Australian Military Aircraft - Chart 6

The Australian War Memorial

AUSTRALIAN MILITARY AIRCRAFT

CHART 6: 1954-1971

The sixth, and final, wall chart in the series reproducing the War Memorial mural painted by Harold Freedman concludes the story of Australian military aircraft as at 1971, the 50th Anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force. Aircraft flown by Australians  in the navy, army, and air force are identified by the numbers 221 to 272.

Although the Korean War ended in 1953, RAAF Lincoln bombers continued to operate in Malaya against the terrorists until 1958. They were then replaced by Canberras, which were later joined by Sabres, and strike operations continued until 1960. In the interim another overseas deployment had ended when No. 78 (F) Wing returned to Australia after flying RAF Vampires on garrison duty at Malta between 1952 and 1954.

Meanwhile, in Australia, many important changes had occurred in the military aviation scene. In the early 1950s helicopters made their first appearance with the RAAF and RAN. The Weapons Research Establishment came into operation at Woomera where the RAAF operated various new types of RAF aircraft in connection with UK Ministry of Supply projects. These aircraft ranged from the large four-engined Washington and Valiant bombers to the small Avro 707A research aircraft.

The 1950s also ushered in a promising era for the local aircraft industry. The highly successful Jindivik pilotless target aircraft flew in 1952 after trials were made with the 1950 piloted Pika version which was the first Australian designed and built jet aircraft. In 1971 the Jindivik was still in production and over 400 had been built for use in Australia, Sweden, UK and USA. Two' important milestones occurred in 1953 with the first flights of the Government Aircraft Factory Canberra B.20 and the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation prototype Sabre CA-26. The first two Australian Canberras competed in the UK-NZ Air Race later in the year and A84-202 came second in the speed section. Two years later, in 1955, production versions of the CAC Winjeel trainer entered the RAAF after the prototype had first flown in 1951.

Other important aircraft introduced into the RAAF in the 1950s included two Lockheed types, the Neptune and Hercules. Three of the former P2V-5 machines completed the RAAF's first round the world flight in 1957, and the arrival of the Hercules in 1958 at last provided the RAAF with a long-range strategic support capability.

HMAS Melbourne arrived in Australia in 1956, with Sea Venom and Gannet aircraft, to join HMAS Sydney— HMAS Vengeance and operated on temporary loan from the RN as a second aircraft carrier from 1952 to 1955.

In 1951 artillery officers commenced training as pilots with No. 16 AOP Flight, some 30 years after the army had relinquished flying duties to the air force in 1921, The Australian Army Aviation Corps was formed in 1968 with Sioux, Cessna, and Turbo-Porter aircraft, and some of these machines saw service in Vietnam.

The RAN also acquired new aircraft during the 1960s including Wessex, Scout and Iroquois helicopters and Skyhawk fighter-bombers, Tracker anti-submarine aircraft, and Macchi trainers. During the same decade the RAAF re-equipped with Mirage fighters, Hercules and Caribou transports, Orion anti-submarine aircraft, Macchi trainers, Iroquois helicopters, and various VIP transports.

Although the Malayan Emergency ended in 1960 it was followed by a period of confrontation with Indonesia, trouble on the Thailand and Laotian border, and the Vietnam War.

RAAF Aircraft involved in these crises included Sabres and Canberras in the former instances, and Canberra, Iroquois, Caribou and Hercules aircraft in Vietnam. Another overseas commitment involved the deployment of two Mirage squadrons to Malaysia as from 1967.

With the advent of the RAAF's Golden Jubilee in 1971, Australian military aviation reached a high peak of efficiency and effectiveness. In addition, new aircraft ordered in the early 1970s give every indication that Australian military aviation willprogressively improve during the coming decade. A new era of airpower  potential will eventuate with the introduction of the F-111C strike aircraft, Boeing Chinook helicopters, and the New Zealand AESL CT-4 Airtrainer for the RAAF; Westland Sea King helicopters for the RAN; and the Bell 206B1 light observation helicopters, and Nomad transports for the Army Air Corps, _________

221. BRISTOL FREIGHTER. Four Freighter Mk 21Es operated with the RAAF in South Australia between 1949 and 1967. Speed: 225 mph. Engine: 2x1690  hp Bristol Hercules 672. Span: 108 ft.

