100 Squadron beaufort's
 

Hello,

100 Squadron received six Beaufort's from Australia.

These were as I understand British built aircraft that had been shipped to Australia and rebuilt there for the RAAF.

The six aircraft sent to 100 Squadron were according to "Bloody Shambles" vol 1-
( British serial number's :T9540; T9542; T9544; T9545; T9546; T9547 ),
(Australian Serial number's: A9-1 ; None ; A9-5 ; A9-6 ; A9-7 ; A9-8 ).

T9540 was retained and used as a Photo Recce a/c.

The other five were returned to Australia.
T9542 went to 1 OTU and crashed on 18/05/1942.
T9544 went to 1 OTU and crashed on 17/11/42.
T9545 went to 1 OTU and force landed on 09/03/43.
T9546 went to 1 OTU and crashed on 16/09/44.
T9547 crashed on 09/01/43.

All the Beaufort File has on T9540 is that it went to 1 OTU and was SOC on 08/08/49.
When she was left with 100 Squadron it was sent to Kota Bharu. What then happened to her, she must have been returned to Australia at some time before the surender to the Japanese in regard to her time with 1 OTU and her SOC date.

2/.
Also would these six aircraft at the time with 100 Squadron still have carried their RAF serial numbers or would the Australian serial numbers have been applied prior to there being sent north to Singapore. Or were the Australian serial numbers only applied on return to Australia and in later service there ?

Look forward to replies,
Alex

Re: 100 Squadron beaufort's
 

Hello Alex,

You can search the National Archives Australia for details (just put the three words into google). Use the NAA search engine - and it can be hit and miss according to the actual word search you use - and if you're lucky, there will be digital files.
If I've done it correctly, the aircraft movement cards for A9-1 through A9-8 are attached. All images via the National Archives Australia website.

Regards,
...geoff

Re: 100 Squadron beaufort's
 

A google-search brought up this photo of Beaufort T9540:
http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac...rt%20T9540.jpg

It is in RAF style tail-code, not in the RAAF A9-xxx style.

The LIFE Magazine photographer, Carl Mydans (who took colour photos of RAF Blenheim IVs at Singapore and b/w photos of Brewster Buffalos, Wirraways, Hudsons) may have also photographed the arrival of the Beauforts. Unfortunately, the LIFE mag photo collection is no longer searchable in a user-friendly manner. If you're lucky, you might hit the right combination of search words to yield a worthwhile result.

Good luck,
...geoff

Re: 100 Squadron beaufort's
 

Hello Geoff,

Many thanks.
I did not think to use the NAA :(
Great for you to provide the cards , and the photo of T9540.
If the photo was taken while with 100 Sqn then it looks like the RAAF serial numbers must have been applied on their return to Australia and entered service there in RAAF service.

Thank you again,
Alex

Re: 100 Squadron beaufort's
 

Hi Alex,

I just had a quick look through my battered copy of the Beaufort File....and I think I see a possible avenue for your confusion.

100 Squadron R-Australian-AF operated Beauforts in New Guinea, circa late-1942 onwards (I think).

100 Squadron RAF operated Vilderbeeste biplanes out of Kota Bharu in 1941, until their heroic slaughter on the Endau mission. I'm not sure if they had Beauforts on their official records for any significant period of time.

From my very-hazy memory, I recall a number of Beauforts being photographed in Singapore. There was some conjecture as to whether they were considered battle-worthy (armour, self-sealing tanks, etc). I can't find the relevant notes, or recall where I read this, so I may be mixing things up. The service cards for the aircraft T9540 don't indicate any overseas service in late 1941/early 1942 (before fall of Singapore).

The photo of T9540 comes from the EdCoates Collection via google (as noted on the link) but there is no "providence" as to the circumstance of the photo....i.e. pre-delivery flight in UK before broken down for shipment to Australia; or as assembled in Australia from components (which may have been pre-painted?).....

Do you recall which pages in "Bloody Shambles" note the mention of Beauforts in Malaya/Singapore?

Afterthought:
http://airpower.airforce.gov.au/Publ...ks.aspx?page=3

Here you go Alex. Courtesy of the RAAF and Australian Government Publications - who make e-copies of some of their books free. The link is to the page with the book "Song of the Beauforts" about 100 Sqn RAAF - so named because of the close association to 100 Sqn RAF. The first chapter details the delivery flight of the first 6 DAP (Dept of Air Production) Beauforts to Singapore in Dec 1941 and the subsequent recall/return of all except one.


