A55-1
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| Type: | L-222-62-13 Lightning F-4-1-LO |
| MSN: | 5376 * |
| Previous Identities: | 41-2158 * |
*
IMPORTANT: See here for clarification of identities.
History:
|
41-2158
|
|
| 17JAN42 | Received by USAAF. (Source: 4) |
| 22APR42 | Received Long Beach. (Source: 4) |
| 25APR42 | Received Lowry (8th PRS). (Source: 4) |
| 25MAY42 | Received Dallas. (Source: 4) |
| 14JUN42 | Received Lowry. (Source: 4) |
| 23JUN42 | Received Sacramento Air Depot. (Source: 4) |
| 06JUL42 | Received San Francisco (Port of Embarkation). (Source: 4) |
| 15JUL42 | Allotted SUMAC (Fifth Air Force SWPA) (Source: 4) |
| 12AUG42 | Received at CAC, Melbourne. (Source: 8) |
| 25AUG42 | Diverted to Australia. (Source: 4) |
|
A55-1
|
|
| 31AUG42 | Received at 1AD, Laverton, Vic. The Form E/E88 for A55-1 shows "Late 41-2158". (Source: 7) |
| 03OCT42 | Flt Lt Talberg, Flt Lt Sinnott and Flt Lt Lawrie received their twin endorsements in Oxford AS311 prior to converting to the Lightning. (Source: 2) |
| 07OCT42 | Local flight 1hr 55min (presumably at Laverton) Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 09OCT42 | Laverton-Hobart-Laverton 4hr 30min "circumnavigation of Tasmania" Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 15OCT42 | Issued to 1PRU ex 1AD. (Source: 7) |
| 28OCT42 | Departed Laverton in company with A55-2 on delivery to 1PRU. Flt Lt C.C. Lawrie. (Source: 9) |
| 30OCT42 | Arrived 1PRU Hughes N.T. (Source: 5) |
| 09NOV42 | R/T Test 45min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 09NOV42 | R/T test 30min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 10NOV42 | Photo Recce Dili, Aileu, Moabisse 4hr 45min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 15NOV42 | Unserviceable at Hughes. (Source: 7) |
| 06DEC42 | 1PRU completed relocation from Hughes to Coomalie Creek, N.T. (Source: 5) |
| 11DEC42 | High altitude engine test 50min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 12DEC42 | High altitude engine test 45min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 20DEC42 | High altitude engine test 30,000ft 1hr 15min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 29DEC42 | Photo Recce Timor but returned owing to unsuitable weather, continuous solid cloud and lightning in the dark along with heavy turbulence. 1hr 50min day, 1hr 30min night plus 2hr instruments/cloud. (Total: 5hr 20min - Talberg's longest flight in a Lightning.) Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 02JAN43 | Recce flight, F/O P.B. Sinnott. (Source: 5) |
| 03JAN43 | Recce flight, Flt Lt C.C. Lawrie. (Source: 5) |
| 05JAN43 | Photo Recce Fuiloro-Dilli. Four runs over Fuiloro at 14,000ft. Zero waiting over Dilli but managed to dodge and took photos. 4hr 40min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 14JAN43 | Recce flight, Flt Lt C.C. Lawrie. Unserviceable due failure of port supercharger. (Source: 5) |
| 02FEB43 | Engine test 25,000ft 1hr. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 12FEB43 | Ferried to 1AD, Laverton by Flt Lt C.C. Lawrie for 240 hourly inspection. (Source: 5) |
| 14FEB43 | Received 1AD Laverton ex 1PRU. (Source: 7) |
| 24MAR43 | Ferried from 1AD, Laverton to 1PRU, Coomalie Creek by Flt Lt P.B. Sinnott. (Source: 5) |
| 28MAR43 | Photography Dili, Flt Lt P.B. Sinnott. Engine unserviceable. |
| 31MAR43 | Photography Penfoei, Flt Lt P.B. Sinnott. Engine unserviceable - faulty intercooler and supercharger. |
