighter models with a 142 x 60 inch removable hatch in the roof, passenger windows replaced by four portholes, open cockpit, plus spare parts and 9 P&W Hornet A2 engines.
26.9.30	Swedish CofA was issued in the Luftvardighetsbevis series for aircraft receiving Swedish CofA but no Swedish registration. This was a Junkers arrangement to cover foreign exports while Germany was not a member of ICAN, making German airworthiness certification unacceptable to Australia. Sweden was an ICAN member and Swedish certification was acceptable to the Australian Civil Aviation Branch.
	Packed in 8 crates and shipped to New Guinea on board SS Temerairie, which also carried Guinea Airways Junkers W33/34f VH-UOX. Accompanied by Junkers engineer Gustav Mueller, returning for another attachment to Guinea Airways.
29.12.30	SS Temerairie arrived Lae. Both Junkers were unloaded and moved to Lae airfield for assembly by Guinea Airways.
1.31	Assembled and test flown at Lae. Civil Aviation Branch approval to commence operations pending formal cerification by Head Office Melbourne.
31.3.31	Guinea Airways' Lae Manager Alan Cross flew VH-UOU Lae-Bulolo for the first G.31 landing on the improved airfield at Bulolo.
25.5.31	Registered VH-UOU Guinea Airways Ltd, Lae, New Guinea Fleet Number "Bulolo 1", named 'Paul"
25.5.31	Australian CofA issued
.32	Ownership changed to: Bulolo Gold Dredging Ltd, Bulolo New Guinea, operated by Guinea Airways Ltd, Lae, New Guinea
25.8.32	Damaged on takeoff Bulolo, port engine power loss, swung off strip. Pilot H. McGilvrey
11.32	Returned to service after repair. By now the first two G.31s VH-UOU & UOV had operated 1,370 flights uplifting 3,657 tons of freight.
1.5.34	Crashed on takeoff Lae carrying a mixed cargo including 44 gallon drums of oil and fuel. As the aircraft taxied over the rough airfield surface, several fuel drums broke loose and rolled to the rear of he cabin, which put the Centre of Gravity beyond the rear limit. During takeoff pilot Bert Heath lost control but managed a heavy landing on the airfield, demolishing the undercarriage and causing serious structural damage. Pilot and flight engineer M.Headland were not hurt. The three P&W Hornet engines and propellers from the badly damaged VH-UOU were removed and installed in the newly-arrived Junkers G 31 VH-URQ ordered without power plants. VH-URQ was then put into service to replace VH-UOU during its long rebuild.
	Guinea Airways engineer Gustav Mueller was sent by sea to the Junkers works in Germany to acquire necessary parts and bring back Junkers ground engineers to assist the rebuild.
12.34	Muller arrived back at Lae by ship from Germany, bringing 3 Junkers engineers, tooling and airframe components. While out of service, VH-UOU's three engines were installed in Guinea Airways G.31 VH-URQ.
16.12.35	CofA renewed after rebuild at Lae
5.36	Damaged landing at Slate Creek, rolled into the creek.
4.37	Undercarriage damaged during landing at Lae
2.39	Undercarriage damaged during landing at Lae
10.40	Undercarriage damaged during landing at Lae
30.9.41	CofA expired. Retired at Bulolo pending a complete overhaul.
21.1.42	Destroyed by Japanese air attack on Bulolo airfield, New Guinea. While being refuelled at Bololo, struck by incendary bullets from stafing fighters and burnt out. Other aircraft destroyed in the same raid included G.31s VH-UOV and VH-URQ. No casualties.

Junkers G31 VH-UOU flying over New Guinea highlands mountainous terrain.

VH-UOU at Wau unloading a truck chassis. Civil Aviation Historical Society

Loading at Lae. Names were not painted on the right side but the tail has the factory markings "Junkers J31go 3011"
John Hopton Collection

The Bulolo airfield loading and unloading crane mounted on rail tracks. Civil Aviation Historical Society