222. SIKORSKY S.51. The first helicopters used by the RAAF were  three Sikorsky S.51s which were  introduced in 1949 and phased  out of service in 1964. Speed:  106 mph. Engine: 450 hp PW R985. Rotor diameter: 49 ft.

223. BRISTOL SYCAMORE. Between 1951 and 1965 two Sycamore  helicopters operated with  the RAAF, mainly at Woomera  Rocket Range, Speed: 132 mph.  Engine: 550 hp Alvis Leonides.  Rotor diameter: 48 ft 7 in.

224. BRISTOL SYCAMORE. Several  Sycamore HR 50 and HC 51  helicopters were specifically  built for RAN operations during the  1950-60s. Speed: 132 mph.  Engine: 550 hp Alvis Leonides.  Rotor diameter: 48 ft 7 in.

225. RFD WINGED TARGET. Ten  pilotless wooden winged targets,  which were towed at high speed,  were used for gunnery practice  in the 1950s by the RAAF.  Speed 240 mph maximum towing.  Span: 26 ft.

226. AVRO 707. The small delta  wing RAF research Aveo 707A,  WD280, was flown on boundary  layer tests by the RAAF in the  1950s. Engine: 3600 lb st RR  Derwent 8. Span: 34 ft.

227. BOEING WASHINGTON.  Bombing trials were carried out  by the RAAF with two B-29  Superfortresses (renamed Washington  by the RAF) at Woomera,  1952-56. Speed: 350 mph. Engine:  4x2200hp Wright Cyclone  R-3350. Span 141 ft 3 in.

228. GAF PIKA. Two Australian designed  and built piloted Pika jets  carried out RAAF development  trials for the pilotless Jindivik  target aircraft, 1950-51. Speed:  470 mph. Engine: 1050 lb st AS  Adder ASA1. Span: 19 ft.

229. GAF JINDIVIK. The RAAF  operated the Australian Jindivik  pilotless high performance target  drones, 1951-67. Others were  used by the RAN. Speed: 450  mph. Engine: 1750 lb st Bristol  Siddeley Viper ASV8. Span: 25 ft 8 in.

230. ARMSTRONG WHITWORTH  METEOR. NF versions of the  Gloster Meteor were representative  of several RAF aircraft  types-including Meteor U.15-16,  U.21, and Vickers Valiant- flown at Woomera by the RAAF  in the 1950s. Speed 5769 mph. Engine: 2x3 600 lb st RR Derwent. Span: 43 ft.

231. CAC WINJEEL. Two CA-22  prototypes and 62 CA-25 production  Winjeels were introduced  in the 1950s for RAAF  basic flying training. Speed: 187  mph. Engine: 450 hp PW Wasp  Junior. Span 38ft 9 in.

232. DHA VAMPIRE TRAINER.  As from 1951 dual-seat Vampire  T-33s and T.35/35As served the  RAAF as advanced trainers.  RAN versions included T.34/ 34As. Speed: 538 mph. Engine:  3500 lb st DH Goblin 35. Span: 38 ft.

233. D.H. VAMPIRE. Between 1952- 54 No. 78 Wing, RAAF, flew RAF Vampires including FB9s on garrison duty at Malta. Speed: 548 mph. Engine: 3350 lb st Goblin D. Gn.3. Span: 38 ft.

234. GAF LINCOLN. In 1952 twenty Lincoln 30s were lengthened  and modified to 31 standard for maritime duties with No. 10 Sqn. RAAF. Speed: 305 mph.  Engine: 4x1650 hp RR Merlin 102. Span: 120 ft.