| 18APR43 | Aircraft test 1hr 15min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 21APR43 | Photo recce Fuiloro, Sqn Ldr L.W. Law. |
| 22APR43 | Conversion to type by Flt Lt F.H.W. Robilliard. Altitude test 20000 ft Anson Bay - Pine Creek - Base (presumably Coomalie Creek) 1hr. (Source: 1) |
| 23APR43 | Local flying Coomalie Creek 1hr 35min. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source: 1) |
| 24APR43 | Photo recce Dili, Flt Lt P.B. Sinnott. (Source: 5) |
| 25APR43 | Photography North Goulbourne Island, Flt Lt C.C. Lawrie. (Source: 5) |
| 26APR43 | Photography
Cape Fourcroy 6000ft 2hr. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source: 1) (1PRU ORB states Cape Helvetius). |
| 27APR43 | Photo recce Atamboea, Flt Lt C.C. Lawrie. (Source: 5) |
| 28APR43 | Aircraft and R/T test 25,000ft 1hr. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 28APR43 | Survey flight of Timor, Sqn Ldr W.L. Law. Aircraft unserviceable. (Source: 5) |
| 29APR43 | Photo Recce Portuguese Timor 4hr 5min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) 1PRU ORB states that weather was unfavourable. |
| 01MAY43 | Alt and wireless test 26000ft 1hr 15min. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source: 1) |
| 03MAY43 | Photography
Saumlaki and vicinity 20000ft 3hr 30min. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source:
1) (1PRU ORB states photo recce Gaumlaki, Alilit & Seframat. Weather unsuitable). |
| 05MAY43 | Photos Wessel Is 20000ft 4hr 40min. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source: 1) |
| 06MAY43 | Photography Wessel Island, Flt Lt F. Robilliard. (Source: 5) |
| 11MAY43 | Survey of Portuguese Timor, Flt Lt P.B. Sinnott. Weather unsuitable. |
| 13MAY43 | Photo
COO-67-2 Fuiloro 20000ft 4hr. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source: 1) (1PRU ORB states survey of Portuguese Timor. Weather unsuitable). |
| 18MAY43 | Engine and camera test 25,000ft 1hr 30min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 24MAY43 | Survey of Portuguese Timor, Flt Lt P.B. Sinnott. Weather unsuitable. (Source: 5) |
| 26MAY43 | Engine test to 25,000ft 1hr. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 29MAY43 | Engine test 25000ft. COO 32-1 Koepang, Atamboa, Penfoei survey 1hr 15min. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source: 1) |
| 29MAY43 | Photo Recce Fuiloro and Dilli 4hr 35min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) 1PRU ORB states that weather was unsuitable. |
| 04JUN43 | Survey of Millingimbi - Arnhem Bay. Sqn Ldr Law. (Source: 5) |
| 06JUN43 | Timor 26000ft 5hr 25min. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source: 1) |
| 08JUN43 | Survey of Millingimbi - Arnhem Bay. Sqn Ldr Law. (Source: 5) |
| 06JUL43 | High altitude engine test 1hr. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 09JUL43 | Test 21000ft intercooler and camera. COO 25 Kai Is., Tanimbar, Saim trimetrogon 1hr 20min. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source: 1) |
| 15JUL43 | Test intercooler and turbo 21000ft 1hr. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source: 1) |
| 21JUL43 | Alt test 21000ft 1hr 10min. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source: 1) |
| 21JUL43 | Photo Recce Fuiloro, Cape Chater and West Lautem. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 23JUL43 | COO 37 Dili, Atamboea 28000ft 4hr 25min. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source: 1) |
