TOCUMWAL LODESTARS AND
FUEL TANK RESEALING

During June 1945 it was discovered by No. 1 Communication Unit at Essendon that the integral fuel tanks of their Lodestars A67-5 and A67-10 were leaking. On 11 June 1945 the RAAF ordered that all Lodestars be grounded. Aircraft were progressively allotted to No. 7 Aircraft Depot at Tocumwal for investigation and possible repair. A67-5 and A67-10 were ferried to Tocumwal on 14JUN45 and other aircraft followed as per the table below.

Lodestar A67-10 was chosen to be the prototype for the tank resealing process and it was to undergo more than 80 hours of test flying at Tocumwal after it was treated with the Pliobond process. Two of the NEI aircraft were to be treated with the Stoner-Mudge process.

On 16 January 1946 the RAAF ordered that all work should cease and that the Lodestars should be stored. It would appear therefore that the only aircraft treated was A67-10. In April 1946, 7AD was instructed to resume work on the NEI Lodestars. The first aircraft, LT932, was issued to the NEI Pool and departed Tocumwal on 15 April 1946. In May 1946, 7AD reported that another aircraft (probably LT933) was in the final stages of the sealing process. LT933 was issued to the NEI Pool and departed Tocumwal on 18 July 1946. Significantly, the status card for LT933 includes a stipulation that the receiving pilot must supply a signed statement acknowledging that the aircraft was not up to the RAAF standard of serviceability. This suggests that there was some urgency to return the aircraft to service and that perhaps the tank sealing process may not have been fully completed. Also in May 1946, 7AD reported that another two NEI Lodestars were still having their tanks cleaned prior to the sealing process. These aircraft are believed to have been LT931 and LT934, both of which were allotted to storage at Tocumwal on 1 October 1946. This suggests that the sealing process was not completed on these two aircraft.

It would appear therefore that only two Lodestars, A67-10 and LT932, had their fuel tanks fully resealed and that perhaps LT933 was partially or fully resealed.

Aircraft A67-1 and LT935 were allotted to 7AD for repairs but their status cards do not record issue or receipt dates. In all probability neither aircraft was delivered to 7AD.

 

SERIAL
ALLOT 7AD
RECD 7AD
DEPART 7AD
SEE NOTE
REMARKS
A67-1
27DEC45
?
?
-
 No record at 7AD. Issued to NZNAC ex 1AD (ZK-AOP)
A67-2
07JUL45
09AUG45
26SEP47
1
 Issued to DCA (VH-CAA)
A67-3
07JUL45
22JUL45
27FEB47
1
 Issued to NZNAC (ZK-AOT)
A67-4
07JUL45
22JUL45
27FEB47
1
 Issued to NZNAC (ZK-AOS)
A67-5
12JUN45
14JUN45
15MAR47
1
 Issued to Board & Godden (VH-GRB)
A67-6
-
-
-
6
 Crashed and burned 26JAN45. Did not go to Tocumwal.
A67-7
07JUL45
22JUL45
10SEP47
1
 Sold to S. Godden. No record of issue date (VH-BFZ)
A67-8
07JUL45
09AUG45
26SEP47
1
 Issued to DCA (VH-CAC)
A67-9
10JUL45
07FEB46
15MAY47
1
 Issued to Kingsford Smith Aviation Services (ZK-APU)
A67-10
12JUN45
14JUN45
26SEP47
-
 Issued to DCA (VH-CAB)
LT931
19FEB46
12MAR46
21JUL50
2
 Issued to Doug Fawcett (VH-FAC)
LT932
10JUL45
09AUG45
15APR46
3
 Issued to NEI Pool. Returned to ops in NEI.
LT933
17SEP45
20SEP45
18JUL46
4
 Issued to NEI Pool. Returned to ops in NEI.
LT934
10JUL45
09AUG45
21JUL50
5
 Issued to Doug Fawcett (VH-FAB)
LT935
10JUL45
?
?
-
 No record 7AD. Issued NEI Pool ex 2AD. Returned to ops in NEI.
LT936
-
-
-
6
 Written off by a cyclone 19FEB45. Did not go to Tocumwal.

