Preserved HS 748
Above is a picture of the HS 748 preserved at the RAAF Museum at Point Cook. The RAAF used the 748 as a navigation trainer. Since this photograph was taken the aircraft has been covered in Spraylat to prevent deterioration from the ravages of the none too kind Point Cook weather.
Sabre Pic
Below is a photograph of the two Sabres visiting Hatfield. It comes from the book F-86 Sabre by Maurice Allward which was published in 1978.
Tocumwal scrap yard
One of the largest aircraft scrap yards in Australia was located at Tocumwal Airfield on the the state border between Victoria and New South Wales. It became a storage and disposal facility after World War 2 and remained in operation until the early 1960’s. It was towards the end of the scrapping at Tocumwal that these photographs below were taken;
The largest group of aircraft scrapped at Tocumwal were CAC Wirraways. Seen in December 1960 is Wirraway A20-256 is seen in the initial stages of scrapping.
In late 1961 the remains of around 30 single seat Vampires were at Tocumwal. Many such as A79-796 were in the colours of No.2 O.C.U. For some unknown reason these aircraft were stored indoors in one of Tocumwals huge hangars.
Two Boeing Washingtons were sent to Australia in the 1950’s for trials work at Woomera in South Australia. Their service careers in Australia were short. One example WW353 was sent to Tocumwal for scrapping. Seen in March 1962 the process is well under way. The sole surviving component is the nose wheel undercarriageleg which is in the possession of the Moorabbin Air Museum.
Another resident at Tocumwal was the Gloster Meteor.Here is seen Meteor F8 A77-865 undergoing scrapping in September 1961. This was one of the last seven Meteors scrapped at Tocumwal.
Firefly Pictures
Somebody asked if there was a picture of Bob Diemerts Firefly. here it is, Merlin engine, 6 seats and all.
Firefly Pictures
Here’s an interesting Fairey Firefly. This is one of four Australian Mk V’s that were locally converted to two seat trainers. Fairey Aviation in Australia used the conversion kit for the earlier Marks as a basis for the modification.
Canberra
OK fellas. Since I’ve disturbed you with the Karinga trials pics I thought I had best make it up to with with an image of the Canberra that got away. This was an English built T.4 serialled WD954 whish was used in the trials and suffered some damage. The aircraft originally came to Australia as a crew trainer and was later used as a trials aircraft before being grounded and allocated to the Karinga bomb trials. It was acquired by Pearce Dunn of the now defunct Warbirds Museum at Mildura in Victoria. He sold to the South Australian Historic Aircraft Museum in Adelaide where it remains in storage.
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