| 28JUL43 | Engine test 7000ft 40min. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source: 1) |
| 28JUL43 | Photo Recce Fuiloro, Cape Chater and West Lautem. Flt Lt Sinnott. (Source: 5) |
| 24AUG43 | Engine test "starboard engine cutting out at 22,000ft" 1hr 20min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 25AUG43 | Test 24000ft 1hr. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source: 1) |
| 01SEP43 | Engine test "starboard engine cut out at 24,000ft" 1hr 5min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 17SEP43 | Signal from NWA advises that initial equipment Lightning aircraft are beyond repair and suitable only for conversion. (NAA Series A11093 Item 3081559) |
| 18SEP43 | RAAF HQ advises NWA that replacement F-4s are not available and arrangements have been made for "complete overhaul first priority by USAAF. Can you fly both Lightnings to Townsville?" (NAA Series A11093 Item 3081559) |
| 18SEP43 | A note on stationery "From the Desk of Lt. Gen. George C. Kenney" to Col Victor E. Bertrandias, C.O., Advanced Echelon, Fifth Air Force Service Command, Townsville states simply: "2 P.38's for 1PRU to be repaired there". (NAA Series A11093 Item 3081559) |
| 20SEP43 | Aircraft still awaiting return of items despatched to 1AD for overhaul. (Source: 5) |
| 13OCT43 | A signal from NWA states that A55-1 is u/s awaiting inner tube for nosewheel, 1100 lb capacity bomb shackles for auxiliary fuel tanks, Bendix door control valve and hydraulic hose. These parts are required to make A55-1 serviceable for a ferry flight to Townsville for a complete overhaul. (NAA Series A11093 Item 3081559) |
| 04NOV43 | Coomalie Creek-Batchelor 25min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 05NOV43 | Batchelor-Cloncurry 4hr 20min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 05NOV43 | Cloncurry-Townsville 2hr 15min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 05NOV43 | Issued to USAAF at Townsville. (Source: 7) |
| 12DEC43 | Signal from 1PRU states that operations are held up pending return of A55-1. (NAA Series A11093 Item 3081559) |
| 16DEC43 | Signal from 1PRU states that F/L Talberg will be arriving in Townsville on 19DEC to ferry A55-1 back to 1PRU after overhaul. (NAA Series A11093 Item 3081559) |
| 31DEC43 | Test flight at Garbutt after installation of new engines 33,000ft 1hr. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 01JAN44 | Took off from Garbutt but port airscrew ran away. Landed Garbutt with port airscrew feathered. 1hr 30min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 01JAN44 | Signal from NEA to 1PRU advising that A55-1 departed Townsville at 1000 hours but returned on one engine at 1130 hours owing to a runaway prop. ETD indefinite but probably three days. (NAA Series A11093 Item 3081559) |
| 03JAN44 | Test flight 45min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 04JAN44 | Cloncurry-Boomara 2hr 30min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) (Presumably this also includes flying time from Townsville/Garbutt to Cloncurry. Boomarra is 75 miles north of Cloncurry) |
| 05JAN44 | Boomara-Cloncurry
30min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) (This backtracking suggests that
Boomarra was a forced landing and overnight). 1PRU ORB states "fuel shortage". (Source: 5) |
