VH-MMG  Avro 652A Anson 1

                                  

                                      This rare image, from the Geoff Goodall collection was originally taken by Colin Hayes at Halls
                                      Creek, WA in December 1953.    It depicts VH-MMG ("RMA De Grey") with the Mandated
                                      Airlines' Dove VH-MAL on a refuelling stop.    The latter was on its delivery flight from New
                                      Guinea to Perth to join Airlines (WA) Ltd where it would become VH-AWE.   VH-MMG was
                                      the former RAAF W2164 civilianized in November 1946 as VH-AYN.  It was acquired by Mac-
                                      Robertson Miller Aviation and later re-registered into their series in 1949.     This Anson was lost
                                      in a tragic accident on 4 February 1956 whilst on a Royal Flying Doctor Service VFR emergency
                                      flight from Tableland Mission to Derby during tropical thunderstorms at night after collecting a
                                      critically ill child to be taken to Derby Base Hospital.     The aircraft went missing and a search
                                      by 16 aircraft over 3 weeks finally located the wreck on 24 February.  MMA Captain Pieter van
                                      Emmerick, two nurses, the patient and the child's father had all been killed.