A55-1


Type:L222-62-13 Lightning F-4-1-LO
Msn: 5376 *
Previous Identities:

  • 41-2158 *

* IMPORTANT: See here for clarification of identities.

History:



17JAN42 Received by USAAF.
22APR42 Received Long Beach.
25APR42 Received Lowry (8PRS).
25MAY42 Received Dallas.
14JUN42 Received Lowry.
23JUN42 Received Sacramento Air Depot.
15JUL42 Received San Francisco (Port of Embarkation).
15AUG42 Departed USA.
25AUG42 Diverted to Australia.
31AUG42 Received at 1AD, Laverton, Vic. The Form E/E88 for A55-1 shows "Late 41-2158".
15OCT42 Issued to 1PRU ex 1AD.
30OCT42 Departed Laverton in company with A55-2 on delivery to 1PRU.
31OCT42 Received 1PRU Hughes N.T.
19NOV42 Unserviceable at Hughes.
06DEC42 1PRU moved from Hughes to Coomalie Creek, N.T.
02JAN43 Recce flight, F/O P.B. Sinnott.
03JAN43 Recce flight, Flt Lt C.C. Lawrie.
05JAN43 Recce flight, Flt Lt W.H.S. Talberg.
14JAN43 Recce flight, Flt Lt C.C. Lawrie. Unserviceable due failure of port supercharger.
12FEB43 Ferried to 1AD, Laverton by Flt Lt C.C. Lawrie for 240 hourly inspection.
14FEB43 Received 1AD Laverton ex 1PRU.
24MAR43 Ferried from 1AD, Laverton to 1PRU, Coomalie Creek by Flt Lt P.B. Sinnott.
28MAR43 Photography Dili, Flt Lt P.B. Sinnott. Engine unserviceable.
31MAR43 Photography Penfoei, Flt Lt P.B. Sinnott. Engine unserviceable - faulty intercooler and supercharger.
21APR43 Photo recce Fuiloro, Sqn Ldr L.W. Law.
24APR43 Photo recce Dili, Flt Lt P.B. Sinnott.
25APR43 Photography North Goulbourne Island, Flt Lt C.C. Lawrie.
26APR43 Photography Cape Helvetius, Flt Lt F. Robilliard.
27APR43 Photo recce Atamboea, Flt Lt C.C. Lawrie.
28APR43 Survey flight of Timor, Sqn Ldr W.L. Law. Aircraft unserviceable.
29APR43 Survey flight of Timor, Flt Lt W.H.S. Talberg. Weather unfavourable.
APR43 Aircraft unserviceable with rough-running engine.
03MAY43 Photo recce Gaumlaki, Alilit & Seframat, Flt Lt F. Robilliard. Weather unsuitable.
06MAY43 Photography Wessel Island, Flt Lt F. Robilliard.
11MAY43 Survey of Portuguese Timor, Flt Lt P.B. Sinnott. Weather unsuitable.
13MAY43 Survey of Portuguese Timor, Flt Lt F. Robilliard. Weather unsuitable.
24MAY43 Survey of Portuguese Timor, Flt Lt P.B. Sinnott. Weather unsuitable.
29MAY43 Photo recce Dili and Fuiloro, Flt Lt W.H.S. Talberg. Weather unsuitable.
19AUG43 Issued to 14ARD for 240 hourly inspection.
17SEP43 Signal from NWA advises that initial equipment Lightning aircraft are beyond repair and suitable only for conversion. (NAA Series A11093 Item 3081559)
18SEP43 RAAF HQ advises NWA that replacement F-4s are not available and arrangements have been made for "complete overhaul first priority by USAAF. Can you fly both Lightnings to Townsville?" (NAA Series A11093 Item 3081559)
18SEP43 A note on stationery "From the Desk of Lt. Gen. George C. Kenney" to Col Victor E. Bertrandis, C.O., Advanced Echelon, Fifth Air Force Service Command, Townsville states simply: "2 P.38's for 1PRU to be repaired there". (NAA Series A11093 Item 3081559)
20SEP43 Aircraft still awaiting return of items despatched to 1AD for overhaul.
13OCT43 A signal from NWA states that A55-1 is u/s awaiting inner tube for nosewheel, 1100 lb capacity bomb shackles for auxiliary fuel tanks, Bendix door control valve and hydraulic hose. These parts are required to make A55-1 serviceable for a ferry flight to Townsville for a complete overhaul. (NAA Series A11093 Item 3081559)
05NOV43 Issued to USAAF at Townsville. (Form E/E88)
12DEC43 Signal from 1PRU states that operations are held up pending return of A55-1. (NAA Series A11093 Item 3081559)
16DEC43 Signal from 1PRU states that F/L Talberg will be arriving in Townsville on 19DEC to ferry A55-1 back to 1PRU after overhaul. (NAA Series A11093 Item 3081559)
01JAN44 Signal from NEA to 1PRU advising that A55-1 departed Townsville at 1000 hours but returned on one engine at 1130 hours owing to a runaway prop. ETD indefinite but probably three days. (NAA Series A11093 Item 3081559)
06JAN44 A55-1 received at 1PRU (signal from 1PRU, NAA Series A11093 Item 3081559)
10JAN44 Damaged in non-flying accident. Aircraft moved from chocks in high winds at Coomalie Creek, N.T. and ran into a drain causing structural damage.
12JAN44 Allotted 4RSU for repair.
NOTE: The sequence of events from 16MAY to 15AUG is unclear, but events are presented here as shown on the Form E/E88.
16MAY44 Allotted 5th Air Force No 2 Depot ex 1PRU for 240 hourly and double engine change.
02JUL44 Issued Eagle Farm ex 1PRU.
04JUL44 Aircraft leaving for 5th Air Force Townsville.
15AUG44 Received PRU ex Eagle Farm.
01SEP44 The aircraft was damaged beyond economical repair in a landing accident at Coomalie Creek. The following report on the accident is drawn from a memo to the Air Board contained in NAA Series A9845 Item 7127491.