Junkers G 31go Peter VH-UOV

30	Built at Dessau by Junkers Flugzeug und Motorwerke A.G. Junkers G 31go, c/n 3012 Three BMW German built 500hp Pratt & Whitney Hornet A2 radial engines uncowled
22.5.30	Ordered by Bulolo Gold Dredging Ltd, Bulolo New Guinea. Order for two G.31s freighter models with a 142 x 60 inch removable hatch in the roof, passenger windows replaced by four portholes, open cockpit, plus spare parts and 9 P&W Hornet A2 engines.
10.11.30	Swedish CofA was issued in the Luftvardighetsbevis series for aircraft receiving Swedish CofA but no Swedish registration. This was a Junkers arrangement to cover foreign exports while Germany was not a member of ICAN, making German airworthiness certification unacceptable to Australia. Sweden was an ICAN member and Swedish certification was acceptable to the Australian Civil Aviation Branch.
1.31	Junkers G.31s VH-UOV & UOW shipped from Hamburg to New Guinea packed in crates on board the same ship.
12.2.31	Ship arrived Lae. Both Junkers were unloaded and moved to Lae airfield for assembly by Guinea Airways.
2.5.31	Test flight Lae after assembly. Civil Aviation Branch approval to commence operations pending formal cerification by Head Office Melbourne
6.5.31	Entered service, first trip Lae-Bulolo-Lae
10.6.31	Registered VH-UOV Bulolo Gold Dredging Ltd, Bulolo New Guinea, operated by Guinea Airways Ltd, Lae, New Guinea Fleet Number "Bulolo No.2", named 'Peter"
10.6.31	Australian CofA issued
10.32	The first two G.31s VH-UOU & VH-UOV had operated 1,370 flights uplifting 3,657 tons of freight.
7.5.37	Port wing damaged when struck by propeller of taxying DH.50 owned by Stephens Air Service, pilot H.D.McGilvery
23.8.37	Roof badly damaged at Wau when a cargo item being lifted by crane through the open roof hatch slipped and struck the aircraft's roof.
1.42	Evacuated civilians from Salamaua to Australia ahead of Japanese advances in the Pacific.
21.1.42	Destroyed by Japanese air attack on Bulolo airfield, New Guinea. While being refuelled at Bololo, struck by incendary bullets from stafing fighters and burnt out. Other aircraft destroyed by the same raid included G.31s VH-UOU and VH-URQ. No casualties.

Junkers G31 VH-UOV at the Guinea Airways base at Lae airfield, New Guinea. South Australian Aviation Museum

VH-UOV unloading cut wood to be used to contruct buildings at Bulolo. Civil Aviation Historical Society

Desperate times. Evacuating civilians at Salamaua during January 1942 ahead of advancing Japanese forces.

A few days later. VH-UOV's burnt out remains at Bulolo after a Japanese fighter raid on the airfield on 21 January 1942..
Fred Niven collection

Junkers G 31go VH-UOW, A44-1

30	Built at Dessau by Junkers Flugzeug und Motorwerke A.G. Junkers G 31go, c/n 3010 Three BMW German built 500hp Pratt & Whitney Hornet A2 radial engines uncowled
10.30	Ordered by Guinea Airways Ltd, Lae New Guinea. Same freighter specifications as the preceeding two G.31s VH-UOU & VH-UOV which Guinea Airways were operating on behalf of Bulolo Gold Dredging Company.
2.12.30	Swedish CofA was issued in the Luftvardighetsbevis series for aircraft receiving Swedish CofA but no Swedish registration. This was a Junkers arrangement to cover foreign exports while Germany was not a member of ICAN, making German airworthiness certification unacceptable to Australia. Sweden was an ICAN member and Swedish certification was acceptable to the Australian Civil Aviation Branch.
1.31	Junkers G.31s VH-UOV & VH-UOW shipped from Hamburg to New Guinea packed in crates.
12.2.31	Ship arrived Lae. Both Junkers were unloaded and moved to Lae airfield for assembly by Guinea Airways.
5.31	Test flown Lae after assembly. Civil Aviation Branch gave approval to commence operations pending formal certification by Head Office Melbourne
10.6.31	Registered VH-UOW Guinea Airways Ltd, Lae, New Guinea Allotted name "Gnair" (Guinea Airways telegraphic address) but it was not painted on the aircraft
10.6.31	Australian CofA issued
11.2.33	Accident on takeoff Wau: during takeoff run down the steeply sloping strip, the port engine failed, aircraft swung off strip. Pilot Ian Grabowsky cut power to the remaining two engines, but to avoid rolling over the edge of the airfield down into a creek, rolled into a house being built for fellow company pilot Orm Denny near the Guinea Airways office and freight shed. The house as demolished 3 new propellers and a replacement port engine were flown in from Lae and engineers repaired damaged skin and bent port undercarriage strut.
27.3.33	Broke world record for air freight when pilot Ian Grabowsky made six return flights in one day between Lae and Wau carrying 33,360 lbs of gold dredge components.
2.9.41	Damaged at Wau, ground-looped during takeoff and ran off strip. Pilot G.H.Jackson unhurt. Quickly repaired.
21.1.42	Pilot Les Ross was flying VH-UOW from Wau to Salamaua when he saw the Japanese air raid on Salamaua airfield in progress ahead, so returned to Wau. Twelve civil aircraft and one RAAF aircraft were destroyed on the ground at Salamua.
22.1.42	Flown Wau-Lae to take part in the air evacuation of civilians from Lae to Port Moresby along with Guinea Airways Ford Trimotors VH-UBY & VH-UDY, pilots Tommy O'Dea, Les Ross and Bert Heath.
	Authorities ordered Guinea Airways to evacuate these three remaining trimotors to Australia carrying Guinea Airways staff. That instruction attracted severe criticism that civilians were not offered evacuation on these aircraft. Ford Trimotors VH-UDY, VH-UBI and Junkers UOW were initially to be left at RAAF Garbutt, Townsville in anticipation that they would be impressed by the Australian Government for military transport use.
30.1.42	VH-UOW eached RAAF Laverton near Melbourne from New Guinea flown by a Guinea Airways crew carrying company staff and families.
1.42	Impressed by Australian Government for RAAF use. Impressment Requisition No.9024
30.1.42	Taken on RAAF strength as A44-1. Three P&W Hornet T2/3 engines
23.2.42	Received No.2 Communications Flight, Mascot ex 1AD Laverton
28.1.42	Received 1AD Laverton ex 2CF
	Maintained servicable at 1AD
30.5.42	Fitted for ambulance duties
19.10.42	Issued to 34 Squadron, Manbulloo strip NT ex 1AD
19.10.42	Received 36 Squadron Essendon enroute to 34 Squadron. Directorate of Air Transport allocated transport radio callsign VHCRT but doubtful that it was painted on the aircraft prior to its crash later that month.
19.10.42	Carried a load of refrigeration rquipment from Melbourne to Darwin, flown by 36 Sqn Flying Officer J.L.D.Whiteman and copilot Pilot Officer Peter Lavarack. Carried wounded airmen on the return flight from Darwin to Melbourne, diverting enroute to Cootamundra with engine trouble. Continued to 1AD Laverton
31.10.42	Crashed on takeoff Essendon Aerodrome, Melbourne Vic. Test flight by Pilot Officer Peter Lavarack after engine repairs, starboard engine failed, aircraft ran off the runway striking a vehicle. Undercarriage wrecked, both wings badly damaged.
3.11.42	Received No.1 Aircraft Depot, Laverton ex 36 Squadron Essendon
5.11.42	Held by 1AD unservicable for indefinite period
14.5.43	Approval for conversion to components by 1AD Laverton

