Imperial Gift a/c New Zealand & Australia

AWM

Before reading the subsequent posts I immediately thought of the Australian War Memorial. Here are the 504 and SE5A photographed in April of this year:

AWM Avro 504K A3-4. by The Guitarsmith, on Flickr

AWM SE5a. by The Guitarsmith, on Flickr

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The AWM also have a DH9A but this is not an ex RAAF Imperial Gift airframe but instead the historic England to Australia aircraft of Parer.

In addition to that Imperial Gift “replica”, one other exists at the RAAF Museum, being an SE5A built by AJK Engineering and displayed as A2-31.

The “Imperial Gift” book may be available from the publisher, Banner Books. It also lists the aircraft that went to NZ.

The AWM Parer aircraft is a DH9, not a DH9A.

RAAFM also have an AJK replica Avro 504K, displayed I think as E3747, an Australian Air Corps aircraft (prior to arrival of the Imperial Gift aircraft).

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John Bennett of Australia wrote a book on the RAAF Imperial Gift aircraft in 1996, it mat still be available directly from the publisher.

=http://www.3squadron.org.au/subpages/imperial.htm

In this excellent book John Bennett has researched the history of each aircraft within the four types of aircraft that were given free of cost except for the freight from England. Australia received 30 x D.H.9a, 28 x D.H.9, 35 x S.E.5a and 35 x Avro 504K and all came with spare engines, spare parts, portable hangers, armament, radio, clothing, tools and even workshop lorries and other transports … all valued at the time at about £1,000,000 but probably now translating to more like Aust$50,000,000

A former RAAF Imperial Gift Avro 504K A3-4 survives in the collection of the Australian War Memorial returned to its RAAF colours after many years displayed as a Qantas aircraft fitted with a Diak engine, as does an SE5A A2-4, but is displayed painted as an AFC example from the western front.

The AWM also have a DH9A but this is not an ex RAAF Imperial Gift airframe but instead the historic England to Australia aircraft of Parer.

Recently a restored SE5A fuselage surfaced in the UK, claiming to have been found in Australia intact at the Maribyrnong Munitions Factory when it closed! and to be an original survivor from the Imperial Gift.

Its existance was unknown to any local museums, historians or enthusiasts? (nor found by any of the government employees who worked at the factory!) and it was apparantly exported without permission if it indeed originated in Australia? – (export of old aircraft require specific export permits! this would have undoubtly been refused an export!)

Interestingly the airframe it claims to be is recorded as being destroyed in a crash! Serious doubts exist about its authenticity, and ability to claim the identity, an apparant wooden version of the “dataplate” spitfires.

In addition to that Imperial Gift “replica”, one other exists at the RAAF Museum, being an SE5A built by AJK Engineering and displayed as A2-31.

Regards

Mark Pilkington