| 06JAN44 | Cloncurry-Camooweal 50min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 06JAN44 | Camooweal-Daly Waters 2hr. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 06JAN44 | Daly Waters-Coomalie Creek 1hr 20min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 06JAN44 | A55-1 received at 1PRU (signal from 1PRU, NAA Series A11093 Item 3081559) |
| 10JAN44 | Coomalie-Batchelor-Coomalie. Flg Off Boss-Walker. (Presumed training flight). (Source: 5) |
| 10JAN44 | Training flight - conversion to type. Flt Lt Hermes. (Source: 5) |
| 10JAN44 | Familiarisation
and height test 1hr. Flt Lt Green (Source: 3) Training flight - conversion to type. Flt Lt Green. (Source: 5) |
| 10JAN44 | Damaged in non-flying accident. Aircraft moved from chocks in a severe line squall at Coomalie Creek, N.T. and ran into a drain causing structural damage. (Source: 5) |
| 12JAN44 | No details 30min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) (Possibly this is a ferry flight from Coomalie Creek to 4RSU at Pell) |
| 12JAN44 | Allotted 4RSU for repair. (Source: 7) |
| 15FEB44 | Familiarisation
20min. Flt Lt Green. (Source: 3) Training flight - conversion to type. Flt Lt Green. (Source: 5) |
| 15FEB44 | Training flight - conversion to type. Flg Off Boss-Walker. (Source: 5) |
| 16FEB44 | Training flight - conversion to type. Flt Lt Hermes. (Source: 5) |
| 16FEB44 | Coomalie - Millingimbi. Flg Off Boss-Walker. (Source: 5) |
| 17FEB44 | Photo Recce Kai Islands. Flg Off Boss-Walker. (Source: 5) |
| 17FEB44 | Training Flight - Conversion to type. Flt Lt Hermes. (Source: 5) |
| 18FEB44 | Familiarisation
and local photo 1hr 5min. Flt Lt Green (Source: 3) Training Flight - Conversion to type. Flt Lt Green. (Source: 5) |
| 18FEB44 | Training flight - conversion to type. Flt Lt Hermes. (Source: 5) |
| 19FEB44 | Local
photo 1hr 25min. Flt Lt Green. (Source: 3) Photography Bathurst Island. Flt Lt Green. (Source: 5) |
| 20FEB44 | Travel Coomalie - Drysdale. Flt Lt Hermes. (Source: 5) |
| 21FEB44 | Photo Recce Koepang - Penfoei. Flt Lt Hermes. (Source: 5) |
| 21FEB44 | Travel Drysdale - Coomalie. Flt Lt Hermes. (Source: 5) |
| 22FEB44 | Local
photo 1hr 10min. Flt Lt Green. (Source: 3) Training Flight - Conversion to type. Flt Lt Green. (Source: 5) |
| 22FEB44 | Training Flight - Conversion to type. Flg Off Lovegrove. (Source: 5) |
| 23FEB44 | Training Flight - Conversion to type. Flg Off Rush. (Source: 5) |
| 24FEB44 | Photography Darwin area. Flg Off Lovegrove. (Source: 5) |
| 25FEB44 | Local
photo 1hr 25min. Flt Lt Green. (Source: 3) Photography Fenton and Long area. Flt Lt Green. (Source: 5) |
| 26FEB44 | Coomalie-Drysdale 1hr 25min. Flt Lt Green. (Source: 3) |
| 27FEB44 | Photo Recce Koepang and Savu Is 4hr 15min. Flt Lt Green. (Source: 3) The 1PRU ORB shows Tenau and Hansisi. |
| 27FEB44 | Drysdale-Coomalie 1hr 50min. Flt Lt Green. (Source: 3) |
| 12MAR44 | Local
photo 1hr. Sqn Ldr Green (Source: 3) Photography Bathurst Island and Melville Island. (Source: 5) |
| 14MAR44 | Travel Coomalie - Darwin. Flg Off Boss-Walker. (Source: 5) |
| 15MAR44 | Photo Recce Toen Island, Nila Island, Seroea Island. Flg Off Boss-Walker. (Source: 5) |
| 16MAR44 | Photo Recce Toen Is. and Nila Is. Sqn Ldr Hermes. (Source: 5) |
| 17MAR44 | Training Flight - Conversion to type. Flg Off Lovegrove. (Source: 5) |
| 19MAR44 | Photo
Melville Island 1hr 45min. Sqn Ldr Green (Source: 3) Photo Recce Jamdena Island. Sqn Ldr Green. (Source: 5) |
| 20MAR44 | Photo Recce Tanimbar Island 3hr 15min. Sqn Ldr Green (Source: 3) |
| 21MAR44 | Melville
