A55-3


Type:L222-62-13 Lightning F-4-1-LO
Msn: 5340 *
Previous Identities:

* IMPORTANT: See here for clarification of identities.

Owner: Darwin Aviation Museum (wreckage only).
Base: Darwin NT.
History:



01JAN42 Received by USAAF.
01JUN42 Received at Dallas Modification Center, Texas.
02JUL42 Received Colorado Springs AB.
01AUG42 Received Lowry AF, Colorado.
11AUG42 Received Colorado Springs AB.
02NOV42 Received Sacramento Air Depot, California for despatch to 5th Air Force, SW Pac, Australia (SUMAC) from San Francisco.
21NOV42 Received SUMAC.
27FEB43 Allotted to 1PRU ex USAAF, Eagle Farm, Brisbane. The Form E/E88 for A55-3 shows "Late 41-2122".
16MAR43 Arrived Coomalie Creek, NT from Eagle Farm, Brisbane on delivery to 1PRU. Pilot Flt Lt C.C. Lawrie.
21MAR43 Photo recce of Penfoei (5.00hrs). Pilot Flt Lt W.H.S. Talberg.
22MAR43 1PRU signals RAAF HQ that the intercooler system on A55-3 is unserviceable "after only 16 hours flying. Modifications unsuitable this climate." (NAA Series A11093 Item 3081559)
18APR43 Photo recce of Penfoei (5.00hrs). Pilot Flt Lt P.B. Sinnott.
20APR43 Photo recce of Penfoei (4.40hrs). Pilot Flt Lt C.C. Lawrie.
21APR43 Photo recce of Dili (4.15hrs). Pilot Flt Lt W.H.S. Talberg.
endAPR43 Unserviceable with leaking intercoolers.
11MAY43 Survey flight of Portuguese Timor, Flt Lt W.H.S. Talberg. Weather unsuitable.
13MAY43 Staged through Groote Eylandt for a survey of Frederick Henry Island and District. Weather unsuitable.
15MAY43 Positioned Coomalie Creek to Groote Eylandt, Sqn Ldr C.C. Lawrie.
16MAY43 Survey of Frederick Henry Island & District. Weather unsuitable.
19MAY43 Returned to Coomalie Creek.
22MAY43 Survey of Kai Island, Flt Lt W.H.S. Talberg. Recalled due unsuitable weather.
24MAY43 Survey of Portuguese Timor, Flt Lt F. Robilliard. Weather unsuitable.
29MAY43 Photo recce of Penfoei, Sqn Ldr C.C. Lawrie.
22AUG43 Received 14ARD ex 1PRU for 240 hourly.
14SEP43 Received 1PRU ex 14ARD.
17SEP43 Signal from NWA advises that initial equipment Lightning aircraft are beyond repair and suitable only for conversion. (NAA Series A11093 Item 3081559)
18SEP43 RAAF HQ advises NWA that replacement F-4s are not available and arrangements have been made for "complete overhaul first priority by USAAF. Can you fly both Lightnings to Townsville?" (NAA Series A11093 Item 3081559)
18SEP43 A note on stationery "From the Desk of Lt. Gen. George C. Kenney" to Col Victor E. Bertrandis, C.O., Advanced Echelon, Fifth Air Force Service Command, Townsville states simply: "2 P.38's for 1PRU to be repaired there". (NAA Series A11093 Item 3081559)
20SEP43 Signal from NWA: "Lightning A55-3 pilot F/L Talberg departed for Townsville 200800. ETA 201530". (NAA Series A11093 Item 3081559)
01OCT43 Signal from NWA: Repairs commenced on A55-3, Anticipate date for completion 31 Oct.. (NAA Series A11093 Item 3081559)
01NOV43 Extract from a report on a visit to NEA and NWA by S.O. Admin: "A55-3 arrived over NWA HQ approximately 1800 hours 1 Nov., and I later heard that owing to failure of the hydraulic system the pilot (F/L Robilliard) was forced to abandon the belly tank, cockpit canopy and make a belly landing. Some damage was caused to the aeroplane, but up to my departure the extent of same was unknown".

Note: This implies that A55-3 belly-landed on its delivery flight from Townsville on 01NOV. However, A55-3 did suffer a belly landing on 10DEC43. Is this the accident that the reporter "later heard" of, or were there two separate belly landings, given that pilot Robilliard is quoted for 01NOV and crash report for 10DEC states pilot Sinnott. (NAA Series A11093 Item 3081559)
05DEC43 Condemned by 5th AF, Brisbane as a result of a non-combat accident. (This is suspect, unless it relates to the alleged belly landing on 01NOV43)
10DEC43 Landed at Batchelor, N.T. with the undercarriage retracted. The Aircraft Accident Data Card confirms the date as 10DEC43 and the pilot as F/LT B. Sinnott. The card states: "Aircraft crash landed due to hydraulic pressure failure and the undercarriage indicator showing not locked". There are no injuries recorded and the time of the accident is recorded as daytime. (NAA Series A9845 Item 7127491)
13DEC43 Received by 4RSU.
14DEC43 Signal from NWA: "A55-3 beyond repair capacity this area and will probably have to be converted to components". (NAA Series A11093 Item 3081559)
26DEC43 Received 14ARD ex 4RSU.
10JAN44 Approved for conversion to components.
Wreckage acquired by Darwin Aviation Museum.


ABBREVIATIONS


1AD No 1 Aircraft Depot based at Laverton, Vic.
14ARD No 14 Aircraft Repair Depot based at Gorrie, N.T.
8CRD No 8 Central Recovery Depot based at Darwin, N.T.
1PRU No 1 Photo Reconnaissance Unit based at Hughes, N.T. and later Coomalie Creek N.T.
1RSU No 1 Repair and Salvage Unit based at Manbulloo, N.T.
4RSU No 4 Repair and Salvage Unit based at Pell, N.T.
NWA North Western Area


Issue Date Remarks
10 17FEB04
Added several references from RAAF Command HQ files (NAA Series 11093 Item 3081559) and a report on the final crash (NAA Series A9845 Item 7127491)
9 04JAN04
Added more detail of the aircraft's USAAF service thanks to Terry Geary.



Return to the Lightning Menu



Return to the Main Menu