|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
|
Catholic Mission Former Owners Mandated Airlines Pacific Aerial Transport Taylor & Bond |
Aircraft History Built by Junkers. Werknummer J2575 during 1926 at Flygindustri Limhamn. Equipped with a Junkers L5 (230kW) engine. The nose was black with "JUNKERS" in white on the left side of the nose. The rest of the plane had a unpainted aluminum finish. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia. Imported by H.J. Berryman of Caulfield, Victoria, the Junkers agent in Australia. Sold to J. S. Taylor and G. S. Bond (Taylor & Bond) who registered the plane as VH-UIW. Reassembled at Point Cook Airfield and fitted with floats. Nickname "The Lady Letti" below the cockpit on the left side of the fuselage in black block letters. On the rear fuselage was registration VH-UIW in black block letters. The lower side of the wing was painted black with large VH-UIW in white block letters. The tail had "W33" and "J2575". This W33 operated from St. Kilda Harbor at St. Kilda southeast of Melbourne. Flown from Australia to New Guinea and operated from Salamaua. While in New Guinea, converted back to landing gear. In February 1931 operated by Pacific Aerial Transport Ltd based at Wau Airfield and was often flown by pilots Ray Parer and Kevin Parer. On October 18, 1932 when landing at Wau Airfield, veered off the runway and crashed into a hanger. No one was injured by the plane was written off. Afterwards, the damaged plane was acquired by Pacific Aerial Transport Ltd until October 1936 when sold to Mandated Airlines in a non-flying status. Later, acquired by the Catholic Mission and transported to Alexishafen Airfield (Danip). Presumably, it was awaiting repair or replacement parts. Possibly, without the wings or tail. Wartime History In early January 1943, this plane remained parked near the North Coast Road at Danip Airfield when the Japanese Army occupied the area. This plane was ignored by the Japanese during their occupation of the area. During 1943–1944, sustained shrapnel and bullet damage from Allied bombing and strafing. On April 26, 1944 when the Australian Army liberated the Alexishafen area, a crated Pratt & Whitney Wasp engine, addressed to the Catholic Mission was discovered, likely intended for this aircraft. Wreckage Until the middle of the 1980s, this plane remained in situ at Danip Airfield. Only the fuselage section remained, without the wings, tail or cockpit instruments. Traces of black paint remained on the nose and "W" from registration VH-UIW visible on the fuselage. The exterior skin was corroded but the internal structures were in good order. Charles Darby adds: "It was very close to the North Coast road, at the end of the fighter strip [Danip Airfield], nowhere near the main Alexishafen bomber strip." During the 1980s, PNG Museum modern history director Bruce Hoy authorized the the Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF) to move the plane to the Madang Technical College for storage and restoration. Afterwards, transported to Lae. Bruce Hoy adds: Recovered by a party from the PNGDF Air Transport Squadron based in Lae under an authority issued by the National Museum, as the group had offered to recover and conduct limited restoration. Outer wings and tail plane missing for years. Have recently read correspondence on this subject typed by me in the early 1980s. Aircraft was in Lae as of 27 November 1985 when I photographed it. The unit moved to Port Moresby in the late 1980s or early 90s and I am unaware if it accompanied the move." Since late 1985, stored at the TAA maintenance hanger (or the PNGDF hanger at Lae. Afterwards, the whereabouts of this aircraft are unknown. Possibly scrapped or otherwise disappeared. References Junkers W34 Serial Numbers - J2575 Ed Coates Collection VH-UIW Junkers W.33 (photos) Pacific Aircraft Wrecks page 37 (lower) incorrectly identifies this aircraft as "W34 VH-UKW" [sic] an incorrect reference to Junkers F 13 VH-UKW and is in fact Junker W33d VH-UIW Flightpath Vol 21 No 4 May/July 2010 "Junkers in Australasia" by James Kightly Thanks to Bruce Hoy and Ray Fairfield for additional information Contribute
Information Last Updated
|
 W33  Photo Archive |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