Island 45min. Sqn Ldr Green (Source: 3) Photography Melville Is. and Darwin area. Sqn Ldr Green. (Source: 5) |
| 21MAR44 | Travel Coomalie - Drysdale. Flg Off Boss-Walker. (Source: 5) |
| 22MAR44 | Photo Recce Heywood Shl., Cartier Is., Browse Is. Flg Off Boss-Walker. (Source: 5) |
| 22MAR44 | Travel Drysdale - Coomalie. Flg Off Boss-Walker. (Source: 5) |
| 23MAR44 | Darwin-Drysdale 1hr 20min. Sqn Ldr Green (Source: 3) |
| 24MAR44 | Photo
Recce Flores Island 4hr 35min. Sqn Ldr Green (Source: 3) Photo Recce Maomere Is., Ende Is., Flores Is. Sqn Ldr Green. (Source: 5) |
| 25MAR44 | Drysdale-Darwin
1hr 30min. Sqn Ldr Green (Source: 3) Travel Drysdale - Coomalie. Sqn Ldr Green. (Source: 5) |
| 26MAR44 | Photo Recce Cape Sevivara, Cape Hero, Cape Chater. Sqn Ldr Hermes. (Source: 5) |
| 26MAR44 | Travel Coomalie - Drysdale. Flg Off Boss-Walker. (Source: 5) |
| 27MAR44 | Photo Recce. Atamboea, Koepang, Mena. Flg Off Boss-Walker. (Source: 5) |
| 29MAR44 | Test. Sqn Ldr Green (Source: 3) |
| 30MAR44 | Coomalie-Drysdale 1hr 30min. Sqn Ldr Green (Source: 3) |
| 30MAR44 | Photo Recce Nbai Pt, Flores 4hr. Sqn Ldr Green (Source: 3) |
| 30MAR44 | Drysdale-Coomalie 1hr 45min. Sqn Ldr Green (Source: 3) |
| 01APR44 | Photo Recce Koepang. Sqn Ldr Hermes. (Source: 5) |
| 01APR44 | Travel Drysdale - Coomalie. Sqn Ldr Hermes. (Source: 5) |
| 05APR44 | Coomalie-Drysdale
(no time recorded). Sqn Ldr Green (Source: 3) Travel Coomalie - Drysdale 1hr 15min.Sqn Ldr Green. (Source: 5) |
| 06APR44 | Photo Recce Flores but aircraft u/s 1hr 50min. Sqn Ldr Green (Source: 3) |
| 06APR44 | Test
15min. Sqn Ldr Green (Source: 3) Aircraft u/s for operation returned Coomalie. Sqn Ldr Green. (Source: 5) |
| 07APR44 | Photography Darwin area. Flg Off Lovegrove. (Source: 5) |
| 08APR44 | Photo Recce Babar Is. Flg Off Lovegrove. (Source: 5) |
| 08APR44 | Travel Coomalie - Drysdale. Sqn Ldr Hermes. (Source: 5) |
| 09APR44 | Photo Recce Flores Is., Nbai Point, Sissa River. Sqn Ldr Hermes. (Source: 5) |
| 09APR44 | Travel Drysdale - Coomalie. Sqn Ldr Hermes. (Source: 5) |
| 10APR44 | Photo Recce Dilli, Cape Chater, Cape Lore. Flg Off Rush. (Source: 5) |
| 13APR44 | Coomalie-Long-Coomalie
45min. Sqn Ldr Green (Source: 3) Photography local area. Weather unsuitable. Sqn Ldr Green. (Source: 5) |
| 16APR44 | Photo Recce Koepang. Aircraft u/s returned to base. Flg Off Lovegrove. (Source: 5) |
| 17APR44 | Photo Recce Koepang, Penfoei, Tenau, Semaoe Is. Flg Off Lovegrove. (Source: 5) |
| 17APR44 | Travel Drysdale - Coomalie. Flg Off Lovegrove. (Source: 5) |
| 19APR44 | Photo Recce Taberfane Is., Trangan Is. Flg Off Rush. (Source: 5) |
| 19APR44 | Travel Milingimbi - Coomalie. Flg Off Rush. (Source: 5) |
| 22APR44 | Test 20min. Sqn Ldr Green (Source: 3) |
| 25APR44 | Photo Recce Penfoei, Koepang, Soe, Atamboea. Flg Off Lovegrove. (Source: 5) |
| 25APR44 | Travel Drysdale - Coomalie. Flg Off Lovegrove. (Source: 5) |
| 26APR44 | Test
50min. Sqn Ldr Green (Source: 3) Photography local area. Sqn Ldr Green. (Source: 5) |
| 02MAY44 | Travel Coomalie - Drysdale. Flg Off Rush. (Source: 5) |
| 03MAY44 | Photo Recce Flores Is., Sissa River. Flg Off Rush. (Source: 5) |
| 03MAY44 | Travel Drysdale - Coomalie. Flg Off Rush. (Source: 5) |
| 03MAY44 | Coomalie-Drysdale 1hr 30min. Sqn Ldr Green (Source: 3) |
| 04MAY44 | Photo Recce Soemba Is., Waingapoe 5hr. Sqn Ldr Green (Source: 3) |
| 04MAY44 | Drysdale-Coomalie 1hr 35min. Sqn Ldr Green (Source: 3) |
