A55-3
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| Type: | L-222-62-13 Lightning F-4-1-LO |
| MSN: | 5362 * |
| Previous Identities: | 41-2144 * |
| Owner: | Darwin Aviation Museum (wreckage only). Darwin NT. |
* IMPORTANT: See here for clarification of identities.
History:
|
41-2144
|
|
| 01JAN42 | Received by USAAF as P-38E. (Source: 4) |
| 13MAR42 | Redesignated F-4. (Source: 4) |
| 07APR42 | Received by Long Beach Ferry Command. (Source: 4) |
| 13APR42 | Received at Windsor Locks, Connecticut. (Source: 4) |
| 29APR42 | Received at Felts Field, Spokane, Washington. (Source: 4) |
| 05MAY42 | Departed Felts Field. (Source: 4) |
| 25MAY42 | Received at Dallas. (Source: 4) |
| 11JUN42 | Received at Lowry. (Source: 4) |
| 27JUN42 | Redesignated F-4-1. (Source: 4) |
| 02JUL42 | Received at Scott Field. (Source: 4) |
| 27JUL42 | Received at Lowry. (Source: 4) |
| 02AUG42 | Received at Colorado Springs. (Source: 4) |
| 02NOV42 | Received at Sacramento Air Depot. (Source: 4) |
| 21NOV42 | To SUMAC (Fifth Air Force SWPA). (Source: 4) |
|
A55-3
|
|
| 27FEB43 | Allotted
to 1PRU ex USAAF, Eagle Farm, Brisbane. The Form E/E88 for A55-3 shows
"Late 41-2122" but it is now believed that this could have been an
incorrect transcription of 41-2144. (Source: 7) The diary of the 8th PRS records that 41-2122 crashed and burned on 05DEC43 near Hood Point (west of Port Moresby) with the loss of its pilot F/O Fred Cross. See here |
| 16MAR43 | Arrived Coomalie Creek, NT from Eagle Farm, Brisbane on delivery to 1PRU. Pilot Flt Lt C.C. Lawrie. (Source: 5) |
| 20MAR43 | Test flight 30,000ft 1hr 15min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 21MAR43 | Photo Recce Koepang-Penfoei experienced heavy AA 5hr. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 22MAR43 | 1PRU signals RAAF HQ that the intercooler system on A55-3 is unserviceable "after only 16 hours flying. Modifications unsuitable this climate." (NAA Series A11093 Item 3081559) |
| 18APR43 | Photo recce of Penfoei (5.00hrs). Pilot Flt Lt P.B. Sinnott. (Source: 5) |
| 20APR43 | Photo recce of Penfoei (4.40hrs). Pilot Flt Lt C.C. Lawrie. (Source: 5) |
| 21APR43 | Photo Recce of Dilli 4hr 15min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| endAPR43 | Unserviceable with leaking intercoolers. (Source: 5) |
| 08MAY43 | Engine test 25,000ft 1hr. Flt Lt Talberg. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 11MAY43 | Survey Portuguese Timor, run of 150m Cape Hero to Cape Parimbala (northern coast) 20,000ft. 5hr. Flt Lt Talberg. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) The 1PRU ORB also indicates that weather was unsuitable. |
| 13MAY43 | Travel Coomalie - Groote Eylandt for a survey of Frederick Henry Island and District. Weather unsuitable. Sqn Ldr Lawrie. (Source: 5) |
| 13MAY43 | Arrived Groote Eylandt at 122140Z F/Lt (sic) Lawrie refuelled and departed on reconnaissance at 122300Z. Arrived back at 130250Z refuelled and departed for Base at 130345Z. (Source: 6) |
| 15MAY43 | Travel Coomalie Creek - Groote Eylandt, Sqn Ldr C.C. Lawrie. (Source: 5). Note: Evidently F/Lt Charles Colin Lawrie was promoted to Squadron Leader between 13-15 May. He was discharged on 01DEC44 with the rank of Sqn Ldr. |
| 15MAY43 | Arrived Groote Eylandt at 150700Z S/L Lawrie. Refuelled and remained overnight. (Source: 6) |
| 16MAY43 | Departed Groote Eylandt at 160015Z on reconnaissance. Returned owing to bad weather conditions at 160035Z and remained at 51OBU. (Source: 6) |
| 16MAY43 | Survey of Frederick Henry Island & District. Weather unsuitable. (Source: 5) |
| 19MAY43 | Departed Groote Eylandt at 182245Z for Base. (Source: 6) |
| 19MAY43 | Returned to Coomalie Creek. (Source: 5) |
| 22MAY43 | Photo Recce of Kai Islands 2hr 20min. "was to have been under the low cloud base. Gp Capt R.H. Sims thought better of it. Recalled by W/T." Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 22MAY43 | "Photographs
