CAC Mustang A68-5

Warbirds Online continues our series on Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) CA-17/18 Mustang survivors with a barely surviving aircraft, Ex RAAF A68-5 a CA-17 Mk.20 construction number 1330. As the serial indicates this was the 5th CAC produced Mustang constructed from partially finished components imported from the USA. The Mustang was delivered to the RAAF No 1 Air Depot (1 AD) by CAC on 6th of July 1945. Records suggest it was then taken on charge by No78 squadron with whom it served a total of only 35 flying hours.

On the 27th of August 1946 the Mustang was transferred to RAAF Base Point Cook where it was placed in undercover “Ready Storage” and remained there until 21st of May 1948 when it moved again , flying to the RAAF Care & Maintenance Unit at Benalla Vic for more storage under cover.  The Mustang was again moved from Benalla to RAAF Tocumwal for storage on 29th September 1948. A68-5 emerged from its slumber on 28th July 1950 when it was transported by road to CAC Fisherman’s Bend factory for refurbishment and unspecified modifications however upon completion it flew back to Tocumwal on the 17th October 1951 and again placed into storage. After several years in storage, the aircraft was selected for sale to a Sydney based Commercial pilot and Ex RAAF Mustang flyer, to Flt Lt James “Wac” Whiteman.

Whiteman’s plan was to compete for Australia in the 1953 London-Christchurch Air Race. A68-5 was thereafter sold to Whiteman on the 30th of January for £100 with the help of several Government Ministers keen to promote Australian Aviation.

In February 1953 Whiteman flew A68-5 from Tocumwal to Bankstown NSW where it was prepared for civil operation and inspected by Fawcett Aviation. The aircraft was then Australian Civil registered as VH-BVM and given the name “Rebel” on the 8th of July 1953. Days later on the 17th of July the aircraft set off from Bankstown to Auckland, New Zealand establishing a new Trans-Tasman speed record of 3 hours and 31 Minutes. The aircraft suffered a number of mechanical issues on the flight and Whiteman was lucky to survive the flight.

Upon return to Australia the London-Christchurch Air Race entry was cancelled due to the Mustang no longer being competitive against modern jets and airliners. Whiteman had by now become disillusioned by the whole experience and on the 31st of May 1954 he sold the Mustang to Australian Aviation icon Arnold Glass. Glass had funded his purchase of the aircraft from winnings on a race horse called “Johnny Zero” and so he re-named the Mustang “Johnny Zero”.

From 1955 until 1959 the Mustang flew from Bankstown infrequently, however in 1959 the aircraft was leased to Fawcett Aviation and used in the target towing contract with the Australian Army for several years.  By 1960 the Mustang had outlived its stay at Bankstown and on the 25th of August 1960 the aircraft was sold to Ronald (Ron) Flockhart of Edinburgh, Scotland. Flockhart was the quintessential UK gentleman sportsman and a skilled F1 racing driver. He had the Mustang modified for long range by Illawarra Flying School and the Rolls Royce/ Packard Merlin engine was checked over by Rolls Royce, having only run 110 hours by this time.

Flockhart’s intention was to beat the England to Australia (Australia to England in this instance) air speed record still held by  C. W. A. Scott and Tom Campbell Black in the DH88 Comet G-ACSS Grosvenor House from the 1934 England to Australia Air Race. The Mustang was finally refurbished and was placed on the UK Civil register as G-ARKD on the 24th of February 1961 issued at Moorabbin Airport, Melbourne after inspection by Brookes Aviation.

Flockhart then completed around 10 hours flying the aircraft in Australia prior to departing Bankstown on the 28th of February 1961 and flying the route Sydney—Alice Springs—Darwin—Surabaya—Singapore —Rangoon—Calcutta—Karachi—Bahrain—Beirut—Brindisi—Nice and on to London. The flight progressed well until Beirut where bad weather forced Flockhart to divert to Athens. Upon takeoff again from Athens a long delay resulted in an overheating engine, blowing the head gasket. The Mustang was therefore parked awaiting a later repair however it was further damaged by a cockpit fire and abandoned as a result. The abandoned A68-5 remained on the Athens Airport for some years until it was eventually cut up for scrap and removed and it was thought that was the end of the aircraft.

However, in 2011 or 2012 there were reports that some of the aircraft had in fact survived and In June 2012 the aircraft identity reemerged on the UK civil register as Mustang G-ARKD, re-registered to Classic Flying Machine Collection Ltd at Dereham Norfolk UK. Little is known of this organization apart from their Facebook page declaration . Classic Flying Machine Collection Ltd have regular updates as they acquire new parts for their restoration and it appears to be making steady progress.  As to the remains acquired from Athens, the Administrator of the Facebook page responded with “Classic Flying Machine Collection, Hi Paul, apart from this piece and various other internal fittings just severed chunks of fuselage. Appears it had been chopped for smelting but not everything had made it into the furnace (thankfully)”.

So it appears that this CAC Mustang will once again grace the skies in Europe a very lucky survivor by the barest margin. Given the aircrafts fascinating history it is a very significant Australian Aviation survivor and record holder. Sadly Ron Flockhart later purchased another Mustang A68-113 for a second attempt but was killed on the 12th of December 1962 after crashing in the Dandenong Ranges prior departure.

© John Parker 2019