	RAAF Flight Leiutenant James "Wac" Whiteman recalled flying A44-1 from New Guinea to Melbourne in October 1942, via Darwin and Batchelor. The next flight to New Guinea was to be as an ambulance to aid the evacuation of wounded Australian troops from Lake Myola, but crashed at Essendon before departure.
	An airman at RAAF Nhill recalled a Junkers trimotor landed at Nhill on its way to Darwin carrying a load of fighter drop tanks. After refuelling, one engine refused to start. The pilot ordered that the aircraft be unloaded and then took off on two engines, climbed within sight of the airfield and commenced a steep dive to turn the dead propeller which succesfully started the reluctant engine. Compiler's note: sound like the actions of highly experienced prewar pilot James "Wac" Whiteman
	Harry Moss was a DCA aircraft engineeer at Essendon in 1942 working on a DH.50 biplane VH-UAB which had been impressed by RAAF as A10-1. He was replacing the Puma engine with a 450 hp P&W Wasp to give it the performance to evacuate Australian troop casualties from the short strip Lake Myola. When the military Directorate of Air Transport ruled Lake Myola as unsuitable, DCA proposed using impressed civil aircraft flown by experienced prewar New Guinea pilots. In his book !0,000 Hours, Captain Harry Moss, who went on to a long flying career, wrote: "Getting the wounded back to hospital in Port Moresby from the Kokoda Trail was a long and terrible job. There was an airstrip at Myola, 5000 feet up on the range and it was suggested they could be flown out from there. New Guinea aeroplanes flown by New Guinea pilots could do the job. There were appropriate machines in Melbourne: a Ford trimotor, a Junkers trimotor and my DH.50. The Junkers was being prepared by the RAAF. Lots of keen but very inexperienced young airmen were working on it. The P&W Wasp C fitted to these aeroplanes was undoubtedly best of the job but had to be sympathetically handled. Even when the engine as warm, the throttle had to be opened slowly and steadily to full power. The Junkers was to be ferried to New Guinea by a RAAF pilot. One day we heard its engines being warmed up for some time at the north end of Essendon aerodrome then opened up to full power. Tommy O'Dea, a seasoned New Guinea pilot who knew the Junkers well, and I went it our hangar door to see it go. We watched the Junkers charging down the runway with the starboard engine stopped. The big trimotor was swinging to the right towards the hangars. The starboard wing missed the control tower but hiut a big steel roller. The impact swung the aeroplane around and it went backwards through the boundary hedge and fence on to the road. Tommy and I were soon after it, with the fire wagon, but there was no fire. The beautiful aeroplane was on its belly, the corrugated aluminium skin mangled and crumpled. A write off."

