Which Aerodrome Mk III

[Lightning Mate]

I'll shoot for Lamu in that case.

[Russell Gulch]

Correct; your control.

Russ

[Lightning Mate]

Open House.

[descol]

LM - thanks for OH
here's one

[Dora-9]

Ground crew wearing slouch hats in the foreground, Wirraways in the background - Australia. RAAF Amberley, Qld??

[descol]

Dora -9
Slouch hats for sure
Oz for sure but not Qld

[Dora-9]

OK, I THOUGHT this might be the 49th FG on arrival in Australia - its personnel were disembarked in Melbourne,with the aircraft shipped to Brisbane which is why I came up with Amberley. Although there were/are similar hangars at Garbutt the background is nowhere near hilly enough for there.

RAAF Laverton, Victoria?

As an aside, note the variations in national insignia present here.

[descol]

Dora – 9
Noting Amberley and Leverton makes me think I may have the wrong info on this – so, I suggest you have control – maybe let me know if Bankstown – is correct
My info suggests that it is indeed part of the 49th Pursuit Group and that the image is the 7th Pursuit Squadron in Bankstown.
The group moved to Australia and became part of Fifth Air Force in January 1942. It was redesignated as the 49th Fighter Group in May 1942. The unit received Curtiss P-40 Warhawks in Australia and, after training for a short time, provided air defence for the Northern Territory, being awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for engaging the enemy in frequent and intense aerial combat while operating with limited materiel and facilities for the period March–August 1942.
The group moved to New Guinea in October 1942 to help stall the Japanese drive southward from Buna to Port Moresby. Engaged primarily in air defence of Port Moresby; also escorted bombers and transports, and attacked enemy installations, supply lines, and troop concentrations in support of Allied ground forces.
The 49th participated in the Allied offensive that pushed the Japanese back along the Kokoda Track, took part in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea in March 1943, fought for control of the approaches to Huon Gulf, and supported ground forces during the campaign in which the Allies eventually recovered New Guinea. It covered the landings on Noemfoor and had a part in. the conquest of Biak --- des col

[Lordflasheart]

Fumanchu

Descol and Dora - Lovely photo reminder of some very interesting (and desperate) times. I don't think it is either Amberley or Laverton - I initially thought it was Bankstown or Williamtown (Newcastle) but in trying to resolve that question I drew a blank with the 49th PG (7th and 9th FSs) and instead found myself following the trail of Dr Fu Manchu - as pictured in the challenge photo. Don't let me interrupt the fun, but I will finish this off in an hour or so, as LadyFH is calling on me to garden while it remains light, and I want to get the detail right. LFH

[Dora-9]

descol:

The hangar is very reminiscent of the RAAF's 1940 build programme - Amberley, Garbutt, Laverton, Pearce & Richmond, but not those at Bankstown. The "corner" location (i.e. no other hangars visible) has proven tricky. Note the smaller building in the foreground at an angle to the hangar - using Google Earth I can only find these and a suitable "corner" location at Richmond NSW. Also there seem to be Hudsons in the background, rather supporting that identification.

So, thank you for generously giving this one to me - Open House anyway.

[Lordflasheart]

Fumanchu.

I think you've cracked it Dora.

I followed Fumanchu (3rd from left – nearest row) - P-40E BuNo 41-5555 - Tail No 53 and found the same pic described in the supporting text as "photographed at Richmond RAAF as Black#53 13/02/42 with "B" Flight 13th Pursuit Squadron (Provisional)

Amongst the mayhem in early 1942 was –

1. Hundreds of P-40s were shipped into Eastern Australia – from the USA or diverted from previously en-route to the Philippines etc.
2. Some were flown to Perth, then towed to Freo, 32 of the 13th were shipped on the USS Langley (CV-1) and all were lost when the Langley was sunk following bombing off Java on 27 Feb 1942.
3. Many were flown north up the "Brereton Route" to NT and New Guinea. "Navigation ? - Just follow the trail of crashed Kittyhawks ! "
4. 75 P-40s were transferred to the RAAF in March 1942 as A29-1 to 75. 41-5555 – still Fumanchu, became A29-75 –and served with 75, 76 and 82 Squadrons. It kept its name for some time in RAAF service and was eventually SOC in December 1947.

