Warbirds: Wide Bay Airshow gets iconic RAAF and RAN warbirds

Organisers of the 2011 Wide Bay Australia International Airshow have announced the event will host an RAAF and RAN WWII and Korean Conflict Fighter Heritage Flight.

Doing its bit to help celebrate the Royal Australian Air Force’s 90th Anniversary, Bundaberg’s Wide Bay Australia International Airshow (WBAIAS), the RAAF and RAN WWII and Korean Conflict Fighter Heritage Flight will consist of five of the key RAAF and Royal Australian Navy aircraft that served on the front lines defending the nation in our time of need.

WBAIAS organisers advise attendees to have their cameras on hand to catch what’s sure to be some amazing footage of flying examples of the iconic Wirraway, CAC Boomerang, CAC Mustang, P40 Kittyhawk, and the Hawker Sea Fury.

The CAC Boomerang
The CAC Boomerang is significant as the first combat aircraft designed and built in Australia. In a feat of pure Australian ingenuity, the first aircraft progressed from drawing board to first flight in only 14 weeks. In contrast to Europe or North Africa, the ground war in the jungles of the south-west Pacific demanded a completely different style of flying where pilots needed to stay close to the troops flying at high speed as close to the ground as possible where the Boomerang’s heavy armament and sprightly low-level handling, extensive armour plating and rugged construction helped pilots avoid ground fire. It’s here that the Boomerang gained the enemy nickname ‘Whistling Death’ due to its formidable firepower and distinctive engine and exhaust sound when in a dive.


The Wirraway
Although thought of by many as a trainer, the Wirraway was the first RAAF aircraft to fire a shot in anger against Japanese forces in the Pacific. The CAC Wirraway, which is Aboriginal for “challenge”, was indeed built as an advanced trainer, however at the outbreak of WWII Wirraways were deployed to forward bases in Malaya, Rabaul, and Darwin.

In January 1942, Flight Lieutenant B. Anderson of No 24 Squadron became the first RAAF pilot to engage in air-to-air combat in the south-west Pacific when his Wirraway intercepted a Japanese flying-boat over Rabaul. A fortnight later, Wirraways based at Rabaul achieved immortal fame when eight Wirraways, engaged a force of over 100 Japanese fighters and bombers.


The CAC Mustang
The Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) built 200 CAC-17 and CAC-18 Mustang’s in Victoria under licence from North American Aviation in the US. Although built in Australia, the Mustang is known more famously under it’s US designation of P-51D.

Historically, the Mustang is renowned as one of the greatest warplanes ever built and upon its introduction into service during WWII proved to be one of the marvels of aviation. The Mustang proved to be a turning point in WWII, and in spite of being superseded by jet fighters the Mustang remained in service with some air forces until the early 1980s.

The P40 Kittyhawk
The P40 Kittyhawk was the main fighter used by the RAAF in WWII, and in greater numbers than the Spitfire. RAAF Kittyhawks also played a crucial role in the south-west Pacific theatre. They fought on the front line as fighters during the critical early years of the Pacific War, and the durability and bomb-carrying abilities (1,000 lb/454 kg) of the P40 also made it ideal as a ground attack aircraft.


Hawker Sea Fury
As the last propeller-driven fighter to serve with the RAN, the Hawker Sea Fury was also one of the fastest production single piston-engine aircraft ever built. The Sea Fury served with the RAN with distinction on the aircraft carriers HMAS Sydney and HMAS Melbourne.

In August, 1948, RAN 805 Squadron Fleet Air Arm squadron, operating Hawker Sea Fury Mk II aircraft, formed part of the 20th Carrier Air Group that embarked on HMAS Sydney. During September 1951, 805 Squadron deployed to Korea and served with distinction, being awarded with battle honours during the deployment.

As we previously reported here, the 2011 Wide Bay Australia International Airshow will also host an array of international WWII warbirds including the Japanese Zero Replica, the Italian Fiat, the British Sea Fury, the Russian Yak 9, and the American Mustang, Trojan and Avenger. And former RAAF pilot and Australian Red Bull Air Race ace Matt Hall will be a guest performer at the event in his own Matt Hall Racing 2010 MXS-R.

The 2011 Wide Bay Australia International Airshow takes place at Bundaberg Airport in Queensland from Friday August 19 to Sunday August 21. Discounted early bird tickets are available until June 30. For further information on the event click here.