Warbirds

Following the successful flight of VH-LLD at Bendigo Ray Goulding contacted Steve Ferris of International Air Parts, Sydney, the firm that sold the aircraft to Dr John Pierce, to report the news. As a result of the discussion Steve has consigned another Strikemaster to Ray Goulding to get back in the air, proving that you do not have to be in a capital city to be able to work on jets or do good maintenance work. This second machine, owned by IAP, is former RNZAF serial NZ6371 that will become VH-ONP when completed. When interviewed Ray Goulding was of the view that NZ6371/VH-ONP would only take about four to five months to complete now that a learning curve of experience has been gained with VH-LLD.

Wartime Beaufighter Wreck Discovered

Early in November a French survey team discovered the wreckage of a wartime RAAF Beaufighter in thick jungle near Ubili on the north coast of New Britain, PNG. Following the discovery an RAAF team went to the site and recovered the remains of the two crew members, the pilot, Flying Officer Percy John Coates of Lake Boga, Victoria, and his Wireless Air Gunner, Flying Officer Charles Hilton Chapple of Greenthorpe, NSW. Identification discs and forensic tests confirmed the identities.

The remains of the two crew members were buried in the same coffin at the Bita Paka war cemetery, near Rabaul on November 25. The date coincides with the anniversary of the crash 52 years ago. Relatives of the families attended but Flying Officer Coates’ widow was too ill to attend. The pilot and his gunner were aged 26 and 21 respectively at the time of their deaths. Flying Officer Coates had been married less than a year.

In commenting on the discovery the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Dave Rogers, said that the RAAF takes the issue of missing RAAF personnel very seriously. “We go out of our way to ensure the crews of these aircraft are interred with appropriate ceremony”, he said. The RAAF says there are still hundreds of allied aircraft crashes still unresolved in the southwest Pacific area of wartime operations.

Reporting on the finding of the Beaufighter daily newspapers stated that the aircraft had been shot down by the Japanese however it would appear that this was not the case. The aircraft was a British built (Weston) Bristol Beaufighter Mk.XIc, serial A19-139, that was being operated by 30 Squadron from Kiriwina Island, 445 kilometres east of Port Moresby. On November 25, 1943, the aircraft, in company with A19-54 was engaged in a low level offensive barge sweep as part of the effort to cut the Japanese supply lines. It was just after 8am that the two aircraft were flying along the coast at Bangula Bay, near Cape Hoskins, when the port engine of A19-139 was seen to emit smoke. The aircraft then rolled onto its back and dived into the jungle where it crashed and burnt. A19-54 circled the crash site but there was no sign of the two crew members of A19-139. Squadron records listed the two as missing.

Now the final chapter has been written as to their fate. Given the expansion of population and increased use of land in the Pacific islands and PNG, one can only wonder as to how many more wartime aircraft wrecks and their crews will be found in the years to come. The discovery of Beaufighter A19-139 will not be the last.

Raaf 75th Anniversary Dates

Over the past two issues AA has noted that there was to have been only two airshows to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Royal Australian Air Force. The only official airshow to be held by the RAAF is to be at RAAF Base Amberley, Qld, over the weekend of May 4/5, 1996. Another airshow is to be held at Point Cook (RAAF Williams) on Sunday March 31, 1996, in conjunction with Rotary International. This airshow will not only help celebrate the founding of the RAAF at its birthplace, Point Cook but will also draw attention to Point Cook being the location for the National Air and Space Museum of Australia (NASMA).

Since the above two events have been noted this column has become aware of further planned 75th anniversary events to take place in 1996 to celebrate the founding of the RAAF. These further events are to take the form of open days at the various RAAF bases and centres around the country. The details are as follows: Hobart, Sunday February 11. RAAF Williams, Sunday February 18. RAAF Edinburgh, Sunday March 17. RAAF East Sale, Sunday March 24. RAAF Williamtown, Sunday April 21. RAAF Pearce, Sunday May 12. Alice Springs, Sunday July 21.

