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| RAAF 5 OTU Former Assignments 2 AD No. 30 Squadron 5 AD |
Aircraft History Built by Bristol. Assigned Royal Air Force (RAF) serial number T4945. Shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled. Wartime History Delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as Beaufighter A19-15. On May 4, 1942 reassembled by 2 Air Depot (2 AD). On July 20, 192 assigned to No. 30 Squadron with code "O". No known nickname. Nose art of a shield was painted on the nose. Assigned to pilot FLGOFF Brazenor and navigator Sgt Anderson based at Richmond Airfield. On July 26, 1942 took off from Richmond Airfield piloted by F/O Brazenor along with A19-2, A19-14 and A19-49 on a formation and gunnery training mission that lasted 6 hours 15 minutes. On July 27, 1942 took off from Richmond Airfield piloted by F/O Brazenor with A19-14 on a navigation mission that lasted seven hours. On July 28, 1942 took off from Richmond Airfield piloted by F/O Brazenor on a seven hour navigation training mission and returned. A second navigation training and return was four hours. On July 30, 1942 took off from Richmond Airfield piloted by F/O Brazenor on another navigation mission. That same day took off from Richmond Airfield piloted by F/O Brazenor on a gunnery training mission with A19-2, A19-49 and A19-37 that lasted 4 hours, 5 minutes. On July 31, 1942 took off from Richmond Airfield piloted by F/O Brazenor on a formation and gunnery mission with A19-37 that lasted 2 hours, 35 minutes. On August 1, 1942 took off from Richmond Airfield piloted by F/O Brazenor on a night flying training mission with Beaufighter A19-2 and Beaufighter A19-33 for 9 hours, 55 minutes. On August 18, 1942 one of twenty-four Beaufighters flown from Richmond Airfield to Bohl River Airfield for operational training. On September 12, 1942 flown to Ward Drome (5 Mile Drome) near Port Moresby. On November 17, 1942 took off from Ward Drome on mission against Lae Airfield and claimed two Ki-21 Sallys [sic] and four Zeros destroyed on the ground. On November 21, 1942 took off from Ward Drome on mission against Lae Airfield over the target, hit in the tail wheel by gunfire from a Zero. On January 10, 1943 at 8:45am took off from Ward Drome piloted by FO Bob Brazenor (Ballarat, VIC) with navigator FSgt Fred Anderson, (Sydney, NSW) with Beaufighter A19-9 and Beaufighter A19-48 on mission "WAR.27" (Wards Drome mission #27) on a fighter sweep over the north coast of New Guinea between the mouth of the Amboga River to Salamaua. Over the north coast, on a beach north of Mambare spotted a message written in the sand: "Shoes, maps, food, matches" written by 1st Lt Jack L. Childers, co-pilot of B-26 "Yeah!" 40-1421 that ditched three days earlier. The Beaufighters dropped food, a medical kit, and a map with the message: "You are one hour's walk from the Japanese. An enemy patrol is close at hand.". Aboard this aircraft, Anderson dropped them his flight boots. On March 3, 1943 took off from Ward Drome during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea to strike the Japanese convoy transiting between Cape Gloucester and Finschafen. Returning, photographed over the north coast of New Guinea. On July 12, 1943 fractures were discovered in the fuselage. On July 27, 1943 transfered to 5 Air Depot (5 AD) for repairs. On September 14, 1943 assigned to 5 OTU (5 OTU). On October 16, 1943 suffered a hydraulic failure and made a belly landing at Williamtown Airfield. Afterwards, this Beaufighter was salvaged by 5 Operational Training Unit (5 OTU) and used as instructional airframe no. 4. On September 11, 1947 assigned to Department of Aircraft Production (DAP). Finally, on November 16, 1949 disposed by DAP. Ultimate fate unknown likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. References RAAF No. 30 Squadron, RAAF - Details of the Work Carried - A19-15 July 28, 1942 (NAA: A9186, 59 page 24-26) RAAF No. 30 Squadron, RAAF - Unit History Sheet Details of Operations January 9-10, 1943 ADF Serials - Beaufighter A19-15 ADF Serials - Beaufighter A19-15 Photo Album RAAF Camouflage & Markings 1939-1945 Volumes 1 & 2 (1980) page 63 Beaufighters In The Pacific (2005) pages 17-18, 107 Contribute
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