Dornier D0-24 nose into Preservation in Australia

Folks,

If anyone is interested in the history of the DEI Do-24s, there is an excellent book by a Tom Womack titled “The Dutch Naval Air Force Against Japan.” The Dutch Do-24s by the facts given was a better aircraft than the Catalinas. The problem was spare parts once German over ran Holland and the Japanese attacked. The most interesting item about the Do-24s that Japanese found out the hard way was its dorsal turret. That turret mounted a “high velocity” 20mm cannon. One of the major roles of the Do-24s besides reconn was hunting down Japanese flying boats. The Do-24s and the Japanese flying boats engaged combat like the sailing ships of old. And the Do-24 with that one 20mm cannon if it could get abeam usually won.

Again, it is a great read. Sad. But a great read.

Jack E. Hammond

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It is an ex-RAAF, and former NEIAF DO-24K aircraft, but its actual identity is yet to be confirmed as it is one of 5 airframes scrapped at Lake Boga after the war which included:

A49-1 765 X-5 Ex NEI. These aircraft were in poor condition when received, but served in the transport role with 41 Squadron, flying cargo into Goodenough Island, Milne Bay and Port Moresby. 1944 entered service with Communications Unit No.8 for search and rescue missions. December 20th 1944 taken out of service and scrapped at Lake Boga due to lack of parts.

A49-2 767 X-7 Ex NEI. These aircraft were in poor condition when received, but served in the transport role with 41 Squadron, flying cargo into Goodenough Island, Milne Bay and Port Moresby. Probably got scrapped in 1944 at Lake Boga due to lack of parts.

A49-3 768 X-8 Ex NEI. These aircraft were in poor condition when received, but served in the transport role with 41 Squadron, flying cargo into Goodenough Island, Milne Bay and Port Moresby. June 4th 1942 made her first flight for the RAAF after a long overhaul. Crew were Squadronleader Monkton, Sergeant Emes, Sergeant McKnight, Sergeant Canny, Corporal Aubin and Lancecorporal During. The flight lasted 4 hours and 20 minutes. May 14th 1944 transferred to Lake Boga and stored at the Flying Boat Repair Depot. December 20th 1944 taken out of service and scrapped at Lake Boga due to lack of parts.

A49-4 769 X-9 Ex NEI. These aircraft were in poor condition when received, but served in the transport role with 41 Squadron, flying cargo into Goodenough Island, Milne Bay and Port Moresby. Coded DQ-G. May 14th 1944 transferred to Lake Boga and stored at the Flying Boat Repair Depot. December 20th 1944 taken out of service and scrapped at Lake Boga due to lack of parts.

A49-6 785 X-24 Ex NEI. Escaped to Perth from a Japanese bombing raid on Broome and served the Dutch Intelligence Agency on clandestine flights to New Guinea until handed over to become A49-6 in RAAF colours in October, 1943. May 14th 1944 put into storage at No.1 Flyingboat Repair Depot at Lake Boga. December 20th 1944 scrapped at Lake Boga due to lack of parts.

Info above sourced from the A49 page at http://www.adf-serials.com.au

I have heard it previously suggested that it is A49-6/X-24 but I havent seen that confirmed anywhere, or detailed as to how that was determined. (X-24 is the identity the former RAF Museum Dornier is displayed in at the Dutch Airforce Museum in the Netherlands, one of the 4 complete ex-Spanish survivors ).

Here is a picture of 4 of them in storage or partially scrapped at Lake Boga

Regards

Mark Pilkington

This is the first time for me replying, however it may be interesting.
As I was writing the book Dornier Do 24 Een legendarische vliegboot, I did some investigation about the RAAF flyingboats. In the mid eighties I came in contact with Henry Horsefall. He was the first owner of this sailing flying boat and he personly build in a 6cyl Zephir engine in it. Restoring this boat he din’t find any registration, not even on the specific places Dornier welded that on the fuselage. Most posible is that engineers from Lake Boga cut those of as souveneer.. Nowere was any identification what leads them to the original registration or contructionumber. So it easy to say its probally that aircraft, but there is no proof at all. As investigator is horrible to hear this… but thats it.
Kind regards,
Prudent Staal
Manintenance Manager Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina PH-PBY

.
It is an ex-RAAF, and former NEIAF DO-24K aircraft, but its actual identity is yet to be confirmed as it is one of 5 airframes scrapped at Lake Boga after the war which included:

A49-1 765 X-5 Ex NEI. These aircraft were in poor condition when received, but served in the transport role with 41 Squadron, flying cargo into Goodenough Island, Milne Bay and Port Moresby. 1944 entered service with Communications Unit No.8 for search and rescue missions. December 20th 1944 taken out of service and scrapped at Lake Boga due to lack of parts.

A49-2 767 X-7 Ex NEI. These aircraft were in poor condition when received, but served in the transport role with 41 Squadron, flying cargo into Goodenough Island, Milne Bay and Port Moresby. Probably got scrapped in 1944 at Lake Boga due to lack of parts.

A49-3 768 X-8 Ex NEI. These aircraft were in poor condition when received, but served in the transport role with 41 Squadron, flying cargo into Goodenough Island, Milne Bay and Port Moresby. June 4th 1942 made her first flight for the RAAF after a long overhaul. Crew were Squadronleader Monkton, Sergeant Emes, Sergeant McKnight, Sergeant Canny, Corporal Aubin and Lancecorporal During. The flight lasted 4 hours and 20 minutes. May 14th 1944 transferred to Lake Boga and stored at the Flying Boat Repair Depot. December 20th 1944 taken out of service and scrapped at Lake Boga due to lack of parts.

A49-4 769 X-9 Ex NEI. These aircraft were in poor condition when received, but served in the transport role with 41 Squadron, flying cargo into Goodenough Island, Milne Bay and Port Moresby. Coded DQ-G. May 14th 1944 transferred to Lake Boga and stored at the Flying Boat Repair Depot. December 20th 1944 taken out of service and scrapped at Lake Boga due to lack of parts.

A49-6 785 X-24 Ex NEI. Escaped to Perth from a Japanese bombing raid on Broome and served the Dutch Intelligence Agency on clandestine flights to New Guinea until handed over to become A49-6 in RAAF colours in October, 1943. May 14th 1944 put into storage at No.1 Flyingboat Repair Depot at Lake Boga. December 20th 1944 scrapped at Lake Boga due to lack of parts.

Info above sourced from the A49 page at http://www.adf-serials.com.au

I have heard it previously suggested that it is A49-6/X-24 but I havent seen that confirmed anywhere, or detailed as to how that was determined. (X-24 is the identity the former RAF Museum Dornier is displayed in at the Dutch Airforce Museum in the Netherlands, one of the 4 complete ex-Spanish survivors ).

Here is a picture of 4 of them in storage or partially scrapped at Lake Boga

Regards

Mark Pilkington

Hi,

Good news! Is the id know of this Do 24?

Regards,

Mathieu.