So Many Questions!
BBad, Danny, et al,
Thanks for the warm welcome.
A few more answers for you: 2 Central Recovery Depot (2CRD) was a spin-off unit from 2AD (2 Aircraft Depot) and was also based at Richmond NSW with detachments at Mascot & Mount Druitt. At the conclusion of the War the unit was responsible for storing, classifying and preparing equipment for either retention or in many cases disposal.
A read through the 2AD records for mid-1943 and they show that there was a considerable effort expended in receiving, erecting and dispatching VV aircraft during the period. According to it's Form EE88, EZ999 was received by the depot ex USA in June '43. From 2AD records qty 4 VV were received for erection (what a great word to descibe bolting an aircraft together) at that time. By Oct '43 2AD state in their monthly Unit History Report that there were no VV awaiting erection although several were in the course of erection. If this is correct (and errors did occur in these reports) 2AD must have at least started to assemble the aircraft. Unfortunately quatities and not serial numbers are refered to in the monthly reports. Starting assembly makes some sense when you consider that at this point the RAAF was trying to get three squadrons equipped with the type and worked-up in preparation for deployment to New Guinea. I don't think it makes sense to leave one in the box. We know it never made it to the flightline as the EE88 records no servicing was ever performed on the aircraft. The EE88 for my current steed (DH82A) is several cards long and records every servicing ever performed on the aircraft during it's RAAF service, including during it's time in storage pending disposal.
Of note; its interesting that it wasn't until October '44, some 12 months later, that EZ999 was transfered into 2AD stores section. Was it left to languish in the back of the hangar for 12 months?
Cheers SF