John Bennett ADF-Serials Telegraph 1 | P a g e Volume 11 Issue 1, 2021 Welcome to the ADF-Serials Telegraph. Articles for those interested in Australian Military Aircraft History and Serials Our Editorial and contributing Members in this issue are: John Bennett, Gordon Birkett and Garry Shepherdson (Acting Editor) ADF-Serials Generic House Rules: 1. We, the contributors, do this as a hobby, for free. Each of us devotes our own time (and at times money) into researching topics of Australian Defence Force (and closely related) aviation history for the benefit of this site. We do it to enhance the historical record and to correct errors or inaccuracies that may have crept into the historical record over time. 2. Plagiarism is NOT acceptable – by contributors or by people subsequently using information that they’ve gained from an issue of the ADF-Serials Telegraph. 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It is located at http://www.adf-serials.com.au/home.htm The main site also includes: • Our image gallery at http://www.adf-serials.com.au/Gallery.htm • Our message board at http://www.adf-messageboard.com.au/invboard/ • The Aircraft of the New Zealand Defence Force website at http://www.nzdf-serials.co.nz/nz- serials/nzaircraft.htm • The Aircraft of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) website at http://www.adf- serials.com/PNGDF.htm 2 | P a g e In This Issue: Page# Title 4 RAAF WWII in Colour, No.9 – RAAF Battles by John Bennett. 48 Serving No.1 (B) OCU RAAF: Canberra Mk20/Mk21 by Gordon Birkett. 61 Notes Regarding No.31 Squadron Beaufighters by Garry Shepherdson. 80 Curtiss Corner: P-40E-1 41-25109/ET433 by Gordon Birkett. 86 Correction and End Notes. Special Thanks: Ian Madden, 31 Squadron Beaufighter Association. Special Message: 31st March, 2021, marks the Centenary of the founding of the Australian Air Force. On that day 100 years ago, the new, independent air arm, held 151 aircraft on strength, mostly gifted from the United Kingdom. The primary training type was the Avro 504, Sopwith Pup’s provided the rough equivalent of what today would be called a “Lead- In Fighter” training capability and the operational types were DH9’s, DH9A’s and SE5A’s. However, very little flying took place initially and the main flying unit was 1FTS. Not too many people could deny that, over the last 100 years, the RAAF has gained a reputation for “punching above its weight”, whether it be in peace-time international exercises, whilst providing humanitarian support to those in need or whilst on, or directly supporting, operations. Compare todays fleet with its initial inventory. Its primary training type now is the PC21, Hawk127’s provide “Lead- In Fighter” training for types such as FA-18F, EA-18G and F-35 and now many other types provide vitally important capabilities which weren’t dreamt of in 1921 ranging from C-27, C-130 and C-17 transports, P-8 ASW aircraft, E-7 AEW aircraft and KC-30 tanker/transports. Many thousands of hours a year are being flown by a range of units and a large number of personnel, of all musterings, exist so as those flying hours can be generated. Every current and former member has contributed, to a greater or lesser degree, to the functioning and therefore to the continued evolution of the RAAF. My contribution was minuscule and insignificant but, I am still proud of the fact that I contributed, in an infinitesimally small way, to the first 100 years of the RAAF’s history and, I believe, so should everyone who has served in the RAAF at one time or another. For, without its membership and their individual contribution, the RAAF wouldn’t be what it is. Message Traffic: Please address any questions to: [email protected] 3 | P a g e RAAF WWII IN COLOUR A series of RAAF aircraft in WWII – in Australia, New Guinea and the islands. Later, Europe and the Middle East will be included. No.9 – RAAF Battles by John Bennett The Fairey Battle was another of the obsolescent British types adopted at the outbreak of War as a trainer aircraft in UK, Canada and Australia for the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS). Tragically outclassed as an RAF light bomber in France in 1940, the Battle did provide a suitable multi-crewmember platform for the EATS training of air observers, bomb aimers and gunners. The RAAF received 365 Battles over 1940-1943, all retaining RAF serials, with the first four arriving in APR 1940.1 Main sources for this article are Brendan Cowan’s RAAF Fairey Battle pages in the adf-serials database, and Ian Huntley’s Aviation Guide Fairey Battle. From 1940, Australia’s Battles were delivered initially to No.1 Aircraft Park (1AP) at North Shore, Geelong, for assembly at the International Harvester plant, and by the end of 1943 all the RAAF Battles had been delivered for service for training and as target-tugs.2 Total Battle production can be a point of conjecture. Some sources provide the total aircraft that were ordered as the number that were delivered – clearly not the case as orders were cancelled as priorities changed. A total of 2,419 Fairey Battles were ordered by the RAF (including the prototype), but 234 were cancelled – with total RAF production of 2,185, comprising 1,156 from Fairey and 1,029 built by Austin Motors.3 This RAF total of 2,185 included 266 Austin factory-produced target-towing TT.Is, together with 200 dual-cockpit trainer Battle(T)s. Several aircraft built as bombers were subsequently converted to target-tugs or dual-control trainers. [colourised from RAAF image] RAAF Battle R3949 with Yellow trainer stripes of 1BAGS, taking-off from Amberley in JAN 1942 The British Air Ministry drew up Specification P.27/32 in APR 1933 for a single-engined monoplane light bomber, in parallel with Spec B.9/32 for a twin-engined medium bomber (which led to the Hampden and Wellington).4 Fairey had many concerns with the P.27/32 specification objecting that current available powerplants were unsuitable for a single-engined bomber, but ultimately submitted an option for a design powered by the Rolls-Royce PV-12, which would become the Merlin. The first flight of the prototype K4303 (c/n F.2121) was on 10 MAR 1936, delayed by problems with the Merlin, and on 2 APR 1936 the design was named the Battle.5 This was not necessarily named after the Kent town of that name, but perhaps was the result of Fairey’s battles with the Air Ministry with regard the demands of the specification. The first production Battle, K7758 (c/n F.2316), flew on 14 APR 1937. 4 | P a g e RAAF Battle Serial Summary 1. From 1940, all of the RAAF’s 365 Fairey Battles were delivered on Overseas Indent O.I.992, initially in the basic “bomber” configuration, but this total also included 105 target-towing TT.Is, and from 1941 eleven dual-cockpit Battle(T) trainers. 2. Target-Tugs. Target-towing Battles were delivered with either the Type B Mk II winch, or the simpler Type D winch, while some were modified in Australia with winches and modified rear fuselages for this role. 3. Trainers. The dedicated dual control Battle designated Battle(T) had separate tandem cockpits – not to be confused with the bomber configuration variant, when some were modified with dual controls fitted under the single canopy. Type RAAF RAF Production Contract 6 RAAF Delivery Details Receipts Battle I 15 First batch of 155 Battle I From MAY 1941: K7575, K7600, K7607, K7613, K7619, K7622, bomber (K7558 to K7712) from Fairey, K7638, K7643, K7649, K7659, K7672, K7676, K7687, K7705, K7710. [249] Stockport, contract 321541/35. 34 Second production batch of From DEC 1940: K9177, K9206, K9219, K9277, K9228, K9232, 311 Battle I (K9176 to K9486) K9262, K9282, K9290, K9291, K9297, K9322, K9324, K9346, K9362, built by Fairey, Stockport, K9368, K9371, K9375, K9380, K9388, K9393, K9411, K9422, K9426, under contract 768880/38. K9429, K9435, K9442-9444, K9447, K9464, K9468, K9478, K9486.