1/48 TBF-1c Avenger NZ2513 "Potato Hop"

[dewobz]

Here's my completed 1/48 Avenger depicted as NZ2513, one of two aircraft converted to carry a 75 gallon tank and spray equipment in the bomb bay for the purpose of spraying diesel onto the Japanese gardens in Northern Bougainville. Pilot Frank Holmes, Navigator Harold Kelsey, Turret Gunner [Arch Alexander(?)]. This is for long-term loan to Harold along with his 1/72 Short Sunderland III. I couldn't do Watering Can mission markings decals so these are cut down italic 'III's from Hobby Boss's F6F Hellcat "Minsi III". Not great real close up but necessity is the mother of invention -

DSCN2229 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2215 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2219 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2214 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2231 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2204 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2207 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2209 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2217 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

I had to invent and scratch build what is in the bomb bay, although Frank Holmes is clear in his memoirs it was a 75 gallon tank. He apparently didn't favour 'nose art' either so I have depicted NZ2513 as an Avenger without any.

DSCN2220 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2224 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2226 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

DSCN2227 by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

Regards
Wally.

[Calum]

Great work Wal

[ZacYates]

I remember hearing or reading about this a while back so it's very cool to see it represented in model form! Nice work. This airframe looks to have led a very harsh life.

[Dave Homewood]

The spray-equipped Avengers are detailed in Wally Ingham's book "The Avengers".

[davidd]

I have been re-reading a report (undated, but probably in latter part of 31 Squadron's tour) on the RNZAF's involvement with spraying of Japanese gardens on Bougainville from May 1944 onwards, attempting to locate additional information on the actual type of tank used to carry the diesel oil. Although this report confirms that it was of 75 (US) gallon capacity, I am not convinced that it was in fact a standard US drop tank as carried by fighters. However belly tanks of this capacity were dropped by RNZAF P-40s and USAAF P-39s in early experiments against the Japanese gardens; the P-39s used normal petrol-filled tanks, but with two incendiary sticks attached as fuses, while the tanks on the NZ P-40s were filled with equal quantities of aviation spirit (gasoline) and diesel, with a 'Home guard'-type ignition set. These trials with improvised equipment were moderately successful, but something more effective was desired. The Americans modified a TBF of VT-305 with a 75 gallon tank in the bomb-bay, although type of tank is unspecified. This was fitted with a crude "distribution pipe", but this had only a one-way "on valve" which could not be turned off once activated, so the entire contents of the tank had to be used on the one target by continuously attempting to fly around the area with a constant spray from the aircraft, thus exposing the TBF to constant ground fire whilst at an altitude of about 50 to 60 feet in gentle turns and comparatively slow airspeed. This was the crux of the problem and eventually led to the cancellation of the whole programme, as during the 82 operational sorties, only 58 were considered affective due to the various difficulties with the equipment, and the difficult spraying tactics themselves. Practically all these mission were flown by No. 31 Sqdn, RNZAF, although the improvised design was completed by the Americans, and could not be improved easily without obtaining special items and some redesign. The RNZAF described the spray tanks as "special", but give no further technical information. However I have a memory (from reading various other documents) that the tank used was in fact a modified version of the standard US Navy smoke generating tank which was originally designed to provide a smoke screen during naval surface actions to hide friendly ships from enemy units, although the gradual adoption of radar in naval battles by both sides (Americans leading!) tended to render this concealment tactic increasingly obsolete. Another type of "special" tank designed for use by TBFs was the auxiliary bomb-bay ferry tank; however this tank was much larger than the smoke generating equipment, being 270 US Gallons (1,042 litres) and it occupied the entire bomb bay. The RNZAF modified a couple of these tanks in 1948 for the Government-inspired topdressing trials undertaken at Ohakea, etc.

One of the reasons quoted for the abandonment of the spraying programme (apart from the statement in introduction to this report that "One of the possible reasons for the discontinuance of spraying was a reluctance to give the enemy an excuse for accusing the Allies of embarking on Chemical Warfare"), was the very limited effect that the spraying was estimated to be having on the exertions of the obviously industrious Japanese gardeners who were attempting to become self-sufficient in many types of root crops. "About 60 acres, as far as can be estimated, were sprayed with 4,350 gallons of diesel oil, and 225 gallons were used on six acres within the perimeter" (this last-mentioned acreage was actually the Allies' experimental plot, created to conduct trials to improve the destructiveness of various chemicals in the high-rainfall climate). "As the Japanese are estimated to have upwards of 1,000 acres of vegetable plots and rice fields on Bougainville and Buka, it can be appreciated that effective spraying with diesel oil would be a very long job and, meantime at least, it has been discontinued." It was also obvious that the Allied air commanders were becoming concerned with the rather meagre results and the increasing tendency of the enemy to fiercely protect his vegetables with very effective light A/A weapons, in concert with the enemy soldiers/gardeners themselves who were willingly using their rifles to defend their own rations, made easy by the large TBFs slowly circling over their precious gardens. One of the NZ TBFs engaged in these operations could have been easily lost when the belly gunner, in a burst of activity foolishly opened fire at enemy defences while diesel spray was streaming past immediately below him, the slipstream then sucking the flames into the aircraft's interior which immediately caught fire - a good account of this incident is included in Wally Ingham's excellent little book "We also served".
David D

[Dave Homewood]

Hey look, Wally was in the news!! Well done

m.nzherald.co.nz/northland-age/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503402&objectid=11500117