 

NOTES
1
 On 16JAN46 orders were received that work on A67-2, A67-3, A67-4, A67-5, A67-7, A67-8 and A67-9 should cease and the aircraft should be stored. This cease order probably included the Dutch aircraft although the status cards do not reflect this.
2
 LT931 was received at 7AD on 12MAR46. In APR46, 7AD was instructed to resume work on the NEI Lodestars so presumably these aircraft were covered by the cease work order on 16JAN46. In MAY47, 7AD reported that LT931 was nearing completion of stripping the protective coating in the fuel tanks. Presumably this is the first stage of the resealing process. The status card does not record if the work was completed or if the aircraft was returned to the NEI. On the contrary, it states that the aircraft was sold by the FLC on 06JUL48 along with LT934.
3
 In MAR46, 7AD reported that LT932 was completed and delivered after sealing of leaky fuel tanks. First Dutch aircraft repaired. Was it the only Dutch aircraft fully repaired?
4
 LT933 was received at 7AD on 20SEP45 but on 16JAN46 (i.e. the same date as the cease work order) it was allotted to 1AD for storage. This allotment was cancelled on 22JAN46. On 18JUL46 the aircraft was allotted to the NEI ex 7AD on the condition that the accepting pilot should acknowledge that "the aircraft is not up to the RAAF standard of serviceability." This suggests that perhaps the resealing process was not fully completed.
5
 LT934 was received at 7AD on 09AUG45 but on 16JAN46 (i.e. the same date as the cease work order) it was allotted to 1AD for storage. This allotment was cancelled on 22JAN46. On 01OCT46 the aircraft was allotted to storage. The aircraft was sold by the FLC on 06JUL48 along with LT931.
6
 A67-6 and LT936 were written off before the need for tank resealing arose.

 

BY DATE OF RECEIPT 7AD
SERIAL
RECEIVED
A67-5
14JUN45
A67-10
14JUN45
A67-3
22JUL45
A67-4
22JUL45
A67-7
22JUL45
A67-2
09AUG45
A67-8
09AUG45
LT932
09AUG45
LT934
09AUG45
LT933
20SEP45
A67-9
07FEB46
LT931
12MAR46
BY DATE OF DESPATCH 7AD
SERIAL
DESPATCHED
LT932
15APR46
LT933
18JUL46
A67-3
27FEB47
A67-4
27FEB47
A67-5
15MAR47
A67-9
15MAY47
A67-7
10SEP47
A67-10
26SEP47
A67-2
26SEP47
A67-8
26SEP47
LT934
21JUL50
LT931
21JUL50

 