A superb collection of pencil and charcoal drawings by artist John Stewart-Jones. Size 12¾ x 10in. Price only $20 AUD each. VISA/Mastercard accepted. The Hawker Typhoon is just one of a collection of over 20 titles. Send $2 AUS for our mail order catalogue. 512 Miles Street, Bankstown Airport, NSW 2200 Australia Phone (02) 791 0386 • Fax (02) 790 1913 The Aeroplane Company

‘Pacific Lightning’ by Matthew Waki is one of a number of spectacular WW2 prints available from Adelaide based Aerodrome Gallery. The print features the Lockheed P-38L Lightning of Major Thomas B McGuire in late November 1944. Major McGuire was America’s second highest scoring fighter ace of all time. Aerodrome Gallery can be contacted on (08) 238 1833, or fax (08) 239 1701.

RAAF Townsville, Sunday August 11. RAAF Tindal, Saturday August 17. RAAF Darwin, Sunday August 18. RAAF Wagga, Sunday October 13. RAAF Richmond, Sunday November 17.

Aviation Museums Conference Relocation

Since it was reported in the October issue of AA that the Australian Aviation Museums Association 1996 National Conference was to have been held in Adelaide a change of venue has come about.

The new conference location is to be at Nowra, at the Australian Naval Aviation Museum over the period May 3 to 5. Registration brochures should be available early in the new year from either the Director ANAM, Commander Mike Lehan, Box A15, Naval PO Nowra, NSW, 2540. Ph (044) 211 920 fax (044) 211 999 or from Mark Clayton in New Zealand on Ph 64 6 8357781 fax 64 6 8353984.

The switch in conference location was brought about by matters outside of the control of the original venue host.

Aaaa Auster Fly-In

St Arnaud in Victoria was the location for the 17th Annual Auster rally held by the Antique Aeroplane Association of Australia (AAAA) over the weekend of November 25/26. Eighteen Austers attended the rally with more than 30 aircraft in total at the event. The Auster that flew the longest distance came from northern NSW and the meeting was even attended by several Auster owners from New Zealand who were keen to talk about their kind of aeroplane with Australian owners of the type. At the evening gathering trophies were awarded in several classes including Best Auster that went to Scott and Craig Taberner for their Beagle/Auster A.61, VH-WFM, while the Honest (most original) Auster award went to Graeme Smith with his Auster J/1B Aiglet, VH-KAQ.

St Arnaud has been the host site for the Auster rally 15 times, so much so that the local council has even erected a large sign board at the entrance to the airport giving not only the name of the airport but featuring a picture of a flying Auster in the centre. A nice touch.

Now to misquote an old expression, the family that flies together stays together. This is certainly the case with the Taberner family that attended the rally in two aircraft. Graeme and wife Jenny flew in their Beagle A.109, VH-DCR, while sons Scott and Craig arrived in their Beagle A.61, VH-WFM. As if to emphasise the point the family members wore custom printed tee-shirts. The shirts had a Beagle boy face complete with eye mask and below was the logo of A.61 or A.109 and the words, Beagle Boys Inc. For the record the tee-shirts were coloured grey, prison grey!

Beech Staggerwing for New Zealand

At Ardmore, New Zealand, a Beech D17S Staggerwing is currently being reassembled by Flightline Aviation and when it makes its first NZ flight it will be only the second one of its type to have been operated in that country. The biplane Beech, serial number 203, built back in 1938, was previously registered as CF-CCA prior to its import by owners Robin and Elaine Campbell of Bucklands Beach, Auckland. Powered by a 450hp (335kW) Pratt & Whitney R985 Wasp radial the aircraft has a cruise speed of over 150kt (278km/h), burning some 75 litres of fuel per hour.

In commenting on the project John Bushell, Flightline Aviation’s Technical Support Manager, said “there has been a lot of interest in the project. We have not had a Staggerwing in New Zealand for 40 years, so everyone is understandably excited about and looking forward to its first flight”. John went on to say “With the absence (of a Staggerwing) from New Zealand of 40 years, Civil Aviation is treating it as a first of type, however everyone involved has expressed a lot of willingness to help, so we’re looking forward to getting everything in order in the near future”.

There is no doubt that the Campbells have not only an antique aircraft but one that has good performance and that is bound to draw a crowd whenever they taxi in at any airport.

Anson Export Approved

The owner of Avro Anson VH-BAF, the only airworthy Anson in Australia, has mounted the first successful legal challenge to the Protection of Moveable Cultural Heritage Act. The Anson was one of only eight of 374 applications for export denied by the National Cultural Heritage Committee. However VH-BAF’s owner challenged the Committee’s decision in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, clearing the way for the Anson’s export.

