From the Warbirds Online photo vault is an image of Lockheed Ventura PV-1 Bu.48900 237-6136 RAAF S/N A59-72 “Southern Job”. This aircraft came on RAAF charge on 29/02/44 and served with 13 Sqn. The aircraft served in the South Pacific Theatre of operations until it crashed on 25/11/45 during take-off at Balikpapan. The Ventura ran off the strip into a drain and was damaged beyond repair. No injuries were sustained and on 18/12/45 permission was given to convert it to components. There are not a lot of photos of RAAF Ventura’s so this image is fairly rare and a good example of the type and of the nose art implemented by RAAF Squadrons late in the war.
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- Ventura A59-72 “Southern Job”
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- A59-72 History Card
Also included are images of RAAF A59-70 and A59-4 at an unknown location as well as two unidentified RAAF Ventura’s. These photos are from the Malcom Long Collection via Ron Lee. They are significant as they display the various color schemes that Australian Venturas wore in service.
Australia operated 74 Ventura’s that were serialed A59-1 to 20 and A59-50 to 104 with 13 Squadron and training units.
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- Ventura A59-70
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- Lockheed Ventura A59-4
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- Ventura-identity unknown
In 1988 an American sourced Ventura was flown to Australia by Rob Poynton, Jim Czerwinski and Peter Anderson. For service by the RAAF Museum and was operated by them until 19/11/1996 when it belly landed in a field after double engine failure during an air show at RAAF Richmond, NSW. The aircraft was subsequently trucked back to Point Cook for static restoration where it remains in storage to this day. Operated in 13 Sqn markings with assumed serial A59-67 coded SF-F and named “Wiff-Oh”. It is believed that the original “Wiff-Oh” was actually A59-81 SF-D.
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- Lockheed Ventura “Wiff-Oh”
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- “Wiff-Oh” – Point Cook 1989
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- Ventura in Pacific
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- Ventura restoration
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- Ventura-Caloundra Qld
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- Lockheed Ventura – 1988
Although the aircraft was finished as “A59-67” it was in reality PV-1 Bu.33379 237-5378 n/a and was manufactured on 17/07/1943. It was brought on charge by Royal Canadian Air Force as 2221 in 1944.
© John Parker 2015
Hi John,
Great to see these images and the story of not only a forgotten warbird but also a forgotten type in R.A.A.F. service. I have fond memories of ‘SFF’as it was the first warbird I had ever seen, let alone got to explore, as a young boy in the eighties. It visited Launceston airport in either 88/89 and I relunctantly dragged my parents to see it. Only a handful of onlookers were there and in those days you could go airside. A great treat for a young warbird nut, especially as Tasmania had none then.
I will try to dig out some of the photos to forward on to you.
Kind regards, Justin Harris
Thanks Justin
I am glad you enjoyed the feature. I have taken a lot of photos over the years of aircraft in Australia and it’s great to be able to share them with other aviation enthusiasts.
Kind regards
John
Hi John. I am thinking the identity of the identity unknown Ventura in the photographs is possibly A59-67, -62, -72, or 98. It appears as though the identifying letter is a T, and according to the website http://www.adastron.com/lockheed/ventura/13sqn.htm these 4 aircraft all bore the letter T.
-56 delivered 21/9/43,crashed into sea off Bremer Is near Gove,NT on gunnery exercise 27/1/45, 3 survivors and 3 fatals
-62 delivered 22/12/43
-72 delivered 29/2/44. Damaged beyond repair in t/o accident at Balikpapan 25/11/45
-98 delivered 4/6/44, sold 6/9/49 (info from http://www.adf-serials.com.au/2a59.htm)
Regards, Peter Dietzel.
Hi Peter
Thanks very much for the information. I’ll have a look at all of the details and get back to you.
kind regards
John
Hi John
Re A59-70 above. The AWM has that same photo though not as clear. It is listed there as belonging to 13SQN, Gove, NT, 29 June 1945.
Regards
Trevor Millard
Hi Trevor
Thanks for this information. The AWM is indeed a great resource.
kind regards
John
Hi, I am looking for info of an “Incident” Ref No. 32/18/526 om 27.2.1945 at Ettalong Air Strip involving A59/12 Ventura.
Someone stepped back into a propeller!
We have asked at the AWM
Hi Diana
There is a record of it having a Forced landing at Wyong due engine failure on 25 FEB 45. Some more identifiers may assist with your research.
RAAF A59-12, MSN 137-4718, MODEL RB-34A-VE, USAAF 41-38062, RAF FD610.
15MAY46 Received at 2AD Storage.
19NOV46 Authorised for write-off.
03SEP48 Passed to DAP for disposal ex 2AD.
06SEP49 Disposal action completed.
Also try contacting Martin Edwards at ADF Serials via Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/groups/233552413412953/. Some of the members may have further information or records.
Kind regards
John