LODESTAR MOVEMENTS AT TOCUMWAL
June 1945 to May 1947
12JUN45
 A67-10 allotted 7AD Tocumwal for trial repairs to fuel leaks. (Source: 1)
14JUN45
 A67-10 received at 7AD ex 1CU. (Source: 1)
  Fuel figures quoted below are believed to represent fuel uplift, not total fuel on board.
13DEC45
 A67-10 test flown 50 min (537 gallons) at 7AD Tocumwal FLTLT Parsons. (Source: 9)
13DEC45
 A67-10 test flown 15 min (300 gallons) at 7AD Tocumwal FLTLT Parsons. (Source: 9)
14DEC45
 A67-10 test flown 4 hr 15 min (300 gallons) at 7AD Tocumwal FLTLT Parsons. (Source: 9)
14DEC45
 A67-10 test flown 4 hr 5 min (300 gallons) at 7AD Tocumwal FLTLT Parsons. (Source: 9)
15DEC45
 A67-10 test flown 4 hr (330 gallons) at 7AD Tocumwal FLTLT Parsons. (Source: 9)
15DEC45
 A67-10 test flown 4 hr 20 min (300 gallons) at 7AD Tocumwal FLTLT Parsons. (Source: 9)
19DEC45
 A67-10 test flown 45 min (340 gallons) at 7AD Tocumwal FLTLT Parsons. (Source: 9)
19DEC45
 A67-10 test flown 1 hr (80 gallons) at 7AD Tocumwal FLTLT Parsons. (Source: 9)
20DEC45
 A67-10 test flown 4 hr 15 min (300 gallons) at 7AD Tocumwal FLTLT Parsons. (Source: 9)
DEC45
 "During the month, Lodestar A67-10 on which experiments were carried out on the sealing of leaking fuel tanks was completed and placed under test during which minor weeping was experienced and at the end of the month was undergoing rectification. Inquiries conducted regarding selection of this aircraft for experimentation have revealed that this aircraft was not a good sample of the nature of the defects experienced, as apparently it bore little evidence of leaking prior to the process being applied. Therefore the effectiveness of the process under test cannot be determined by the results obtained on this particular aircraft." (Source: 9)
29JAN46
 A67-10 test flown 15-00 hr (sic) (1300 gallons) at 7AD Tocumwal SQNLDR Barson. (Source: 9)
JAN46
 "Flight tests are still proceeding on Lodestar Aircraft A67-10, following application of Pliobond Fuel Tank Sealing process, as at the date of report. Results appear satisfactory, but whether the process would be satisfactory on all Aircraft of this type, cannot be determined, as mentioned in last month's report." (Source: 9)
16JAN46 Orders were received that work on A67-2, A67-3, A67-4, A67-5, A67-7, A67-8 and A67-9 should cease and the aircraft should be stored. This cease order probably included the Dutch aircraft although the status cards do not reflect this. (Source: 1)
01FEB46
 A67-10 test flown 1 hr 10 min (60 gallons) at 7AD Tocumwal SQNLDR Barson. (Source: 9)
05FEB46
 A67-10 test flown 1 hr 5 min (60 gallons) at 7AD Tocumwal SQNLDR Barson. (Source: 9)
06FEB46
 A67-10 test flown 55 min (50 gallons) at 7AD Tocumwal SQNLDR Barson. (Source: 9)
06FEB46
 A67-10 test flown 15 min (20 gallons) at 7AD Tocumwal WGCDR Brunckhurst. (Source: 9)
07FEB46
 A67-10 test flown 4 hr 15 min (250 gallons) at 7AD Tocumwal SQNLDR Barson. (Source: 9)
07FEB46
 A67-10 test flown 4 hr 30 min (260 gallons) at 7AD Tocumwal SQNLDR Barson. (Source: 9)
08FEB46
 A67-10 test flown 2 hr 20 min (130 gallons) at 7AD Tocumwal SQNLDR Barson. (Source: 9)
13FEB46
 A67-10 test flown 2 hr 5 min (110 gallons) at 7AD Tocumwal SQNLDR Barson. (Source: 9)
14FEB46
 No 7 Aircraft Depot (7AD) was disbanded and its work taken over by the Care and Maintenance Unit (CMU), Tocumwal. Work transferred to the CMU included Lodestar Fuel Tank Sealing with one aircraft (A67-10) undergoing final flight tests after application of the Pliobond process and three NEI aircraft, one to be completed with the Pliobond process and two to be completed with the Stoner-Mudge process. (Source: 9)
28FEB46
 In the period 15FEB46 to 28FEB46 the CMU reported that; "Further tests were completed on Lodestar A67-10 following application of tank sealing process. A67-10 has now completed 83-05 hours and made 79 landings since tanks were sealed with Pliobond." (The test flights listed above total 55 hr 30 min).
The Aircraft Storage Section of the CMU reported:
Total of Lodestars received during the month of February was seven (7).
The total number of Lodestars stored was seven (7).
All seven were stored under cover in No. 5 Hangar. (Source: 9)
APR46
 CMU Tocumwal received verbal orders to recommence work on the NEI Lodestars. (Source: 1 & 9)
MAY46
 The CMU Tocumwal reported work on the NEI Lodestars was proceeding with cleaning and preparation of fuel tanks for the Pliobond process.
LT931: Start made on stripping the protective coating inside the fuel tanks and work was nearing completion at the end of May.
Another Lodestar (not identified but probably LT933) had begun the application of the sealing process.
Another Lodestar (also not identified but probably LT934) was in the final stages of cleaning. (Source: 9)
This is the final reference to Lodestars in the 7AD/CMU Operations Record Book. (Source: 9)

 

SOURCES
1
 RAAF Form E/E.88 Airframe Record Card
9
 NAA, Series A9186, RAAF Unit History sheets (Form A50) [Operations Record Book - Forms A50 and A51] Aircraft Depots 4-7 May 42 - Jul 47


Issue Date Remarks
1 13JUL22
Original issue.





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