Warbirds

On the 31st July 1945 the Goonawarra departed San Francisco bound for Brisbane with 33 new Mustangs on board. The docking date at Brisbane was actually the 18th August and during the following weeks, the RAAF aircraft depot at Amberley received 2 new P-51Ds (27/8/45, nos 778 & 779), 9 on the 3rd September (790-799) and 13 on the 6th (800-813) while on the 23rd August the Toowoomba aircraft depot also received a total of 9 (780-789) aircraft.

This then makes a total of 33 Mustangs and would seem to indicate that fortunately, the previously reported dumped aircraft were in fact to end their careers wearing RAAF roundels. Certain- ly a story with a happy ending.

Warbirds of Australia

A new Australian aviation group, calling itself Warbirds of Australia, has been formed with a view to furthering the interests of ex-military aircraft flying throughout the country. The new group will be comprised entirely of owners and operators of ex-military types and was formed following surveys conducted by warbird owners.

The stated objectives of Warbirds of Australia are the airworthy restoration and safe operation of all types of Warbird and Classic Military aircraft.

Following its initial formation, the group has arranged a series of Warbird Airshows that will display large numbers of these types at each venue. At present it is planned to have four Mustangs, four Sea Furys, two C-47’s, two Fireflys, the B-25 Mitchell, eight Winjeels and Harvards, Wirraway, Hudson and also Col Pay’s Spitfire, plus other types, in the display.

The dates and locations are listed as follows: Parafield 19th October, Melbourne 2nd November; Camden 16th November and Coolangatta on 30th November. The locations will allow viewing of the Warbird aircraft in each state.

For the Warbird enthusiast these displays will have to be a must-attend type of event and as planned will see the largest numbers of Warbird aircraft together since World War Two.

P. S. It is of note that WA Mustang restorer Derek Macphail has just clocked up his tenth year of trading as, you guessed it, Warbirds of Australia!

Stearman Crash at Goulburn

The Boeing Stearman of Jeff Leach has been badly damaged in an accident at Goulburn, NSW.

The accident, which happened on January 25, occurred when the big blue biplane, registered N68424, was involved in local circuit flying. Although exact details are unknown it has been reported that the aircraft was seen to slow down in flight and a wing drop before it impacted the ground.

The Stearman finished up upside down with the engine dislodged and the gear legs torn off. Locals report damage as extensive. The pilot, owner Jeff Leach, suffered cuts and abrasions and he and his 15-year-old son Nicholas, the other occupant, were both treated for shock.

Fleet Air Arm Museum

All three of the Australian Armed Forces have Museums of one sort or another. However of these one that is attracting a lot of attention is the RAN Fleet Air Museum at the Naval Air Station, HMAS Albatross, Nowra, NSW.

The Museum contains a well-displayed photographic record of our Naval Aviation from 1917 right through to the present time. In addition, there are numerous items of equipment, engines, and armament, including rockets and torpedoes and even ejection seats. Outside the Museum building is a collection of past RAN aircraft which includes a C-47, Wessex and Sycamore helicopter, Tracker, Sea Fury, Firefly and Venom aircraft. Each is displayed for easy photographing. A sales shop has a range of caps. badges, tee-shirts, windcheaters, etc. for sale.

The Museum is run and staffed by volunteers who do an excellent job of looking after the many thousands of people who visit each year. The Fleet Air Arm Museum is open from 10. 00 to 4. 00 daily except for Christmas Day and Good Friday. Admission is free and it is well worth a visit.

A spokesperson for the Museum said that donations or even loans of possible display items are most welcome to help further expand the displays and thus preserve Naval Aviation heritage for future generations. (When Warbirds recently visited the Museum two specific items for which donations were sought were noted: The tail fin assembly for a 500lb. ‘Iron’ bomb and shop mannequins or dummies in order to display flying garb). Since the Air Museum was reopened in 1983 and the RAN Historic Flight became operational the RAN has gained a valuable asset that promotes the Navy and allows the taxpayer to see what he gets for his money. The Museum and the Historic Flight are also excellent focus points for Navy recruitment by taking the Navy to the people.

Another ‘Cat’ Turns Up

Following the article in the last issue of Warbirds regarding a Catalina flying boat at Lake Boga, Vic. yet another Catalina has turned up, this time at Wallan, Vic.

The Wallan Cat is owned by enthusiast Dennis Ord of Melbourne. Dennis has long had an interest in the type and became aware of the hull of a Cat at Devenish in Northern Victoria where the owner, a farmer, had plans to convert it to a houseboat. Although told it was not for sale Dennis kept in contact and in late 1985 his luck changed and he was able to obtain the hull.

