The Avro Anson was considered to be quite a little hottie when first released. However by the time the Second World War rolled around she was regarded as being quite a sedate performer. Consequently many Ansons were deployed as training aircraft. Others put in good service in, for example, RAF Coastal Command where they weren't likely be chased by Messerschmitts. This particular one was shipped from England to Australia in May 1941 and was in fact used as a trainer.

By 1962 they were grounded because their wooden wings spas were in danger of disintegrating due to age. While this one put in some post war service as a Royal Flying Doctor aircraft, after its grounding it was sold to the Air Training Corps for the princely sum of five cents, then donated to the museum in 1970.