Guinea Airways' own Junkers G31 VH-UOW at Bulolo. John Hopton Collection

Unloading a truck chassis at Bulolo. John Hopton Collection

New Guinea airfield scene: VH-UOW and Ray Parer's Junkers W.33 VH-UIW. Frank Walters collection

VH-UOW in flight photographed by Captain Bert Heath flying an accompanying G.31. Ben Dannecker collection

Junkers G 31.1 to G 31.2, G 31ba, G 31go Pat VH-URQ

.26	Built at Dessau by Junkers Flugzeug und Motorwerke A.G. as prototype new model G 31. This prototype large all metal trimotor airliner was designated Junkers G 31.1. c/n 3000 Initially powered by three Junkers L5 in-line engines.
9.26	Registered D-1073 Junkers Flugzeug
19.9.26	First test flght Dessau. Carried out flight testing for issue of German type CofA
	Flight testing revealed the Junkers L5 engines did not provide sufficient power. To evaluate other power plants, the centre engine was replaced by a BMW VI water cooled V12 engine, model designation G 31.2. With further refinements, this became the production model G 31ba
33	An additional G 31 was ordered by Bulolo Gold Dredging Ltd, Bulolo New Guinea. The order was for an airframe configured for P&W Hornet engines, but without engines or propellers, which would be installed on arrival New Guinea from existing spares stock.
33	The G.31 series was no longer in production. Junkers brought the prototype out of storage and modified it to the same freighter specification as the previous three G 31go models for New Guinea.
17.11.33	Swedish CofA was issued in the Luftvardighetsbevis series for aircraft receiving Swedish CofA but no Swedish registration. Model quoted as Junkers G 31ba. This was a Junkers arrangement to cover foreign exports while Germany was not a member of ICAN, making German airworthiness certification unacceptable to Australia. Sweden was an ICAN member and Swedish certification was acceptable to the Australian Civil Aviation Branch.
	Shipped from Bremerhaven to New Guinea on board SS Bremerhaven
1.34	Unloaded at Lae. Assembled by Guinea Airways at Lae airfield. Parked at Lae without engines because it was not immediately required in service.
6.34	The three P&W Hornet A2s from G 31 VH-UOU which crashed at Lae 1.5.34 were removed and installed in VH-URQ which entered service while UOU was repaired.
9.6.34	Registered VH-URQ Bulolo Gold Dredging Ltd, Bulolo New Guinea, operated by Guinea Airways Ltd, Lae, New Guinea Fleet Number "Bulolo 3", named 'Pat"
9.6.34	Australian CofA issued
6.7.34	After takeoff at Lae for a test flight to investigate the source of a vibration from the nose engine, a propeller blade detached from that engine. The centre engine was torn from its engine mounts and the entire nose structure fell away, Pilot W.P. "Bill" Wiltshire was able to complete a circuit to land without further damage. Repairs completed within a week.
10.9.34	The roof cargo hatch broke loose during takeoff at Lae on a flight to Bulolo. Captain Bert Heath was checking out new arrival Jack Turner. The hatch struck the tailplane where it was held in place by the airflow, making the aircraft difficult to handle. Heath diverted to the Nadzab emergency landing ground, where he landed without damage. The hatch fell away during the landing roll.
20.8.40	Crashed on takeoff Lae. All three engines failed and during the forced landing struck tree stumps which tore away the undercarriage and badly damaged the fuselage undersides. Investigation found that the engine fuel controls had not been correctly set during recent maintenance.
	Repaired and returned to service
21.1.42	Destroyed by Japanese air attack on Bulolo airfield New Guinea. VH-URQ had just landed and pilot Bert Heath had left the aircraft when fighters commenced stafing the airfield. It was struck by incendary bullets and destroyed by fire. No personnel casualties.

A line of Guinea Airways trimotors at Wau: Junkers G.31s VH-URQ and VH-UOW with Ford 4-AT-E VH-UDY.
Photo: Civil Aviation Historical Society

Unloading supplies from VH-URQ at Bulolo. Civil Aviation Historical Society

Guinea Airways Stinson Reliant VH-URC crashed on takeoff at Wau in November 1937 and the wreck was sent to Lae
on board Junkers VH-URQ. Pictured being loaded at Wau, with Stephens Aviation DH.66 Hercules VH-UJP behind.
Civil Aviation Historical Society Len Dobbin collection

VH-URQ's remains at Bulolo after a Japanese air raid in January 1942. Fred Niven collection

