CAC CA-16 WIRRAWAY A20-652

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CAC CA-16 WIRRAWAY Mk III A20-652 / VH-WIR
MSN 1104
(AA000076)

The Wirraway was acquired with a grant from The John Villiers Trust.

The exhibit is dedicated to the memory of John Villiers (1912 - 2002)

A20-652

JUN44

Photographed at the CAC factory at Fishermans Bend. On roll-out, the upper surfaces of the aircraft were camouflaged in Dark Earth (brown) and Foliage Green. The undersides were painted silver. The engine cowling was yellow as were the trainer bands around the rear fuselage and the wings. Roundels were blue and white and were carried on both surfaces of both wings and both sides of the rear fuselage. The fin flash was also blue and white with white leading. (Red was deleted from roundels and fin flashes from around October 1942). The serial number was carried on the rear fuselage in Medium Sea Grey. (Source: 12)

04JUL44

Received at No 1 Aircraft Depot, Laverton ex CAC Fisherman's Bend as A20-652. (Source: 4)

06JUL44

Allocated 1AD Pilot Test Training Flight, Laverton. (Source: 4)

17JUL44

In service at 1AD PTTF. (Source: 4)

19SEP44

Slight damage in a taxy accident at Laverton Vic when pilot, W/O W H Bleach collided with a grader. The damage was repaired by 1AD. (Source: 4)

06AUG46

Allocated to storage at 1AD. (Source: 4)

16SEP46

Received at 1AD Store. (Source: 4)

17AUG48

Allotted Category C Storage status. (Source: 4)

17MAR50

Received Det B 1AD Tocumwal ex 1AD Storage Laverton. (Source: 4)

04JUL52

Received at Department of Aircraft Production, Parafield, SA ex Det B 1AD Tocumwal. (Source: 4)

15APR53

Received Det B 1AD Tocumwal ex DAP Parafield. (Source: 4)

08FEB57

Request for approval to dispose. (Source: 4)

30OCT58

Approval granted to dispose. (Source: 4)

11JUN59

Sold to Horsham Foundry. (Source: 4)

25MAR60

Resold to Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation. (Source: 4)

25MAR60

A20-652 was included in a batch of 41 Wirraways purchased by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation from the Department of Supply on this date. These aircraft had been sold to Horsham Foundry and Engineering Co Ltd but they were not collected from Tocumwal by the stipulated date. In total, CAC acquired 61 Wirraways for £750 each to support Ceres production but in the event only 20 Ceres were produced. A20-652 was one of the majority of Wirraways that were not converted. (Source: 10)

05APR60

Delivered to CAC at Essendon Airfield. (Source: 4)

"In the late 1950s, former Luftwaffe pilot Fred Meuller relocated to Australia and established a petrol station at 447 Pascoe Vale Road, Pascoe Vale. He soon acquired an ex-RAAF Wirraway from Tocumwal for the grand sum of £350. He mounted the Wirraway outside his petrol station. When the construction of the Tullamarine Freeway forced the closure of his petrol station, Fred relocated to Gilbert Road, Reservoir. The Wirraway went along too and was soon a local icon in the area. In 1983 Fred sold the Wirraway for $13,000 and it was removed to Essendon for reconstruction by Charlie Smith." Note that there are several inconsistencies in this account which is quoted verbatim. (Source: 11)

NOV63

Sold to Peter Frearson of the Fleet Wings Service Station at Laverton, Vic. Stored dismantled behind the garage.
(Source: 1)

22FEB64

Photographed under assembly in the backyard of Frearson's Garage at Laverton. (Source: 5)

19SEP64

Moved by road from Laverton to the Melbourne suburb of Pascoe Vale. (Source: 1)

07NOV65

Photographed on display in an elevated position at a service station in Gaffney Street, Pascoe Vale.
(Source: 5)

69

Displayed at a garage at Reservoir, Vic. (Source: 1)

25OCT80

Photographed at a garage at Reservoir, Vic.

