1/48 Wirraway, Commonwealth GB

[JohnAnthony]

User name: JohnAnthony
Name: John
Category: Intermediate
Kit: Special Hobby SO48054 CAC CA-9 Wirraway
Scale: 1/48
Accessories: RedRoo Mk II Detail Set

 

[JohnAnthony]

more...

 

[JohnAnthony]

last...

 

[Airframes]

Looks good. Any details of a unit, crews, use etc ?

 

[JohnAnthony]

Looks good. Any details of a unit, crews, use etc ?

No not yet. I need to do some research on the operators of one of the available schemes. There are no aftermarket decals that I know of so I'm limited to the box offering. I just really wanted to build that kit.

 

[JohnAnthony]

BTW, just so everything is on the up-and-up, those aren't my images. They came from this site..

SPECIAL HOBBY 1/48 CAC CA-9 Wirraway (RAAF) - 1/48 | Modelimex

Giving credit where credit is due - whoever took those shots did a much better job than I could have.

 

[Airframes]

No problem. One of our Antipodean friends can probably help out with some details.

 

[JohnAnthony]

I did find the following info on 444:

Rec 1AD ex CAC 09/12/41. Rec 22 Sqn RAAF ex 1AD 03/01/42. Issued 24 Sqn RAAF ex 22 Sqn RAAF 01/02/42. Accident 19/03/42 Garbutt/Bowen following forced landing. NFDs. Repaired. Accident 17/06/42 when engine failed in flight over Townsville. No damage. NFDs 24Sqn. Rec 12RSU ex 24 Sqn RAAF 05/08/42. Rec 23 Sqn RAAF 08/08/42. Rec 10RSU ex 23 Sqn RAAF 05/10/42. Rec 23 Sqn RAAF 13/10/42. Accident Lowood 2200hrs 09/11/42, Pilot Sgt R.R.Cowley Serv#405834 was practising night take-offs prior to converting to Airacobas, when he raised under-carriage too soon and bent prop tips. Aircraft managed to continue flight and land normally. Airscrew was only damaged slightly. Rec ANA for Dive Bombing Mods 13/03/43. Rec 23 Sqn RAAF 08/04/42 and coded NV-J. Rec 7SFTS ex 23 Sqn RAAF 26/07/43. Issued AFRU 19/01/45. Rec 5SFTS SR 27/03/45. Rec 8OTU 22/04/45. Issued Clyde Engineering 27/07/45. Issued to CAC 23/08/45. Canc. Issued to 2CRD ex Clyde 06/09/45. Rec 2CRd ex Clyde 03/12/45. Approval to convert to conponents 06/02/46. Date 22/10/48, conversion carried out.

Evidently it changed hands a few times. Looking for pilots by the name of Garbutt, Bowen, Sgt R.R. Cowley Serv#405834...

I wonder what the dive bombing mods would have been?

And A20-496...

Rec 1AD ex CAC 25/01/42. Rec 22Sqn RAAF 22/03/42. Rec 23 Sqn RAAF ex 22Sqn RAAF 16/03/42. Accident 21/04/42 when Sgt D R Austin precautionary landing near Archerfield or Brisbane NFDs, damaging wiptip and airscrew. Repaired. Ground Accident 14/07/42 at Kingaroy, when aircaft being towed into hanger was struck on Starboard wing edge. Repaired. Accident 09/09/42 when landing at Lowood, Pilot held off on landing damaging port wingtip. Crew, P/O G R Cory and Army Captain B M Lovett not injured. Repaired.Rec 3AD 20/10/42 ex 23Sqn RAAF for engine change. Rec 23 Sqn RAAF ex 3AD 28/10/42.Coded "TM" 23Sqn RAAF 04/43. Rec 10RSU ex 23Sqn RAAF 02/11/42. Rec 23Sqn RAAF ex 10 RSU 13/11/42. Rec ANA 10/05/43 ex 23Sqn RAAF for D/B Modifications. Rec 23Sqn RAAF ex ANA 17/06/ 43. Rec 13ARD ex 23 Sqn RAAF 21/07/43. Rec 7SFTS ex 23Sqn RAAF 12/10/43. Rec CFS ex 7SFTS 28/04/45.Rec CMU Tocumwal ex CFS Point Cook 15/03/46. Stored Cat C 01/10/46. Allocated 1AD for conversion to components 30/10/53. Still held Tocumwal 1957. Rec 1AD 11/12/57. SOC 17/10/57.

Sgt D R Austin, P/O G R Corey Army captain B M Lovett...

And 572...

