VH-ASA   Boeing PB2B-2 Catalina          (c/n  61154)

                           

                               On March 14, 1951 noted Australian aviator P.G.Taylor and crew flew Catalina VH-ASA named
                               'Frigate Bird II' on a proving flight from Australia to Chile.   Take off was effected from the Rose Bay
                               Flying Boat Base on Sydney Harbor with stops in  Noumea, Fiji, Tonga, Cook Islands, Tahiti,  Mang-
                               areva and Easter Island.   The aircraft returned on 20 April 1951 alighting at Brisbane.  The aircraft
                               was a stock RAAF machine (A24-385) taken from the inventory at Rathmines base where these
                               historic photographs by Bob Stewart (via Daryl Meek) were taken.  Upon its  return it went back into
                               storage at Rathmines and was eventually withdrawn from use in 1954. For more historical information
                               go to:
                                              http://www.airwaysmuseum.com/Taylor%20Chile%20flight%20crew.htm