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Challenge: DH Beaver from 'Nam info

I’ve received a request for more information from a chap in Canada who got hold of a De Havilland Beaver that was in Vietnam for many years. He wants to restore it and is looking for more info and history on the aircraft. Any details at all will be greatly appreciated.

Here is what is known about the aircraft:

Aircraft: De Havilland Beaver
20 ser # 135
French serial number: F-OAKK
Cambodia/South Vietnam serial: U6-138

The aircraft was sent to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, new on 20 February 1952 and was used by the French (F-OAKK) until they left it behind when Cambodia gained independence in 1953. It was owned buy SA SOCIETE INDOCHINOISE DE PLANTATIONS D’HEVEAS. The old paint job can be seen under the newer paint job. Next it was painted with South Vietnam’s flag down each side with U6-138 painted on the tail. This can also be seen under the paint as it was just brushed over. Next the paint was retouched up by North Vietnam, then receiving HANG KHONG VIET NAM lettering with the North Vietnamese flag on the tail. This plane has never been paint stripped and still has all its paint jobs with no camouflage. It stood in a park in South Vietnam for many years and came home with two other beavers with the same looking paint; the other two came from an airport in Vietnam, sitting 1/2 taken apart. The Beaver was shipped back to Canada in the 1990s with no log books or paperwork.

Does anyone have any history, information or photos on this or other Beaver aircraft? E.g. who operated them (Air America, Vietnam?), who flew them, where can paperwork be found?

Any information much appreciated.

Cheers,
Guy.

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By: Newforest - 18th December 2006 at 20:08

This will give readers some views of the plane before restoration!

http://www.dhc-2.com/id504.htm

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By: Consul - 18th December 2006 at 20:07

A good starting point would be for him to contact the renowned Beaver guru Neil Aird who runs the Beaver Tails website. Neil lists on his site every Beaver constructed along with illustrations and histories. He’s a very knowledgable and helpful guy.
I’ve got some photos I took of the Beaver in question when it was in store but they’re not accessible right now. Neil’s website has a full history of the machine and pictures – look at the following link direct to this airframe’s details:
http://www.dhc-2.com/id504.htm

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By: contrailjj - 18th December 2006 at 20:05

Only info I’ve seen related is here…

http://www.xdh.ca/DHC_Aircraft/DHC-7/DHC-2_Production/dhc-2_production.html

The entry for #135 is rather sparse, containing only the original owner and delivery date:

Air Carrier Service 27/07/1951

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