TAVAS GWFD 2018 Airshow – WWII Aircraft

This article showcases the World War II era aircraft that attended the TAVAS Great War Flying Display 2018 airshow. On the weekend of 21st and 22nd of April 2019 The Australian Vintage Aviation Society (TAVAS) staged an airshow event, primarily to remember the day 100 years ago when the Red Baron Manfred von Richthofen was shot down and killed by allied troops. In part three of a six-part series of articles covering the airshow, I will showcase the supporting World War II aircraft that attended the show.

Series Articles

TAVAS Museum Fokker DR.1 Triplane VH-FXP takes off for re-enactment of the Red Baron's last flight.
Part 1 - The Red Baron
De Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth VH-RTA taxiing at TAVAS GWFD 2018.
Part 2 - Pre-World War II
CAC CA-18 Mk21 Mustang "Snifter" VH-MFT on static display at TAVAS GWFD 2018.
Part 3 - World War II
North American T-28B Trojan VH-RPX "Miss Stress" taxiing during TAVAS GWFD 2018.
Part 4 - Post-World War II
Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet A44-221 of 1SQN RAAF performing its flying display at TAVAS GWFD 2018. Condensation sheets are forming on wing leading edges.
Part 5 - RAAF Aircraft
Van's Aircraft RV-14A VH-XIV taxiing at TAVAS GWFD 2018.
Part 6 - Civilian Aircraft

North American SNJ-4 VH-NAG

The AT-6/SNJ Texan series was known as “the pilot maker”due to the large number of Allied pilots that trained on the type. Designed by North American Aviation as an advanced trainer for a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the first flight in 1935. The US Army designated the aircraft as “AT-6”, US Navy used the “SNJ” designation. It was an advanced design for the period, with all-metal body, glazed canopy, retractable undercarriage and powerful radial engine. The aircraft was used by other Allied countries, known as the “Harvard” in British service and “Yale” in Canada. In all, over 15,000 of the type were produced.

North American SNJ-4 Texan VH-NAG on static display at TAVAS GWFD 2018.
North American SNJ-4 Texan VH-NAG on static display at TAVAS GWFD 2018.

After the end of WWII, the Texan remained in service with US forces as a trainer until replaced by the North American T-28 Trojan series. It remained in use as a Forward Air Control (FAC) aircraft into the Vietnam War. In use by many other countries post-WWII, several of these using the Texan in the light ground attack role.

This SJN-4 Texan VH-NAG was built in 1942 for the US Navy. It was transferred to the Paraguyan Air Force (year unknown). It is currently operated by Texan Pty Ltd for joy flights and aerobatic adrenaline flights out of Caboolture airfield. The company also perform charitable flyovers of military commemorative events such as Anzac Day.

North American SNJ-4 Texan VH-NAG landing at TAVAS GWFD 2018.
North American SNJ-4 Texan VH-NAG landing at TAVAS GWFD 2018.

CAC CA-16 Wirraway VH-MFW

The Wirraway (from the Aboriginal word meaning “challenge”) was designed as an indigenous advanced trainer built by Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC), with first flight in 1939. The design was based heavily on the North American NA-16 aircraft ,of which two examples had been purchased as build examples. By end of production run 755 aircraft had been built. The engine chosen was the 600hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340 9-cylinder radial engine, which was also license-built by CAC. The Wirraway was replaced in the the mid-1950s by another CAC indigenous trainer, the CA-25 Winjeel.

CAC CA-16 Wirraway VH-MFW taking off at TAVAS GWFD 2018.
CAC CA-16 Wirraway VH-MFW taking off at TAVAS GWFD 2018.

The Wirraway was used primarily by Australian Air Force and Navy units, with one RAF squadron being equipped with the type and the USAAF 5th Air Force using them in their HQ flight for a short period. In RAAF service, they were used to defend islands to north of Australia from the Japanese advance, fitted with a pair of Vickers 7.7mm machine guns or 500lb of bombs. In fact, one Wirraway was credited with shooting down a Japanese fighter. Initially it was thought to be a Mitsubishi A6M Zero, but was later found to have been a Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa fighter. This victory constitutes one more than were scored by the indigenous CAC Boomerang fighter during the war.

This aircraft is a CA-16 MK 3 Wirraway, built in 1945. It entered RAAF service as A20-695 and was initially modified for target towing. She then served in several RAAF flight training squadrons before disposal in 1958. It was purchased by CAC for the CA-28 Ceres cropduster project, but was not repurposed and was onsold to a scrap metal merchant. She was saved from the scrapheap and flown again, passing through several hands before restoration in 1993 with first post-restoration flight in 1997.