Junkers A 50 Junior Rena VH-UCC, VH-MRR, VH-UCC

.30	Built at Dessau by Junkers Flugzeug und Motorwerke A.G. Junkers A 50 Junior, c/n 3517 One 88hp Armstrong Siddeley Genet Mk.2 radial engine uncowled
	Swedish CofA was issued in the Luftvardighetsbevis series for aircraft receiving Swedish CofA but no Swedish registration. This was a Junkers arrangement to cover foreign exports while Germany was not a member of ICAN, making German airworthiness certification unacceptable to Australia. Sweden was an ICAN member and Swedish certification was acceptable to the Australian Civil Aviation Branch.
2.3.36	Registered VH-UCC Percy T.Parker c/- Parker Brothers Automotive, Warrnambool Vic Named "Rena" after his wife. Australian civil registrations sequential issue had reached the VH-UV series by 1936, however the CAA was "back-filling", allocating earlier unused registrations.
2.3.36	Australian CofA issued.
6.47	Advertised for sale in Aircraft magazine: photo of VH-UCC: Junkers Junior A.50 all metal two seater, dual control sports plane. CofA current until 20 March 1948. Engine and airframe 238 hours total. Considerable quantity of engine and airframe parts: P. T. Parker, Parker Auto Co, Warrnambool Vic
14.12.47	visited airshow at Fishermans Bend airfield, Melbourne Vic, named Rena
2.49	Same advertisement in Aircraft magazine: total time now 270 hours, CofA will expire 4 August 1949
4.8.49	CofA expired
13.6.51	Change of ownership: Fred T. Betts, Geelong Vic Based at Belmont Common airfield, Geelong
8.51	Belmont Common airfield at Geelong was flooded by the Barwon River along its boundary,with water up to the undersides of three parked civilianised Avro Ansons. Junkers VH-UCC was floating on top of the calm flood waters at the hangars.
17.4.53	Change of ownership: Schutt Aircraft Sales & Service,Moorabbin Airport,Melbourne
7.8.53	Change of ownership: A.C. Mason, East Gippsland Vic
20.8.54	Change of ownership: R. J. Helps, Windsor NSW
30.6.59	Struck-off Register as withdrawn from service
8.65	By now owned by Malcolm Rose and partners, all RAAF aircrew from RAAF Richmond, who plan a restoration to airworthy.
74	By now owned solely by Malcolm Rose. He has stored the dismantled Junkers in a shed on a farm near Agnes Banks NSW. His other rebuild project Auster 3 VH-PRW was moved from RAAF Richmond to this farm early 1974.
20.12.76	Restored to Civil Register as VH-MRR: Malcolm R. Rose, RAAF Richmond NSW
28.1.77	VH-MRR noted Narrandera NSW rebuild completed,green and white Cathay Pacific Airways paint scheme with "Cathay Pacific" titles, stored in a hangar with tarpaulin covering open cockpits.
13.11.77	Flew at an airshow at Schofields NSW. Painted in green and white Cathay Pacific Airways scheme, flown by owner Malcolm Rose who was now a Flight Engineer with Cathay Pacific.
24.1.01	Registration changed to VH-UCC: Malcolm R. Rose, Port Macquarie NSW The following day his Auster 3 VH-PRW was reregistered VH-MRR at Rose' request.
.08	Sold by Malcolm Rose to Classicflug, Leipzig-Altenbur At that time the Junior had been retired and stored for some time at Port Macquarie NSW.
12.08	Shipped ex Sydney to Hamburg, Germany
1.09	Arrived at the Technik Museum Hugo Junkers, Dessau, Germany from Australia, still painted in the "Cathay Pacific" scheme. On loan to the museum prior to airworthy restoration by its owner.
4.12	noted at Hugo Junkers Museum, Dassau: still in the Cathay Pacific paint scheme, fuselage standing on its wheels, no engine, only the port wing attached.
	Current at Hugo Junkers Museum, Dassau

VH-UCC witiut any markings being assembled at Belmont Common airfield, Geelong Vic ex Germany in 1936.
Photo by Geelong pilot ang photographer Charles D. Pratt, courtesy Kevin O'Reilly collection

Assembly and painting completed at Geelong 1936 Photo by Charles D. Pratt, courtesy Kevin O'Reilly collection

Post-war, at an airshow at Fishermans Bend airfield, Melbourne December 1947. Photo by Bob Fripp

Two views of the Junior stored at a rural property at Portland Roads near Wisemans Ferry NSW in 1962.
Photos by Brian Baker

VH-UCC now owned by Mal Rose, stored on a farm at Agnes Banks NSW in October 1974. Photo by Mike Vincent

Restoration completed with new registration VH-MRR, at an airshow at Schofields NSW in November 1977.

Junkers A 50 Junior Wendouree VH-UNO

.30	Built at Dessau by Junkers Flugzeug und Motorwerke A.G. Junkers A 50 Junior, c/n 3507 One 80hp Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major radial engine uncowled
	Swedish CofA was issued in the Luftvardighetsbevis series for aircraft receiving Swedish CofA but no Swedish registration. This was a Junkers arrangement to cover foreign exports while Germany was not a member of ICAN, making German airworthiness certification unacceptable to Australia. Sweden was an ICAN member and Swedish certification was acceptable to the Australian Civil Aviation Branch.
28.2.30	Arrived at Essendon packed in wooden crates
1.3.30	Test flown Essendon after assembly, pilot H.J.Berryman. He flew the Junior to Ballarat that same day to display it at an air pageant.
5.3.30	Registered VH-UNO H.J.Berryman, Melbourne Vic (Australian agent for Junkers) Named "Wendouree" for Lake Wendourie at Ballarat Victoria, Berryman's home town.
	With no prospects of a sale in Victoria, Berryman loaned VH-UNO to Sydney joy riding and stunt pilot Goya Henry to demonstrate in NSW and Queensland.
5.7.30	Goya Henry and Arthur Lamb departed Mascot on a flight to Brisbane to demonstrate the Junior in Queensland. Encountered very poor weather north of Sydney and turned back from Broken Bay NSW. Over Sydney beach suburbs in heavy rain the engine began to lose power, Henry made a forced landing in the suburb of Manley but collided with a fence and crashed.
5.7.30	Crashed Manly, Sydney NSW. Pilot Goya Henry was badly unjured, having a leg amputated. Passenger Arthur Lamb was killed.