Regards,
...geoff

Re: 100 Squadron beaufort's
 

http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au
Keywords operations record book squadron 100
Date from 1939 to 1945
view digital copy
jump to page 21
RAF serials to 14 June 1942
RAAF serials from 22 June 1942

Re: 100 Squadron beaufort's
 

Hello,
Many thanks for your efforts I apreciate ti greatly
Alex

Re: 100 Squadron beaufort's
 

Very interesting topic

Shores in Bloody Shambles cannot have mistaken 100 Sq RAF with 100 Sq RAAF since the ORB clearly shows that the Australians feel the RAF unit became the Australian one on 28.2.1942. The ORB for 100 Sq RAAF starts on March 1st!
Oddly enough this is not acknowledged in the RAF unit histories I have...

So 100 Sq RAAF ORB is not giving any answers to what happened between Dec 1941 and March 1942.

In spite of the physical record cards found by Geoff, Shores states (on page 57) that six Beauforts arrived to Singapore on Dec 5th (1941) to re-equip 100 Sq and (on page 75)refers to a lone Beaufort, T9540, remaining with 100 Sq on Dec 7th (1941) which I interpret that the other five had continued to Australia before the latter date, that is they stayed a very, very short time!
Since I don't believe Shores has invented his information he must have some records which backs him up on this.

Alex

Where in Bloody Shambles Vol 1 does Chris state the RAF serials and the RAAF serials listed by you? I have not gone through the whole book with a comb and I would very much like to see in what context he says this.

The list he then provides is not entirely correct.
The Australian serials for T9542 was for instance A9-3 (The whole batch T9540 to T9569 was given serials A9-1 to A9-30 in order)

What is interesting to notice is that the record cards clearly indicates the Australian serial numbers were applied much later than actual receiving date just as udf says.

The only explanation I can think of is that five of the Beauforts listed by Alex were in Singapore for such a short time that the compiler of the record cards did not bother to record it. That period away from Oz may have been as short as 4 days only. T9540 is tougher...:o I can't find any reference to when that one was supposed to have left Singapore. Anyone?

Cheers
Stig

Re: 100 Squadron beaufort's
 

Hello Stig,
Sorry for the delay, had put them back on the shelf.

Vol 1 page 75 T9540 under heading "Sunday, 7 December".
Vol 1 page 152 under heading "Friday, 19 December" the serial numbers T9542; T9544; T9545; T9546; T9547; (RAF).

Link with RAAF serial numbers was from AB's "The Beaufort File" page 95.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
And -

The six aircraft sent to 100 Squadron were according to "Bloody Shambles" vol 1-
( British serial number's :T9540; T9542; T9544; T9545; T9546; T9547 ),
(Australian Serial number's: A9-1 ; None ; A9-5 ; A9-6 ; A9-7 ; A9-8 ).

Aahh, I see where you got confused, my error, I entered the RAAF numbers under the Chris Shores list in post 1 above.
These came from the AB "The Beaufort File" page 95, where T9542 does not have an RAAF number linked to it.

On page 43 they are listed with RAF serials only but with date's of "To RAAF".

Alex

Re: 100 Squadron beaufort's
 

Thanks Alex

Well it is very puzzling, since Shores is clearly not someone who invents things!

So all aircraft stayed longer than I thought. (I was fooled by the wordings on page 75 in Vol 1 Bloody Shamble - I read it some 20 years ago...:o)

So we have to find out why Shores is so certain these six aircraft were in Singapore with surroundings between Dec 5th to Dec 19th 1941 when the record cards seems so indifferent.

In the meantime I checked the first aircraft and AB Beaufort file says
T9540 TOC 22.1.1942 1 AD to RAAF 25.2.1942
RAAF record card says : 3.9.1941 allotted 1 AD; 21.12.1941 allotted A.P.C.

This means (to me :))
While issued to 1 Aircraft Depot the aircraft went to Singapore and back again. Looks like it departed back to Oz earlier than the other five in fact.
Now if 1 AD was a British unit it fits with the British record card as published by AB (THAT record card probably contains a lot more details not bothered about by AB - unfortunately...)
The Australian record card goes on with an allocation to something called 100 Sq (TF) which grows out of something they just call O.T.U. (T.F. = Training Flight?, O.T.U = Operational Training Unit). However what is interesting is the date the RAAF card gives for 'received 100 Sq (TF)' which is 22.1.1942. This finally corresponds to the British card TOC 22.1.1942.

Why 100 Sq (T.F.)? Well I suppose the unit was made up of the six Beaufort crews who had once been part of the "real" 100 Sq in Singapore and possibly everyone thought it was a good name and finally a new RAAF 100 Sq grew out of that unit. It seems in Britain this is unknown (or at least not very well known) and has been disregarded ever since.

