A55-3


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

  • 41-2122 *

* 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.
20MAR43 Test flight 30,000ft 1hr 15min. (Source: 2)
21MAR43 Photo Recce Koepang-Penfoei experienced heavy AA 5hr. (Source: 2)
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 Dilli 4hr 15min. (Source: 2)
endAPR43 Unserviceable with leaking intercoolers.
08MAY43 Engine test 25,000ft 1hr. (Source: 2)
11MAY43 Survey Portuguese Timor, run of 150m Cape Hero to Cape Parimbala (northern coast) 20,000ft. 5hr. (Source: 2) The 1PRU ORB also indicates that weather was unsuitable.
13MAY43 Staged through Groote Eylandt for a survey of Frederick Henry Island and District. Weather unsuitable. (1PRU ORB)
13MAY43 Arrived Groote Eylandt at 122140Z F/Lt Lawrie refuelled and departed on reconnaissance at 122300Z. Arrived back at 130250Z refuelled and departed for Base at 130345Z. (Source: 3)
15MAY43 Positioned Coomalie Creek to Groote Eylandt, Sqn Ldr C.C. Lawrie. (1PRU ORB) Note: Evidently F/Lt Charles Colin Lawrie was promoted to Squadron Leader between 13-15 May. He was discharged on 01DEC44 with the rank of Sqn Ldr.
15MAY43 Arrived Groote Eylandt at 150700Z S/L Lawrie. Refuelled and remained overnight. (Source: 3)
16MAY43 Departed Groote Eylandt at 160015Z on reconnaissance. Returned owing to bad weather conditions at 160035Z and remained at 51OBU. (Source: 3)
16MAY43 Survey of Frederick Henry Island & District. Weather unsuitable. (1PRU ORB)
19MAY43 Departed Groote Eylandt at 182245Z for Base. (Source: 3)
19MAY43 Returned to Coomalie Creek. (1PRU ORB)
22MAY43 Photo Recce of Kai Islands 2hr 20min. "was to have been under the low cloud base. Gp Capt R.H. Sims thought better of it. Recalled by W/T."
22MAY43 "Photographs of Lightning from Wirraway" 1hr. (Source: 2)
Flt Lt Robilliard's log book records that on 22MAY43 he piloted Wirraway A20-178 on a one hour sortie to photograph a Lightning at 8,000 feet. In the rear seat of the Wirraway was Warrant Officer Wilcox who, presumably, was the photographer. (Source: 1)
24MAY43 COO 26-2 Fuiloro, Dili, Lae 25000ft 4hr 35min. (Source: 1)
The 1PRU ORB records that weather was unsuitable.
29MAY43 Photo recce of Penfoei, Sqn Ldr C.C. Lawrie.
21JUN43 COO 2/8 Photo Penfoei, Koepang 26000ft 4hr 55min. (Source: 1)
26JUN43 COO 9/1 Penfoei 26000ft 5hr 30min. (Source: 1)
07JUL43 Survey Cape Arnhem area. Unsuitable weather. 5hr. (Source: 2)
12JUL43 COO 25 Kei Is, Tanimber, Saim, Trimetrogon run, CP Arnheim vicinity, 26000ft 5hr 40min. (Source: 1)
27JUL43 Aerial swing of compass and engine test. 55min. (Source: 2)
29JUL43 Engine test 55min. (Source: 2)
10AUG43 Engine test 24000ft 1hr 15min. (Source: 1)
11AUG43 Photo Recce Tanimbar Islands 3hr 35min. (Source: 2)
12AUG43 COO 48 Penfoei, Tenau, Golf strip, new strip Roti 30500ft 5hr 30min. (Source: 1)
Robilliard's family recalls that he had an engine failure on this flight and a decision on whether or not to bale out or attempt the return ocean crossing on one engine was influenced by the fact that it was his wife's birthday!
15AUG43 Flight test 25,000ft 1hr. (Source: 2)
19AUG43 Base - Gorrie 3000ft 1hr 10min. (Source: 1)
22AUG43 Received 14ARD ex 1PRU for 240 hourly.
09SEP43 Test 25,000ft 1hr 20min. (Source: 2)
12SEP43 Test 30,000ft 1hr 5min. (Source: 2)
13SEP43 Gorrie-Coomalie Creek and test 25,000ft 1hr 5min. (Source: 2)
14SEP43 Received 1PRU ex 14ARD.
16SEP43 Test 1hr 5min. (Source: 2)
17SEP43 Signal from NWA advises that initial equipment Lightning aircraft are beyond repair and suitable only for conversion. (NAA Series A11093 Item 3081559)
18SEP43 Photo Recce Kai Islands 4hr 30min. (Source: 2)
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 Coomalie Creek-Cloncurry 3hr 30min. (Source: 2)
20SEP43 Cloncurry-Townsville 3hr. (Source: 2)
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)
NOV43 Altitude test 34000ft acceptance test USA 1hr 15min. (Source: 1)
(This would refer to a test flight in Townsville where the aircraft was overhauled by the USAAF. The exact date is not recorded but it could have been only 1 or 2 November).
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)