of Lightning from Wirraway" 1hr. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) Flt Lt Robilliard's log book records that on 22MAY43 he piloted Wirraway A20-178 on a one hour sortie to photograph a Lightning at 8,000 feet. In the rear seat of the Wirraway was photographer Warrant Officer T.E. Wilcox. (Source: 1) The 1PRU ORB for SEP43 records that "W/O T.E. Wilcox has resumed duty after having sustained concussion, shock and abrasions flying as photographer in Wirraway A20-605 when it overturned after landing at Bathurst Island Mission on 13th September 1943." (Source: 5) The 1PRU ORB does not record the photographic flight by Wirraway A20-178 on 22MAY43 nor does it record any flight by A20-178 on this date. A55-3 returned from its aborted survey at 0950 so the photographic flight might have been a "target of opportunity". (Source: 5) |
| 24MAY43 | COO
26-2 Fuiloro, Dili, 25000ft 4hr 35min. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source:
1) The 1PRU ORB records that weather was unsuitable. |
| 29MAY43 | Photo recce of Penfoei, Sqn Ldr C.C. Lawrie. (Source: 5) |
| 12JUN43 | Photo Recce Penfoei. Sqn Ldr Law. (Source: 5) |
| 13JUN43 | Photo Recce Tanimbar Is, Langgoer. Flt Lt Sinnott. (Source: 5) |
| 14JUN43 | Photo Recce Lautem, Fuiloro. Weather bad. Sqn Ldr Lawrie. (Source: 5) |
| 21JUN43 | COO 2/8 Photo Penfoei, Koepang 26000ft 4hr 55min. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source: 1) |
| 23JUN43 | Photo Recce Langgoer. Weather bad. Flt Lt Sinnott. (Source: 5) |
| 25JUN43 | Survey Cape Stewart area. Sqn Ldr Lawrie. (Source: 5) |
| 26JUN43 | COO 9/1 Penfoei 26000ft 5hr 30min. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source: 1) |
| 27JUN43 | Photo Recce Fuiloro, Lautem Flt Lt Sinnott. (Source: 5) |
| 30JUN43 | Photography Fenton. Sqn Ldr Lawrie. (Source: 5) |
| 02JUL43 | Photo Recce Dilli, Atamboea. Sqn Ldr Lawrie. (Source: 5) |
| 07JUL43 | Survey Cape Arnhem area. Unsuitable weather. 5hr. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 12JUL43 | COO 25 Kai Is, Tanimbar, Saim, Trimetrogon run, CP Arnheim vicinity, 26000ft 5hr 40min. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source: 1) |
| 13JUL43 | Photo Recce Fuiloro, Chater, Lautem. Sqn Ldr Lawrie. (Source: 5) |
| 21JUL43 | Photo Recce Fuiloro, Cape Chater, Flt Lt Talberg, (Source: 5) |
| 23JUL43 | Photo Recce Dilli, Atamboea. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source: 5) |
| 27JUL43 | Aerial swing of compass and engine test. 55min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 29JUL43 | Engine test 55min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 10AUG43 | Engine test 24000ft 1hr 15min. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source: 1) |
| 11AUG43 | Photo Recce Tanimbar Islands 3hr 35min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 12AUG43 | COO
48 Penfoei, Tenau, Golf strip, new strip Roti 30500ft 5hr 30min. Flt
Lt Robilliard. (Source: 1) Robilliard's family recalls that he had an engine failure on this flight and a decision on whether or not to bale out or attempt the return ocean crossing on one engine was influenced by the fact that it was his wife's birthday! |
| 15AUG43 | Flight test 25,000ft 1hr. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 17AUG43 | Photo Recce Koepang. Flt Lt Sinnott. (Source: 5) |
| 19AUG43 | Base
- Gorrie 3000ft 1hr 10min. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source: 1) Flown to 14ARD at Gorrie for 240 hourly service. (Source: 5) |
| 22AUG43 | Received 14ARD ex 1PRU for 240 hourly. (Source: 7) |
| 09SEP43 | Test 25,000ft 1hr 20min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 12SEP43 | Test 30,000ft 1hr 5min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 13SEP43 | Gorrie-Coomalie Creek and test 25,000ft 1hr 5min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 16SEP43 | Test 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 | Photo
Recce Kai Islands 4hr 30min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) No photos taken due 10/10 cloud. (Source: 5) |
| 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 | Coomalie Creek-Cloncurry 3hr 30min. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 20SEP43 | Cloncurry-Townsville 3hr. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 2) |
| 20SEP43 | Signal from NWA: "Lightning A55-3 pilot F/L Talberg departed for Townsville 200800. ETA 201530". (NAA Series A11093 Item 3081559) |
