I think the Beau in the mine was around Oakey…former RAAF AD where hundereds of a/c scrapped after WW2. Imagine driving off the base with a Beaufighter on the back of your motor cycle and finding an abandoned mine and gently placing it down there so that you could reclaim it 50 years later…mmmm

Then there was the guy who a couple of barge loads of Jap planes from a “Pacific Island”..all in perfect condition and of course the guy who tried to raise cash to collect the dozens of fighters resting peacefuly at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean off Maroochydore still in crates and protected by cosmoline…mmmm

None of the rumoured Spits [and or Mustangs if you listen to other stories] have ever surfaced. Unlicenced Mustangs were flown back in the 60’s [Tony Fisher and friends around Jerilderie] as well as a couple of others. Col Pays A68-107 was flown out from a Qld “barn” after it had been stored by the owner. It was said that it might have flown locally a couple of times prior to Pay bringing it out.

The other big rumour around Brisbane [and I think it is just that!] is that three Mustangs were recently exported from the Darling Downs region [west of Brisbane] to the USA….be interested if they were. How did it happen?

JS, nice shot of my TBM @ Caboolture. Tks..

Hi Dave, I’m just happy to see them preserved and flying. I agree that it is nice to see a correctly researched colour scheme if possible. I guess that if a particular aircraft was “historic” or wore a great scheme in its life then that would be appropriate. You can see that my TBM didn’t do much and was probably plain vanilla. This, of course, could be interesting if I could ever find an actual shot of her.

My Spit will be as it flew, being a 4 kill machine and flown by an Aussie [as well as a Canadian and Kiwi]. Best is that I have the history and a photo.

Both my 0-1 and 0-2 warbirds are finsihed in their original Vietnam war colours and finishes. [not gloss etc]

Rex Dovey flew the TBM across the ditch and the late Kel Stark flew the Zero for me. Via Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands…no problems.

Come and see them in Brisbane.

Thank you very much for the photos of the TBM and Zero. Both of these aircraft have travelled the world and lots of folks have had the experience of seeing them first hand. I’m just a custodian really. The debate on the movement of warbirds from country to country is always strong emotionally – I flew a B-25 across the Pacific in 1983 only to see it sold back to the USA some 20 years later.

Re “Plonky” – understand this. I barrack for the Wallabies and my bride comes from Atlanta, Georgia. The new scheme “Georgia Peach” was fully researched as well and is as accurate as I could get it. I’ve been in touch with the gunner from the original “Peach” who still lives in the USA. VT-83 who flew from the USS Essex participated in a number of battles including Okinawa. This is from a chap whose father flew her and other TBM’s:
My father was in AG83 on the Essex from March to sept 1945. He was awarded the Navy cross, DFC & 3-stars, Air Medal & 3-stars and a presidential citation. VT 83 sunk 265,000 tons of enemy shipping as well as 77,000 tons of merchant shipping and received credit for sinking the Yamato..[I]15 total TBM’s in air group

72 strikes against Japanese
26 strikes against Home islands
46 against Ryukus, principally Okinawa

Here is the USN history of #91110. Any additions to this would be very welcome;Thanks for contacting the Tailhook Association. I pulled the history card on your TBM-3E and here is what is listed. The acraft was a TBM-3E that was accepted by the Navy on 7/9/45. It was assigned to the Naval Air Reserve Training Command at NAS New York (Floyd Bennett Field) until 10/27/50, when it was sent to Overhaul and Repair (O&R) NAS Norfolk until 1/23/52. From there it was assigned to the Naval Air Reserve training Unit at Norfolk until it went back to O&R Norfolk. It was retired on 29 April 1953 and striken on July 1956. The total hours flown were 1,422 and the total months operational flying were 44.
According to the 1947 Aircraft and Location Allowance List it was one of 24 TBM-3Es that were assigned to NAS New York.

Here is a photo and little story on A84-201. She’s preserved at RAAF Base Amberley, Qld. http://www.bywat.co.uk/a84-201.html

Two RAAF Canberras flew in the race A84-201 finished second by 40 minutes to an RAF Canberra. This aircraft took second place in the London-Christchurch Air-Race which started 08/10/53. Race no.5. Radio callsign VMZIPA The crew were aircraft captain; SQNLDR Peter F Raw DFC, FLTLT Francis Noel Davis and FLTLT W D (Bill) Kerr. The total time for the England to NZ race was 24Hrs 31Mins. Actual flight time was 22 Hrs 27.5 Mins erra.