| 06MAY44 | Photo Recce Dilli, Atamboea. Aircraft u/s did not complete operation. Flg Off Lovegrove. (Source: 5) |
| 07MAY44 | Photo Recce Dilli, Atamboea. Flg Off Lovegrove. (Source: 5) |
| 15MAY44 | Photo Recce Koepang, Penfoei, Soe, Tenau. Flg Off Rush. (Source: 5) |
| 15MAY44 | Travel Drysdale - Coomalie. Flg Off Rush. (Source: 5) |
| 16MAY44 | Allotted
5th Air Force No 2 Depot ex 1PRU for 240 hourly and double engine
change. (Source: 7) Note that the aircraft did not depart until 05JUL44. (Source: 5) |
| 19MAY44 | Photo Recce Soe, South Coast Timor. Flg Off Lovegrove. (Source: 5) |
| 20MAY44 | Travel Drysdale - Coomalie. Flg Off Lovegrove. (Source: 5) |
| 27MAY44 | Photo Recce Kai Islands (and others illegible). Flg Off Rush. (Source: 5) |
| 30MAY44 | Travel Coomalie - Drysdale. Flg Off Lovegrove. (Source: 5) |
| 31MAY44 | Photo Recce Flores Is. Flg Off Lovegrove. (Source: 5) |
| 31MAY44 | Travel Drysdale - Coomalie. Flg Off Lovegrove. (Source: 5) |
| 08JUN44 | Photography local area. Flg Off Rush. (Source: 5) |
| 09JUN44 | Photo Recce Penfoei, Tenau, Hansisi. Flg Off Rush. (Source: 5) |
| 09JUN44 | Travel Drysdale - Coomalie. Flg Off Rush. (Source: 5) |
| 14JUN44 | Photo Recce Kai Is., Langgoer, Faan. Flg Off Lovegrove. (Source: 5) |
| 18JUN44 | Photo Recce Fuiloro, Cape Chater, Lautem West. Flg Off Rush. (Source: 5) |
| 20JUN44 | Photo Recce Fuiloro, Cape Chater, Lautem West. Flg Off Lovegrove. (Source: 5) |
| 03JUL44 | Photo Recce Penfoei, Koepang, Tenau. Flg Off Rush. (Source: 5) |
| 03JUL44 | Travel Drysdale - Coomalie. Flg Off Rush. (Source: 5) |
| 05JUL44 | Ferry flight Coomalie - Townsville. Flg Off Rush. (Source: 5) |
| 15AUG44 | Ferry flight Townsville - Cloncurry. Flt Lt Rush. (Source: 5) |
| 15AUG44 | Ferry flight Cloncurry - Coomalie. Flt Lt Rush. (Source: 5) |
| 17AUG44 | Photo Recce Kai Islands. Flt Lt Rush. (Source: 5) |
| 17AUG44 | Travel Coomalie - Truscott. Sqn Ldr Hermes. (Source: 5) |
| 18AUG44 | Photo Recce Penfoei, Maomere. Sqn Ldr Hermes. (Source: 5) |
| 18AUG44 | Travel Truscott - Coomalie. Sqn Ldr Hermes. (Source: 5) |
| 20AUG44 | Photo Recce Ambon area. Sqn Ldr Green. (Source: 5) |
| 22AUG44 | Travel Coomalie - Truscott. Flt Lt Rush. (Source: 5) |
| 22AUG44 | Photo Recce Soemba Islands. Flt Lt Rush. (Source: 5) |
| 22AUG44 | Travel Truscott - Coomalie. Flt Lt Rush. (Source: 5) |
| 23AUG44 | Photo Recce Ambon area. Sqn Ldr Green. (Source: 5) |
| 29AUG44 | Photography Darwin area. Flt Lt Rush. (Source: 5) |
| 30AUG44 | Photo Recce Ambon. Unsuccessful returned to base. Flt Lt Rush. (Source: 5) |
| 01SEP44 | Photo Recce Timor area. Did not complete op. Returned to base at 0900 aircraft u/s. Sqn Ldr Green. (Source: 5) |
| 01SEP44 | The
aircraft was damaged beyond economical repair in a landing accident
at Coomalie Creek. The following report on the accident is drawn from
a memo to the Air Board contained in NAA Series A9845 Item 7127491. "The aircraft was being flown by F/LT. C.J. Rush, who was ordered to carry out a test flight. After a normal approach and landing the aircraft was observed to swing violently to port and burst into flames. From the tracks left by the aircraft it appeared that the nose wheel collapsed and then the aircraft weathercocked into wind, dug its nose into the ground and caught fire in the belly tanks. The pilot suffered superficial burns to face, arms and hands and was admitted to No 1 M.R.S. on 1st Sep, 1944 and placed on the slightly injured list." The 1PRU Operations Record Book states that the aircraft returned with u/s instruments and was being test flown later in the day by Flt Lt Rush but crashed "through structural failure". (Source: 5) |
