Date:	Thursday 1 January 1948
Time:	day
Type:	de Havilland DH-82A Tiger Moth
Owner/operator:	Western Airways Passenger Services Pty Ltd
Registration:	VH-ATU
MSN:	DHA.317
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	near Colac, Western District, Victoria -   Australia
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Passenger - Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi
Departure airport:	Warrnambool, Victoria
Destination airport:	Colac, Western District, Victoria
Confidence Rating:	Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources

Narrative:
DH.82A Tiger Moth VH-ATU, Western Airways Passenger Services Pty Ltd, Warrnambool, Victoria: Written off (damaged beyond repair) when crashed on landing into a paddock near Colac, Victoria 1.1.48.

Western Airways Passenger Services Pty Ltd (WAPS), of Warrnambool, Victoria was formed in 1946 by motor car dealer H.H.(Bert) Matthey and Mrs Muriel J. Blackwell, both of Colac, Victoria, to operate an airline service between Warrnambool and Melbourne. Passenger loadings were disappointing and WAPS was in liquidation by April 1948.

Registration VH-ATU cancelled 10.5.48 as "withdrawn from use"

Colac is a town in the Western District of Victoria, Australia, approximately 150 kilometres south-west of Melbourne on the southern shore of Lake Colac.

1. https://air-britain.com/pdfs/production-lists/DH82.pdf
2. https://edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austa2/VH-ATU.html
3. http://www.adf-serials.com.au/2a17a.htm
4. https://www.austairdata.com.au/component/rsdirectory/entry/view/10726:vh-atu-1
5. http://www.airhistory.org.uk/dh/pAus3.html
6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warrnambool#Transport
7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colac,_Victoria

c/no. DHA.317: Taken on charge as A17-298 at 2 Aircraft Depot, RAAF Richmond, NSW 17.3.41. To CFS RAAF Camden, NSW 5.4.41. To 2 Aircraft Depot, RAAF Richmond, NSW 28.10.41. To 12 EFTS RAAF Bundaberg, Queensland, 12.12.41; to RAAF Lowood, Queensland 2.1.42. To 8 EFTS RAAF Narrandera, NSW 30.3.42. To De Havilland Australia, Mascot, Sydney, NSW 5.5.43 for overhaul. Upon completion, returned to 8 EFTS RAAF Narrandera, NSW (via 2 Aircraft Park) 1.7.43. To 7 EFTS RAAF Western Junction, Launceston, Tasmania 8.1.45 & stored. Transferred to Care & Maintenance Unit RAAF Western Junction 1.6.45 for long-term storage pending disposal; put up for sale 6.12.45.

Struck off charge when sold 31.5.46 for £50 to A H Schutt, Essendon, Melbourne, Victoria; issued to him 21.5.46. Registered as VH-ATU (C of R 1030) 19.8.46 to Mrs Muriel J Backwell, Colac, Victoria (registered as c/no \"318\"). Re-registered 18.8.47 to Western Airways Passenger Services Pty Ltd, Warrnambool, Victoria.

Written off (damaged beyond repair) when crashed on landing into a paddock near Colac, Victoria 1.1.48. Registration VH-ATU cancelled 10.5.48 as \"withdrawn from use\".

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
25-Apr-2025 20:04	Dr. John Smith	Added