No. 1 PHOTO RECONNAISSANCE UNIT


AIRCRAFT STRENGTH AT HUGHES/COOMALIE CREEK
DURING THE LIGHTNING YEARS

 

DATE
REMARKS
A51-
A56-
A55-
A20-
A52-
08JUN42
No. 1 PRU formed at Laverton with 6 Buffalo.
6
16JUN42
Buffalo A51-4 crashed at Laverton and converted to components.
5
08JUL42
Buffalo A51-2 crashed at Tallarook, Vic. on a nav exercise killing the pilot Flt Lt R.R.H. Winter. W/O
4
14AUG42
Wirraway A20-599 departed Laverton arriving Hughes 17AUG.
4
1
18AUG42
4 Buffalo departed Laverton arriving Hughes 19AUG.
4
1
23AUG42
Japanese air raid on Hughes destroyed Buffalo A51-6 and Wirraway A20-599
3
0
end AUG42
3 Buffalo on strength: A51-1, A51-3, A51-5
3
25SEP42
Buffalo A51-5 crashed and was totally destroyed at Derby killing the pilot Sgt J. Austin.
2
end SEP42
Buffalo A51-1 serviceable. Buffalo A51-3 u/s awaiting spares.
2
30OCT42
Lightnings A55-1 and A55-2 arrived at Hughes.
2
2
end OCT42
Buffalo A51-1 serviceable. Buffalo A51-3 u/s all month awaiting spares.
2
2
20NOV42
Lightning A55-2 crashed near Livingstone killing the pilot Sqn Ldr A.T. Cridland.
2
1
27NOV42
2 Lancer arrived at Hughes A56-3 and A56-5. A56-4 was delayed at Oodnadatta due brake failure.
2
2
1
unknown
Lancer A56-4 arrived at Hughes.
2
3
1
end NOV42
Buffalo A51-1 and A51-3 u/s. Lancers A56-3, A56-5, A56-4 u/s. Lightning A55-1 u/s.
2
3
1
06DEC42
1PRU completed move to Coomalie Creek leaving u/s Buffalo A51-3 at Hughes awaiting spares.
2
3
1
09DEC42
Lancer A56-4 damaged when port u/c collapsed. Allotted 4RSU.
2
3
1
14DEC42
Lancer A56-5 damaged at Coomalie Creek due brake failure and was allotted 4RSU. Did not return 1PRU.
2
2
1
06JAN43
Buffalo A51-3 arrived at Coomalie Creek from Hughes.
2
2
1
17JAN43
Lancer A56-4 arrived at Coomalie Creek.
2
2
1
end JAN43
Buffalo A51-1, A51-3 serv. Lancer A56-3, A56-4 u/s. Lightning A55-1 u/s.
2
2
1
end FEB43
Wirraway A20-178 arr during Feb. Buffalo A51-1/3 serv. Lancer A56-3/4 serv. F-4 A55-1 u/s.
2
2
1
1
11MAR43
Lancer A56-3 crash landed at Coomalie Creek. Allotted for repairs and did not return 1PRU.
2
1
1
1
16MAR43
Lightning A55-3 arrived Coomalie Creek.
2
1
2
1
end MAR43
Buffalo A51-1, A51-3 serv. Lancer A56-4 serv. Lightnings A55-1, A55-3 u/s. Wirraway A20-178 serv.
2
1
2
1
end APR43
Buffalo A51-1, A51-3 serv. Lancer A56-4 serv. Lightnings A55-1, A55-3 u/s. Wirraway A20-178 serv.
2
1
2
1
07MAY43
Buffalo A51-1 ferried to 5AD for engine change by Flg Off G.L. Angus. Did not return to 1PRU?
1
1
2
1
22MAY43
Lancer A56-4 ferried to 1AD by Flt Lt A.S. Jones
1
0
2
1
end MAY43
Buffalo A51-3 serv. Lightning A55-1, A55-3 serv. Wirraway A20-178 serv.
1
2
1
11JUN43
Buffalo A51-3 ferried to 24 Sqn, Bankstown by Flt Lt Talberg.
0
2
1
end JUN43
Lightning A55-1 u/s. Lightning A55-3 serv. Wirraway A20-178 u/s awaiting engine change.
2
1
end JUL43
Lightnings A55-1, A55-3 u/s. Wirraway A20-178 serv.
