Geoffrey Sinclair
Staff Sergeant
- 989
- Sep 30, 2021
A58-173 from Central Gunnery School crash 21 Dec 44, airframe 30% damage, airscrew 40%, port wing 30%, starboard wing 40%, engine write off? on 26 December request allotment to 1 CRD for conversion a/c involved in further damage in transit.
A705 211/6/2176 [Transport - Transport Accidents] - Accident to AF11224 and Civilian Vehicle AG 000 and Spitfire A58-173 at Mededith 22/12/44 [2cms] Access status: Open Canberra 1945 - 1948 Barcode 3426674 (not digitised)
A9845 121 Spitfire A58 [Accidents Part 2] {Note: for table of accidents see item note} Access status: Open Canberra 1943 - 1945 Barcode 6950511 (Digitised, but only a simple summary)
A705 9/53/27 DTS [Directorate Technical Services] - Spitfire Aircraft - Performance comparison - tropical and non-tropical types Access status: Open Canberra Barcode 164675 (Digitised)
D3333 521/A/169C 1 Aircraft Performance Unit/Aircraft Research and Development Unit. Report on attitude trials - part II - Spitfire HF Mk VIII, by S/Ldr A I Barrett and F/O R R Shaw. [includes photograph] Access status: Open Canberra 1945 - 1945 Barcode 1084082 Digitised
Directorate of Technical Services, report for week ending
19-May-43 Spitfire, Urgent action to manufacture non tropical engine fairings for one Sqn, another 24 fairings to be made and fitted by 1 June.
2-Jun-43 Spitfire, 24 aircraft fitted with non tropical cowling, remaining reserve aircraft estimated completed by 3 June
Goodenough Island is near the climate boundary, it does not have a dry season but does have significant seasonal variations in rainfall, plus significant variations in rainfall across the island thanks to it being built around Mount Vineuo at 2,536 metres (8,320 ft).
Kiriwina 90 to 180mm of rain per month, seasonal pattern
Admiralty Islands 100 to 300mm of rain per month, seasonal pattern
79 RAAF Squadron,
26-Apr 43 Laverton Vic Formed
22-May-43 Laverton Vic Advanced party move completed to "Ginger" Goodenough Island
1-Jun-43 Laverton Vic Move begun, to Sydney then North Eastern Area
7-Jun-43 Sydney NSW Main party departed MS "Cremer"
16-Jun-43 Goodenough Island PNG Main party Disembarked
17-Jun-43 Goodenough Island PNG Ground staff to "Ginger"
21-Jun-43 Goodenough Island PNG 1st Air echelon arrived Goodenough Island, 14 Spitfire
23-Jun-43 Goodenough Island PNG Rest of equipment arrived
26-Jun-43 Goodenough Island New Guinea 2nd Air echelon arrived Goodenough Island, 7 Spitfire
30-Jun-43 Goodenough Island PNG Operational
6-Aug-43 Goodenough Island PNG Began move to Kiriwina, entry lists 5 units moving together, says from 6th to 18th
18-Aug-43 Kiriwina PNG 12 Spitfires arrived from Vivigani
19-Aug-43 Kiriwina PNG operational
5-Mar-44 Kiriwina PNG Boarded liberty ship "Marcus Daly"
7-Mar-44 Milne Bay PNG Arrived on liberty ship "Marcus Daly"
12-Mar-44 Milne Bay PNG Departed on liberty ship "Marcus Daly"
15-Mar-44 Seeadler Harbour Admiralty Islands Arrived on liberty ship "Marcus Daly", unloading took until 23rd
16-Mar-44 Los Negros Admiralty Islands Moved "Mercantile"
24-Nov-44 Los Negros Admiralty Islands Released by COMAIR, replaced by 23 Sqn RNZAF.
