Australian WW2 Vengeance bomber – Camden Aviation Museum

Is that Vengeance at Camden in its original WWII RAAF paint still? Or was it repainted sometime during its perservation and has faded since?

On the model, there wasn’t space in the narrow tail for a retractable tail wheel. The knuckles on the A35B stick out much further than on the earlier A-31. Must be an RAF scheme I’m thinking of. I know it was a two tone roundel like the RAF version, but can’t remember the specifics right now.

It was also built as an airshow model rather than 100% scale with every last detail, as those things would easily get knocked off getting it in and out of the trailer every weekend.

vultee35,

Just two nit-picking observations on your beautiful model. The “knuckles” over the undercarriage bevels hardly projected at all forward of the leading edge (as appears – unless they are something in that position entirely new to me). And all VVs, AFAIK, had retracting tailwheels. The colours look about right for Burma, although we would never have had yellow engine cowlings like that !

I never even saw a TT Vengeance: I assume that the bomb doors open meant that the cable drum was in there and towing was taking place. In that case, would not the windmill turret (on stbd. side) project far enough to be visible at that angle ?

The RAAF did not operate VVs in Burma, although we had plenty of RAAF pilots among the crews of the four RAF Sqdns (45, 82, 84 and 110) and the two IAF (7 and 8) which did.

12 Sqdn RAAF (and others ?) operated from Queensland and attacked targets in New Guinea, I believe.

Danny

Thanks. My Vengeance ( A-35B ) was built as an 8th Air Force target tug, and so was built without any armament, hence no weapons in the rear canopy. When I eventually finish the refurbishment, it will be in Australian colours operating in Burma.

vultee35,

Congratulations ! What a lovely model ! Had me fooled for a minute, until I realised that there were no hand/foot holds to get in with, nor any hole in the rear perspex for a gun (Mk.IV) or guns (Mks.I-III).

And I’ve flown hundreds of hours in the things !..Danny.

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JollyGreenSlug,

Go to “PPRuNe > Military Aircrew > Gaining an RAF Pilots Brevet in WW2” (page 135 #2690 28.6.12) for my conclusions (for what they’re worth)…..Danny.

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Daniel,

Thanks for the link to the Museum photographs. Note Page Two, middle column, sixth pic down. There’s your .50 Browning, large as life. It’s a Mk.IV, with a Mk.I number painted on (and no worse for that)……Danny.

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The Vengeance is a remarkably large aeroplane, close up. I had the privilege of spending time with the Thomas family a number of times in the 80s and 90s, and learnt a great deal. May they rest in peace.

Here’s the 1993 version of me engaging in some serious hangar-flying!

The Camden Beau is A8-186 while the Moorabbin example is A8-328. We used to ground-run the one at Moorabbin, which was great fun. Sitting in the back with one engine growling away was a top experience for a teenager.

Cheers,
Matt

With a complete Beaufighter in the background that doesnt look like the Morrabin one!

I seem to recall two or three aircraft were in jigs being rebuilt, and I’m sure at least one was to fly, but I can’t remember where I read it and saw the pictures of fuselages and wings in jigs.

Isn’t there another one under restoration in Oz too?

Cees

Thanks for that; I love the Vengeance. I must get around to finishing the repairs of my R/C version.