Junkers Junior VH-UNO straight off the ship from Germany was moved to Junkers agent H.J.Berrman's home in the
Melbourne suburb Caulfield for storage while arrangements were made for its assembly at Essendon Aerodrome.
This and the following picture are from H.J.Berryman's collection, courtesy his grandson Hugh Batters.

Essendon Aerodorme, Melbourne now painted with registration and name "Wendouree", H.J.Berryman on the wing.

The sad end: the crash site at the Sydney suburb Manly, July 1930. John Hopton Collection

Junkers Ju 86B Lawrence Hargrave VH-UYA

1.37	Construction completed at Dessau by Junkers Flugzeug und Motorwerke A.G. Junkers Ju 86B-0, c/n 86/0952. Two Junkers Jumo 205-C-111 diesel engines, cowled Completed in overall light khaki colour with black engine nacelles and black fuselage trim line and registration letters.
1.37	Registered D-AGEY Junkers Flugzeug
	Ordered by Mr.E.F.H. Beinssen, Sydney, a wool broker and German Trade Commissioner. Purchase was a barter agreement in exchange for a shipment of Australian wool for German industry. The deal was overseen by Junkers' Australian agent Major H.J.Berryman, Melbourne.
2.37	German CofA issued. Changes to International policy in 1936 dropped the previous restrictions on German airworthiness certification, allowing Australia to accept the German CofA.
20.2.37	Christened "Lawrence Hargrave" in a ceremony at the Junkers works.
20.2.37	D-AGEY departed Germany on delivery flight to Australia with a 4 man German crew: Captain Hans Kommol Radio Operator Fritz Reinhardt Engineers Helman Wolfermann and Walter Gerisch. The two engineers were to remain with the aircraft when it commenced operations in Australia.
15.3.37	Reached Darwin from Timor, flying time 69 hours. The port engine failed just before landing causing the aircaft to swing off the runway on to soft ground where it was bogged until pulled free by a tractor. The u/s engine was beyond local repair so a replacement engine was shipped from Germany, arriving at Darwin wharves on 21.4.37
18.3.37	Provisional CofA and CofR as VH-UYA issued by CAB to cover the remainder of the delivery flight to Melbourne, where it would undergo Australian certification inspection.
	While delayed at Darwin, the German registration and swastika were painted over, replaced by Australian registration VH-UYA.
26.4.37	Departed Darwin for Melbourne, arriving two days later after flying non-stop from Charleville. At Essendon the aircraft was imspected by CAB officers and pilot Kommol gave instruction to pilots from ANA, AofA and CAB.
	Beinssen had negotiated a lease arrangement with Airlines of Australia's Managing Director G.A.Robinson. The Ju 86 would operate two AofA passenger and mail services each week Sydney-Brisbane-Townsville return.
14.5.37	Registered VH-UYA E.F.H. Beinssen. Sydney NSW Named "Lawrence Hargrave"
14.5.37	Australian CofA issued, 10 passenger seats
14.5.37	Delivered Melbourne-Cootamundra-Sydney by AofA Captain P.T.L. "Lyn" Taylor to commence the lease by Airlines of Australia Ltd, Sydney.
17.5.37	First commercial service with Airlines of Australia, Sydney-Lismore-Brisbane. 6 passengers and 4 crew: Captain Jack Mclaughlin (AofA), J.Kerr (Civil Aviation Board) and the two Junkers engineers who had accompanied the aircraft from Germany. The Ju 86 then continued that day's AofA service Brisbane-Townsville with 10 passengers.
20.5.37	Forced landing at Coffs Harbour airfield NSW due to starboard engine failure while operating an AofA service Brisbane-Sydney with 5 passengers, no airframe damage. Crew AofA Captains Keith Virtue and Jack Mclaughlin and the two Junkers engineers, who determined that the engine was not repairable. Passengers and mail sacks were collected by AofA Stinson A and flown to Sydney. A spare Junkers Jumo was sent to Coffs Harbour from storage in Melbourne.
	Airlines of Australia terminated the lease due to engine unreliabiity.
	Faced with no sales prospects in Australia and no follow-up German orders for Australian wool, Beinssen arranged to return the Ju 86 to Junkers.
7.37	Captain Keith Virtue ferried VH-UYA to Fishermans Bend, Melbourne for Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation to dismantle and pack for shipping from the adjacent Port Melbourne
25.8.37	Departed Melbourne as cargo on board SS Lippe bound for Germany
26.9.37	Struck-off Register
.37	Registered D-AREY Junkers Flugzeug
	Became the personal aircraft of Junkers Director Koppenberg as D-ARJF named “Herbert Norkus"
	to Luftwaffe as DD+VL

	Captain Keith Virtue, chief pilot of Airlines of Australia, recalled the Junkers Ju 86 in his biography Virtue in Flying: "We were impressed with it as an aircraft, it was a damned good plane to fly. It cruised at 200 m.p.h. and there was no vibration, but for some strange reason the passengers used to get static electrical shocks from the arm rests. For the initial cold start-up of the aircraft each morning, the two German mechanics with us woud use a charcoal forge to heat up what they called the "hot plug". They would wind the forge up to get the plug good and hot, then they would stick the hot plug into a motor and away it would go with a bang."

