RNZAF aircrew in RAAF Wirraways

[JDK]

G'Day All,

Undertaking a bit of research, and interested in references to RNZAF aircrew flying in RAAF Wirraways, notably in 21 Sqn RAAF in the Malaya battles.

Chatting to Dave Homewood, he advises he's seen some references, including a neat story by Wendell Phillips' encounter with a Zero, surviving several attacks, when operating with 21 Sqn. I'll leave it to Dave to maybe share that story!

Does anyone have any solid (referenced) details? Input appreciated, hope for mention of these chaps in print if we can!

Regards, James

[davidd]

Most of 488 Squadron's pilots were sent to a so-called Fighter OTU at Kluang, in Singapore, utilizing 21 RAAF Squadron's Wirraways prior to getting their Buffs. There were only a few Wirraways to hand, and very few experienced pilots to teach them. Some of the green New Zealanders had ben trained on Gordons (at Wigram) or Vincents (at Woodbourne), may also have been one or two who trained on Hawker Hinds at Ohakea/Levin. The lucky ones (such as Peter Gifford) had trained on Harvards at Wigram or Woodbourne. It seems to have been a very short course on the Wirraways, with Peter making 7 flights in all (including one as a passenger only, for local familiarisation of 30 minutes, instructor was F/L Kirkman, OC "B" Flight) between 14th and 18th October 1941. Aircraft in use were A20-47, -72, and -87, for a total of 6 hours 25 minutes flying time - hardly Fighter OTU stuff! It really was not a proper course at all, was noted as a "conversion" course, with Peter flying circuits and landings, stalls and spins, and aerobatics. He certainly never flew in any "battles", the Far East was still in its slumbering state, pre-war of course. In fact Peter only flew two solo flights, circuits and landings, with second also including steep turns. The other instructor was F/O White (possibly RNZAF).

David D

[tbf2504]

Geoff Fisken told me many years ago that when they were receiving the Buffalos from Seletar after assembling, they often used a Wirraway to take ferry pilots from Kallang to Seletar to pick up the aircraft. He said that:
"on one occasion while in flight I climbed from the back cockpit to the front one (on the outside of the fuselage) and the front cockpit pilot climbed out and went to the back cockpit." Maybe true or maybe a good yarn

[Dave Homewood]

Hahaha! Mad buggers!

I think I have heard that story before.

[phasselgren]

RNZAF pilots actually did more than training flights in the Wirraway. This is a short summary from the book Bloody Shambles by Christopher Shores and Brian Cull with Yasuho Izawa. On the 19th January 5 Wirraway trainers from Y Squadron operating from Kluang were used as bombers to attack petrol dumps, river traffic motor transport. Each aircraft were armed with twenty 40 lb anti-personnel bombs besides the machine guns.

Four had RNZAF pilots:

• Plt Off A.R Hemus, A20-87
  
• Plt Off G.W. Annand, A20-58
  
• Sgt E.M Castles, A20-72
  
• Sgt G.B. Steele A20-83
  

Most of them flying with RAAF air gunners.

All aircraft were damaged by ground fire but all returned except one flown by Bill Annand which crashed. He was wounded but could return to Kluang. They had escort by Buffaloes but Castles was attacked by a Japanese fighter however they managed to escape unhurt.

Regards
Peter

[Mustang51]

Dont have that book to hand at the moment....may be looking at the site from work....I seem to remember somewhere (maybe in "Bloody Shambles") seeing a pic of one of the Wirraways and a close up of a badge it was carrying on the fuselage...may be wrong....getting old

[Dave Homewood]

I am sure the Y Squadron Wirraways topic has been discussed before here on the forum.

[Dave Homewood]

Yes, here
rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/25086/fall-singapore-years-ago-today