83

Sold to Dusty Lane, Geoff Milne and Vin Thomas of Albury, NSW. (Source: 1)

16AUG86

Weighed by Aero Weigh Pty Ltd - 1921.50 Kg (nil fuel & nil oil) (Source: 6)

VH-WIR

26AUG86

Registered VH-WIR (#2) to Vincent H. Thomas, Albury NSW. The registration VH-WIR had been reserved in August 1974 for another Wirraway (A20-649) but the registration was not taken up and the aircraft was sold in 1988 to Kermit Weeks of Tamiami, Florida, USA prior to the completion of its restoration. (Source: 1)

29AUG86

Australian Aircraft Log Book No. 1 for VH-WIR opened at zero hours:

Aircraft removed from open storage and completely stripped for restoration to flying condition.DoA letter V131-19-146 dated 22 June 1984 refers. Extracts of worksheets and certification documents summarized viz:

XRay inspections of rear fuselage, tailplane and stabilizer attach points, fwd fuselage attach points carried out at Ansett Airlines NDT Section . Mag particle inspection of tailplane fwd and rear attach points, vert stab fwd and rear attach points, engine mounts, wing to fuselage attach points, MLG attach fittings and eddy current to MLG attach fittings. All carried out at Ansett Airlines NDT Section. Fuselage frame weld repairs to tailplane attach tubes 7/8, vertical stab rear spreader angle and longeron finger doubler carried out by WV63. Fuselage formers 1-5 and 7 replaced. All surface corrosion treated with chromic acid and Iridite 1000. Port and stbd wing lower spar caps repaired to o/h manual fig 24, ribs and leading edge ribs repaired and replaced as necessary and detailed in worksheets. Wing skins replaced similarly. Aileron bellcranks removed, cleaned, crack detected, repainted and reinstalled. Interior of both wings reprotected with Boeshield. Exterior surfaces etch primed and reprotected. Centre section stripped, spar caps repaired to Repair Manual Part II Fig 25 & 33A. Ribs repaired or replaced to Fig 12. Flap hinges replaced. Centre section reprotected and repainted. Fuselage reassembled and all control surfaces recovered with Ceconite Process. All electrical wiring replaced. All switches renewed. Instrument panel assembled using all overhauled instruments. Fuel system - tanks removed and completely overhauled. All new hoses fitted. Following modifications incorporated during reassembly:

- To Reg 40 data approved by Gisbourne Aeronautics.
- Baggage compartment installed.
- Smoke system installed.
- Hydraulic system converted to Mineral Oil.
- Elevator and rudder trim cables re-routed.
- Allowable damage to tube 25 at tail wheel fork strut mount defined.

Engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340-S3H1G s/n 14877 fitted.
Propeller: Hamilton Standard 3D40-227 constant speed s/n 54363 fitted.
Radio: King KX160 Nav/Com installed.
Aircraft weighed by A. Searle AV70.

The engine was first installed in an aircraft on 08OCT45. Prior to being fitted to VH-WIR, the engine was fitted to a DHC-3 Otter and overhauled by Shorts Air Services Pty Ltd on 06DEC73. When fitted to VH-WIR the engine had a total time of 600:50 hours with overhaul due every 1000 hours. For fitment to a Wirraway, the engine required internal modification to convert it from hydromatic propeller to constant speed propeller. (Source: 6)

Footnote: In 1961 the Australian Government acquired two DHC-3 Otters for use at the Weapons Research Establishment at Woomera. These aircraft were assembled at Bankstown and fitted with engines left over from Wirraway production. In 1967 the operation of the two Otters was taken over by Shorts Air Services. Both aircraft were exported to Canada in 1980. (Source: 7)

19SEP86

First flight after restoration at Essendon, Vic. (Source: 1)

16AUG88

Periodic inspection by Airepair. (TT: 76:00) (Source: 6)

19OCT89

Periodic inspection by Professional Light Aircraft Services. (TT:90:30) (Source: 6)

28SEP90

Periodic inspection by Airepair. (TT:113:00) (Source: 6)

31JAN92

Inspection 250hr/5 yr by Scone Aircraft Maintenance. (TT:139:00) (Source: 6)