"The aircraft was being flown by F/LT. C.J. Rush, who was ordered to carry out a test flight. After a normal approach and landing the aircraft was observed to swing violently to port and burst into flames. From the tracks left by the aircraft it appeared that the nose wheel collapsed and then the aircraft weathercocked into wind, dug its nose into the ground and caught fire in the belly tanks. The pilot suffered superficial burns to face, arms and hands and was admitted to No 1 M.R.S. on 1st Sep, 1944 and placed on the slightly injured list.
"
12SEP44 Received 8CRD ex 1PRU.
26SEP44 Approved for conversion to components.
31OCT44 Condemned by Fifth Air Force, Brisbane.
09JAN45 Struck off by USAAF.


ABBREVIATIONS


1AD No 1 Aircraft Depot based at Laverton, Vic.
14ARD No 14 Aircraft Repair Depot based at Gorrie, N.T.
8CRD No 8 Central Recovery Depot based at Darwin, N.T.
1PRU No 1 Photo Reconnaissance Unit based at Hughes, N.T. and later Coomalie Creek N.T.
1RSU No 1 Repair and Salvage Unit based at Manbulloo, N.T.
4RSU No 4 Repair and Salvage Unit based at Pell, N.T.
NEA North Eastern Area
NWA North Western Area


Issue Date Remarks
6 07JAN08
Added a photo of A55-1 thanks to Bob Livingstone.
5 22FEB04
Added movements before and after RAAF service from USAAF History Card supplied by Terry Geary.
4 17FEB04
Added several references from RAAF Command HQ files (NAA Series 11093 Item 3081559) and a report on the final crash (NAA Series A9845 Item 7127491)
3 04JAN04
Added date for diversion to Australia from USAAF History Card thanks to Terry Geary.
2 28SEP01
Deleted reference to having been loaned to 75 Sqn RAAF as now believed to be incorrect.



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