History

Built in 1940, under the order of the Netherlands Navy, Marine Luchtvaart Dienst. Shipped to the Netherlands East Indies, from Los Angeles on the MV Hoegh, Silver Dawn, and arrived Surabaya 3,1,1941. Given the MLD serial S-14. Equipped with EDO 47-1965 Floats. Prepared for shipment to Australia ahead of the Japanese advance through NEI, February, 1942. Shipped to Australia from Surabaya February 16th, 1942 aboard the MS Tjinegara.

Re assembled by Qantas Empire Airways, in Sydney.

Given the Australian serial A50-7, and taken on charge with the Royal Australian Air Force, used for training and courier service.

In January 1943 a complete overhaul and corrosion treatment was performed at ANA Parafield, with the rudder, fin and elevators fabric recovered, and the fuselage repainted, ready for reassembly. The Mainplanes of A50-7 were fitted to A50-8 to expedite completion of A50-8.

On May 2, 1945 Sold by the Commonwealth Disposals Commission to Brown & Dureau, PTY Ltd. Melbourne, Vic.

On December 1, 1948 ownership was transferred to the Newcastle Aero Club, Broadmeadow NSW. On November 18, 1953 ownership changed again to Ronald D. Soutar, Sydney NSW. On December 19, 1954 the aircraft had a forced landing in Liverpool NSW. The Forced landing occurred in a paddock at Hillview, near Liverpool, west of Sydney, when it struck a tree stump and was badly damaged. Pilot Ronald Soutar was not injured.  On July 13, 1955 the aircraft was struck from the Australian register. Apparently owned by Lindsay Rogers since 1969-1970.

Ownership History

• Netherlands Navy/Marine Luchtvaart Dienst (MLD), Surabaya, Java;
• Royal Australian Air Force, RAAF; 
• Brown & Dureau Pty Ltd, Melbourne Vic;
• Ronald Soutar, Sydney, N.S.W.;
• Lindsay Rogers, Smithfield, N.S.W.

Current Ownership

Unknown

Notes

  Via the Melbourne Sun newspaper 20.3.74:

A feature story described the discovery of a wartime aircraft wreck found in hills near Healesville Victoria.  It was Republic Lancer A56-7, but the serial number on the wrecked rear fuselage was misread as A50-7. The reporter sought details from the RAAF, to learn that A50-7 was a Ryan Trainer which became VH-AHF after the war. Last owner Ronald Soutar was located, and the very confused newspaper report quoted Soutar:  "The last I saw of her was in pieces in a hangar at Bankstown"   

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