Australian Trivia Only

[Greynomad]

Hmmm
Nobody is even close, yet!
Hint: The pic was taken in SA.

[T1 Terry]

OK, Finally caught up with things...

Q1: What aircraft is this? (It's not a mock-up — it's a real production aircraft!)
Q2: Where was it manufactured?
Q3: When was it manufactured?

(Get 2 out of 3 and I'll give you the Grand Prize!)

Mystery Aircraft.jpg

I reckon we've been on the wrong track. The aircraft might have been used by the Aust Army, but it doesn't mean it was made in Australia. The insignia is dated between 1943 and 1946 I believe, so that narrows down the production date.

[Greynomad]

Ti,
You've got the date right, but you're wrong on the rest...

[T1 Terry]

I don't think it was a bomber because it was a single seater, doesn't look like there are provisions for cannons so I don't think it was a support fighter, so possibly a spotter/reconnaissance plane. That would then make it part of the airforce rather than the army.

T1 Terry

[Greynomad]

I don't think it was a bomber because it was a single seater, doesn't look like there are provisions for cannons so I don't think it was a support fighter, so possibly a spotter/reconnaissance plane. That would then make it part of the airforce rather than the army.

T1 Terry

T1,
The Army has its own Air Wing specifically for spotter planes...
But that's no help here, is it?

Anyone else willing to take a wild guess?
Or do I put you all out of your misery?

[RobertNotBob]

BANG BANG BANG

[T1 Terry]

The Army markings on their aircraft have a kangaroo in them, so although the colours are army, the insignia isn't. Unless that engine cowling isn't genuine, I don't think it was Australia built, there are no exhaust pipes obvious.
My guess is it is an RSL entrance, we know it's some where in SA, apart from that ......

[Greynomad]

Waaaay off, T1!!

Here t'is:

Mystery Aircraft info.jpg

[T1 Terry]

W1941 Alford
Ex RAAF Port Pirie
Bevan Heinrich, Alford: towed to his farm by Arthur Sawley of Bute, who had purchased 6 Ansons himself and had devised an effective towing method.
Later W1941 was acquired from Heinrich by Mr. Len N. Betterman at Kadina and moved to his house in the town. Betterman cut up the tubular fuselage frame to construct a single seat low wing fighter plaything for his children, with a cowled Cheetah as the mock engine. He also acquired Anson parts from DJ173 (Haldanes, Bute) and MG873 (Dennis, Bute) for the project, as well as wooden outer Oxford wings from AS378 (Fuss, Agery).
When his house was visited in 1966, the yellow remains of W1941 were broken up in a pile. The childrens' play aircraft was standing on its wheels but at that time without engine or wings.

Much later, this "fighter" frame gained a new life when it was used as the basis for a fighter replica constructed by Newton Aircraft Co in South Australia. It was fitted with an Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah radial with "helmet" cowlings from Len Betterman's Anson parts collection. The fighter was completed for display by RAAF No.92 Wing, painted in WWII Pacific theatre RAAF markings with Len Betterman's initials as the squadron code.
Mr. Betterman donated the finished fighter to the Kadina branch of the RSL (Returned and Services League of Austraia) circa 2005. It is still displayed outside the Kadina RSL branch on the Kadina-Wallaroo road.





The fuselage tubular frame of Anson W1941 was used to build this childrens' play aeroplane: Kadina SA, June 1966.
Photo by Geoff Goodall







W1941's frame was the basis for this fighter replica, seen displayed at the Kadina RSL branch in February 2016.
Photo courtesy David Reid
The pictures wouldn't copy but you can read it here https://www.goodall.com.au/australian-a ... farms.html

T1 Terry

[Greynomad]

OK, T1,
You win.

Your turn......