ADF-SERIALS
Australian
& New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History
RAN A11 Auster J/5G Autocar
(See also RAAF A11 Taylorcraft Auster and 454 Sqn, RAAF Taylorcraft Auster)
| RAAF Serial | RAF Serial | Type | c/n | Aircraft History |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A11-300 | n/a | J/5G Cirrus Autocar | 3059 | RAN Codes: 930, 856. Purchased 1953. Arrived in Australia on board HMAS Sydney 07/06/1953. Served with RAN 723, 724 and 725 Sqn. Sold 10/1963 to Barney Ross. Returned to HMAS Albatross after an absence of thirty-seven years. The aircraft's arrival marks the end of a two-year long negotiation between the Museum of Flight and the aircraft last registered owner, Mr. Kevin Smith of Myrtleford (Vic). Last registered VH-MBF, the Auster was found still to be in remarkably original condition with full military fit out and Navy serials stenciled inside most panels. The Navy's original Navy paint scheme was still evident in many places. Under Restoration at Australia's Museum of Flight, Nowra NSW. (NEEDS UPDATE)
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| A11-301 | n/a | J/5G Cirrus Autocar | 3064 | RAN Codes: 931, 857. Purchased 1953, Ex PT-ANO. Arrived in Australia on board HMAS Sydney 07/06/1953. Served with RAN 723, 724 and 725 Sqn. Sold 10/1963 as VH-MRD to Barney Ross. Registered VH-MRD as an Auster J5G from 22 August 1975. Was owned by Wally Ross 1979. 20/04/2005 Registered to Donald Brown, Kongwak, Vic. Currently airworthy and owned by Donald Brown, Kongwak, Vic.
* Note: Auster J-5G Cirrus Autocar C/N 3061 G-ARKG in the UK is also very smartly painted to represent A11-301 although this particular airframe never served with the RAN. |
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Auster J/4 Archer VH-AET |
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| n/a | n/a | J/4 Archer | 2072 |
VH-AET This Auster has a unique association with the ADF. After an unmanned flight from Bankstown on 30th August 1955 it was shot down by RAN Hawker Sea Furys. A Wirraway tried first. It was piloted by Wing Commander D. Beattie with Squadron Leader T. Janes in the back with a light machine gun. Janes fired a long burst but apparently missed, and could not change magazines due to the extreme cold affecting his hands. Two unarmed Sabres were in the area at the time and they acted as observers when the Wirraway ran low of fuel and had to return to Richmond. Two Meteors from Williamtown tried next but could not line up as the Auster was flying at about 70mph below the stall speed of a Meteor. The lead Meteor fired one burst but the guns jammed. The second did not even attempt to engage. Two RAN Sea Furies were able to line up. Lt J Bluett went in (in WZ650) with flaps down and fired one short. Only 15 rounds from each gun were expended. The Auster's engine burst into flame and it started going down. Bluett was credited with a kill. A yellow silhouette of an Auster was painted on his Sea Fury. One of the Sabre pilots had a camera and three photos of the shoot down are known to exist, but unfortunately they weren't official photos so they aren't in the archives.
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The Author of this page is Brendan Cowan.
Source: Australian Aviation Magazine, Australia's Museum of Flight, Museum Records and Photographs, CASA Aircraft Records, Australian War Memorial Website and Photographs, Aircraft Status Cards, http://www.auster.ukf.net/, http://austerhg.org/, http://www.regosearch.com/, http://www.casa.gov.au/, http://www.auster.com.au/ ,
Emails: Ross Polkinghorne, Graeme Edwards, Warwick Henry, John Carr, Tjalling Boelman, Mike Draper, Graham Orphan, Darryl Gibbs, Mark Clayton, Daniel Leahy, Mathew Carlyon, John Andrade, Dave Peel, Owen Zupp, Len Avery, Gordon Birkett, Terry Roberts, Cameron Scott
Updated 11th February 2020
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