Lockhead 12-A Electra Junior ZK-LHE

The first of its type to be operated on the New Zealand civil register is this Lockheed 12-A Electra Junior ZK-LHE c/n 1262 as registered on 08-11-2024 to a Private Owner.

This airframe was delivered to the United States Army Air Force as a Lockheed C-40A on 23-03-1939 with the military serial of 38-545. It was re-designated as a UC-40A in January 1943.

Post World War Two it entered the US civil register as NC48471 followed by N48471, N87P, N299A and then to N712FM in 1962.

After about eight civilian owners it was purchased by Ray Piggot of Mareeba, Queensland and ferried into Cairns in mid 1982. Ray intended to start up 'Air Heart Safaris' but this did not eventuate, and I believe the aircraft was withdrawn from use in 10-1983.

The photo above was taken by Willian Gray at Mareeba, Queensland on 08-10-1982.

Marked as 712FM.

Its US registration was cancelled on 17-07-1987 for it to become VH-HID from 16-09-1987 with J J Rundell of Greenwood, West Australia and was ferried across to Jandakot on 26-10-1987.

Australian Aircraft Sales Pty Ltd of Mascot, NSW listed it from 02-02-1989 followed by International Jetliners Pty Ltd of Mascot from 30-12-1997, and I believe it was operated by John Love out of Albury before returning to Australian Aircraft Sales (NSW) Pty Ltd in late 2001.

Doug Hamilton of Whorouly, Victoria added it to his collection from 09-08-2007.

It was briefly marked up in a USAAC scheme for its part in the movie 'Unbroken' but quickly reverted to its polished aluminium scheme.

VH-HID was ferried from Wangaratta to Taree and Lord Howe Island by Doug Hamilton and Steve Death on 08-05-2022, then on to Norfolk Island and Auckland on the 9th. To Timaru on the 10th and then to Wanaka.

As part of the overall deal Steve Death then ferried the Mustang Flights Ltd's North American P51D Mustang ZK-SAS - which had been re-registered as VH-LUI on 14-06-2024 to Precision Airmotive Pty Ltd at Whorouly (Doug Hamilton) - from Wanaka to Kerikeri on 17-06-2024, then to Norfolk Island and Coolangatta on the 18th.

VH-HID was on display at Warbirds over Wanaka as seen above on 28-03-2024.

I next noted it at Alexandra in the care of Arron Cooper and his team at Tinshed Aviation where it was placed on the NZ register on 08-11-2024.

The three photos below were taken at Alexandra on 22-11-2024 with thanks to Arron Cooper.

Still wearing its old VH-HID markings - although now officially ZK-LHE.

This however is not the first Lockheed 12-A to be operated in New Zealand as N14999 c/n 1252 was operated here early this century by Pat Donovan.