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| RAAF No. 4 Squadron |
Aircraft History Built by Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC). Constructor Number 103. During September 1940 delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as CA-5 Wirraway serial number A20-103. Wartime History Assigned to No. 4 Squadron code D. On the left side of the nose was painted "Ugh!" with a character wearing a derby hat with "A. R. P." and a fork. On the left side of the nose was a scoreboard with three bomb markings indicating missions flown and a single Japanese rising sun flag indicating the aerial victory claim on December 26, 1942. During early 1942, operated from Canberra Airfield (Fairburn). In early November 1942 flown northward to 12 Mile Drome (Berry) near Port Moresby. On December 22, 1942 took off from from 12 Mile Drome (Berry) near Port Moresby and flew four sorties, two piloted by P/O Ranson and two by F/O Utber. The first two were reconnaissance over Buna and two artillery observation and gun spotting over Buna. On December 26, 1942 took off from 12 Mile Drome (Berry) near Port Moresby piloted by P/O John S. Archer, 409285 with observer Sgt J. L. Convulsion on a tactical reconnaissance over the north coast of New Guinea searching for Japanese barges at the mouth of the Kumusi River then southward to Gona. Next, Archer made a single strafing pass against the shipwreck of the Ayutosen Maru. Pulling up to make another run, Archer spotted another plane approaching 1,000' below and incorrectly identified it as a Japanese "Zero". In fact, this was Ki-43-I Oscar pilot W/O Tadashi Yoshitake. Taking advantage of their higher altitude, Archer dived down onto fighter firing a long burst with his two machine guns and as he pulled away saw the enemy plane crash into the sea and explode. This was the only time a Wirraway made a confirmed kill against an enemy fighter. Later, Archer stated that he had acted on impulse and was lucky to get in an effective first burst. On January 20, 1943, Archer earned the American Silver Star from U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) Brigadier General Ennis Whitehead, commanding general of Allied Air Forces in New Guinea. On October 16, 1944 at 1:00pm while Wirraway A20-80 was taxing, it accidentally collided with this plane causing damage. Afterwards, this Wirraway was withdrawn from service. Display This Wirraway is displayed as a cutaway aircraft, allowing viewers to see inside the fuselage and with the left wing removed for display inside Bradbury Aircraft Hall at Australian War Memorial (AWM). References WW2 Nominal Roll - John S. Archer, 409285 WW2 Nomnial Roll - J. L. Convulsion NAA RAAF No. 4 Squadron Operations Record Book (ORB) - January 20, 1943 (NAA: A9186, 12) (PDF page 153) "22/12/42 - A20-103... land/recce. P/O Ranson / Sgt Grubb Buna area." "22/12/42 - A20-103 F/O Utber / F/Sgt Davis land/recce. - Buna area." "22/12/42 - A20-103 F/O Utber / F/Sgt Davis arty/obs. and gun/spotting - Buna area. "22/12/42 - A20-103 P/O Ranson / Sgt Grubb arty/obs. and gun/spotting - Buna area." (PDF page 157) "20/1/43 – P/O J. S. Archer awarded the Silver Star (U.S.A.) for 'doing the impossible - shooting down a Zero [sic Ki-43] and brining home his observer and aircraft to tell the tale.' " Australian War Memorial (AWM) 2/14 Infantry Battalion War Diary December 1942 Accession Number RCDIG1023970 (AWM52 8/3/14/60) (PDF page 15-16) "26 [December 1942] 1200 hrs Caro and Capt Russell reported that a Wirraway had shot down a Zero into the sea approximately 600 yards E.N.E. of Caro position. Considerable air activity could be observed from our H.Q. and many dogfights took place over the Buna and Gona area; quite a number of Zeros were shot down in these engagements. Caro reported that an attempt would be made o beach the Zero." (PDF page 31) "Report on shooting down of Zeke by Wirraway Re Buna 1" to 1 mile. At approx 1115 hrs on 26 Dec 42, a group of 15 Zekes flew over our position from the sea." (PDF page 32) "At approximately 1145 hrs on 26 Dec 42, a Zeke was observed flying towards 137303 (Ref Buna Prov 1" to 1 mile) from direction Saananda. Height about 100'." (PDF Page 34) "Personal Effect - Japanese Airman 28 Dec 42 HQ Nani Herewith articles found on Japanese airmen: 1 Flag." AWM Archer, J S (Flying Officer, RAAF) EXDOC139 Army Signal message: "1145hrs RUSSEL and CARO observed Wirraway shoot down Zero. Zero fell in flames 600 yards east of CARO and 100 yards out from shore." RAAF Combat (Fighter) Report No. 1 Wirraway A20-103 December 26, 1942 RAAF Combat (Fighter) Report No. 1, Appendix "A" Wirraway A20-103 December 26, 1942 AWM "Extraordinary incident" by Roy Hodgkinson ART22743 ADF Serials - Wirraway A20-103 incorrectly states "shot down a Japanese Mitsubishi Zero at Rabaul" [sic Ki-43 Oscar at Gona] Osprey Aircraft of the Aces 85 Ki-43 'Oscar' Aces of World War 2 (2009) page 73 Hell's Battlefield (2012) by Phil Bradley pages 150-151 (Archer mission December 26, 1942) South Pacific Air War (2024) by Richard Dunn pages 16-17 (December 26, 1942), 584 (index Archer, J. S.) Contribute
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