235. GAF CANBERRA. Five ex-RAF,  and 24 Australian-built English Electric Canberra bombers  replaced Lincolns as from 1951 to 1953. Training versions were also introduced. Speed: 580 mph. Engine: 2x7500 lb st RR Avon. Span: 63 ft 11¹/₂ in.

236. LOCKHEED NEPTUNE. Twelve Neptunes entered service with No. 11 Sqn, RAAF, in  1951 as patrol and anti-submarine  search aircraft. Speed: 341 mph. Engine: 2x3250 hp Wright Turbo-Cyclone. Span: 102 ft.

237. LOCKHEED NEPTUNE. No. 11 Sqn's P2V-5s were modified in 1959 and fitted with two extra auxiliary jet engines. Speed: 345  mph. Engine: 2x3250 hp Wrights, plus 2x3400 lb st Westinghouse J.34. Span: 102 ft.

238. CAC SABRE. The Australian- redesigned NA F-86F Sabre, with an Avon engine, first flew on 3 Aug 53 and 111 production Sabres were subsequently built for the RAAF. Speed: 700 mph. Engine: 7500 lb st CAC Avon 26. Span: 37 ft 1 in.

239. D.H. SEA HORNET. One RN Sea Hornet F.20, TT213, was attached to the RAAF for tropical  trials, 1948-50. Speed: 467 mph. Engine: 2x2030 hp RR Merlin 133/134. Span: 45 ft.

240. PERCIVAL PRINCE. Three Prince transports were used by the RAAF at Mallala, Edinburgh,  and Woomera, 1952-7. Speed: 229 mph. Engine: 2x550 hp Alvis Leonide 502/4. Span: 56 ft.

241. DHC BEAVER. The RAAF operated five Canadian-built Beaver transports - with interchangeable  wheel, ski, or float undercarriages - mainly in the Antarctic. Speed: 163 mph. Engine:  450 hp PW Wasp Jnr R-985. Span: 48 ft.

242. CONVAIR METROPOLITAN. Two Metropolitan 440s were used by No. 34 Sqn, RAAF, as VIP transports, 1956-68. Speed: 314 mph. Engine: 2x2500 hp PW R-2800 Wasp. Span: 105 ft 4 in.

243. LOCKHEED HERCULES. Twelve C.130A Hercules transport- freighters entered service with No. 36 Sqn, RAAF, in 1958 and were still operating in 1971. Speed: 365 mph. Engine: 4x4050 ehp Allison T56 turboprop. Span: 132 ft 7¹/₄ in.

244. D.H. SEA VAMPIRE. The RAN acquired 4 Sea Vampire T.22s in the 1950s to augment the DHA Vampire T.34/34As for advanced jet training. Speed: 538 mph. Engine: 3500 lb st DH Goblin 35. Span: 38 ft.

245. FAIREY GANNET. Gannet AS.4 anti-submarine aircraft first arrived in Australia in 1956 aboard the RAN's newly commissioned  aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne. Speed: 299 mph. Engine: 3035 ehp AS Double Mamba 101. Span: 54 ft 4 in.

246. D.H. SEA VENOM. The RAN's first operational jet fighter, the Sea Venom FAW Mk53, also embarked on HMAS Melbourne in 1956. Speed: 587 mph. Engine:  4950 lb st DH Ghost 104. Span: 42 ft 11 in.

247. GAF-CAC MIRAGE. One hundred Australian assembled, and built, French Dassault Mirage III0 Fs and As joined the RAAF as from 1963. Speed: 1430 mph. Engine: 13300 lbs st SNECMA Atar 9C. Span: 27 ft.

248. DASSAULT MIRAGE. Ten French-built Mirage IIID dual-seat trainers were obtained for the RAAF in 1966, plus a further  six in 1972. Speed: 1400 mph. Engine: 13300 lb st SNECMA Atar 9C. Span: 27 ft.

