The History of A9-141

A9-141 - a DAP Beaufort Mk VII - was assembled at the Department of Aircraft Production's factory at Fisherman's Bend, Victoria.

After a successful first flight by the DAP's Test Pilots, it entered service with 14 Squadron of the Royal Australia Air Force (RAAF) at Pearce, Western Australia on Thursday 26th November 1942. Regular anti-submarine patrols and convoy escort duties over the Indian Ocean (between Albany and Canarvon) were flown from Pearce, and 14 Squadron were at the fore-front of these.

Four months later A9-141 was transferred to 7 Squadron, and was flying from Horn Island - at the tip of Cape York, Queensland - from where reconnaissance, anti-submarine and convoy escort patrols were flown. Serving from this base, A9-141 flew its last operational mission - on Friday 30th April 1943 - shadowing a north-bound convoy loaded with supplies for the troops in New Guinea.

A9-141 was then transferred south for a major overhaul - after which it was allotted, firstly, to No. 1 Operational Training Unit (1OTU), then to No. 5 OTU at Tocumwal, New South Wales. It was at 5 OTU on Tuesday 11th January 1944, that this aircraft ground-looped during take-off and was so severely damaged that it was written off for spare parts.