References - photo of Fumanchu -
http://www.adf-serials.com.au/newsle...%20a%20GRB.pdf

Brereton Route - Brereton Route through Australia during WW2

So I respectfully agree with Dora that the challenge was RAAF Richmond - (NSW Australia - for those who like to be properly informed as to where these places are .) LFH

[Dora-9]

Great stuff, Lordflasheart!

I really should use the ADF Serials website more - it's a fabulous resource. Incidentally, regarding the photo of A29-75 showing the faded US Army titles - Weir Strip was officially called Aitkenvale, sometimes also called 2nd Weir.

I was so busy scanning the background for clues that I completely missed seeing Fumanchu! Groan.

Thanks for my confirming my Richmond identification.

Open House gents.

[Lordflasheart]

Whats amazing is that with all the mayhem, someone managed to keep paper records, that the records survived, and best of all, someone else has managed to make them readily and interestingly available for us today. LFH

Open house ? Try this

[Lightning Mate]

That Shooting Star is in the markings of the 36th Fighter Squadron, so I would say it's from the Korean war.

[Lightning Mate]

I just Goggled:

36 FW shooting star korean war air base

Guess what.......

[Krakatoa]

Might be Suwon

[Lordflasheart]

This is going to be interesting -

Korean War ? Yes -

Guess what.......

LM - you were perhaps going to say ? .... and Kraka said -

Might be Suwon

I'm going to say - I don't actually think so chaps ......

LFH

[sycamore]

Dogbase (K-9),Taegu..OH if correct

[Lordflasheart]

Very good Sycamore ! Taegu I believe it is *** -

However, in view of other credible suggestions I have to justify this answer.

The picture (and the previous snap before 689 started taxying to join the queue) appear all over the internet – described variously as "Suwon" "Taegu" and just "Korea." It seems to be generally agreed as 1950. My photo source says "49th Operations Group at Taegu." "Taegu" is specified variously and confusingly as K1, K2, K9 (Dogbase - nearly had me there Sycamore !) and K37 ***.

I see 49th OG (7th, 8th and 9th Squadrons - as in previous 1942 challenge) described as one of the first into action in Korea in June 1950 (at Suwon ?) with P-51s covering the retreat from Seoul. The 49th re-equipped with F-80Cs (I assume this was in Japan) and arrived (back ?) at Taegu either on 1st Oct 1950 or 1st Dec 1950 (after the breakout from Pusan - nb Taegu was on the frontline for some time). 49th moved around some more, re-equipped with F-84E and/or Gs in 1951 and was apparently still using them in 1953 – at Suwon.

The F-80Cs in the challenge could not IMHO have been at Suwon AB in 1950. Suwon City 'changed hands four times' and between Sept and December 1950 the main UN front line moved from Pusan to (briefly) well into North Korea – and well back again soon after the Chinese ground involvement.

To confuse matters further, 49th Gp was at sometime absorbed into 8th Gp and I found a sort of video -

36th Fighter-Bomber Squadron in Korea, 1953 - YouTube

dedicated to the 36th FS (F-86) – part of 8th FBW, at Suwon in 1953, showing 'tail letters' FT and SU

*** However in Gordon Rottman's 'Korean War Order of Battle' he lists among the 57 UN airbases -
K1 = Pusan West. K2 = Taegu East (Taegu No 1.) K9 = Pusan East, and K37 = Taegu West.
(Taegu No 2.) So that's alright then. His list includes 19 UN airfields inside NK ! Obviously more homework to do.

Tried to keep it short. Willing to receive deputations, but reckon Sycamore got it - and has declared - OPEN HOUSE.

[Lightning Mate]

That's 'tinternet for you!