I will check the other RAAF cards for the remaining five aircraft tomorrow to see if my theories above fits or not. Too tired right now....

Cheers
Stig

Re: 100 Squadron beaufort's
 

Well, well, well

One should always look at all details before one answers.
Of course the RAAF cards for T9541 to T9547 does not look at all as that of T9540.

First of all a correction, 1 A.D. was not an RAF unit it was of course an Australian one. Since at least I am lacking the British record cards it is difficult to state why the information published in the Beaufort Files is what it is, so I leave it at that!

None of the aircraft under discussion (except T9540) were received by RAAF until after the period they are mentioned in Shores Bloody Shambles. I find it highly likely he is correct all the way and that the six aircraft mentioned in his book were taken on charge by No 100 (RAF) Sq in Singapore.

Shores: T9546 crashed (19.12.1941?) at Sourabaya (landing accident)
RAAF card: received 24.12.41
Shores: T9547 crashed on landing in Australia (19.12.1941?)
RAAF card: received Dec 41; 24.12.41 allotted OTU ex APC; 27.12.41 previous order cancelled; 4.2.42 projected serviceability 7 to 10 days, all parts required at (+ unreadable by me)
Shores: T9542 arrived safely (19.12.1941?)
RAAF card: received: no date; 5.10.41 (unreadable by me);24.12.41 OTU ex APC; 27.12.41 previous order cancelled; 31.12.41 1 A.D.
Shores: T9545 arrived safely (19.12.1941?)
RAAF card: received (?) 12.41; 31.12.41 allotted APC ex 1 A.D.
Shores: T9544 arrived three days later (22.12.1941?)
RAAF card: received 31.12.41; received 1 A.D. ex APC

One interesting card concerns T9543 (not under discussion) which says the aircraft was w/o in January 1941 during delivery in the Middle East. Middle is then lined over and the word Far (I think) added on top.
Were really all these initial Beauforts taken by ship all the way to Oz assembled by GAF and then flown to Singapore? Only the card of T9540 indicates that.
Is it possible some were offloaded somewhere in the Middle East, assembled and flown to Oz via Singapore? True enough T9542 has something written, dated 5.10.41 but it is unreadable.

With regard to the formation of 100 (RAAF) Sq, the Beaufort File states it was transferred from RAF Richmond on 25.2.1942.
J J Halley in the Squadrons of RAF says that 100 (RAF) Sq was merged with 36 (RAF) Sq in Feb 1942. Since 36 Sq ceased to exist I have always thought 100 Sq did likewise.
Anyone with more details regarding these two units?
As I mentioned in my previous post there is a 100 Sq (TF) mentioned in the RAAF record card of T9540. The way I read it, it looked like this unit was formed out of an OTU (not 1 OTU).

Cheers
Stig

Re: 100 Squadron Beauforts
 

Aircraft deployed to Singapore

According to “Song of the Beaufort”:

22-Aug-1941, T9540 successfully test flown.

2-Dec-1941, six DAP Beauforts depart Fisherman’s Bend (in Melbourne) to Laverton, just outside of Melbourne to be readied for flight to Singapore. Crews are a combination of RAF and RAAF (serving 100 Sqn personnel or in transit to), and DAP flight-test crews. Aircraft are T9541, T9542, T9543, T9544, T9545 and T9547.

4-Dec-1941, some (or all) six aircraft departed for Singapore. Some aircraft are unarmed (without gun-turrets) and intended for evaluation by RAF in Singapore.

6-Dec-1941, aircraft arrive at Seletar (Singapore) at 1500 hrs (Laverton - Alice Springs – Batchelor/Darwin – Surabaya (Java) – Seletar). Only T9543 is recognised as operational. (It is noted that none of the aircraft are equipped with bomb or torpedo racks.) Two additional aircraft – T9548 and T9549 – have reached Batchelor/Darwin, en-route to Singapore. These latter two will be recalled without progressing any further. Of the Beauforts in Singapore, 5 will be sent back to Australia to remedy to lack of operational equipment, as well as a long list of non-servicable items.

7-Dec-1941, (actually 6-Dec US Pacific time, so well before attack on Pearl Harbor), T9543 sent off to photograph a Japanese convoy – unsuccessfully due to bad weather. Following Japanese attack on Khota Baru that night (and still before attack on Pearl), T9543 sent off again to photograph convoy; is attacked by 6 Zeros and suffers damage. T9543 makes it back to base but will be subsequently destroyed some time later by strafing attack.