249. CAC MACCHI. Eighty-seven Italian Aermacchi MB.326H jet trainers were constructed under licence in Australia for the RAAF as from 1967. Speed: 501 mph. Engine: 2500 lb st Bristol Siddeley Viper II Mark 22-11. Span: 34 ft 7 in.

250. BELL SIOUX. Sioux 47 type G2A, 3, 3B and 3B-1 helicopters were used as from 1960 for RAAF-Army operations, and were transferred to the Army Aviation Corps in 1965. Speed: 105 mph. Engine: 260 hp TVO. Rotor diameter: 37 ft 1¹/₂ in.

251. CESSNA 180. Cessna AOP 180As, Ds, and Es entered RAAF-Army service in 1959, and were taken over by the Army in 1965 - several later operated in Vietnam. Speed: 142 knots. Engine: 230 hp Continental.  Span: 36 ft.

252. BELL IROQUOIS. The RAAF used Iroquois UH-1B, 1D, 1H helicopters in Australia as from 1962, and during the Vietnam War between 1966-71. Speed: 147 mph. Engine: 960 shp Lycoming  T53-L-5. Rotor diameter: 44 ft.

253. BELL IROQUOIS. Iroquois helicopters replaced Sycamores for RAN training and rescue duties in the 1960s. Speed: 138 mph. Engine: 1100 shp Lycoming.  Rotor diameter: 44 ft.

254. WESTLAND SCOUT. Scout AH-1 helicopters joined the RAN in 1964 for service aboard the survey ship HMAS Moresby. Speed: 131 mph. Engine: 685 shp Nimbus. Rotor diameter: 32 ft 3 in.

255. WESTLAND WESSEX. Wessex HAS 31A and 31B helicopters were ordered in 1962 by the RAN for service aboard HMAS Melbourne. Speed: 124 mph. Engine: 1540 shp Gazelle 162. Rotor diameter: 56 ft.

256. HUNTING-PERCIVAL JET PROVOST. One Jet Provost was acquired on loan for 6 months by the RAAF for advanced  training trials in 1959. Speed: 330 mph. Engine: 1750 lb st BS Viper 102. Span: 36 ft 11 in.

257. SUD ALOUETTE. Three French Alouette III helicopters were operated by the RAAF at Wommera between 1964-66. Speed: 131 mph. Engine: 550 shp Turbomeca Artouste IIIB. Rotor diameter: 36 ft 1 in.

258. DHC OTTER. The Canadian-built Otter also operated at Woomera and the RAAF used  two as utility transports in the  1960s. Speed: 160 mph. Engine: 600 hp PW R-1340. Span: 58 ft.

259. DHC CARIBOU. Caribou STOL transports re-equipped RAAF Dakota squadrons as from 1964, and also operated in Vietnam. Speed: 216 mph. Engine: 2x1450 hp PW R-2000. Span 95 ft 7¹/₂ in.

260. LOCKHEED HERCULES. Twelve Hercules C.130Es joined the RAAF in 1966-67 to augment  the C.130As in service since 1958. Speed: 368 mph. Engine: 4x4050 ehp Allison T56-A-7A. Span: 132 ft 7 in.

261. LOCKHEED NEPTUNE. In 1962 twelve Neptune P2V-7s, later SP-2Hs, re-equipped No. 10 Sqn, RAAF, replacing the Lincoln 31s. Speed: 356 mph. Engine: 2x3500 hp Wright R3350, plus 2x3400 lb st Westinghouse  J.34. Span: 103 ft 10 in.

262. VICKERS VISCOUNT. Two ex-civil Viscounts were used by the RAAF between 1964-69 as VIP transports. Speed: 357 mph. Engine: 4x1990 shp RR Dart. Span: 93 ft 8¹/₂ in.

263. DASSAULT MYSTERE. Three Mystere 20 jets entered RAAFservice in 1 967 as fast VIP transports.  Speed: 541 mph. Engine: 2x4200 lb st GE CF700-RB. Span: 50 ft 6 in.

