Fairchild Argus and Cornell in ACSEA

[SimonG]

From the logbook of D J Hall RAAF , test pilot with 320 MU test and delivery flight

Dec 2 1944 HB674, HB702 retests
Dec 3 HB670 retest
Dec 5 HB674, HB676 retests
Dec 6 HB644, HB700 retests
Dec12 HB727, HB671, HB644 retests
Dec 16 HB731 initial
Dec 23 HB673 retest
Dec 27 HB732 initial then retest
Dec 29 HB699 retest

If this is of interest can do Jan to Mar 45 when he wasted posted back to Australia

Simon

[Freshman]

Hello Simon,
Yes, they are all of interest, thank you.
Tony

[Smith 565]

Tony,

Not sure if this is what you are after, but Argus II FZ786 was on the strength of 215 Squadron. Lost on 13 March 1945 when flying three aircrew back to base, all being killed. Reports can be found in the RCAF service records of the two Canadian F/Os, Gilbert and Gardner. The third killed was F/O J Williams.

Regards,

Geoff

[Freshman]

Hi Geoff,
Thank you for alerting me to FZ786.
I have now found the incident reported in the Squadron ORB. and also the accident card.
Best wiahes, Tony

[SimonG]

More from DJ Hall log
1945
Jan 4 HB699 to Muaripur and return
Jan 9 HB675 retest, Mauriour and return
Jan 10 KK385 retest
Jan 28 KK384 initial
Jan 28 KK384 retest
Jan 30 K.k384 retest
Feb 28 HB642 retest
Mar 1 HB585 retest
Mar 1 HB585 station recce.
Mar 1 HB577 initial
Mar 2 HB578 retest
Mar 2 HB577 retest

In all he totalled 15.20 hrs of test flying etc during his time with 320MU

[SimonG]

And a couple of flights from the log of navigator M J Watts , with 8 Ferry Unit

21/12/44 HB649 Base - Jodhpur , pilot F/L West
19/2/45 FB524 Lahore - Jodphur, pilot F/S Maidment

Presumably the above were to deliver these aircraft to the maintenance unit there for storage and onward allocation.

Simon

[Jagan]

Tony,

Geoff's post reminded me


Please do validate that all your fatal accidents are covered in this link
http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...rgus&serialno=
Argus related deaths worldwide


http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...nell&serialno=
1 Cornell related fatality in Med - this sounds like an error?

http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...nell&serialno=
5 in Zimbabwe..

[Freshman]

Simon,
Thank you very much for looking up and posting those additions.
Tony

[Freshman]

Hi Jagan,
Yes the Australian pilot in Cornell FV271 has to be wrong.
The aircraft in question was delivered to Southern Rhodesia which the Mediterranean Memorial may cover - but July 1943 is too early. First deliveries to S.R. circa. October 1943
Must have been involved in an accident during 1944 as it was converted to an instructional airframe from June 1944.

Best bet I would think is for someone who knows their way around the Australian N.A. downloads to look up the pilots records.

Cheers, Tony

[Jagan]

Ah Thanks - just noted that the entry should have been a Kittyhawk, but the serial belongs to a Cornell, will validate the right serial .