D-AGEY at Darwin on arrival from Germany on 15 March 1937. Fred Niven collection

Now painted as VH-UYA, the Ju 86 refuels at Cloncurry enroute Dawin to Melbourne in April 1937. Photo via John Laming

Demonstration to the RAAF at either Laverton or Richmond RAAF Station. Photo via Chas Lister

The Ju86's well-publicised arrival at Sydney to commence operation by Airlines of Australis Ltd on 25 May 1937.
State Library of NSW Hood Collection

Coffs Harbour NSW 20 May 1937: the forced landing due engine failure which ended Airlines of Australia's interest.
Bruce Robinson collection

VH-UYA "Lawrence Hargrave" in flight over Melbourne. Civil Aviation Historical Society

A visiting Junkers W33: Hans Bertram and Adolph Klausman's epic 1932 flight from Germany:

Junkers W 33c Atlantis D-1925

.29	Built under licence by Junkers' Swedish subsidiary company AB Flygindustri at Linhamm, Malmo. Junkers W 33c, c/n 2542 One 310hp Junkers L5 six cyclinder inline engine.
	Registered SE-ABX
	Registered D-1925
	Fitted with floats for a flight to Australia, named Atlantis
32	Departed Germany for Australia flown by pilot Hans Bertram and engineer Adolph Klausmann
14.5.32	At midnight the Junkers departed Koepang, Timor for the 7 hour Timor Sea crossing to Australia. Planning to reach Darwin for breakfast the crew carried no food or water. After flying through a severe monsoonal thunderstorm over the sea, they were off-track to the south.
15.5.32	Reached the Western Australian coastline. With fuel running low at dawn they landed and spent the day ashore but found no sign of civilisaiomn. Next day they used remaining fuel to fly along the coast, alighted in a sheltered bay when Bertram powered the floatplane on to a beach. Their location was a remote desolate area of the West Australian far north Kimberley coastline with little white settlement. They were unsure of their location and the Junkers did not have any radio equipment.
	When Atlantis failed to arrive at Darwin, an aerial search commenced. After 10 days it was called off
	Meanwhile the desperate aviators had unsuccessfully attempted to walk out but returned to the aircraft where a nearby water hole kept them alive. They detached the left float and with the aircraft tool kit managed to cut the metal to make a canoe with a rudder, mast and sail. When it proved unmanagable at sea, for the next 5 days they paddled the canoe attempting to be seen by passing coastal shipping, until they were exhausted.
	After 40 days, the two men were close to death when found by Aborigines. Klausmann had become mentally deranged and needed to be restrained. It took 12 more days to move them to the nearest town Wyndham WA. Klausmann was unfit to be flown so was sent to Perth by coastal steamer and then home to Germany. Bertram was flown to Perth by West Australian Airways for more hospitalisation and recuperation. He made a full recovery
18.9.32	Bertram returned to Atlantis on the Kimberley coast by coastal steamer SS Koolinda from Perth, accompanied by WAA engineer Fred Saxton. They brought drums of fuel, tools and a float which had previously been used on a WAA DH.50 floatplane in Perth. At the beach, the float was fitted to the Junkers to replace its left float (which became the canoe) despite it being smaller and a different design. The Junkers L5 engine was made operational after standing for 4 months.
21.9.32	Bertram test flew the Junkers then flew to Broome WA where he landed on Roebuck Bay
24.9.32	Bertram reached Perth after flying down the WA coastline carrying Fred Sexton. Landed on the Swan River at Matilda Bay and tied up at the Royal Perth Yacht Club. Dismantled on land at RPYC then moved by road to Maylands Aerodrome.
	Reassembled and land undercarriage installed at the WAA hangar at Maylands Aerodrome. The DH.50 float was returned to WAA.
28.9.32	Bertram made a test flight as a landplane, accompanied by engineer Fred Sexton.
29.9.32	Bertram departed Perth in Atlantis to begin a tour of Australia. His story had been headline news and he was in demand for speaking engagements and civic receptions across Australia.
29.9.32	Crashed during landing at Kalgoorlie WA. His first landing was at Kalgoorlie WA where a crowd of 500 waited at the airfield. Bertram appeared to lose control as the aircraft touched down and swung violently, applied power to become airborne, climbed over the aerodrome fence but struck a tree, ran through another fence and crossed a road before coming to rest on its wheels in a vacant paddock. Damage to wings, undercarriage struts and propeller.
	WAA engineer Fred Sexton was sent to Kalgoorlie on a WAA Perth-Adelaide service to repair the damage.
2.10.32	Bertram departed Kalgoorlie to continue his leisurely tour to Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney
11.32	Overhaul at Essendon Aerodrome, Melbourne by Hart Aircraft Company,during which extra fuel tanks were installed, reportedly giving an 18 hour ensurance.
9.12.32	Bertram and Australian airline pilot Captain G.U."Scotty" Allen departed RAAF Station Point Cook, Melbourne for Darwin, where they plan to commence a record-breaking flight to London in 6 days. Point Cook was used because the Junkers' heavy fuel load required a longer runway than Essendon.
13.12.32	Crashed on takeoff Sourabaya, Java. After refuelling 300 gallons, Bertram commenced takeoff at 4am local time. The heavily-loaded aircraft did not perform well in the tropical weather and he closed the throttle to abandon the takeoff, but the aircraft rolled into a drainage ditch. Undercarriage was wrecked but crew unhurt.
11.4.33	Bertram departed Sourabaya after repairs had been completed, flying solo home to Germany
17.4.33	Arrived at Templehof Aerodrome, Berlin
	Aircraft was registered D-OVYL
	- The Western Australian Government assessed the total cost of the aerial, coastal and land search for the downed airmen, which was paid in full in 1934 by Junkers Flugzeug und Motorwerke A.G. - The detached float was located and dug from sand at the remote beach in 1988 by a team from the WA Martime Museum with the asssistance of the Royal Australian Navy. It was restored and is now displayed in the museum at Fremantle, Perth. - A replica Junkers floatplane was constructed in Sydney for a 1984 Australian ABC TV documentary on Bertram and Klausman's ordeal named FLIGHT INTO HELL. It had a Jaguar car engine installed for floatplane taxying scenes filmed on a dam at Manly Sydney. After filming, the replica was acquired by the Aviation Heritage Museum, Perth. In 2008 it was sold to Australian Aviation Museum at Bankstown Airport, Sydney. Transported by road to Camden Airport NSW, where it was stored in a hangar for several years pending the AAM's planned move to Camden. That did not eventuate and the replica was moved to Bankstown. AAM closed in 2018, replica left outside where fell into poor condition, eventual fate unknown. - Hans Bertram was to return to Australia in August 1941 as a POW during WWII. His Luftwaffe Messerschmitt was shot down by a RAF fighter over the Libya desert during the North African Campaign. He arrived at Brisbane on a prison ship from the Middle East carrying 2,000 German and Italian POWs.

