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| RAAF No. 34 Squadron Former Assignments Bulolo Gold Dredging Company Guinea Airways |
Aircraft History Built by Junkers during 1929 as G 31go Trimotor Werknummer J3010. This aircraft was one of four G 31 Trimotors purchased by Bulolo Gold Dredging Company (BGD) operated by Guinea Airways powered by three Pratt & Whitney A2 Hornet radial engines and converted into a freighter with an open cockpit and a large hatch on the top of the fuselage to load and unload cargo. On June 10, 1931 registered in Australia as VH-UOW. This aircraft had a black engine cowling with "Junkers" on the nose and "Guinea Airways" on both sides of the fuselage in black block letters. The four trimotors were based at Lae Airfield and used to transport dredge parts, equipment and supplies to Wau Airfield and Bulolo Airfield to support the company's gold mining operations. October 5, 1934 took off from Lae Airfield piloted by Charles R. Gurney loaded with a massive 7,500 lb stator electric generator and flown to Bulolo Airfield. At the time, this was the heaviest and largest piece of cargo ever transported by an aircraft worldwide. The generator was used for the Baiune power plant. Wartime History On January 21, 1942 took off from Lae Airfield on a flight to Port Moresby and was on finals to land during the Japanese air raid against Lae and Bulolo but survived without and damage. On the ground, the three other trimotors were destroyed by strafing A6M2 Zeros. Afterwards flown to Australia. On January 30, 1942 the civilian registration was canceled and impressed into Australian military service under requisition 9024. Assigned to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as G 31 Trimotor serial number A44-1. Assigned to No. 34 Squadron. On October 19, 1942 borrowed by No. 36 Squadron piloted by F/O James L. D. C. Whiteman with co-pilot P/O Peter Lavarack on a flight from Laverton Airfield to Darwin Airfield to deliver refrigerators and returned transporting wounded. While returning, one engine had a valve drop and landed at Cootamundra Airfield as a precaution and was checked over by RAAF engineers. Afterwards, took off from Cootamundra Airfield and returned to Laverton Airfield. Afterwards, underwernt engine repairs that were completed by the end of the month. Mission History On October 31, 1942 took off from Laverton Airfield piloted by P/O Peter Lavarack on a test flight. During the take off, only two engines developed full power and this aircraft ran off the runway and collided with a parked automobile used by visiting Air Minister Arthur S. Drakeford, destroying the car and the Trimotor was damaged beyond repair and was written off. Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. References Some sources incorrectly state this aircraft was abandoned at Alexishafen or Bulolo. Junkers Production Details via Wayback Machine March 5, 2016 Guinea Airways Junkers G.31go VH-UOW ADF Serials - RAAF A44 Junkers G31 A44-1 WW2 Nominal Roll - James L. D. C. Whiteman WW2 Nominal Roll - Peter Lavarack Thanks to Bruce Hoy and Luke Ruffato for additional information Contribute
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