DAP – Aviation Historical Society of Australia

DerekB22/03/202321/05/2024

AHSA Melbourne Meeting March 2023 (Annie Floodin: Boeing History)

Our March 2023 Melbourne meeting featured a presentation by Annie Floodin, a historian from Boeing Historical Services who is currently visiting Australia connecting with...

1939 The first flight of the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation CA-1 Wirraway took place on Monday 27 March 1939 at the CAC factory airfield at Port Melbourne in the hands of SQNLDR Frederick Scherger. Problems with the retractable landing gear doors had caused a delay of two days, the first flight having been planned and announced for the previous Saturday. The Wirraway was a licence-built version of the North American Aviation NA-36, incorporating changes requested by the RAAF. The Harvard and T-6 Texan trainers were later versions in the same "family" of aircraft designs - stemming from the NA-16 trainer of 1935. The flight of the first Wirraway was the result of the work of hundreds of people on three continents and marked the beginning of large-scale military aircraft and aero-engine manufacturing in Australia.

1943 Douglas C-47-DL Dakota A30-16 (41-38690, radio callsign VH-CTB, and pending re-coding as A65-2) of 36 Squadron RAAF crashed near Archerfield, Brisbane on 27 March 1943 at 0513 hrs. The aircraft crashed in heavy fog on take-off, stalling during a turn on departing the airfield. A total of 23 servicemen were killed (the crew of four, plus 17 Australian and 2 American personnel). Sources: Ozatwar.com.au and ADF-Serials.com.au websites

1953 SGT George Hale shot down a MiG-15 in combat over Korea on 27 March 1953. Hale was flying Gloster Meteor F8 A77-851 with No 77 Squadron RAAF, based at Kimpo near Seoul. At approx 1420 hrs while on an armed road reconnaissance, Hale, with SGT David Irlam saw two MiG-15 fighters which they immediately engaged, but at the same time they were attacked by two more MiGs. Irlam was hit and took no further part in the engagement. Hale engaged one of these MiGs scoring hits and observed the fighter roll over and dive from 5,000 to 4,000 feet emitting dense black smoke. Hale was attacked by two more MiGs which he also engaged then a third MiG pair attacked him from behind. Hale scored hits on the lead MiG of this third group which emitted dense white smoke or fuel vapour that almost completely obscured the aircraft. Both MiGs commenced a steep near vertical climb and Hale started to attack the lead’s wingman when his cannons stopped firing, out of ammunition. The MiGs departed and Hale turned and headed for Kimpo at low level. Hale was credited with one MiG probably destroyed and one MiG damaged. The nose section of A77-851 is preserved in the collection of the South Australian Aviation Museum. RAAF No 100 Squadron operate a Meteor from Temora Aviation Museum (ex-RAF serial number VZ467) which is painted to represent A77-581. Sources: South Australian Aviation Museum; Temora Aviation Museum

1972 Cessna 150D VH-DIP crashed at Montejinnie Station, NT on 27 March 1972. On the day of the accident, the pilot who had also carried out a considerable number of cattle mustering flights, made a short local flight, after which the aircraft was refuelled. The aircraft, now close to the maximum permissible all up weight and with two persons on board then took off to provide assistance in the mustering of stock. Some 20 minutes later, at a position 9 miles east-south-east of the station homestead, the aircraft began to circle at a height of about 400 feet near the head stockman, who was operating on horseback and alone and was having difficulty in turning a group of cattle. The head stockman, riding west, saw the aircraft fly overhead towards the east at a height of between 100 feet and 150 feet and he assumed that it would manoeuvre behind him, returning to assist in turning the cattle. Within 30 seconds of the aircraft having passed overhead, the head stockman heard a thud and on turning, found that the aircraft had crashed approximately 200 yards from his position. Fire broke out almost immediately and the centre section of the aircraft, including the main cabin area was burnt out. The aircraft struck the ground in a vertical dive op a westerly heading but not at an abnormally high speed. Source: ATSB

2003 The Civil Aviation Amendment Bill 2003 was introduced to Parliament on 27 March 2003 to abolish the CASA Board and change powers, along with the Civil Aviation Legislation Amendment Bill. The Aviation Transport Security Bill 2003 also introduced. Source: Minister for Transport, Media Release A25/2003. via aph.gov.au website

2006 Airport Development and Aviation Noise Ombudsman Bill 2006 was introduced into the House of Representatives on 27 March 2006 to address issues of aircraft operations and management. Source: House of Representatives, Debates, 27 March 2006, p. 31. via aph.gov.au website