Australian Operated Chipmunks Reg’N C/N B.O.R
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' REGISTERED FOR POSTING AS A PERIODICAL CATEGORY B JOURNAL AVIATION HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA PRICE S1.95 ■I ■ II AHSA VOLUME 19, NUMBER 2. APRIL/JUNE 1978 contents di 111 S B11M Broome's Unusual Tourist Bureau. 26 AHSA ADDRESS P.O. BOX 212, FOOTSCRAY, VIC. 3011. Fighter Leader — Zenziro Miyano. 27 EDITORIAL ADDRESS Antipodean Chipmunks...................... 28 46 SPRING STREET, THOMASTOWN, VIC. 3074. Photo Album — de Havilland Canada ,43 Historic Air Exhibition...................... 44 Spotlight - Genairco VH-UOD......... 46 PRESIDENT IAN McArthur VICE PRESIDENT (PROMOTION) BEN DANNECKER fighter tender HONORARY SECRETARY COMMANDER ZENZIRO MIYANO - BILL DONOVAN Imperial Japanese Navy, by M.W. Prime TREASURER IAN McARTHUR It is doubtful whether the name Zenziro Miyano is known SUBSCRIPTIONS SECRETARY to more than a handful of Australians, but on the morning of M MIKE MADDEN Tuesday 3 March 1942, he and his companions brought terror, 1 death and destruction to the small pearling town of Broome, on Western Australia’s far north coast. Miyano was born at Osaka, Japn in 1916, and in 1938 graduated from Navy School, and then completed his course EDITOR with the Flying Training Unit in 1940. In 1941 he joined the PETER MALONE 12th Flying Unit and was sent to China, but saw no combat - he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant in October 1941, becoming a unit leader in the 3rd Flying Unit, and then commenced training for long endurance flights. He scored his first kill over Luzon Island on 8 December 1941, and continued operations over the Philippines for some weeks, before moving to Ambon, and later on 24 February 1942, to Koepang in Timor. At 0705 hours on the morning of the 3 March 1942, Lt. Miyano took off from Koepang, leading a flight of nine A6N2 Zeroes and a C5M2 “Babs” reconnaissance aircraft, en-route to ; Broome, a distance of some 900 km. What little defence there was in Broome was caught totally unaware, and before long all Allied aircraft at Broome (except a single engine floatplane that Membership is for one full calendar year and managed to escape) were totally destroyed. The aircraft destroy includes both Journal and AHSA News. ed on the ground were two Boeing B 17E’s, two Convair B 24’s, Annual membership fees of $12.00 (Aust a Hudson, a Lodestar and a DC 3, whilst in the harbour two ralian currency) will be due for renewal Short Empire flying boats, with Catalinas and five Dornier Do during January each year. 24’s met a similar fate. The death toll will never be known, but INFORMATION FOR AUTHORS All at least 30 American and 50 Dutch personnel are known to have perished in the raid. Lt Miyano manuscripts for publication in the Journal personally destroyed a number of the above aircraft, and returned to Koepang with six bullet holes in should be typed or clearly handwritten on his aircraft to testify that at least some token resistance had been taken. one side of each sheet only, and must be In April 1942 he became flight leader of the 6th Flying Unit, which was preparing for the double spaced. Photographs should, where forthcoming Battle of Midway, and in June 1942 he was engaged in operations in the colder climes of possible, be either one column width Dutch Harbour, flying from the carrier Hayabusa. Miyano was then sent to Rabaul as leader of the (2-3/8in.), V/2 column width (3%in.), two 204th Flying Unit, and spent almost a year in operations from this base. column width (4-7/8in.) or three column On 16 June 1943, whilst on a patrol over Lunga Beach, Guadalcanal, Miyano and the force of width (7-3/8ln.); the use of negatives is 24 Zeroes under his command engaged a superior force of Allied fighters, and he was shot down in preferred. All negatives will be returned; action. As was the usual Japanese custom with all distinguished pilots, Zenziro Miyano, now an ace photographic prints will be returned if with 16 allied kills to his credit, was posthumously promoted two ranks, to Commander ( the equiv marked "Return to do not crop". alent of an RAAF Wing Commander). All work on this Journal is voluntary and no payment can be made for published material. REFERENCES Correspondence with Capt. Takeo Shibata Book “The Japanese Fighter Group”. Published by: Aviation Historical Society of Australia, P.O. Box 212, Footscray, Vic., 3011, Australia. cover © 1977 Aviation Historical Society of FRONT COVER: One of the first Chipmunks in Australia and still going strong. This Chipmunk Australia. Mk-21 received its original British C of A on 11 October 1951 and was registered G-AMLC. It was brought to Australia in 1954 as VH-MLO, this later being changed to -CJM, and currently as -DBS is ISSN 0045- 1185 often seen around the Melbourne area. (Photo P. Malone). REAR COVER: Three of the most recent arrivals. TOP TO BOTTOM: Still in its original RAF Printed by: Maxwell Printing Services Pty. markings, albeit somewhat faded, VH-AFL, ex G-BDJO, WP919. The most recent arrival, VH-BBK, an Ltd., 669 Spencer Street, West Melbourne, ex Singapore Flying Club aircraft, - 9V-BAE. Barry Bell’s, VH-SSJ, is also an ex-RAF machine main Vic., 3003, Australia. tained in splendid condition. Ex G-BDEM, WK507. (Photos P. Malone). 