Ke Boga Wwii Flying Boat Base Book Released

Late October saw the much awaited release of a book on the history of the wartime flying boat base at Lake Boga in northern Victoria.

Lake Boga at War was formally launched at a function at Lake Boga on Sunday October 29. Written by Swan Hill historian Brett Freeman the book details the history of the Lake Boga based No 1 Flying Boat Repair Depot. Located almost 300km inland the base was set up in 1942 to repair wartime flying boats. In its time it housed large numbers of personnel from the RAAF, the US armed forces and the Dutch Navy. Being inland the flying boat base was considered to be almost invulnerable to attack from aircraft and warships of the Japanese Navy which, at that time, were attacking targets along the eastern seaboard of Australia.

The book launch was attended by several hundred people including many former RAAF and WAAAF personnel. Also present were the Dutch Consul General, Mr David van Iterson, and the US Vice-Consul, Mr Tom Pierce. Both made comments about the lasting connections that Lake Boga had created with their respective countries.

These days Lake Boga is used as a recreation area by swimmers and water skiers. One can still see a guard house and the bases of various wartime buildings. Where the control tower stood there is only a concrete pad and a memorial plaque. Nearby is a restored Catalina in a display compound. A permanent museum display is planned using the wartime underground bunkers on the old base.

Lake Boga at War comprises 300 pages in hard back form, 155 photographs and documents as well as 17 full colour plates. Priced at $29.95rrp the book is available at selected outlets or, plus postage, direct from Catalina Publications c/- Brett Freeman, PO Box 170, Swan Hill, Vic. 3585. Ph (050) 32 1493.

As part of the book release an exhibition of wartime artwork relating to Lake Boga and the aircraft types that operated there is to be displayed at the Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery until January 1996. Above the display is a Catalina wing giving a dramatic set piece to the artwork below.

In Brief

Aircraft exhibits from the failed Essendon airport market venture are apparently about to take wing, but not to fly. The Royal Flying Doctor Service (Qld) is negotiating to reacquire Beech Queen Air VH-TGA ‘Alan Vickers’ for use as a static exhibit. Meanwhile the Ballarat Aviation Museum is seeking to acquire Nomad P2-IAT together with a Cessna 411 that both took pride of place in the market display.

Saturday October 28 saw the disposal by auction of the last flying RAAF Winjeels, serial numbers A85-411, -415, -426 and -443 at RAAF Base Williamtown.

Take a flight into the past. Visit Queensland Air Museum located on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Open Wednesdays, Saturdays & Sundays 10.00am – 4.00pm (Most school & public holidays). Winner of 1992-93-94 Sunshine Tourism Awards. 1994 Finalist – Queensland Tourism Awards (Heritage Category). Caloundra Aerodrome. Phone (074) 92 5930.

The Alpine Fighter Museum collection has restored the Nakajima Ki-43 ‘Oscar’ formerly owned by Col Pay to the point where its engine runs and the aircraft can taxi under its own power. The machine will not be flown because to do so would involve so much rebuilding and restoration that the originality of the WWII Japanese aircraft would be lost. Even now wartime bullet and shrapnel damage is still visible and will not be patched up. Already the machine has attracted much attention from Japanese war veterans keen to see the machine that they knew 50 years ago. The aircraft will be a star feature of the Easter 1996 Warbirds over Wanaka airshow.

During late November the Royal New Zealand Air Force advertised the disposal of CT-4B Airtrainer and T6/24 Airtourer aircraft spares. The surplus spares were all consumable items, C class. Companies were invited to register interest for the disposal of the spares.

September 28 1995, saw the passing away of aviator William (Bill) Campbell-Hicks. Born in Canada, Mr Campbell-Hicks lived a life of aviation the likes of which would be hard to repeat today. He flew in some 20 countries after experiencing his first flight balanced on his father’s knee in a Curtiss Jenny. During WWII he joined the American Eagle Squadron and later transferred to the RAF where he flew heavy aircraft for the rest of the war. After the war he married an Australian girl and emigrated to Australia where he continued to fly, becoming the CFI at Kingsford Smith Flying Services at Bankstown.

Later he moved to Condobolin in the far west of NSW. In the 1960s he moved to Melbourne where he started Campbell-Hicks Airways at Moorabbin airport. In the sunset of his flying career Mr Campbell-Hicks became the experienced CFI with Groupair at Casey Field, Berwick, before retiring to Leongatha. He passed away at Bairnsdale, Victoria.