2
1
04AUG43
Wirraway A20-605 arrived from 4RSU on loan.
2
2
16AUG43
Wirraway A20-558 arrived from 4RSU on loan.
2
3
end AUG43
Lightning A55-1 u/s. A55-3 to 14ARD for 240 hourly. Wirraways A20-178, A20-605, A20-558 serv.
2
3
16SEP43
Wirraway A20-605 allotted 4RSU for repair after overturning at Bathurst Island Mission.
2
2
27SEP43
Wirraway A20-558 allotted 4RSU for engine overhaul.
2
2
end SEP43
Lightning A55-1 u/s. A55-3 to TSV for overhaul. Wirraway A20-178 serv.
2
2
end OCT43
Lightning A55-1 u/s. Wirraways A20-178, A20-558 serv.
2
2
end NOV43
Lightning A55-3 returned from TSV. A55-1 in TSV for overhaul. Wirraways A20-178, A20-558 serv.
2
2
10DEC43
Lightning A55-3 crashed at Batchelor and was written off.
1
2
end DEC43
Wirraway A20-558 serv. Wirraway A20-178 u/s 240 hrly at 1PRU. Lightning A55-1 in TSV.
1
2
10JAN44
Lightning A55-1 damaged by high winds at Coomalie Creek.
1
2
end JAN44
Wirraway A20-178 serv. Wirraway A20-558 u/s.
1
2
end FEB44
Lightning A55-1 serv. Wirraway A20-558 damaged landing with flat tyre. Wirraway A20-178 serv.
1
2
end MAR44
Lightning A55-1 serv. Wirraway A20-605 returned after extensive repairs. Wirraway A20-178 at 4RSU for periodic inspection.
1
3
end APR44
Lightning A55-1 serv. Wirraway A20-605 serv.
1
3
29MAY44
First Mosquito A52-2 arrived Coomalie Creek.
1
3
1
end MAY44
Lightning A55-1 serv. Wirraway A20-605 serv. Wirraway A20-178 serv after engine change and inspection. A Mosquito has been allotted but has not commenced ops.
1
3
1
end JUN44
Lightning A55-1 has completed 240 hours at a high rate of serviceability. Mosquito A52-2 flew 9 ops but is u/s with engine trouble.
1
3
1
13JUL44
Wirraway A20-558 last recorded flight. Local training flight.
1
2
1
end JUL44
Lightning A55-1 completed one op then departed for overhaul in Townsville. 1 Mosquito & 2 Wirraways serv.
1
2
1
28AUG44
Hudson A16-47 of the Survey Flight arrived from Lowood for a local survey. Will be attached to 1PRU for the duration.
1
2
1
end AUG44
Lightning A55-1 completed 6 ops since return from TSV. Mosquito A52-4 arrived and now with 5th AF at Noemfoor. Local flying by Wirraways was restricted by lack of hydraulic seals.
1
2
2
01SEP44
Lightning A55-1 destroyed in crash landing at Coomalie Creek during test flight.
0
2
2
06SEP44
Mosquito A52-4 lost on ops ex Noemfoor.
2
1
10SEP44
No. 1 PRU became No. 87 (PR) Squadron.
2
1
end SEP44
Mosquito A52-2 gave considerable trouble. Mosquito A52-1 arrived at 1PRU. Wirraways A20-178 and A20-605 serv.
2
2

 

CODE
TYPE
A51-
Brewster Buffalo
A56-
Republic Lancer
A55-
Lockheed F-4 Lightning
A20-
CAC Wirraway
A52-
de Havilland Mosquito

 

 

Source: 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

 

Issue
Date
Remarks
2 18APR21
Minor reformatting with no change to data.
1
28AUG14
Original

 

 

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