About to be loaded on board HMAS Wyatt Earp, Antarctic Flight, Commonwealth Bay, Antarctica, Feb., 1948.
Originally intended for use by the Netherlands East Indies.
Arrived in Australia 04/42,
Erected at Point Cook and Received at Rathmines 06/05/42.
Put into Service 14/01/43.
Served with the Seaplane Training Flight, later 3 OTU and 107 Sqn on 10/05/43. Coded JE-O.
Flown to Lake Boga VIC in 18/08/45, where the last 9 remaining Kingfishers were stored.
Issued to RAAF Antarctic Flight, 21/10/47.
Fitted with an engine pre-heater and painted yellow before issue to Wyatt Earp on 13/12/47.
This aircraft was used on the Australian Antarctic Expedition in 1947/48 to King George V Land aboard HMAS Wyatt Earp, formally HMAS Wongala.
It flew a total of 13 hours prior to departure and the remainder of the total 55 hours used for ANARE scouting the pack ice for its mother ship HMAS Wyatt Earp and serving the ANARE Antarctic Flight.
Returned to Point Cook on 31/3/48 and later transferred to Rathmines for storage and possible future use.
Eventually sold at auction on 21/1/53.
Source:
ADF Serials - Kingfisher