9-Dec-44 Los Negros Admiralty Islands To move to Darwin (no date given) under 80 Wing NE Area and rearm with Spitfire VIII
12-Jan-45 Darwin NT Begin residence at base
6-Feb-45 Morotai Molucccas Move. Advanced party
13-Mar-45 Darwin NT End residence at base
15-Mar-45 Morotai Island Molucccas Move completed from Darwin, under 80 Wing, 1st TAF
28-Oct-45 Morotai Molucccas Disbanded
The 24 Spitfires departed Laverton according to 79 Squadron history sheets, plus the two replacements, still using RAF serials, corrections from the ADF Serials listing Under A58-104/EE564
AR532 A58-4
BR485 A58-28
EE564 A58-104 reported as ES564
EE807 A58-135 reported as JG807, replacement
EE835 A58-137
EE836 A58-138
EE844? A58-140 2nd appearance of EE851, EE844 closest match in ADF serials list
EE845 A58-141
EE849 A58-142
EE850 A58-143
EE851 A58-144
EE852 A58-145
EE853 A58-146 replacement
ER735 A58-163
ES232 A58-165
ES238 A58-166
ES249 A58-167
ES259 A58-168
ES307 A58-169
JG740 A58-173
JG796 A58-175
JG807 A58-176
JG891 A58-178
JG897 A58-182 reported as JG957 collided
JG912 A58-180
JG954 A58-181 reported as EE954, collided
The 30 Spitfires listed as modified in the ADF serials list
AR532 A58-4
BR485 A58-28
EE564 A58-104
EE807 A58-135
EE835 A58-137
EE836 A58-138
EE844 A58-140
EE845 A58-141
EE849 A58-142
EE850 A58-143
EE851 A58-144
EE852 A58-145
EE853 A58-146
EE855 Invalid, not sent to RAAF
ER735 A58-163
ES232 A58-165
ES238 A58-166
ES249 A58-167 1st appearance
ES249 A58-167 repeat appearance
ES259 A58-168 reported as EE259
ES307 A58-169
JG740 A58-173
JG796 A58-175 reported as JD796
JG807 A58-176
JG891 A58-178
JG897 A58-182
JG912 A58-180
JG954 A58-181
JG957 A58-182
JK231 A58-185
A705 211/6/2176 [Transport - Transport Accidents] - Accident to AF11224 and Civilian Vehicle AG 000 and Spitfire A58-173 at Mededith 22/12/44 [2cms] Access status: Open Canberra 1945 - 1948 Barcode 3426674 (not digitised)
A9845 121 Spitfire A58 [Accidents Part 2] {Note: for table of accidents see item note} Access status: Open Canberra 1943 - 1945 Barcode 6950511 (Digitised, but only a simple summary)
A705 9/53/27 DTS [Directorate Technical Services] - Spitfire Aircraft - Performance comparison - tropical and non-tropical types Access status: Open Canberra Barcode 164675 (Digitised)
D3333 521/A/169C 1 Aircraft Performance Unit/Aircraft Research and Development Unit. Report on attitude trials - part II - Spitfire HF Mk VIII, by S/Ldr A I Barrett and F/O R R Shaw. [includes photograph] Access status: Open Canberra 1945 - 1945 Barcode 1084082 Digitised
Directorate of Technical Services, report for week ending
19-May-43 Spitfire, Urgent action to manufacture non tropical engine fairings for one Sqn, another 24 fairings to be made and fitted by 1 June.
2-Jun-43 Spitfire, 24 aircraft fitted with non tropical cowling, remaining reserve aircraft estimated completed by 3 June
Goodenough Island is near the climate boundary, it does not have a dry season but does have significant seasonal variations in rainfall, plus significant variations in rainfall across the island thanks to it being built around Mount Vineuo at 2,536 metres (8,320 ft).
