de Havilland DH.89 Rapide * Retired *
Two ex-civil DH.89 obtained in 1938, later returned to civil ownership. One ex-civil DH.89 impressed in 1939 (it had previously been operated by the SRAF pre-war), which was returned to civil use in 1946. Another ex-civil DH.89 was obtained from South Africa in 1946 (as a replacement?), and later sold to a civil owner. A DH.89A was acquired in 1949, giving a total of 4 different aircraft which had been operated. Used for the transport/communications role. Three civil Rapides carried stores during the SRAF deployment to Nairobi on 29 August 1939. Rapides were also operated by Rhodesia and Nyasaland Airways Ltd, and may be the source of some of the civil aircraft. Other Rapides in Southern Rhodesia included VP-YAU (c/n 6285), VP-YBJ (c/n 6358), VP-YBK(6359) and VP-YBT (6404).

Serial	c/no.	Prev. Identity	Delivered	Fate/Notes
SR8	6412	VP-YBU	Aug 1938	'Southern Rhodesia', to VP-YBU
SR9	?		1938
SR23	6412	VP-YBU	1939	to VP-YNJ/F-OBOD Sept 1946. w/o 27 April 1965
SR24	6678	ZS-BCO	1946	was HG693/G-AHPW/ZS-BCO, to VP-YOY
SR57	6666	VP-YCM	July 1949	DH.89A. Was HG667/VP-YCM, to VP-YOL/9Q-CJD

References:

1. Rhodesian Air Force, A Brief History 1947-1980 (W A Brent, 1987)
2. Aircraft Markings of the World 1912-1967 (Bruce Robertson, 1967)