Rec 1AD ex CAC 13/04/42. Rec 7SFTS ex 1AD 20/04/42. Issued CAC F/B for Dive Bombing Modifications ex 7SFTS 16/11/42. Rec 7SFTS ex CAC F/B 14/12/42. Rec 4 Sqn RAAF ex 7SFTS 12/01/43. Coded QE-H 04/43. Rec 13ARD ex 4 Sqn RAAF 17/06/43 as A46 Boomerangs came on strength. Allocated 5Sqn RAAF as replacement for A20-274. Canc. Issued 7SFTS ex 13ARD 20/10/43. Accident 22/10/43 Charleville. NFDs. Rec 3AD ex 13ARD 07/11/43. Held 3AD but not repaired due to workload of unit. Issued Clyde Engineering ex 3AD 16/06/44. Rec 2Ap ex Clyde 21/11/44. Issued to 80Sqn RAAF ex 2AP 27/11/44. Canc, ret 2AP. Rec 452Sqn RAAF ex 2AD 27/12/44. Allocated 14ARD ex 452Sqn RAAF 09/01/45. Rec 87Sqn RAAF ex 14ARD RP 18/01/45.Ground accident 19/04/45 when engine caught fire on start up. Pilot, F/Lt G Lundberg Serv#404607 and F/Lt Baily not injured. Engine change. Accident 0930hrs 22/06/45 Coomallie when aircraft veered to the port on take-off when flown from rear cockpit. The first pilot took over control, then continued the take off after clearing a ditch, when the aircraft contacted a tree with the port mainplane causing some damage. After making a circuit of the strip, the aircraft was landed safely. Crew; F/Lt G C Henry Serv#413715 and F/Lt N G Johnston Serv#262640 not injured. Repaired in unit. Accident 1435hrs 23/11/45 when landing at Canberra after a travel flight from Parkes NSW, with the aircraft high speed taxying at 30mph, a sudden gust of wing from the port quarter caught and lifted the port wing, causing the port Oleo to snap off when aircraft righted. Crew; P/O D C Adams* Serv#5510 and Passenger Sqn Ldr L W Law Serv#144 not injured. Approval for conversion 18/12/45. SOC 18/12/45. * Flew last operational WW2 Sortie by 87Sqn Mosquito over Timor with F/O Kerr 03/10/45 in A52-613.

F/Lt Lundberg Serv#404607, F/Lt Baily, F/Lt G C Henry Serv#413715, F/Lt N G Johnston Serv#262640, P/O D C Adams Serv#5510 Sqn Ldr L W Law Serv#144, F/O Kerr...

Source...

ADF Aircraft Serial Numbers - RAAF A20 CAC CA-1/CA-5/CA-7/CA-8/CA-9/CA-16 Wirraway

A great shot by Phil Vabre at Airliners.net. I can see from this shot that I'll have to add the little steps on the left side of the fuselage. The kit doesn't provide them.

 

[vikingBerserker]

Great choice John!

 

[Wildcat]

Hiya John, great subject choice mate!

Evidently it changed hands a few times. Looking for pilots by the name of Garbutt, Bowen, Sgt R.R. Cowley Serv#405834...

Garbutt was an airfield up near Townsville
Garbutt @ War - Garbutt Aerodrome in Townsville

I wonder what the dive bombing mods would have been?

basically a new wing with hardpoints for heavier bomb loads and dive flaps. Since Wirraways weren't used in the dive bombing role, the flaps were usually wired shut.

Sgt D R Austin, P/O G R Corey Army captain B M Lovett...

Cory went on to fly dive bombing strikes in Vengeances in New Guinea, later still I believe he flew P-40's.

The kit doesn't provide them.

Redroo models has a conversion set which amonst other things contains a rear gun, after market decals are also available.
:: RedRoo Models

 

[hub]

This drawing maybe of some use

Cheers

Mike

 

[JohnAnthony]

Jeez! Wildcat, hub, you blokes are awesome! Thanks for the help.

Just ordered the Redroo detail set!

 

[ozhawk40]

Great choice John, I'm looking forward to this. 8)

Cheers

Peter

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Go Aussie Go, great choice John, I was going to do one myself, but then I decided on a bigger fish..............

 

[Crimea_River]

Starting tio get a lot of Aussie planes here. Common Canucks!

Nice choice John. Looks like a cacker of a kit.

 

[Airframes]

Good info guys. Is that a genuine Wirraway in the pic, or a Harvard/Texan done up as one? If the latter, check the side steps John; I know they are fitted on the Harvard/Texan/T6, but could only see one on the plan drawing.

 

[JohnAnthony]

Good info guys. Is that a genuine Wirraway in the pic, or a Harvard/Texan done up as one? If the latter, check the side steps John; I know they are fitted on the Harvard/Texan/T6, but could only see one on the plan drawing.

I'll hold off judgment till I get the Redroo refit - comes with a 20-page booklet of specs and photos.

 

[Airframes]

That should cover it then !

 

[Wildcat]

Good info guys. Is that a genuine Wirraway in the pic, or a Harvard/Texan done up as one? If the latter, check the side steps John; I know they are fitted on the Harvard/Texan/T6, but could only see one on the plan drawing.

That's a genuine CA-3 Wirraway Terry, A20-81 to be exact.

 

[Airframes]

Thanks Andy, thought it probably was, but wasn't sure.