Date:	Saturday 22 January 1949
Time:	overnight
Type:	de Havilland DH-82A Tiger Moth
Owner/operator:	Royal Victorian Aero Club
Registration:	VH-BIS
MSN:	DHA.845
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	Essendon Airfield, Essendon, Melbourne, Victoria -   Australia
Phase:	Standing
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Essendon Airfield, Melbourne, Victoria (MEB/YMEN)
Destination airport:
Confidence Rating:	Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources

Narrative:
DH.82A Tiger Moth VH-BIS, Royal Victorian Aero Club, Essendon, Melbourne. Written off when destroyed by fire while parked at Essendon, Melbourne, Victoria 22.1.49. Registration VH-BIS cancelled 8.4.49 as "Withdrawn from use"

1. https://air-britain.com/pdfs/production-lists/DH82.pdf
2. The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.) Saturday 22 January 1949 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/1717708
3. https://www.austairdata.com.au/component/rsdirectory/entry/view/11930:vh-bis-1
4. https://edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austb/VH-BIS.html
5. http://www.adf-serials.com.au/2a17c.htm
6. http://www.airhistory.org.uk/dh/pAus8.html
7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essendon_Airport#History

c/no. DHA.845: Built to UK Government order in 1942 for SAAF/RATG (South African Air Force/Rhodesian Air Training Group) as DX802 but not delivered & stored unassembled at Bankstown, Sydney, NSW. Transferred to RAAF and taken on charge as A17-713 on 24.11.43. To De Havilland Australia at Mascot, Sydney, NSW for assembly & modifications. To 2 Aircraft Park, RAAF Richmond, NSW 14.5.44. To 5 Aircraft Depot RAAF Wagga Wagga, NSW 14.5.44. To CFS RAAF Parkes 11.7.44; to RAAF Point Cook 18.9.44. Withdrawn from service to storage 11.5.45. To 1 Aircraft Depot RAAF Laverton 22.10.45 for trial installation of differential braking system. Put up for sale 11.7.47.

Struck off charge when sold 11.8.47 for £90 to Royal Victorian Aero Club, Essendon. Melbourne, Victoria; issued to them 1.9.47. Registered as VH-BIS (C of R 1418) 14.11.47 to Royal Victorian Aero Club, Essendon, Melbourne.

Written off when destroyed by fire while parked at Essendon, Melbourne, Victoria 22.1.49. Registration VH-BIS cancelled 8.4.49 as \"Withdrawn from use\"

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
10-May-2025 20:21	Dr. John Smith	Added