| 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.
|
