Request for Centaurus or other Mustang pilots

[Arm out the window]

I'm searching for an incident report I read quite a long time ago concerning a Mustang with an inexperienced pilot doing touch and goes at, I think, RAAF East Sale, and hoping to enlist the help of Centaurus or others who may know where I could find an account of the occurrence.

Not sure of the time frame, but certainly back in the days when the RAAF operated them, rather than it being a warbird type situation.

It made amazing reading - as I recall, there were some 'high and dangerous bounces' during which the prop clipped the runway, but unaware of this, the pilot kept on going for a few more circuits. I was talking about it the other day to someone and said I would try to find the actual report.

Many thanks in advance,

Tim

[Paul O'Rourke]

Any names ring a bell?



Accident to: Mustang A68-155 East Sale - Date: 16 February 1955 - Pilot: F/Sgt G V B Holding A35021


Incident re: Mustang A68-118 East Sale - Date: 20 July 1954 - Pilot: Sgt Hilder A26489


Incident re: Mustang A68-123 - 09 Runway RAAF East Sale - Date: 16 September 1955 - Pilot: D G Robertson (025331)


Accident at East Sale - Mustang number unknown - A32865 Cpl H Black injured 1 February 1955

[TOUCH-AND-GO]

25 Oct 1951 - Mustang Pilot Escapes Injury as Plane Breaks Up ... (http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/63303497)

Is this the one you're referring to? I read this a while back...

T&G

[Cat3508]

The only incident I can find of a prop strike in my book of Mustangs in Australian Service was
Date: 21 November 1946
Aircraft Type: Mustang
Unit: CCU (Fighter)
Location: Williamtown, NSW

[Lead Balloon]

"Williamstown" NSW? :confused:

[Horatio Leafblower]

Yes Leaddie it's a major port and former shipbuilding town near Newcastle.

Not to be confused with Williamtown, the RAAF's major fighter base, located in Melbourne's western suburbs. :hmm:

[LeadSled]

RAAF Base Williamtown - Royal Australian Air Force (http://www.airforce.gov.au/RAAFBaes/New-South-Wales/RAAF-Base-Williamtown/?RAAF-hGKolBgcjFzkAjuJv83Grq59BEM+C152)

Horatio,
Check the spelling.
In fact, drive down and have a look at the name on the gate.
Tootle pip!!

PS: Wotcha smokin dis days.

[Arm out the window]

Pretty sure that's not the one, Touch and Go - this one was a circuit training sortie gone wrong, whereas the one you referred to sounds like they were out in formation and clipped one another. Thanks though.

Maybe Holding, Paul? Might not be, I can hardly remember what I had for breakfast sometimes. Thanks for the leads, and likewise Cat3508, cheers, I'll see what I can find out further from those.

[Checklist Charlie]

I got your joke Leafy if nobody else does.

CC

[itsnotthatbloodyhard]

I think I've heard of the incident you mention AOTW, and from memory it was at WLM not ESL.

[Stanwell]

I got your joke Leafy if nobody else does.

CC


So did I, HL. :ok:


AOTW, I had a look through my stuff and I've not been able to find it.
Perhaps a little more diligence may turn up something.

[Lead Balloon]

I got it, too, HL. :ok:

I think LeadSled must have his sense of humour system selected OFF today. :}

[gerry111]

I thought the recently retired HMAS Tobruk was built very close to Williamtown.. :(

[Stanwell]

For a while she was our only aircraft carrier.

[Paul O'Rourke]

Anything here AOTW?


Mustang A68-160 - Unit: 2 OTU [Operational Training Unit] 1 mile off end of runway 27 Williamtown - Date: 20 April 1953 - Pilot: Plt/Off D E N Hampton 032557 (forced landing after engine failure after takeoff)

Vampire A79-187 and Mustang A68-128 Accident to off Williamtown on 29-4-53

Mustang A68-172 - Unit: No 2 OTU [Operational Training Unit] Williamtown - Date: 25 April 1954 - Pilot: Flg/Off D J Woodman 023205

Mustang A68-118 Williamtown on 18/5/1950 - Pilot 435188 P2 W S Michelson

Mustang A68-172 - Unit: No 2 OTU [Operational Training Unit] Williamtown - Date: 25 April 1954 - Pilot: Flg/Off D J Woodman 023205

Mustang A68-152 - Unit: 2 (F) OTU [Operational Training Unit] Date: 1 July 1954 - Pilot: Sgt D K Baehnisch A4893 Date: 1 July 1954 - Pilot Baehnisch DK A4893

[Lead Balloon]

Bring back the good ol' days when Snakes flew fighter aircraft!

[Pinky the pilot]

I remember being told of a story by the Sim* Instructor (initials GL) at my old Flying School where I did my initial MECIR who flew Mustangs with the old Civilian Air Force (as it was known then) of an incident he witnessed.

Apparently the Pilot bounced the A/C so badly that there was a prop strike and the Pilot taxied in with smoke pouring from the engine and after shut down the prop tips were bent at right angles at over a foot from the tips.:eek:



* Please lets not get into pedantic arguments on what constitutes a Simulator!

[Arm out the window]

Thanks again Paul, I'm sure it was a Mustang but for some reason had Sale in my head instead of Willy, will have to look into those.

That sounds a bit like it, Pinky - I'm sure the report mentioned bad bounces on a touch and go, prop hit the runway, but the pilot happily kept on going for a few more circuits. If I remember right, he may have even taxied in for a running change for someone else to get in and take it next, but the ground crew noticed something amiss luckily!

[Pinky the pilot]

bad bounces on a touch and go, prop hit the runway, but the pilot happily kept on going for a few more circuits. If I remember right, he may have even taxied in for a running change for someone else to get in and take it next, but the ground crew noticed something amiss luckily!

Arm out the window;
That is exactly the same incident that GL related to me. :ok:

[Centaurus]

Many thanks in advance,

Tim

Can't help you on that one. The only Mustang accidents I recall were from 1953 and none of them involved bounces and prop strikes. Sgt Jake Newham had a canopy become unlocked on a night take off at Williamtown. The momentary distraction caused him to fail control the usual Mustang swing and he went off the strip and through trees. Luckily he went between two trees leaving the wings behind.

Another was a mid-air collision in early 1953 between a Mustang and a Vampire in cloud near Williamtown. No survivors.

Lastly, early 1953 at Williamtown, Sgt Lloyd Knight had an engine failure on his first Mustang solo. He forced landed on a beach near Morna Point. He was knocked unconscious and woke up with petrol over him. Minor injuries only.

[Arm out the window]

Thanks very much anyhow Centaurus, it's great that you have taken the time to relate some of your stories elsewhere and they make great reading.

This kind of stuff really cuts through any generational barriers and brings us all back to the inspirational bond of aviation, young or old (and I must admit I'm certainly on the wrong side of 50 now so starting to feel less and less like a spring chicken every day)!

Cheers Pinky, that really does sound like the one, I'll just have to track the report down now. It was probably a RAAF crash comic reprint I think, will try to track it down.