| 12SEP44 | Received 8CRD ex 1PRU. (Source: 7) |
| 26SEP44 | Approved for conversion to components. (Source: 7) |
| 31OCT44 | Condemned by Fifth Air Force, Brisbane. (Source: 4) |
| 09JAN45 | Struck off by USAAF. (Source: 4) |
SOURCES
|
1
|
Log book of Flt Lt F.H.W. Robilliard via his son Iain Robilliard. |
|
2
|
Log Book of Flt Lt W.H.S. Talberg via David Vincent |
|
3
|
Log Book of Sqn Ldr R.M. Green via David Vincent |
|
4
|
USAAF History Card for 41-2158 accessed by Terry Geary. |
|
5
|
RAAF Unit History sheets (Form A50) [Operations Record Book - Forms A50 and A51] 1 PRU Number 87 Squadron Jun 42 - Oct 53. NAA: A9186, 118 |
|
6
|
Operations Record Book No 51 Operational Base Unit, Groote Eylandt via Phil Vabre. |
|
7
|
RAAF Form E/E88 (Status Card) |
|
8
|
Listing compiled by a CAC employee, Bill Audsley, and published in Aviation Heritage the journal of the Aviation Historical Society of Australia (AHSA) Vol 22 No 4. |
|
9
|
Mosquito Monograph by David Vincent. |
|
10
|
Log Book of FLGOFF P.B. Jones, RAAF. |
|
11
|
The Eight Ballers by John Stanaway & Bob Rocker. Schiffer Publishing 1999 |
|
12
|
Log Book of Sqn Ldr Geoff Atherton. |
ABBREVIATIONS
| 1AD | No 1 Aircraft Depot based at Laverton, Vic. | 14ARD | No 14 Aircraft Repair Depot based at Gorrie, N.T. | 8CRD | No 8 Central Recovery Depot based at Darwin, N.T. | 1PRU | No 1 Photo Reconnaissance Unit based at Hughes, N.T. and later Coomalie Creek N.T. | 1RSU | No 1 Repair and Salvage Unit based at Manbulloo, N.T. | 4RSU | No 4 Repair and Salvage Unit based at Pell, N.T. |
| COO | A task number |
| NEA | North Eastern Area |
| NWA | North Western Area |
| Issue | Date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | 03NOV16 |
Added
six wonderful images from the collection of CPL Cecil Harry
Wright who served with 1PRU at Coomalie Creek. For these images
we thank David Devenish, Archivist of the Mosquito Aircraft
Association of Australia. Please see the last six images in
the table above. Two of these images were shown previously
but in poor quality.
|
| 11 | 01APR16 |
Refreshed
page layout with no change to data.
|
| 10 | 11AUG14 |
Major
update with additional movements drawn from the 1PRU ORB.
Shown as (Source: 5)
|
| 9 | 05JAN11 |
Added
details from the log book of Sqn Ldr Bob Green via David Vincent.
Shown as (Source: 3)
|
| 8 | 04JAN11 |
Added
details from the log book of Flt Lt W.H.S. Talberg via David
Vincent. Shown as (Source: 2)
|
| 7 | 14JUL10 |
Added
details from the log book of Flt Lt F.H.W. Robilliard thanks
to his son Iain Robilliard. Shown as (Source: 1)
Added an image of the ground handling accident at Coomalie Creek thanks to Peter Grylls. |
| 6 | 07JAN08 |
Added
a photo of A55-1 thanks to Bob Livingstone.
|
| 5 | 22FEB04 |
Added
movements before and after RAAF service from USAAF History
Card supplied by Terry Geary.
|
| 4 | 17FEB04 |
Added
several references from RAAF Command HQ files (NAA Series
11093 Item 3081559) and a report on the final crash (NAA Series
A9845 Item 7127491)
|
| 3 | 04JAN04 |
Added
date for diversion to Australia from USAAF History Card thanks
to Terry Geary.
|
| 2 | 28SEP01 |
Deleted
reference to having been loaned to 75 Sqn RAAF as now believed
to be incorrect.
|
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