DH86 Express in RAAF Service

[Dave Homewood]

In the book 'Australia's Military Aircraft' by Ross Gilbert it says eight de Havilland DH86 Express airliners were impressed into wartime RAAF service and used as air ambulances as far afield as the Middle East and New Guinea.

One, A31-8, was shot down by an enemy aircraft. Does anyone know more about this event, where, when, what enemy?

Have you any photos of the Express in RAAF service? I find the type interesting and very aesthetically pleasing. I'd like to know more about its exploits in the wartime RAAF, especially on the front line. Cheers.

[AJ]

Hi Dave, A31-8 was part of 1 Air Ambulance unit RAAF in the Desert. It was on its way to LG 134 to pick up casualties when it was attacked by 5 Bf110's from III/ZG26 and set on fire. The pilot, FO Duffield forced landed the blazing a/c on the edge of LG 122. Duffield and his two crew men survived but where badly burnt. The 110's were later attacked by 2 SAAF and 73RAF destroying 3 of them.
The RAAF operated a total of 8 DH.86's which saw service in 35 and 36 squadrons and as you mentioned also evacuated wounded from New Guinea in the openinh months of the war.
Heres a nice pic for ya!

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks for that info. Nice photo. I love the old DH86.