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Post Info TOPIC: Old aircraft and pilot ident required.
hako


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Old aircraft and pilot ident required.
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G'Day,    Just been going through my Dad's old military service photos and found the pics below showing a female pilot apparently about to depart and I'm wondering just who this lady and tyhe aircraft were. The photos could have been taken anytime between when the old man enlisted in the RAAF (1921 No249) and WW2...possibly at East sale.  Anyway I'd be grateful if someone could identify the aircraft and pilot. I've searched and the registration prefix A5 indicates Bhutan as the country of registration but that cannot be correct. 

Unfortunately like most returned servicemen, my old man would never talk of the war despite a lifetime in the military so I never really got to know much of that side of him except him telling me about his first day at the front where they marched past rows of the dead from the night before. He later found out that one of his brothers was amongst the (presumed) dead and survived...apparently not uncommon given the circumstances. Apart from that and telling me that "war is terrible" that was it.  I guess when you are 17 and faced with this the mind goes into neutral.

I'd appreciate it if someone could give some clues to the aircraft and pilot.

Thanks

PS....why is the lady pilot wearing a skirt?....I thought ALL pilots wore leather flying suits? 



-- Edited by hako on Thursday 11th of June 2015 11:36:04 AM

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Denis

Ex balloon chaser and mercury measurer.

Toowoomba.
rockylizard


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Gday...

The "A5" would be the aircraft type identification serial - the 13 would be the airframe number.

See this site -

http://www.fighterworld.com.au/az-of-fighter-aircraft/serial-numbers

A5 on that site for the era of the photo shows -

A5.JPG

This shows the Series 2 A5 aircraft - which is what the aircraft in the photo would be -

https://www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum/research/aircraft/series2/A5.htm

For clarification -

https://www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum/research/aircraft/series1/A5.htm

This site shows that A5-13 serial - http://www.adf-serials.com.au/1a5.htm

As far as who the lady might be I cannot help.

I could only suggest you contact the RAAF museum at Pt Cook in Victoria. They may be able to assist if you can get the photos to them.

Hope some of that helps.

Cheers - John



-- Edited by rockylizard on Thursday 11th of June 2015 01:30:06 PM

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hako


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Thanks John, that's pretty good info you've provided. I can now see why I could not find anything about the A5 registration - It's a military registration and I was looking at private/commercial registrations!
I will contact the RAAF museum at Pt Cook re the photos - also have some snaps of Point Cook in the early 20's. I have previously contacted the military museum here in Toowoomba but they weren't really interested. It's easy to see how some much of this stuff gets dumped for want of a better home.
Thanks again John for taking the time and trouble to get those links.
Have attached a copy of a RAAF ball invite for 1922 which must have been their first.....things were pretty posh in those days eh. Not sure why my dad had an invitation as he wasn't an officer at that stage but I know he did take photos which could indicate why the invite has 'press' written on it.



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Denis

Ex balloon chaser and mercury measurer.

Toowoomba.
Hendo


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Hi Hako,

I think the aircraft could be an Avro Cadet or close cousin, they were used as trainers from 1935-45 at Point Cook RAAF base.

As to the woman pilot, is she the pilot or observer?, and I'm thinking she is wearing long type shorts, certainly not very lady like or practical to be stepping into the ****pit wearing a dress!, the ground crew would have a lovely time.

Hendo

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rockylizard


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Gday...

Hendo, the aircraft is a Westland Wapiti Mk IIa - see website I posted earlier - http://www.adf-serials.com.au/1a5.htm

Cheers - John



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Hendo


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Hi John

You are spot on! I was looking for Trainers, not thinking of Bombers. I'll give Trove a shot, they may have more info on the photo.

Catch ya - Hendo

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hako


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Hendo wrote:

Hi Hako,

SNIP
As to the woman pilot, is she the pilot or observer?, and I'm thinking she is wearing long type shorts, certainly not very lady like or practical to be stepping into the ****pit wearing a dress!, the ground crew would have a lovely time.

Hendo

 G'Day Hendo - pretty kinky for those days - leather shorts!....reminds me of when my wife Joy went with the kindy group back in the 70's to inspect a submarine - the alarm bells rang when Joy realised she was the only female wearing a mini skirt.

Regards



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Denis

Ex balloon chaser and mercury measurer.

Toowoomba.
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