The Catalina hull is now stored on the Wallan property of local businessman and former wartime Catalina pilot, Ivo Righetti. The identity of the former RAAF flying boat is A24-19 and when Ivo checked his log books he found that he had flown the machine a number of times during the war, over 40 years ago! Dennis Ord plans to restore the hull and is after any and all parts he can obtain for the Cat. If any reader can assist, contact Dennis on (03) 366 5799.

Scone, Nowra Warbirds Events

Following the acceptance and popularity of the 1985 Warbirds gathering at Scone, NSW, well-known local Warbird operator, Col Pay, is arranging to hold a second gathering at Scone.

The date selected is Saturday October 5 and the next day. Sunday October 6 the Royal Australian Navy is holding an Airshow at the Nowra Naval Air Station, HMAS Albatross, at which a large number of Warbirds, both Navy and non-Navy types, will participate. Some aircraft will be seen at both events: however, these two events plus others, will really make 1986 one to remember for the Warbird enthusiast.

Mirage Mothballed.

Friday 13 December 1985 saw the retirement of Mirage A3-59 at Butterworth RAAF Base. Although not the oldest or highest time Mirage in RAAF service, it had however achieved the highest amount of fatigue.

First flown on 27 September 1967, A3-59 was ferried to Butter- worth and had logged almost all of its 3875 hours over the last 18 years in the Northern Hemisphere and in the tropics. A3-59 will be mothballed at Butterworth on a just-in-case basis. However, with the gradual introduction of the F-18 Hornet, it is possible that A3-59 may not take to the air again.

Navy Scout Rebuild

Minus one equals two could be the motto applied to the situation with the RAN Historic Flight Westland Scout, N8-101.

As reported in the January Warbirds column, the Scout was damaged in an accident following the Schofields Air Show last year. After the little helicopter was transported to Nowra and a survey carried out, it was found that the machine could be rebuilt. A search for parts disclosed that the British Army was disposing of its Scouts and so the Historic Flight has been able to not only obtain the necessary parts but also a complete machine suitable for the RAN Air Museum. Transport has yet to be arranged to bring the items from the UK.

Campaign Medals Fraud

Collectors of service decorations beware – a recent case of bogus medals for sale has come to light and there are bound to be more.

The bogus medals came to light when a set was reported as having been awarded to an Australian Army Vietnam war helicopter pilot. Major A. W. Hammett was advertised for sale in a British dealer’s catalogue.

A former soldier who had served with Major, now Brigadier, Hammett recognised the name. Investigation disclosed that Brigadier Hammett still had his decorations, the real medals. As the hobby of collecting military memorabilia gains momentum, it is possible for demand to exceed supply hence creating a potential market for unscrupulous persons to capitalise on by manufacturing bogus medals. For collectors of genuine medals and decorations, one can only warn- if in doubt, check.

Disposals Aircraft

With the impending arrival of a PV-1 Ventura bomber for the RAAF Air Museum at Point Cook Air Base, Vic. , reader F. Bow- den of Winston Hills, NSW has answered our call for information on surplus sales and forwarded a copy of a news cutting regard- ing Venturas about to be scrapped.

The news cutting, dated September 10, 1946, is from the Sydney Morning Herald and the photo shows a lineup of at least 16 Venturas at Richmond RAAF Base, NSW and notes that “they will soon be sold as scrap”. A number of Venturas in the photo can be seen to be carrying long-range underwing fuel tanks.

The news item had particular significance for Mr Bowden because his father had flown with No 13 Squadron in Ventura aircraft during the war.

Ran Historic Flight

At Nowra RAN Air Station, the Navy Historic Flight currently has two aircraft in the air and if all goes well, will have up to four more in the air shortly.

Flying aircraft at present comprise a C-47, N2-90 and Grum-man Tracker N12-152333. While the Westland Scout N8-101 is being rebuilt to fly again, the Flight has been working on Fairey Firefly WD826 and it is expected the machine will fly again before mid-year. While WD826 is in fact a Mk. 6, it will be restored as a Mk. 4, the only external difference being the non-retracting tail-wheel. The machine is already painted in a camouflage scheme and will contrast nicely with the Mike Wansey Korean scheme Firefly, VH-HMW.

Also in the pipeline are Venom WZ895, which basically only needs an engine change, and a Tiger Moth VH-NVT which will carry a colour scheme and the serial A17-692 to represent a Tiger that served the Navy many years ago.

The first helicopter that the RAN operated was the Bristol 171 Sycamore and the Historic Flight has obtained the former RAN machine, XA220, from the Sydney Tech with the view to putting it back in the air again. A set of unused rotor blades has also been obtained. This machine was the first RAN helicopter.

The Historic Flight, which holds a flying day at Nowra on the 1st Sunday of each month, was started in April 1985 and since that time has made great steps forward in preserving and displaying former front-line RAN aircraft.