264. BRITISH AIRCRAFT CORPORATION 1-11.  In 1968 two BAC One-Eleven jet transports were introduced for RAAF VIP flights. Speed: 548 mph. Engine: 2x11400 lb st RR Spey 511. Span: 88 ft 6 in.

265. HAWKER SIDDELEY 748. Two HS 748 C. Mk 2 VIP transports and eight HS 748 T. Mk 2 navigational trainers entered  RAAF Service in 1967. Another two were ordered for the RAN in the early 1970s. Speed: 340 mph. Engine: 2x1910 shp RR Dart. Span: 98 ft 6 in.

266. PILATUS TURBO-PORTER. Swiss-built STOL Turbo-Porter PC-6B1s were acquired as utility transports for the Army in 1969.Speed: 174  mph. Engine: 550 shp PW PT6A-20 turboprop. Span: 49 ft 8 in.

267. LOCKHEED ORION. The RAAF introduced 10 Orion P3B anti-submarine and patrol aircraft  in 1968 to replace the Neptune P2V-5s of No. 11 Sqn. Speed: 380 mph. Engine: 4x4590 shp Allison T-56 turboprop. Span: 99 ft 8 in.

268. McDONNELL DOUGLAS SKYHAWK. The RAN began using single-seat Skyhawk A-4G fighter-bombers, and two-seat Skyhawk TA-4G trainers in  1967-68. Speed: 600 knots. Engine: 930 0 lb st PW J52-P-8A. Span: 27 ft 6 in.

269. GRUMMAN TRACKER. Fourteen Tracker S-2E four-seat anti-submarine  attack aircraft joined the Skyhawks on HMAS Melbourne in 1 967-68. Speed: 265 mph. Engine: 2x1525 hp Wright R-1820-82WA. Span: 72 ft 7 in.

270. CAC MACCHI. Ten Macchi MB. 326H trainers joined the RAN as from 1970-71 as replacements  for the Sea Venom and Vampire trainers. Speed: 501 mph. Engine 2500 lb st Bristol Siddeley Viper II Mk 22-11.  Span: 34 ft 7 in.

271. McDONNELL DOUGLAS PHANTOM. Twenty-four Phantom  F-4Es were leased from the USAF in 1970 pending delivery of 24 F-111Cs. Speed: 1450 mph. Engine: 2x10900 lb st GE J-79. Span: 38 ft 4³/₄ in.

272. GENERAL DYNAMICS F-111C. Twenty-four F-111C strike aircraft first flew in RAAF markings in 1968 and - as at 1971 - were due to enter service in 1973. Speed: 1485 mph. Engine:  2x12500 lb st (dry) PW TF-30. Span: 63 ft.

An Australian War Memorial Publication (Text by Keith Isaacs) Chart No. 6

Military Aircraft of Australia 1909-1918 by Keith Isaacs 190 pp. Cloth bound Jacketed Illustrated 11" X 8" Price $6.50 Plus postage

The first of four volumes of a comprehensive history of Australian military aviation since 1909

A fascinating and learned account of the beginnings and progress of military aviation in Australia and of its development and employment in operations in the 1914-1918 War. Complementing the text by a leading Australian authority, Wing Commander Keith Isaacs, AFC, are 28 pages of detailed appendixes for the technically minded (including a list of Australian air aces published for the first time), a chronology, bibliography and detailed index. The book also includes 24 coloured pages of reproductions of the Australian War Memorial aircraft mural by Harold Freedman and a series of 72 line drawings of military aircraft by David Hammond.

The volume contains a foreward by Air Marshal Sir Richard Williams, KBE, CB, DSO, RAAF (Retd), and a special appendix by Air Vice-Marshal R. Collishaw, CB, DSO, OBE, DSC, RAF (Retd).

Military Aircraft of Australia 1909-1918 is an important treatise on the heritage of Australia.

Published by the Australian War Memorial