27 A N T C I H P I O P D M E U A N N K by G. GOODALL Hi I ■ ■ ■ ■ ■■ r ■ «•-... : ■ m ■■ m ... The well known DHC-1 Chipmunk, shipped from Canada, where it had been rolled deHavilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd’s first wholly out of DHC’s Toronto factory on 28 August OPPOSITE PAGE: Chipmunks of the Royal Aero Club of Western Australia. Top: VH- designed and built aircraft, was first flown at 1947 as the 22nd Chipmunk built. It was re RFW near Cunerdin, W.A., 10th November, Toronto on 22 May 1946. Canadian production assembled at Bankstown Airport, Sydney as .Centre: VH-ROG over the Swan River, ceased after their 157th aircraft due to pressure VH-BFT and received its Australian CofA on 10 Perth, 15th October, 1957. Bottom: VH- of US military contracts, but the RAF had placed December that year. The most obvious order WRW, — AMB and — ROG lined up outside large orders for the type to become their stan being sought was from the RAAF as a new basic the club's hangar at Marylands Aerodrome, dard postwar ab-initio trainer, and so large scale trainer, and VH-BFT was extensively demon Perth, 6th November, 1954. (Photos via production of the DHC-1 was then initiated by strated at RAAF Base East Sale. No military G. Goodall). the parent company, deHavilland Aircraft Co order was received however, the RAAF Ltd, at their Hatfield factory, this later being eventually deciding upon the projected CAC transferred to their Chester plant. The British Winjeel primary trainer. After further demon THIS PAGE: The first and the last. Below: aircraft had minor modifications, were powered strations to the main aero clubs had produced the first Chipmunk into Australia, De by Gipsy Major 10 engines, and designated no immediate orders, VH-BFT was retired at Havilland's demonstrator VH-BFT at the time Chipmunk T.Mk. 10 by the RAF. The first, Bankstown in July, 1948. While its excellence of its demonstration to the RAAF in 1948. WB549, was exhibited at the 1949 SBAC Show, as .a trainer in all aspects of flying was acclaimed, No military order was forthcoming, the air the high initial cost of a brand new aircraft at craft eventually being sold to the Newcastle leading to additional orders from 14 foreign Aero Club In May 1949. Above: VH-BBK, at air forces. A grand total of 1,014 Chipmunks a time when so many war disposals aircraft were the time of writing the last Chipmunk to were built in England, including 735 for the available made civil sales most unlikely. come to Australia. This aircraft served with RAF. In Canada an additional 60 Chipmunks The demonstrator, VH-BFT, was sold the Royal Air Force, Royal Malaysian Air were built by DHC for RCAF in 1956. eventually in May 1949 to the progressive New Force, and Singapore Flying Club before In Australia, deHavilland Aircraft Pty castle Aero Club, which was then the biggest being brought to Australia in 1976. (Photos Ltd of Sydney imported an early Canadian- aero club in the country. Taking this lead, the P. Malone). built civil DHC-1 A-1 Chipmunk for local demon following year the Royal Aero Club of New strations in December 1947. This aircraft was South Wales placed an order for a Chipmunk ■I with deHavilland at Bankstown. The British registrations being the initials of senior RACWA owned Chipmunk as VH-CBM for Mr. C.B. production was fully committed to RAF orders, officials. The demonstrator VH-AKW was sold, Martin of Martins Industries, Sydney. DCA used so a second-hand DHC-lA-1 G-AKCS was just like its predecessor, to the Royal Newcastle the RAF designation Chipmunk T.IO for these imported from England. This was the 18th Aero Club in November 1953 and was replaced and subsequent ex-military British-built aircraft, Canadian-built aircraft and had been shipped to by deHavillands with VH-MLO which had pre- although the correct designation after civiliani- England and assembled at Witney in November viously been a British demonstrator G-AMLC. sation is Chipmunk Mk. 22. 1947 for Loxham’s Flying Services Pty Ltd as It had been diverted from the military pro The following year, 1956, saw large the first civil sale in UK.