| 01OCT43 | Signal from NWA: Repairs commenced on A55-3, Anticipate date for completion 31 Oct.. (NAA Series A11093 Item 3081559) |
| NOV43 | Altitude
test 34000ft acceptance test USA 1hr 15min. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source:
1) (This would refer to a test flight in Townsville where the aircraft was overhauled by the USAAF. The exact date is not recorded but it could have been only 1 or 2 November). |
| 01NOV43 | Extract
from a report on a visit to NEA and NWA by S.O. Admin: "A55-3 arrived
over NWA HQ approximately 1800 hours (the 1PRU ORB says 1755) 1 Nov.,
and I later heard that owing to failure of the hydraulic system the
pilot (F/L Robilliard) was forced to abandon the belly tank, cockpit
canopy and make a belly landing. Some damage was caused to the aeroplane,
but up to my departure the extent of same was unknown". Note: This implies that A55-3 belly-landed on its delivery flight from Townsville on 01NOV. However, A55-3 did suffer a belly landing on 10DEC43. Is this the accident that the reporter "later heard" of, or were there two separate belly landings, given that pilot Robilliard is quoted for 01NOV and crash report for 10DEC states pilot Sinnott. (NAA Series A11093 Item 3081559) Update 13JUL10: It is now known from Flt Lt Robilliard's log book that A55-3 did not return to base until 02NOV43. Although Robilliard's family recall that he later mentioned some difficulty landing a Lightning (possibly a beach landing) it could not have been a belly landing on this occasion as the aeroplane was back on ops by 13NOV43. |
| 02NOV43 | Townsville - Cloncurry 15000ft 1hr 55min. (Source: 1) |
| 02NOV43 | Cloncurry - Pell 15000ft 4hr 30min. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source: 1) |
| 05NOV43 | Photo Recce Fuiloro. Weather unsuitable. Sqn Ldr Lawrie. (Source: 5) |
| 13NOV43 | COO
29 Lore, Fuiloro, Chater, Lautem 28000ft 3hr 20min. Flt Lt Robilliard.
(Source: 1) Weather unsuitable. (Source: 5) |
| 13NOV43 | Consumption test 12000ft 1hr 45min. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source: 1) |
| 14NOV43 | Batchelor - Coomalie 20min. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source: 1) |
| 15NOV43 | Travel Coomalie - Millingimbi. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 5) |
| 16NOV43 | Photo Recce Kai Islands. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 5) |
| 18NOV43 | Photo Recce Fuiloro area. Sqn Ldr Lawrie. (Source: 5) |
| 18NOV43 | Coomalie - Drysdale 15000ft 2hr 50min. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source: 1) |
| 21NOV43 | Drysdale - Coomalie 15000ft 1hr 30min. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source: 1) |
| 22NOV43 | Coomalie - Drysdale 15000ft 1hr 25min. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source: 1) |
| 23NOV43 | COO 43 Drysdale - Penfoei - Koepang - Namlea - Jas (illegible) - Nth Coast Roti - Nembela 28000ft 3hr 15min. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source: 1) |
| 23NOV43 | Drysdale - Coomalie 15000ft 1hr 30min. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source: 1) |
| 26NOV43 | Travel Coomalie - Darwin. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 5) |
| 27NOV43 | Photo Recce Kai Islands. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 5) |
| 30NOV43 | Travel Coomalie - Darwin. (am) Flt Lt Sinnott. (Source: 5) |
| 30NOV43 | Photo Recce Kai Islands. (am) Flt Lt Sinnott. (Source: 5) |
| 30NOV43 | Coomalie - Millingimbi 1000ft 1hr 30min. (pm) Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source: 1) |
| 01DEC43 | COO 48 Aroe Is. 15000ft 4hr 45min. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source: 1) |
| 01DEC43 | Millingimbi
- Coomalie 10000ft 1hr 30min. Flt Lt Robilliard. (Source: 1) This is the last recorded flight in A55-3 by Flt Lt Robilliard. Total hours on Lightnings for Flt Lt Robilliard 91 hours 10 minutes (all in either A55-1 or A55-3) |
| 03DEC43 | Travel Coomalie - Batchelor. Sqn Ldr Lawrie. (Source: 5) |
| 03DEC43 | Travel Batchelor - Coomalie. Sqn Ldr Lawrie. (Source: 5) |
| 03DEC43 | Conversion to type. Flg Off Boss-Walker. (Source: 5) |
