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Post by corsair67 on Dec 1, 2005 18:20:46 GMT 12
Okay, I thought it was about time to see what your knowledge of the RAAF history is like. 1. Who was the first Chief of Air Staff of the RAAF and is also considered to be the “Father of the RAAF”? 2. Which animal features on the 75SQN crest, and what is the squadron’s motto? 3. Name the two aircraft types currently in service with 34SQN? 4. Name the three “bare bases” currently operated by the RAAF in QLD and WA? 5. What particularly remarkable feat was achieved by a CAC Wirraway of 4 SQN on the 26 December 1942? 6. Which twin-engined aircraft type clocked up 40 years of service with the RAAF in 2004? 7. After the RAAF retired the last of its Mirages in 1988, which nation purchased the majority of them in 1990? 8. Which dive bomber type was operated by five RAAF squadrons on operations in the South-West Pacific from 1942 until 1944? 9. Which RAAF squadron was reactivated from 1986 until 1988 to operate Mirages from Butterworth while other squadrons re-equipped with Hornets in Australia? 10. 28 (City of Canberra) SQN operates three aircraft for advertising/promoting the RAAF at public events; what type of aircraft are they?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 1, 2005 19:04:16 GMT 12
Crikey - I haven't got a clue. Completely guessing here
5. It shot down a Japanese fighter?
6. DHC Caribou?
7. Israel?
8. Helldiver?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 1, 2005 19:07:29 GMT 12
1. Air Marshal Sir Richard Williams KBE, CB, DSO was Father of the RAAF
Was the base Williamstown named after him?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 1, 2005 19:11:58 GMT 12
2. Magpie
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Post by corsair67 on Dec 1, 2005 19:18:34 GMT 12
Good work, Dave. ;D
1. Air Marshal Sir Richard Williams KBE, CB, DSO is indeed the "Father of the RAAF" and the first Chief of Air Staff. No, Williamtown wasn't named after him, but the Laverton/Point Cook are collectively known as RAAF Williams after Sir Richard.
5. Yes, a Wirraway did shoot down a Jap aircraft. Have a guess which type it bagged?
6. The 'Mighty' DHC-4 Caribou turned a spritely 40 in 2004. And there's no sign of it being retired just yet either: no other aircraft exists to replace it's capabilities!
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Post by corsair67 on Dec 1, 2005 19:20:56 GMT 12
Yep, No. 2. is Magpie; but what's the motto? I think the motto is rather apt for the maggie too!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 1, 2005 19:25:12 GMT 12
"We steal your shiny things" ??
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 1, 2005 19:27:54 GMT 12
That really was a guess, I never knew the Wirraway had killed in combat... From www.raafmuseum.com.au/raaf2/html/body_cac_wirraway.htm"Although designed as a 'general purpose' aircraft, the Wirraway proved unsuitable for combat duty. Nevertheless, the Wirraway's most glorious moment came on 26 December 1942, when Flying Officer J.S. Archer and Sergeant J.L. Coulson flying A20-103 of No 4 Squadron based at Dobodura, Papua and New Guinea, shot down a Japanese Zero near Buna on the coast of New Britain. Flying Officer Archer was rewarded with 6 bottles of beer, a rare commodity in New Guinea in those days"
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Post by corsair67 on Dec 1, 2005 20:15:35 GMT 12
Dave, it may come as a surprise, but "We steal your shiny things" is not the 75SQN motto! Luckily for Archer and Coulson, the Zero pilot didn't see the Wirraway flying above him, until the bullets started striking his aircraft!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 1, 2005 21:11:39 GMT 12
9. No. 79 Sqn RAAF?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 1, 2005 21:16:22 GMT 12
7. Pakistan
Whwere are all our Aussie memebrs these days? Setter, Stormbird, JDK???
Can't handle the pace of a quiz made by a Kiwi? ;D
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Post by corsair67 on Dec 1, 2005 21:22:34 GMT 12
Dave, your answer to question number 9 is correct.
79SQN has a Phoenix in its crest; which is very apt considering the squadron has been disbanded and reformed 4 times since its inception in 1942! Reformed (again!) in 1998 and currently based at Pearce in WA, 79SQN operates BAe 127 Hawks on fleet support and pilot training ops.
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Post by corsair67 on Dec 1, 2005 21:57:17 GMT 12
Pakistan became the proud owner of 51 ex-RAAF Mirages in 1990, which was the bulk of what was left of the 116 Mirages the RAAF had operated from 1964 until 1988 (42 were lost in accidents during RAAF service!).
My understanding is that Pakistan still has some of these Mirages in service today.
Yeah, where are all 'youse' Aussies?
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Post by corsair67 on Dec 4, 2005 20:17:25 GMT 12
Is anyone else going to have a bash at this?
Answers for any outstanding questions will be put up at 5-ish pm Aust. Eastern Summer Time tomorrow.
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Post by turboNZ on Dec 4, 2005 20:21:20 GMT 12
I would have thought No.8 was a Dauntless but I could be wrong..
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Post by turboNZ on Dec 4, 2005 20:23:14 GMT 12
Did the Wirraway shoot down a Zero ?
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Post by corsair67 on Dec 4, 2005 20:25:25 GMT 12
No, it's not the Dauntless.
It's a bit of a tricky one this question: the aeroplane in question is a product of the Vultee stable, and wasn't produced in huge numbers (although the RAAF recieved over 300!).
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Post by turboNZ on Dec 4, 2005 20:27:58 GMT 12
Not a Vengeance ?? Surely....
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Post by corsair67 on Dec 4, 2005 20:29:09 GMT 12
The Wirraway certainly did shoot down a Zero (Dave beat you to this one); but only because the Wirraway was above the Zero, and the Zero pilot didn't see them coming. Wirraway vs Zero in dogfight: I wouldn't want to be in the Wirraway.
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Post by corsair67 on Dec 4, 2005 20:30:15 GMT 12
Yep, Vengeance is correct!
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