CAC CA-16 Wirraway VH-MFW taking off at TAVAS GWFD 2018.
CAC CA-16 Wirraway VH-MFW taking off at TAVAS GWFD 2018.

The aircraft is currently operated by Warplanes Pty Ltd for joy flights with aerobatic options out of Caboolture airfield. The company also perform charitable flyovers of military commemorative events such as Anzac Day.

CAC CA-18 Mk21 Mustang VH-MFT "Snifter"

Near the end of WWII, RAAF required a new interceptor/fighter to replace the Kittyhawk and Boomerang fighters currently in service in the Pacific theatre. Approval was granted for Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) to license-build the North American P-51 Mustang. A total of 80 were shipped from the USA as parts and assembled as early CA-17 models. After WWII ended another 120 were built from mostly local parts as the updated CA-18 designation. The CA-18 was produced in Mk21, Mk22 and Mk23 variants. The Mk21s used the American-built Packard V-1650 Merlin engine, Mk22 and Mk23s powered by the Rolls-Royce Merlin. The final Australian-built Mustang rolled off the production line in 1952.

CAC CA-18 Mk21 Mustang "Snifter" VH-MFT on static display at TAVAS GWFD 2018.
CAC CA-18 Mk21 Mustang "Snifter" VH-MFT on static display at TAVAS GWFD 2018.

This aircraft was built as CA-18 Mk.21 in 1947, and entered RAAF service as A68-110 in 1948. She served with RAAF until disposal in 1958, sold for scrap and later saved from the scrap heap before destruction. The aircraft was restored as P-51D-NT Mustang IV with RAAF markings A68-769, the first flight being in 2002.

This beautiful aircraft is currently operated by Mustang Flights Australia out of Caboolture airfield. They provide adrenaline joyflights with aerobatic options.
While the plan was for this beautiful aircraft to perform flying displays at the airshow, unfortunately on the day gremlins appeared from its recent overhaul. I was told that a carburettor issue wasn’t able to be fixed in time, such a shame as there are not many better sights and sounds than a Mustang in flight.

CAC CA-18 Mk21 Mustang "Snifter" VH-MFT on static display at TAVAS GWFD 2018.
CAC CA-18 Mk21 Mustang "Snifter" VH-MFT on static display at TAVAS GWFD 2018.

Stinson L-5B Sentinel VH-CRO

The L-5 Sentinel was purpose-built by Stinson Aircraft Company as a light observation / liaison roles. The type first flew in 1942, serving throughout WWII and was also used in the Korean War. Aside from its intended purpose, they were used for casualty evacuation, VIP transport and artillery spotting. The high wing design and low speed capability made it an excellent visibility fit for the reconnaissance role.

Stinson L-5B Sentinel VH-CRO taxiing at TAVAS GWFD 2018.
Stinson L-5B Sentinel VH-CRO taxiing at TAVAS GWFD 2018.

This particular aircraft VH-CRO was built and delivered to USAAF in 1942. It served with 1st Air Commando Group, and operated in China/Burma/India theatre. It was disposed of by USAAF in India post-war, and was purchased by a Nagpur-based flying school. In 1989 an Australian pilot who was ferrying an aircraft from USA to Australia saw the L-5 lying derelict in a an Indian Air Force base hangar. A deal was struck and the aircraft was shipped to Perth in 1991. There it lay crated until being sent to Coolangatta, Queensland in 1996 where she was restored to flying condition. Post-restoration in 1996 she was moved back to Perth, but was damaged in a landing accident at Kalgoorlie on the ferry flight. Back in a crate again, she was taken by road back to Coolangatta for repair and was successfully returned to Perth. She was purchased by current owner Warwick Henry in 2010, who flew her back to Queensland in a ten-day ferry trip.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain "Oklahoma Gal"

The C-47 Skytrain was derived from the DC-3 passenger as a general transport aircraft for the US military in WWII, with the first flight in 1941 and over 10,000 units produced by war’s end. It proved to be a very reliable and solid design, serving with distinction and becoming instrumental in Allied success in WWII. Hundreds of C-47s towed assault gliders from England for the D-Day landings.

In the Vietnam War some were fitted with miniguns and used as an aerial gunship known as the AC-47 “Spooky”. The Spooky was feared by enemy troops who thought the noise of the guns and red tracer was the breath of a flying dragon, leading to the them being nicknamed “Puff the Magic Dragon”.

