VH-ASG  (1)    Lockheed 12A                 (c/n  1302)

                           

                                 VH-ASG was originally ordered by the Netherlands East Indies Government (to have become
                                 L2-34), but was diverted to Australia due to the imminent Japanese invasion of the islands.
                                 It was impressed into service with the United States Army Air Corps and was used in a light
                                 transport/communications role during the war, bearing the fake serial number 42-1302. In 1946
                                 it was declared surplus, civilianized and purchased by the Broken Hill Pty/Zinc Corporation. 
                                 It was used for the transportation of BHP brass and operated under the name of Associated
                                 Airlines, bearing the name 'Silver Gull'.   Associated was not a true scheduled airline but merely
                                 the name given to the BHP fleet of executive craft.  The company also had another Lockheed 12A,
                                 VH-BHH, 'Silver City'.   It was sold in Malaysia in 1963 as 9M-ANK, crashing at Bukit Besi in
                                 1966.  In 1981 I was living in Malaysia and attempted find out what happened to -ASG.
                                  It appears as if it languished at the old K.L.(Kuala Lumpur) Airport for several years and then
                                  disappeared.  One local wag said he thought the remains may have been taken to Singapore-la.
                                  (Local joke, unless you've lived there).