Date:	Saturday 26 April 1952
Time:	day
Type:	de Havilland DH-82A Tiger Moth
Owner/operator:	Royal Victorian Aero Club
Registration:	VH-BIY
MSN:	DHA.940
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	Avalon Airport, Geelong, Victoria -   Australia
Phase:	Take off
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Avalon Airport, Geelong, Victoria (AVV/YMAV)
Destination airport:	Essendon Airfield, Melbourne, Victoria (MEB/YMEN)

Narrative:
DH.82A Tiger Moth VH-BIY, Royal Victorian Aero Club, Moorabbin, Melbourne, Victoria: Written off (damaged beyond repair) when crashed into trees on take-off at Avalon Airport, Geelong, Victoria 27.4.52.

Registration VH-BIY cancelled 26.5.52 as "wtidrawn from use".

1. https://air-britain.com/pdfs/production-lists/DH82.pdf
2. The Argus (Melbourne, Victoria) Monday 27 April 1952: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/title/13#
3. https://www.austairdata.com.au/component/rsdirectory/entry/view/11945:vh-biy-1
4. https://edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austb/VH-BIY.html
5. http://www.adf-serials.com.au/2a17b.htm
6. http://www.airhistory.org.uk/dh/pAus9.html
7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avalon_Airport#History

c/no. DHA.940: Built to UK Government order for South African Air Force/Rhodesian Air Training Group but no serials issued and not shipped following Japan’s entry into war on 7.12.41; stored in Sydney area from December 1941. Reallocated in May 1942 to USAAF 5th Air Force; reportedly operated with De Havilland Australia c/no. as serial.

Transferred to RAAF and taken on charge as A17-517 at 2 Aircraft Depot, RAAF Richmond, NSW 8.6.42. To 1 AOS RAAF Cootamundra 22.6.42. To 5 EFTS RAAF Narromine, NSW 20.7.42. To De Havilland Australia at Mascot, Sydney, NSW 4.8.44 for overhaul. Upon completion to 2 Aircraft Park, Bankstown, Sydney, NSW 15.8.44. To 5 Aircraft Depot, RAAF Wagga Wagga, NSW 17.8.44. Transferred to Care & Maintenance Unit 12.3.46 for long-term storage pending disposal; put up for sale 11.7.47.

Struck off charge when sold 14.8.47 for £90 to Royal Victorian Aero Club/Association of Australian Aero Clubs, Essendon, Melbourne, Victoria; issued to them 3.9.47. Registered as VH-BIY (C of R 1398) 19.9.47 to Royal Victorian Aero Club, Essendon; to Moorabbin, Melbourne, Victoria 15.12.49.

Written off (damaged beyond repair) when crashed into trees on take-off at Avalong Airport, Geelong, Victoria 27.4.52. Registration cancelled 26.5.52.

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
15-May-2025 15:05	Dr. John Smith	Added