| 04DEC43 | Training flight Coomalie - Peron Is. - Darwin - Coomalie. Flg Off Boss-Walker. (Source: 5) |
| 05DEC43 | Training flight Coomalie - Cape Hotham - Coomalie. Flg Off Boss-Walker. (Source: 5) |
| 06DEC43 | Training flight. Photography local area. Flg Off Boss-Walker. (Source: 5) |
| 07DEC43 | Photography Darwin area. Flg Off Boss-Walker. (Source: 5) |
| 07DEC43 | Travel Coomalie - Darwin. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 5) |
| 08DEC43 | Photo Recce Atamboea, Dilli. Heavy cloud. Flt Lt Talberg. (Source: 5) |
| 09DEC43 | Travel Coomalie - Darwin. Flt Lt Sinnott. (Source: 5) |
| 10DEC43 | Photo
Recce Dilli, Atamboea. Flt Lt Sinnott. Aircraft crashed on landing
at Batchelor at 1240 hours. (Source: 5) Note: the 1PRU ORB shows this flight and subsequent crash on 09DEC43. However, the preceding travel flight arrived at Darwin at 1800 hours and the photo recce to Dilli departed at 0815 hours so clearly the aircraft overnighted Darwin and departed on its mission on 10DEC43. (Source: 5) |
| 10DEC43 | Landed at Batchelor, N.T. with the undercarriage retracted. The Aircraft Accident Data Card confirms the date as 10DEC43 and the pilot as F/LT B. Sinnott. The card states: "Aircraft crash landed due to hydraulic pressure failure and the undercarriage indicator showing not locked". There are no injuries recorded and the time of the accident is recorded as daytime. (NAA Series A9845 Item 7127491) |
| 13DEC43 | Received by 4RSU. (Source: 7) |
| 14DEC43 | Signal from NWA: "A55-3 beyond repair capacity this area and will probably have to be converted to components". (NAA Series A11093 Item 3081559) |
| 26DEC43 | Received 14ARD ex 4RSU. (Source: 7) |
| 10JAN44 | Approved for conversion to components. (Source: 7) |
|
08FEB44
|
Condemned as salvage obsolete by 5th AF, Brisbane. (Source: 4) |
| Wreckage acquired by Darwin Aviation Museum. |
See also: 44 Reasons to be Confused
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 |
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3
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Log Book of Sqn Ldr R.M. Green via David Vincent |
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4
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USAAF History Card for 41-2158 accessed by Terry Geary. |
|
5
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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 |
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6
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Operations Record Book No 51 Operational Base Unit, Groote Eylandt via Phil Vabre. |
|
7
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RAAF Form E/E88 (Status Card) |
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8
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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. |
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9
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Mosquito Monograph by David Vincent. |
|
10
|
Log Book of FLGOFF P.B. Jones, RAAF. |
|
11
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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 |
| NWA | North Western Area |
| Issue | Date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | 01APR16 |
Refreshed
page layout with no change to data.
|
| 15 | 04MAY14 |
Completely
revised, based on the belief that A55-3 was actually 41-2144
and not 41-2122 as stated previously and as stated in most
other references.
|
| 14 | 19JUN12 |
Added
movements through Groote Eylandt in May 1943. Shown as (Source:
3). Thanks to Phil Vabre.
|
| 13 | 04JAN11 |
Added
details from the log book of Flt Lt W.H.S. Talberg via David
Vincent. Shown as (Source: 2)
|
| 12 | 19JUL10 |
Added
details from the log book of Flt Lt F.H.W. Robilliard thanks
to his son Iain Robilliard. Shown as (Source: 1). Also added
five air-to-air images of A55-3 from the same source.
|
| 11 | 19JUN09 |
Added
an image of the remains of A55-3 thanks to Owen Veal of
the Aviation Historical Society of the Northern Territory.
|
| 10 | 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)
|
| 9 | 04JAN04 |
Added
more detail of the aircraft's USAAF service thanks to Terry
Geary.
|