Kiriwina 90 to 180mm of rain per month, seasonal pattern
Admiralty Islands 100 to 300mm of rain per month, seasonal pattern
79 RAAF Squadron,
26-Apr 43 Laverton Vic Formed
22-May-43 Laverton Vic Advanced party move completed to "Ginger" Goodenough Island
1-Jun-43 Laverton Vic Move begun, to Sydney then North Eastern Area
7-Jun-43 Sydney NSW Main party departed MS "Cremer"
16-Jun-43 Goodenough Island PNG Main party Disembarked
17-Jun-43 Goodenough Island PNG Ground staff to "Ginger"
21-Jun-43 Goodenough Island PNG 1st Air echelon arrived Goodenough Island, 14 Spitfire
23-Jun-43 Goodenough Island PNG Rest of equipment arrived
26-Jun-43 Goodenough Island New Guinea 2nd Air echelon arrived Goodenough Island, 7 Spitfire
30-Jun-43 Goodenough Island PNG Operational
6-Aug-43 Goodenough Island PNG Began move to Kiriwina, entry lists 5 units moving together, says from 6th to 18th
18-Aug-43 Kiriwina PNG 12 Spitfires arrived from Vivigani
19-Aug-43 Kiriwina PNG operational
5-Mar-44 Kiriwina PNG Boarded liberty ship "Marcus Daly"
7-Mar-44 Milne Bay PNG Arrived on liberty ship "Marcus Daly"
12-Mar-44 Milne Bay PNG Departed on liberty ship "Marcus Daly"
15-Mar-44 Seeadler Harbour Admiralty Islands Arrived on liberty ship "Marcus Daly", unloading took until 23rd
16-Mar-44 Los Negros Admiralty Islands Moved "Mercantile"
24-Nov-44 Los Negros Admiralty Islands Released by COMAIR, replaced by 23 Sqn RNZAF.
9-Dec-44 Los Negros Admiralty Islands To move to Darwin (no date given) under 80 Wing NE Area and rearm with Spitfire VIII
12-Jan-45 Darwin NT Begin residence at base
6-Feb-45 Morotai Molucccas Move. Advanced party
13-Mar-45 Darwin NT End residence at base
15-Mar-45 Morotai Island Molucccas Move completed from Darwin, under 80 Wing, 1st TAF
28-Oct-45 Morotai Molucccas Disbanded
The 24 Spitfires departed Laverton according to 79 Squadron history sheets, plus the two replacements, still using RAF serials, corrections from the ADF Serials listing Under A58-104/EE564
AR532 A58-4
BR485 A58-28
EE564 A58-104 reported as ES564
EE807 A58-135 reported as JG807, replacement
EE835 A58-137
EE836 A58-138
EE844? A58-140 2nd appearance of EE851, EE844 closest match in ADF serials list
EE845 A58-141
EE849 A58-142
EE850 A58-143
EE851 A58-144
EE852 A58-145
EE853 A58-146 replacement
ER735 A58-163
ES232 A58-165
ES238 A58-166
ES249 A58-167
ES259 A58-168
ES307 A58-169
JG740 A58-173
JG796 A58-175
JG807 A58-176
JG891 A58-178
JG897 A58-182 reported as JG957 collided
JG912 A58-180
JG954 A58-181 reported as EE954, collided
The 30 Spitfires listed as modified in the ADF serials list
AR532 A58-4
BR485 A58-28
EE564 A58-104
EE807 A58-135
EE835 A58-137
EE836 A58-138
EE844 A58-140
EE845 A58-141
EE849 A58-142
EE850 A58-143
EE851 A58-144
EE852 A58-145
EE853 A58-146
EE855 Invalid, not sent to RAAF
ER735 A58-163
ES232 A58-165
ES238 A58-166
ES249 A58-167 1st appearance
ES249 A58-167 repeat appearance
ES259 A58-168 reported as EE259
ES307 A58-169
JG740 A58-173
JG796 A58-175 reported as JD796
JG807 A58-176
JG891 A58-178
JG897 A58-182
JG912 A58-180
JG954 A58-181
JG957 A58-182
JK231 A58-185
