WWII RAAF aircraft

[Dave Homewood]

How many genuine RAAF aircraft from WWII are currently in preservation? And what state are they in (museum static, flying, restoration, etc)?

Can we see some photos with histories, locations, combat data and more if possible. I think there's a few Spitfires, some Boomerangs, Bostons, Wirraways. Whaty else are there that are genuine RAAF?

[corsair67]

There's a Beaufighter in Melbourne that was salvaged from a caravan park by Dick Hourigan in the 1970s, and I hope to get to see that sometime soon!

[yak2]

The Beaufighter is in the museum at Moorabbin Airport. They also have a Wackett trainer and a Wirraway. Temora's MkVIII Spitfire. The 6 CAC Mustangs flying are all post WW2 as are the others in museums (AWM, Williamtown) or stored pending rebuild (Tyabb). There are 2 Boomerangs flying and another complete static exhibit at Point Cook. Dick Hourigan has a restored fuselage. Quite a few Wirraways are on display in museums (Melbourne, RAAF, AWM, Nowra etc) and a number are airworthy (Tyabb, Albury, Temora, Caboolture) The 2 Bostons are ex USAF. Most DH82's are RAAF WW2 veterans, as are several DC3's and the DC2 at Tyabb. Not sure about the Walrus at Point Cook. There is a magnificent Mosquito at the AWM in Canberra, with another (English built) on long-term restoration at Point Cook. Of the 700 Beauforts built here, not much is left. A nose section at the Moorabbin museum, and a major restoration to flying in Brisbane. Lancaster G George at the AWM served with a RAAF squadron attached to the RAF. There was an interesting collection at Camden including a Vultee Vengeance, but I am unsure as to the status of that collection. A number of Ryan PT22's are still flying although some are ex NEIF aircraft. Several incomplete Ansons, a Fairey Battle fuselage, Curtiss Kingfisher and couple of Wacket trainers survive, as do several commercial aircraft that were impressed into the RAAF during the war (eg Stinson Reliant). I'm sure I have overlooked some obvious types, however all the other WW2 aircraft that I can think of in Australia (T6's, P40's, P38, P47's, Corsair, B24, B25, the Perth Lancaster & Spitfire, P51's, P39's, Catalinas, Kawasaki Ki 61, Zero, Storch, Me 109, 262 and 163 were operated by other air forces. Not much to show from what was once one of the largest air forces in the world!

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks yak2.

So are there no airframes or even remains of genuine RAAF aircraft such as the P-39, Liberators or P-38?

I'm sure i read of a Liberator wreck in NT that was to be redovered back in the 1990's?

We have a couple of your P-40's here in NZ, one flying, one soon to (and you have a couple of RNZAF ones).

Don't forget you have TB863, genuine RAAF aircraft too.

So where did the HARS black catalina come from?

That Beaufort used to be here in NZ, at Ardmore, after recovery from PNG. That will be great to see in the air again!

[corsair67]

I've just remembered there is a Liberator being rebuilt in Werribee (between Melbourne and Geelong), and it's an ex-RAAF B-24M fuselage.

Dave, I'll have a good think about this on the weekend, because I'm sure there are more ex-RAAF aircraft around than what we've come up with so far.

[Dave Homewood]

There must be others outside of Aussie too - we have the two P-40's here. There's an Aussie Seagull V, Hudson and Beaufort at Hendon, riight?

[phil82]

I've seen the Werribee B24, the last time I was at Avalon, and it must be said they're an enthusiastic bunch, but it will never amount to more than a display.

[yak2]

I think the RAAF only operated 2 Lightnings which were ex USAF, and used for recon in SW Pacific theatre. The Werribee B24 is a composite with a fair chunk coming from New Guinea. There is another B24 wreck in the NT/Qld but it is USAF. Many of the RAAFs 200+/- Liberators scrapped at Tocumwal after the war. An obvious omission is the Auster Mk111. The RAAF operated around 54 in the AOP role in New Guinea etc. A few are still flying. DeHavilland built 80+ Dragons in Sydney during the war and several survive eg. Point Cook museum. And there are a couple of Hudsons around. Apart from the Kiwi based P40's, overseas the Duxford Beaufighter is a DAP built ex RAAF aircraft, and Kermit Weekes has a Wirraway in the US. A couple of 'foreign' warbirds approaching completion of long term restorations are the Hosking Corsair which was sourced out of NZ, and Judy Pay's Merlin engined P40 which was recovered from Vanuatu. Think the Corsair was swapped for the P40 now at Wigram (also ex Vanuatu and originally a rare Merlin powered model?) It is presently under restoration in Darwin, but will be based at Tyabb along with Judy's aircraft. The ex RNZAF T6 that Judy acquired in a partly restored condition has been finally finished in an early USAAF training scheme and is absolutely stunning.....really must figure out how to upload photo's to this site!
Rob

