Warbirds Online continues our series on preserved CAC Wirraway aircraft, with A20-652, a CA-16, production number 1104, preserved at the Queensland Air Museum (QAM) at Caloundra Qld.
This aircraft was delivered to the RAAF No 1 Air Depot from Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation on 04/07/44 and was allocated to the Pilot Test Training Flight on 06/07/44. The aircraft suffered a taxiing accident on 19/09/44 when pilot, W/O W H Bleach of 1AD caused slight damaged to the aircraft when it collided with a grader at Laverton Victoria. The aircraft was repaired and had an uneventful career until 06/08/46 when it was placed into storage again with 1AD. The aircraft was then received by Det B 1AD Tocumwal from 1AD Storage Laverton on 17/03/50, and then on 04/07/52 it passed to DAP Parafield. Finally on 08/02/57 approval was given to dispose of the aircraft and it was sold to Horsham Foundry on 11/06/59. The Wirraway was not however melted for scrap like many others and was resold to CAC on 25/3/60 and moved to Essendon Airfield. Later A20-652 was again on sold and placed on display outside of a service station at Pascoe Vale Victoria. Later the Wirraway passed on to a Victorian syndicate and was restored to flying condition and registered VH-WIR from 26/08/86. The aircraft continued to fly until it was sold on again in 2007 and flown out of Parafield in South Australia until 2010 when it was acquired by Queensland Air Museum and flown in on 18/12/10 by Mathew Denning.
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- CAC Wirraway A20-652 at Scone circa 1980s
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- CAC Wirraway A20-652 at Scone 1980s
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- CAC Wirraway A20-652 1988
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- CAC Wirraway A20-652 at QAM
A20-652 had an extensive Warbird career and attended many airshows mostly up and down the East Coast of Australia. Warbirds Online was particularly impressed with this aircraft when she attended an Airshow at Scone in the 1990s and put on a beautiful display. The lovely restoration always attracted interest from the host of enthusiasts that saw her fly.
A20-652 no longer flies but her engine is started at regular intervals and she is well maintained and displayed under cover. It is sad that she no longer flies but she is well cared for and perhaps one day could fly again. Regardless, Wirraway A20-652 has a great home with QAM and is presented immaculately – a great Warbird and a great Wirraway survivor.
© John Parker 2017
John, My interest in Wirraway A20-652 stems back many years as I recall the aircraft being on display outside an Esso service station in Gilbert Road, Reservoir, Victoria. (A northern suburb of Melbourne) This was early in the 1950’s when I was just a lad having been born in Sep of 1943. I was told that the owner of the service station was in fact a veteran pilot of the Luftwaffe during WW2. I went on to become a pilot myself and am now retired and living in Gold Coast, Queensland.
Hi Ian
Thank you for the interesting information – it is a great aircraft and it is good that is has survived so well given that it was displayed outside.
Kind regards
John
Yes it was . It’s our family
Every time I drove past this plane outside the petrol station as a kid, my Dad would say “That’s a Wirraway”
Hi Adam
Obviously he knew his planes and has fostered an interest in aviation in you.
Kind regards
John
Hi,
I can confirm that this Wirraway aircraft was indeed on display at a petrol station, and on Pascoe Vale Road. I used to work at a locality nearby during 1967, along with two of my friends when at that time, we were all around 16 years old. Sometimes we would walk home northwards, instead of catching the train, and so we would stop by. With permission of the petrol garage owner, we were allowed to sit in the cockpit, which was great. Today I was again reunited with this lovely old airplane when visiting the QAM at Coloundra.
Keith
Hi Keith
Thank you for letting us know. Its good to hear about your past adventures with the Wirraway.
Kind regards
John
Hello,
I can swear that the Wirraway was actually on Gilbert road, I used to pass it often as a small child in the late 60’s and early 70’s riding in my mum’s car and I actually rode my bicycle down there a couple of times to check it out in the late 70;s and it definitely was Gilbert Rd. I even rode down there in the mid 80’s and to my shock it was gone – I spoke to the station attendant and he told me that it had been taken to be restored which was great to hear.
Hi Peter
Thanks for sharing this information. It is very interesting.
Kind regards
John
Hi John, Just wondering if there is a book on the Aussie Wirraway’s that served the RAAF and the survivors today. Just how many do survive, I’m not quite sure, maybe I might start my own list, anyway thanks for sharing this information.
Hi Brad,
Try contacting Derek Buckmaster on Facebook. He is the Wirraway expert in Australia.
Kind regards
John
652 was on display outside Fred Mueller’s service station at 447 Pascoe Vale Rd from 1964 to 1967, until construction of the Tullamarine Freeway forced its closure and he moved to Gilbert Rd West Preston / Reservoir. The aircraft stayed there until it was old in 1983, and later restored to flying condition.
Hi Chris
Thanks for sharing this with our readers.
Kind regards
John