Bertram and Klausmann on the wing of D-1925 at Timor on their way to Australia

On the far north WA coast after the rescue party pulled the Junkers above the tide line.
Note the missing left float,which wss used as a canoe. Horrie Miller collection

"Atlantis" at Maylands Aerodrome, Perth having landplane undercarriage installed during September 1932.
Geoff Goodall collection

Bertram's dramatic landing at Kalgoorlie WA on 29 September 1932, at the first stop of his Australian tour.
This and the following two photographs of the event are courtesy Civil Aviation Historical Society.

The Kalgoorlie crowd chases the Junkers as it broke through the aerodrome fence.

Hans Bertram on the wing of his damaged "Atlantis" at Kalgoorlie. After repairs he continued on his tour.

Two views of Hans Bertram visiting Belmont Common airfield, Geelong Victoria during his Australian tour.
Both photographs by Geelong aviator Charles D. Pratt, courtesy Kevin O'Reilly collection

Swinging the prop for engine start at Belmont Common, Hans Bertram wearing suit and tie is on the wing.

Endpiece

View from the pilot's seat of a Junkers G 31 flying over typical New Guinea mountainous terrain.. Photo: Civil Aviation Historical Society.

References:
- Australian Civil Aircraft Register, Department of Civil Aviation and its successors
- DCA aircraft files, National Archives of Australia
- RAAF Aircraft Record Cards, National Archives of Australia
- Trove, on-line newspaper search, National Library of Australia
- War damage compensation valuation New Guinea, DCA file, copy held by Civil Aviation Historical Society Library, Melbourne
- Wings of Gold - How the aeroplane developed New Guinea, James Sinclair, Pacific Publications, Sydney 1978
- Flypast - A Record of Aviation in Australia, Neville Panell & Trevor Boughton, Civil Aviation Authority 1988
- Australia's Two-Airline Policy, Stanley Brogden, Melbourne University Press 1968
- Virtue In Flying - The Keith Virtue Story, Joan Priest, Angus & Robertson Publishers 1975
- 10,000 Hours, Harry Moss, Hesperian Press 1988
- Let There be Flight - a history of flying in western Victoria, Kenneth R. Riches, self-published 2009
- Airlines and Aircraft of the Ansett Airlines Group 1921-2002, Fred Niven, USB version September 2019
- Corrugated Masterpieces - Junkers types in Australia and New Guinea, Jame Richie Grant, Air Enthusiast, Sept-October 1998
- Australian Seaplanes, a listing compiiled by David C.Eyre

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