15FEB94

Periodic inspection by Arcas Airways Pty Ltd. (TT:176:86 sic) (Source: 6)

12DEC94

Weighed by Aero Weigh Pty Ltd - 1958.73 Kg (nil fuel & full oil) (Source: 6)

16FEB95

Periodic inspection by Arcas Airways Pty Ltd. (TT:206:01) (Source: 6)

13FEB96

Periodic inspection by Professional Light Aircraft Services. Fatigue inspection and minor fabric rejuvenation repairs. (TT:235:00) (Source: 6)

07MAR97

Periodic inspection by Professional Light Aircraft Services. (TT:258:15) (Source: 6)

20FEB98

Periodic inspection by Professional Light Aircraft Services. (TT:278:00) (Source: 6)

10SEP99

Periodic inspection by Professional Light Aircraft Services. Refabric elevators and rudder with Stits Polyester. Rub down tops of wings and repaint silver. (TT:308:15) (Source: 6)

12JAN01

An export permit was issued by the Australian Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts under the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986. (Source: 3)

29NOV01

Periodic inspection by Hazair Pty Ltd. Left wing removed and sent to Old Aeroplane Company for corrosion repairs. Right wing also removed but no corrosion present. (TT:309:00) (Source: 6)

29NOV01

Certificate of Airworthiness MEL 00148/03 (Limited Category) issued. (Source: 6)

08FEB03

Periodic inspection by Hazair Pty Ltd. (TT:309:07) (Source: 6)

25AUG06

Sold on eBay to Peter Smythe of Adelaide. (Source: 2)

03AUG07

After a much-publicised legal dispute arising out of the sale on eBay, ownership of the aircraft was awarded to Peter Smythe of Adelaide in the New South Wales Supreme Court. (Source: 2)

18MAR08

Periodic inspection by Hazair Pty Ltd at Albury, NSW. Fabric side panels replaced by Encore Aviation. (TT:313:04) (Source: 6)

07APR08

Departed Albury for Parafield with a fuel stop at Swan Hill, arriving Parafield late in the day. (Source: 8)

When Peter Smythe took possession of the aircraft it had no markings except for the wings. The fuselage was still in grey primer. In preparation for the aeroplane's imminent public debut at the Classic Jets Fly-In it was decided to paint the aircraft with roundels which were more appropriate for WWII. Up until this time the aircraft had worn kangaroo roundels. (Source: 9)

13APR08

The aircraft made its first public appearance after arriving in South Australia when it participated in the Classic Jets Fighter Museum Fly-In at Parafield. (Source: 8)

22APR09

Periodic inspection by Hazair Pty Ltd. (TT:327:00) (Source: 6)

02MAR10

Periodic inspection by Gulfstream Aviation Pty Ltd. (TT:332:07) (Source: 6)

25OCT10

QAM signed a contract to purchase the aircraft with a grant from The John Villiers Trust.

25NOV10

Annual inspection and Maintenance Release by Golden Age Aviation at Parafield. (TT:334:30) (Source: 6)

26NOV10

Payment was made to Peter and Catharine Smythe and change of ownership reported to CASA. Aircraft was test flown (1 hr) by Matthew Denning.

26NOV10

Registration Holder and Registered Operator changed to Queensland Air Museum Inc. (Source: 6)

27NOV10

Departed Parafield for Mildura flown by Matthew and Simone Denning (1hr 40min). The aircraft was to continue on to Temora but unfavourable weather forced an overnight stop at Mildura.

28NOV10

Departed Mildura for Temora but diverted to Griffith because of unfavourable weather to the north and east (1hr 30min). Aircraft hangared at Griffith until weather and pilot availability will permit resumption of the delivery flight.

11DEC10

Departed Griffith for Narromine and Toowoomba but diverted to Moree and night-stopped because of weather (3hr). Flown by Matt Denning and John Gallagher.

12DEC10

Departed Moree for Toowoomba (1hr 30min).

13DEC10

Arrived Caloundra from Toowoomba (1hr).

