This picture is chilling: these three Vickers Viscounts that once flew for Trans Australian Airlines would all crash in Australia killing a total of 45.
The first was VH-TVA, called John Batman, after the founder of Melbourne, which would crash in a training accident at Mangalore just 18 days after delivery on October 31, 1954, killing all three crew.
The second was VH-TVB, delivered in late 1954 and named Gregory Blaxland, after the man who conquered the Blue Mountains.
In 1962, it was leased to Ansett-ANA and then purchased by the airline and then leased to MacRobertson Miller Airlines on September 10, 1968, and renamed Quininup.
It crashed on December 31, 1968, killing all 26 aboard.
READ: Faulty repair work doomed Viscount 50 years ago
The third in the picture is VH-TVC which was named John Oxley, after another Australian explorer.
This Viscount was also leased to Ansett-ANA in 1960.
It crashed into Botany Bay in November 1961 when it encountered gust loads from a severe thunderstorm well in excess of the design limits of the aircraft. All 15 aboard were killed.
After the loss of Quininup, the Australian government grounded Viscount 700s in Australia, although the type was being phased out as DC-9-30s from the Douglas Aircraft Company were being delivered.
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