[Dave Homewood]

I have just looked out my copy of Ross Gillett's "Australia's Military Aircraft" to clarify:

RAAF Liberators - A total of 254 Consolidated B-24J's were operated by the RAAF, quite amazing so little is left

RAAF Lightnings - 3 of only used at different times for PR work

RAAF Auster AOP's - 60 of entered service in 1944. I never really think of the Auster as a wartime aircraft, and tend to forget it's important roles

DH84 Dragon - a total of 98 were used by the RAAF from 1940-45. Amazing. There are currently only six Dragons flying in the world, one of them here.

Yes, the RNZAF Museum swapped the F4U-5N they owned for the second P-40F wreck (now being restored as a P-40E). Judy pay's will be the only F model in the world.

The photo thing is a bind, but go to the subsection on Forum Information at the top of the General Board, there's a good guide on how to do it linked from a post by Robbo.

Great input there Rob. Thanks.

[Dave Homewood]

In fact Rob, to save you the trouble, here's Robbo's excellent guide how to

forum.planetalk.net/viewtopic.php?t=433

[yak2]

Thanks Dave. I will give it a try.
Here's a comprehensive list of WW2 RAAF aircraft according to "Digger History".
Aircraft Type In Service Numbers Speed Crew/load
Airspeed Oxford Transport 1940-53 391 302km/h .
Auster AOP Observation 1944-59 62 209km/h 2
Avro Cadet Trainer 1935-45 34 187km/h .
Avro Anson Bomber 1937-55 1028 302km/h .
Avro Lancaster Bomber 1943-46 2 452km/h 7
Beechcraft 17 Communications 1941-47 3 293km/h 4
Bell P-39 Airocobra Fighter 1942-43 22 576km/h 1
Brewster Buffalo Fighter 1941-43 17 504km/h 1
Bristol Bulldog Fighter 1930-40 8 280km/h 1
Bristol Beaufort Light Bomber 1941-46 701 431km/h .
Bristol Beaufighter Fighter 1942-57 581 515km/h 2
CAC Boomerang Fighter 1942-46 250 491km/h 1
CAC Wackett Trainer 1941-46 202 177km/h .
CAC Wirraway Trainer 1939-58 755 354km/h 2
CAC Woomera Bomber 1941-46 2 454km/h 3
Cessna Airmaster Communications 1941-45 1 261km/h 4
Consolidated PBY Catalina Flying Boat 1941-50 168 315km/h .
Consolidated B-24 Liberator Bomber 1944-48 287 483km/h .
Curtis Shrike (Helldiver) Dive Bomber 1943-44 10 442km/h 2
Curtis P-40 Kittyhawk Fighter 1942-46 848 582km/h 1
De Havilland DH.86 Transport/Ambulance 1939-45 8 267km/h 10
De Havilland Dragon Transport 1940-45 98 206km/h 6-8
De Havilland Dragon Rapide Transport 1935-44 8 252km/h 7-9
De Havilland Dragonfly Transport 1942 1 232km/h 5
De Havilland Fox Moth Transport 1941-45 4 198km/h 5
De Havilland Glider Transport 1942-51 8 322km/h 7
De Havilland Mosquito Fighter-Bomber 1943-53 285 611km/h 2
De Havilland Moth Trainer 1926-46 122 164km/h 2
De Havilland Moth Minor Trainer 1940-45 42 190km/h 2
De Havilland Tiger Moth Trainer 1939-57 861 175km/h 2
Dornier Do 24K Flying Boat 1942-44 6 314km/h .
Douglas Dolphin Amphibian 1940-45 4 241km/h 8
Douglas A-20 Boston Light Bomber 1942-45 69 544km/h .
Douglas DC-2 Transport 1940-46 10 325km/h .
Douglas C-47 Dakota Transport 1943-77 128 368km/h .
Fairchild 24 Communications 1940-46 4 212km/h 4
Fairey Battle Bomber/Trainer 1940-49 366 388km/h 2
Ford Trimotor Transport 1942 2 217km/h .
Hawker Demon Fighter/Bomber 1935-42 64 293km/h 2
Hawker Hurricane Fighter 1941-46 1 512km/h 1
Junkers G31 Transport 1942 3 175km/h 6
Lockheed Hudson Bomber 1940-48 247 406km/h .
Lockheed P-38 Lightning Photo Recon 1942-44 3 636km/h 1
Lockheed Lodestar Transport 1943-47 10 413km/h .
Lockheed Ventura Bomber 1943-46 75 502km/h .
Lockheed Vega Transport 1942-44 1 290km/h 6
Martin PBM Mariner Flying Boat 1943-46 12 330km/h .
Miles Magister Trainer 1938-40 1 212km/h 2
Noorduyn Norseman Transport 1943-46 14 249km/h 10
Northrop Delta Transport 1942-43 1 354km/h 8
North American B-25 Mitchell Bomber 1943-46 75 502km/h .
North American/CAC Mustang Fighter 1945-60 499 636km/h 1
Republic P-43 Lancer Fighter/Recon 1942-43 8 573km/h 1
Ryan STM Trainer 1942-45 34 206km/h 2
Short Sunderland Flying Boat 1939-46 6 339km/h .
Short Empire Flying Boat 1939-43 5 322km/h .
Stinson Reliant Communications 1941-45 1 246km/h 5
Supermarine Walrus Amphibian 1935-47 61 217km/h 3
Supermarine Spitfire Fighter 1942-45 656 650km/h 1
Vought-Sikorsky Kingfisher Floatplane 1942-48 18 264km/h 2
Vultee Vengeance Dive Bomber 1942-46 342 449km/h 2
Wackett Gannet Transport 1935-45 6 241km/h 7
Waco YQC-6 Transport 1942-44 1 228km/h 4-5
Westland Wapiti Bomber 1929-43 44 . 2
This list does not include RAF aircraft flown by RAAF squadrons in UK/Europe or the Middle East/North Africa.
I have an idea that the RAAF also operated two B29's . If true, does anyone know their fate?