19-Dec-1941, Beauforts had been previously designated as part of Q-Flight 100 Sqn RAF, and 4 are being prepared for the return flight to Australia, crewed by members of 100 Sqn RAF (and an assortment of other available aircrew). These four Beauforts are T9542, T9544, T9547, T9545. The remaining Beaufort – T9541 – is unserviceable, but will follow later. All reach Surabaya without incident, except T9544 which ground-loops on landing and damages its undercarriage. It will be late January 1942, before it continues its journey.

22-Dec-1941, T9541 departs Selatar/Singapore.

There are a number of equipment serviceability issues on the return flight….which may have been the reason for the lack of confidence in the DAP Beauforts by the existing members of 100 Sqn RAF (see attached documents below).

Following on this story in the Aircraft Movement Cards:
T9541 – RAAF deployment begins 10-1-42 (i.e. 10-January). {A9-2}
T9542 – RAAF card notes damage to starboard wing 5-10-41, allocated O.T.U., ex-APC (what’s an APC?)
24-12-41, which ties in with the return from Singapore. {A9-3}
T9543 – written off Jan 1942, which ties in with known destruction at Singapore.
T9544 – received 1 AD (Air Depot), ex-APC 31-12-41 (doesn’t quite tie-in with the ground-loop damage as noted in the book, though there is damage noted 31-1-42 with a taxiing incident in Australia). {A9-5}
T9545 – 31-12-41, allocated APC, ex-1 AD. {A9-6}
T9546 – 24-12-41, issued O.T.U., ex-Laverton. There is also a note “see file 9/18/93 re delivery to Surabaya 24.12.41. {A9-7} Note: this was not part of original 6 aircraft, or follow-up 2 aircraft.
T9547 – 24-12-41, allocated O.T.U. ex-APC. 4-2-42, “Projected serviceability 7 to 10 days. All parts reuired at Tennant Creek forwarded ex-T9549. (This ties-in with the incident in the book with the returning T9547 ground-looping at Tennant Creek and being repaired by parts of T9549 which had been damaged previously en-route to Singapore.) {A9-8}

T9540 – doesn’t appear to have been sent to Singapore, perhaps initially retained for test-flying. Eventually installed with dual controls, and issued to 100 Sqn RAF 19-1-42 for TF (I assume Training Flight).

Forming 100 Sqn RAAF

According to “Song of the Beaufort”:

It was originally intended that evacuated RAAF aircrews and RAF ground staff, both from 100 Sqn RAF, be sent to Australia to re-equip with DAP Beaufort aircraft, which would then be sent back to Malaya. The RAF aircrews from 100 Sqn were operating the remaining Vilderbeeste aircraft in a combined 36/100 Sqn RAF.

The National Archive Australia files that I’ve attached refer to the subsequent forming of 100 RAAF Squadron from the evacuated RAAF personnel of the original 100 RAF Sqn. It also indicates a lack of confidence in the DAP Beauforts by a number of the ex-100 RAF Sqn aircrew. Something which is noted in “no uncertain terms” in the book.

Q-Flight of 100 Sqn RAF, was now renamed 100 Sqn RAF and remain in Australia on loan to the RAAF.

Paint schemes for the DAP Beauforts deployed to Singapore in 1941.

A google search of both British Imperial War Museum (IWM) and Australian War Memorial (AWM) websites show a number of photos of the Beauforts arriving in Singapore. Unfortunately, the crowds of service personnel around the new arrivals prevents any closer inspection of the fuselage markings.

The previously linked photo (ex-Ed Coates Collection) shows the T9540 serial and not the A9-1.

“Bloody Shambles” Vol-1 (p.75) shows a photo of T9552 of 100 Sqn (RAF or RAAF?) with T9552 serial and NK squadron codes. (The caption also notes T9540 as the long-range recce aircraft, though “Song of the Beaufort” notes it as T9543, more in line with the Aircraft Movement Cards.)

“Song of the Beaufort” notes that T9558 was allocated to 100 Sqn RAF on 24-Dec-41 and T9552 on 21-Jan-42. The squadron continued to wear the NK squadron codes which had been on the Vilderbeeste.





There's a lot of information spread over many places, and it's only now that we can access a lot of it digitally.

...geoff

Re: 100 Squadron beaufort's
 

Geoff,

You ask, "what is an APC?"

http://www.eoas.info/biogs/A000297b.htm

TF, indicates the Test Flight, attached to No.1 Aircraft Depot, Laverton, Victoria.

l strongly recommend you consult the following:

Glory In Chaos The RAAF in the Far East in 1940-42.
Hall,E.R.
West Coburg:Sembawang Association,1989.
pp.336-7 & 334-5.