Update 13JUL10:
It is now known from Flt Lt Robilliard's log book that A55-3 did not return to base until 02NOV43. Although Robilliard's family recall that he later mentioned some difficulty landing a Lightning (possibly a beach landing) it could not have been a belly landing on this occasion as the aeroplane was back on ops by 13NOV43.
02NOV43 Townsville - Cloncurry 15000ft 1hr 55min. (Source: 1)
02NOV43 Cloncurry - Pell 15000ft 4hr 30min. (Source: 1)
13NOV43 COO 29 Lore, Fuiloro, Chater, Lautem 28000ft 3hr 20min. (Source: 1)
13NOV43 Consumption test 12000ft 1hr 45min. (Source: 1)
14NOV43 Batchelor - Coomalie 20min. (Source: 1)
18NOV43 Coomalie - Drysdale 15000ft 2hr 50min. (Source: 1)
21NOV43 Drysdale - Coomalie 15000ft 1hr 30min. (Source: 1)
22NOV43 Coomalie - Drysdale 15000ft 1hr 25min. (Source: 1)
23NOV43 COO 43 Drysdale - Penfoei - Koepang - Namlea - Jas (illegible) - Nth Coast Roti - Nembela 28000ft 3hr 15min. (Source: 1)
23NOV43 Drysdale - Coomalie 15000ft 1hr 30min. (Source: 1)
30NOV43 Coomalie - Millingimbi 1000ft 1hr 30min. (Source: 1)
01DEC43 COO 48 Aroe Is. 15000ft 4hr 45min. (Source: 1)
01DEC43 Millingimbi - Coomalie 10000ft 1hr 30min. (Source: 1)
This is the last recorded flight in A55-3 by Flt Lt Robilliard.
Total hours on Lightnings for Flt Lt Robilliard 91 hours 10 minutes (all in either A55-1 or A55-3)
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.


SOURCES

1
 Log book of Flt Lt F.H.W. Robilliard via his son Iain Robilliard.
2
 Log Book of Flt Lt W.H.S. Talberg via David Vincent
3
 Operations Record Book No 51 Operational Base Unit, Groote Eylandt via Phil Vabre.


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.
COO A duty code specific to 1PRU
NWA North Western Area


Issue Date Remarks
14 19JUN12
Added movements through Groote Eylandt in May 1943. Shown as "Source: 3". Thanks to Phil Vabre.
13 04JAN11
Added details from the log book of Flt Lt W.H.S. Talberg via David Vincent. Shown as "Source: 2"
12 19JUL10
Added details from the log book of Flt Lt F.H.W. Robilliard thanks to his son Iain Robilliard. Shown as "Source: 1". Also added five air-to-air images of A55-3 from the same source.
11 19JUN09
Added an image of the remains of A55-3 thanks to Owen Veal of the Aviation Historical Society of the Northern Territory.
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.



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