[Dave Homewood]

Some amazing aircraft types there.

Not B-29's, but B-50's. The RAAF operated two Boeing Washington B1's from 1952-57. Ross Gillett's book says when removed from service their engines were removed and the airframes were sold. There's a photo of one being broken up, so I assume both were scrapped sadly.

[corsair67]

The P-40E (A29-133) on display at the AWM is an ex-RAAF aircraft, and is a veteran of the Battle of Milne Bay in 1942.

There is also a Douglas Boston which is ex-RAAF, and I believe is on display at Point Cook (don't quote me on that though!) ;-)

Don't forget Temora's Hudson and Spitfire Mk8!

Rob, do you have any idea of when the mighty F4U-5 will fly again? I can't wait to see her in the air!!!!!!!!!!

[Dave Homewood]

I'm looking forward to seeing that Corsair aloft too. I used the oagle it almost every day when it was stored at Wigram right next to my workshop...

There is also the ex-Don Subritzky Spitfire Mk Vb now? It was RAAF and rescued from PNG I think. I heard it's being restored at Duxford.

[yak2]

The Corsairs owner is presently at Oshkosh....will get an update from him when he returns in a week or so. Had a look at the colour test pieces for both it (dark blue) and Judy's P40 (green/grey) last weekend. Considerable research is being done by Dick Hourigan and others at The Old Aeroplane Company to ensure accuracy. Hopefully both will be operational for our 2008 airshow. Tks for the B50 info.

[AJ]

corsair67 said:

There is also a Douglas Boston which is ex-RAAF, and I believe is on display at Point Cook (don't quote me on that though)

Your right Corsair, the ex-RAAF Boston J for Jessica is displayed at point Cook and a magnificent piece of work at that!
Also read on another forum that ex-RAAF P-39 A53-1 is about to under go restoration to static condition in Adelaide - can't wait for that one!!

[yak2]

Corsair 67, you will have to be patient for another 2-3 years to see Hocko's Corsair operational again. Although it is looking fairly complete, much still to be done to ensure an historically accurate result. Look for an updated report in a future Flightpath magazine as the Editor recently spent a week in Darwin.

[corsair67]

Corsair 67, you will have to be patient for another 2-3 years to see Hocko's Corsair operational again. Although it is looking fairly complete, much still to be done to ensure an historically accurate result. Look for an updated report in a future Flightpath magazine as the Editor recently spent a week in Darwin.

Cheers for that update, Rob. I will keep an eye out for the edition of Flightpath with the article about the Corsair.

Last time I saw this Corsair she was being readied at Wigram for shipment to Australia, and she looked pretty sad. I knew it'd be a big project to get her flying again, so I can wait at least another couple of years.