Col.

Re: 100 Squadron beaufort's
 

Thanks Geoff

Obviously the book Song of the Beaufort has found other sources then the record cards. Since so many sources place the actual handover of the aircraft we discuss to RAAF at a much later date, I wonder if there really exist at this point a clear handover date for each individual?
That is probably semantics anyway since RAF/RAAF fought a desperate combined loosing campaign and I suppose survival was more important than ownership!

The additional details regarding both the aircraft and the formation of 100 (RAAF) Sq is very interesting.

I have now downloaded the book, but not very fond of reading books on my computer... :o

Anyway my theory about deliveries to Singapore directly from the Middle East was thoroughly shot down!! :)

With regard to the markings I am convinced they were using their RAF serial numbers. All the RAAF record cards you attached (except for T9543 which was issued later and in retrospect) are written with the RAF serial number typed as the primary one. The RAAF serials are all added at a later stage.

The photo mentioned on page 75 in Bloody Shambles Vol 1 is interesting. The NK code was for 100 (RAF) Sq and since that aircraft is not listed as going to Singapore (unless you can dig up something in Song for a Beaufort) the photo must have been taken in Australia at some point early in 1942.
At least in Australia it seems 100 (RAF) Sq lived on if nothing else through its markings :)

The final question is then was it T9540 or T9541 which was in Singapore?
Seems to be the only major issue left...

Thanks Alex and Geoff for a very enjoyable discussion!!

Cheers
Stig

Re: 100 Squadron beaufort's
 

Hi,

Not wanting to complicate matters too much, I have just glanced quickly at the 100 RAF Squadron ORB 'Summary Of Events' and noticed that there is an entry for 8/12/1941,

Kota Bahru 10.00 - One Beaufort (F/Lt. Mitchell), on reconnaissance damaged in FB. Action, landed at Kota Bahru. Later caught fire in attempted take-off and burnt out.
Sgt Barcroft (AG) slightly wounded leg and arm. Sgt. Gibson, slightly wounded thigh.

Could anyone tell me the serial number of this aircraft.

Cheers,

Russ

Re: 100 Squadron beaufort's
 

Hello,

37821 F/L Peter Duncan Felton MITCHELL RAF, was piloting Beaufort T9543 on 8th December, 1941. This was the first wartime operational flight by an Australian-built Beaufort.

Col.

Re: 100 Squadron beaufort's
 

Thanks Col.

Re: 100 Squadron Beauforts
 

Thanks Col, good pointer on Bon Hall's book! I have that on my shelf staring at me while I type. In the past, I've read and re-read the 1st section on the Hudson bombers, and the 2nd section on the Brewster Buffalo, so often that I totally forgot about the 3rd section which includes flying boats and the Vilderbeestes.

A few more pointers on Beaufort markings:
I've attached a couple more files from the NAA. These come from the combat reports for 100 Sqn RAAF (as different to the squadron ORB).
The one dated 27-May still refers to the Txxxx serial; while the ones dated 24,26-Jun now indicate the A9-xxx serials.

This ties in nicely to udf_00's comment (way back in post 3 or 4) about the change over in markings.

Stewart Wilson's book "Beaufort, Beaufighter & Mosquito in Australian Service" notes the Txxxx serial was only allocated to the first 58 DAP Beauforts off the production line. Number 59 is serialed A9-59 with no corresponding Txxxx number.

In Geoffrey Pentland's book "RAAF Camouflage & Markings 1939-45 Vol1", there's a photo on p51 of the final assembly and paintshop. There are two DAP Beauforts, one camouflaged and the other still in primer. The camo Beaufort has a T9xyz serial (unfortunately, some one has placed a step-ladder alongside the tail and obscured 'xyz'). Still, it notes the aircraft as being painted in the RAAF equivalent colours - light green/light earth/sky type-S, which closely matched the RAF specified dark green/dark earth/sky type-S.

If I manage to track down any more photos of the Beauforts in Singapore or Northern Australia in 1941, I pop in another post.

Happy reading,
...geoff

Re: 100 Squadron beaufort's
 

Geoff,

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/SUK14760/
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/SUK14762/
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/SUK14778/
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/SUK14779/

Unfortunately, not a serial in sight! Ignore the "1945-11" in the captions, that's rubbish.

More photos in:
Beaufort Special.
Robertson,Bruce.
London:Ian Allan,1976.
pp.56-80.

Col.