MacRobertson Miller Aviation (MMA) ordered three D.H.84 Dragon IIs after winning the Government tender for the North-West W.A. service.
De Havilland Aircraft built those aircraft (that became VH-URW, VH-URX and VH-URY) at its Hatfield factory in the UK, then dismantled them and crated them for shipment to Fremantle.
In September 1934, VH-URX was registered to MMA at Maylands Aerodrome, Perth WA and named The Gascoyne and made its first flight in Australia. Its colour scheme was dark royal blue fuselage with silver wings and tail.
From 1934 until 1938, VH-URX carried freight and passengers all over WA. In October 1934, it was damaged by a willy-willy while on the ground at Ord River Station. MMA’s Horrie Miller flew to Ord River and spent weeks repairing the aircraft.
From September 1938 until December 1939, VH-URX was based at Parafield and flew the MMA network in South Australia.
In December 1939, it was impressed by the Australian Government for service with the RAAF.
During WWII, the RAAF operated a total of 98 Dragons (11 of these including VH-URX were impressed from civil airlines and 87 were built as part of the war effort).
It was allocated to No 1 Flying Training School (1FTS) at RAAF Base Point Cook in Victoria, struck off the civil register and reregistered as A34-1. it was later issued to Advanced Training Flight at 1FTS and then to No 1 Signals School at Point Cook.
After being overhauled by Butler Air Transport Co at Sydney’s Mascot Airport, A34-1 was allocated to No 4 Elementary Flying Training School (4EFTS) at Mascot airport and then to No 3 Elementary Flying Training School (3EFTS) at Melbourne’s Essendon airport.
After modifications by Australian National Airways (ANA) at Essendon airport, A34-1 was fitted with radios by No 1 Aircraft Depot (1AD) at RAAF Laverton and then allocated to No 2 Air Observers School (2AOS) at RAAF Station Mt Gambier in South Australia.
In June 1941, A34-1 made a forced landing one mile north of Mt Gambier airfield. While its pilot and passengers were all uninjured, there was moderate damage to the undercarriage of A34-1.
In 1942, it was converted for air ambulance work and allocated to No 35 (T) Squadron at Western Australia’s RAAF Pearce.
On an April 1942 flight from Maylands to Waroonah, A34-1 made a forced landing. Its pilot and four passengers were uninjured and continued their flight the next day.
On 20 May 1942, A34-1 was damaged while taxying out to take-off from Albany airport, but its pilot and passengers were uninjured. Following repairs at Albany, A34-1 departed two days later.
On 28 May 1942, A34-1 landed safely at Albany despite engine failure shortly after take-off.
On 14 June 1942 A34-1 ditched into the sea off 18 miles from Dongara. While its pilot and passengers received only minor injuries, the plane was a write-off, but its engines, some airframe components and most of the cockpit instruments were salvaged.
See our VJ-URX Flickr Album.
Maylands Historical and Peninsula Association acknowledges the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work, live, and learn. We acknowledge that we tell the stories of Noongar Country and we pay our respects to Elders past and present. This always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.
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