Douglas C-47 Dakota owned by Pacific Dakota Restorations on static display at TAVAS GWFD 2018.
Douglas C-47 Dakota owned by Pacific Dakota Restorations on static display at TAVAS GWFD 2018.

This airframe rolled off the Douglas Aircraft Company’s Oklahoma production line in 1944, and served in the Pacific theatre in the USAAF 22nd Airlift Squadron. On a mission it was involved in a mid-air collision with another C-47, its tail coming in contact with the other aircraft’s wing but both landed safely. After the war ended, she was purchased as war surplus by the Commonwealth of Australia, registered as VH-DMV and operated by Department of Civil Aviation. In 1951 the registration was changed to VH-CAO as previous registration had the initials of a politial party. 

In 1962 it began service as a freighter with Brain and Brown Air Freighters, changing registration again to VH-BAB. She later became a museum piece in the collection of the Chewing Gum Air Museum on the Queensland Gold Coast, was restored to airworthy condition and then moved to Drage’s Air World in Wangaratta, Victoria. When this museum closed, she was transported to North Queensland Warbirds in Mareeba, Queensland.

In 2014 she was purchased by current owner David Kingshott, (Pacific Dakota Restorations), and made the 1,600Km journey by road to their Caboolture hangar for total restoration.

Yakovlev Yak-3UPW VH-YOV "Steadfast"

Whilst not a true WWII aircraft, the design is based on the Russian Yakovlev Yak-3. Although the original Yak-3 was built with an inline engine, a prototype was fitted with a Shvetsov ASh-82 radial engine. The war ended before any radial-engined production units were built. This aircraft was built by Romanian company Avioane Craiova in 2005. She is powered by a Pratt and Whitney R-2000 radial engine, while this is the same engine that powered the DHC Caribou it certainly doesn’t perform or sound like any Caribou that I ever saw. 

Yakovlev Yak-3UPW VH-YOV at Red Thunder 2018 airshow.
Yakovlev Yak-3UPW "Steadfast" VH-YOV​ shown here at Red Thunder 2018 airshow at Watts Bridge, Toogoolawah Queensland. The world records it holds are painted on the undercarriage door.

Named “Steadfast”, previous US-based owner Will Whiteside raced her several times at the Reno Air Races and set nine world speed and climb to height records with this aircraft; these records have been painted on the port undercarriage door. The enormous spinner was fitted for aerodynamic performance for racing.

At the time of this airshow she was operated by Archerfield-based outfit Fighter Pilot Adventure Flights. On the day I attended, pilot James Crockett performed an awesome aerobatic display with smoke generators billowing that really did get the crowd pumping.

Yakovlev Yak-3UPW VH-YOV performing aerobatic display at TAVAS GWFD 2018.
Yakovlev Yak-3UPW VH-YOV performing aerobatic display at TAVAS GWFD 2018.

Unfortunately for local fans, Steadfast was sold in late 2019 to a New Zealand owner so we’ll need to travel across the Tasman Sea to hear that awesome sound at an airshow again.

Other Information

Location

The TAVAS museum is located at Caboolture Aerodrome, around 50Km north of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. For more information on their collection of World War 1 replica aircraft, visit the TAVAS museum website.

Image Galleries

If you’d like to view more of images on this topic, below are some links to my photography gallery website.

North American SNJ-4 Texan VH-NAG taking off at TAVAS GWFD 2018.
View all my images of North American SNJ-4 Texan VH-NAG
CAC CA-16 Wirraway VH-MFW taking off at TAVAS GWFD 2018.
View all my images of CAC CA-16 Wirraway VH-MFW
CAC CA-18 Mk21 Mustang "Snifter" VH-MFT on static display at TAVAS GWFD 2018.
View all my images of CAC CA-18 Mk21 Mustang "Snifter" VH-MFT
Yakovlev Yak-3UPW VH-YOV performing aerobatic display at TAVAS GWFD 2018.
View all my images of Yakovlev Yak-3UPW VH-YOV
Stinson L-5B Sentinel VH-CRO taxiing at TAVAS GWFD 2018.
View all my images of Stinson L-5B Sentinel VH-CRO
Douglas C-47 Dakota owned by Pacific Dakota Restorations on static display at TAVAS GWFD 2018.
View all my images of Douglas C-47A Skytrain "Oklahoma Gal"
Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet A44-221 of 1SQN RAAF performing its flying display at TAVAS GWFD 2018.
View all my images from the TAVAS GWFD 2018 airshow

References

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