18DEC10

A welcoming ceremony was held at Caloundra after which the aircraft departed for Caboolture where it engaged in aerial photography before returning to Caloundra (1hr). The aircraft was crewed by Matt and Simone Denning. Total Time: 344hr 10min.

22DEC10

The aircraft was moved from Caloundra Airport across Pathfinder Drive to QAM where it was placed on display in Hangar 2. Although the aircraft will not be flown, it will be maintained in airworthy condition in accordance with a maintenance schedule which calls for the engine to be run and the hydraulics cycled at regular intervals. Because of these requirements, the Wirraway will not be included in QAM's annual Open Cockpit Weekend.

12MAR11

The aircraft had its first regular engine run.

31MAR11

The aircraft was formally dedicated to the memory of John Villiers in a ceremony at the Museum.

Sources
1	Warbirds Directory 2008 by Geoff Goodall.
2	Peter Smythe v Vincent Thomas [2007] NSWSC 844
3	http://www.arts.gov.au/publications/annual_reports/annual_report_2000-2001/annual_report_2000-01_-_appendices#2
4	RAAF Form E/E 88 via Gordon Birkett.
5	John Hopton Esq.
6	Log Book VH-WIR.
7	www.adf-serials.com
8	South Australian Air Journal Vol 37 No 1 p.16
9	Peter Smythe.
10	Derek Buckmaster, Ceres Australia's Heavyweight Crop-Duster, 2017.
11	Darebin Heritage: http://heritage.darebinlibraries.vic.gov.au/article/59?fbclid=IwAR0P-YIf1jm7Aed5XvpEVkF8y3hLY8mLbcW7p3zyXWQLw9NQuoTa42LtaPs
12	Ian K. Baker, Aviation History Colouring Book #9 &, #69.
13	Keith Raymond Meggs OAM, DFM, AM (US), Australian-built Aircraft and the Industry Volume 2 Book 1 Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation, Echelon Starboard Publications, 2020 (pages 67 & 727)

Compiled by Ron Cuskelly

The Delivery Flight Gallery

The Dedication Ceremony Gallery

Biography of John Villiers (PDF)

Biography of John Villiers (PDF abridged)

Photograph of John Villiers

ISSUE	DATE	REMARKS
22	06JUN23	Added a colour image of the aircraft at a petrol station in the sixties thanks to Ivan Wilson and Andy Anderson.
21	17OCT21	Added an image of the aircraft soon after it was built in 1944 thanks to Derek Buckmaster and the SLSA. Added two images of the aircraft displayed at Pascoe Vale thanks to Fred Harris. Image 1 Image 2 Added three images of the aircraft displayed at Reservoir thanks to David Anderson. Image 1 Image 2 Image 3
20	01DEC20	Added an image of the aircraft soon after restoration thanks to Eric Allen.
19	27FEB19	Added an alternative view of this aeroplane's use as a petrol station attraction postwar. See Source: 11.
18	27OCT17	Added further details of CAC's purchase of the aircraft on 25MAR60. Also added an image of the aircraft stored pending conversion to Ceres. Thanks to Derek Buckmaster.
17	22MAY17	Added a recent image of the aircraft undergoing regular maintenance.
16	25OCT16	Added two recent images. Image 1 Image 2
15	18OCT16	Added a recent image
14	02APR11	Added details of the dedication ceremony.
13	22MAR11	Added an image of the first regular engine run.
12	16JAN11	Added sector times for delivery flight.
11	14JAN11	Added date of transfer of registration to QAM.
10	27DEC10	Aircraft placed on display at QAM.
9	22DEC10	Elaborated on the DHC-3 Otter engine connection.
8	20DEC10	History updated from aircraft log books.
7	13DEC10	Aircraft has arrived at Caloundra.
6	02DEC10	Added details of delivery flight to date.
5	26NOV10	Added date of purchase.
4	25NOV10	Added five new images thanks to Andrei Bezmylov, Martin Eadie, Rob Fox and Phil Vabre.
3	24NOV10	Added three new images thanks to Geoff Goodall and Phil Hosking.
2	19NOV10	Added an acknowledgement to The John Villiers Trust.
1	25OCT10	Original issue.