Anson trainers: Australia 1942/3

[Galgos]

Can anybody point me towards any reference books, websites etc that might give me some details of colour schemes, serials/codes, flying training schools etc that used Ansons in Australia during the middle years of WW2. I'm especially interested in No.6 SFTS at Mallala, I'm not 100% sure if they had Ansons, but I believe they did.
Thanks in advance
Max
www.galgos.co.uk
"An Ordinary Crew"

[alclark]

The best start would be "The Anson File", Air Britain, though getting hold of a copy might not be that easy.

As that list individual histories you could scan through and see which airframes were sent to Australia.

[Galgos]

Thanks Al, I've already searched for that book but £50+ was the cheapest I could find worldwide!! Ouch! I guess a visit to the library might be necessary.
Max

[AdrianR8]

I can confirm Ansons at 6 SFTS (Mallala) via this website:

http://home.st.net.au/~dunn/crashsa.htm

[COL BRUGGY]

Hi Max,

The basics on 6SFTS RAAF are;

Raised at Mallala, South Australia. 25-8-41
Ceased to function and became Care and Maintenance Unit, Mallala. 1-1-46.

Most of what you need to know, can be found here:- NAA: A9186 476 pp.290-483.(NAA, being the National Archives of Australia).

Col.

[Galgos]

Thank you both, Adrian and Col, for your replies confirming the presence of Ansons at Mallala. Col, the ORBs are excellent - I've been able to read in detail about the time (March to July 1943) that I'm especially interested in - and thank goodness the ORBs list the serial numbers of some of the Ansons, that really helps.
Regards
Max

[COL BRUGGY]

Max,

Is there anything in particular you were interested in during March-July, 1943, at 6 SFTS ?

There is quite a bit of detail not included in the ORB. I might be able to help.

Col.

[Galgos]

Hello Col,
March - July 43 is the time when the pilot of Lancaster ME453 was there, Rowland Telford Ward. He was part of 32 course, gaining his wings on 23/7/43. The flight engineer on ME453 trained as a pilot with my father, I was named after him (Max Venton) when I came along shortly after the war. I've been researching the loss of ME453 since visiting the Reichswald War cemetery in 2005, my website www.galgos.co.uk attempts to tell their story and the story of the times. Any background information that might be in the ORBs will flesh out what I know of Rolly's training, for instance I see there were a couple of his fellow-trainees killed during that time etc.
I'm also a modeller - my "theme" is to build each plane involved in their war time careers, so I'm just about to start an Anson which will be in 6 SFTS markings if I can get enough data on it - hence the interest in serial numbers quoted!
Anything else will be much appreciated. I've been through the AWM's collection of photos, some great ones there of Ansons but none of 6 SFTS.
Regards
Max

[AdrianR8]

Quote: "There is quite a bit of detail not included in the ORB. I might be able to help."

Col, can I ask what the source is? I don't have a particular interest in 6 SFTS, but am slowly looking into my grandfather's service, including training at No. 2 EFTS and No. 3 SFTS during late 1940 and early 1941.

If there are additional sources out there, I would appreciate knowing about them.

Adrian

[COL BRUGGY]

Hi Max,

Checked my library, illustrations of 6 SFTS Ansons are very thin on the ground (and in the air, for that matter). I have found only a few, and they don't relate to your time-frame.

One other source you should consult is :- http://www.adf-serials.com/2a4.shtml

It has the same basic info as "The Anson File", with material added by ADF Serials.

Hello Adrian,

I was referring to my private researches, not to any specific references. As you would know, many of the ORBs lack serials and other detail. I add whatever I can to what is already available.

Have a look at, NAA: A9186 476 p.338 of 874 - 21 & 22/7/43 (Cook). Then take a peek at; NAA: A9845 61 p.14 of 29. It is problems such as this I try to resolve.

Regards,
Col.

[Galgos]

Thanks Col,
Funnily enough I stumbled on that website last night whilst "Googling", some good stuff there and I've "applied" to join the forum. With regard to pictures, the time frame of early 43 isn't that important, so if it's possible to e-mail any scans etc they would be very much appreciated.
Regards
Max

[AdrianR8]

I was referring to my private researches, not to any specific references. As you would know, many of the ORBs lack serials and other detail. I add whatever I can to what is already available.

Have a look at, NAA: A9186 476 p.338 of 874 - 21 & 22/7/43 (Cook). Then take a peek at; NAA: A9845 61 p.14 of 29. It is problems such as this I try to resolve.

Col,

Thanks for the tip. Much appreciated.

Regards

Adrian

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello Max,

No scanner. Maybe someone more well-endowed (in a technical sense), can help?

Oddly, two of the photographs appear on the same page of the following publication:-

Anson, Hudson & Sunderland in Australian Service.
Wilson,Stewart.
Weston Creek:Aerospace Pubs.,1992.
p.49.

Both views feature damaged 6 SFTS Ansons, with the following captions:-

A.
R3521 of 6 SFTS after ground looping at Mallala SA in December 1942 (difficult to determine colour scheme, but overall, and coded Black? '21'.).

B.
R3530 of 6 SFTS after its undercarriage failed on landing at Mallala in February 1945 (there is also a black and white side-view of this aircraft in the same title, captioned; Anson Mk I R3530/55 of No.6 SFTS, 1945 - Yellow overall with black '55' and serial. White fin tip p.66).

This Anson (R3530), is also featured in the following book (indicating the paucity of photos of 6 SFTS machines):-

RAAF Camouflage & Markings 1939-45 Vol.2
Pentland,Geoffrey.
Dandenong:Kookaburra Tech.Pubs.,1989
p.92(colour side and plan view) and p.116(same photo as B.).

Hope this helps,
Col.

PS. I'm sure the boys at ADF Serials will help.

[Galgos]

Thanks Col, all useful info nonetheless!
Regards
Max