Wirraway with under-wing machine guns circa 1952-56.
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Wirraway with under-wing machine guns circa 1952-56.
I hope the Moderator will allow this post as the rules state no using of same post in different forums. Primarily I have posted this on Aviation History and Nostalgia because it could be argued that is where it belongs. However, because the specific subject is about an Australian designed aircraft the Wirraway, it may not attract much attention on that History forum.
Australia's CAC Wirraway. Question on underwing machine gun installation?
Friend of mine is compiling a history of Australia's CAC Wirraway and needs information and if possible, any photos, of the 0.303 machine gun installation under each wing. In 1956 we flew air to ground gunnery using Wirraways based at Central Flying School at RAAF Base, East Sale in Victoria.
No 1 AFTS also had machine gun-equipped Wirraways at RAAF Base Point Cook, Victoria in 1952.
Any information very much appreciated either by PM's or PPRuNe pages.
Centaurus.
Australia's CAC Wirraway. Question on underwing machine gun installation?
Friend of mine is compiling a history of Australia's CAC Wirraway and needs information and if possible, any photos, of the 0.303 machine gun installation under each wing. In 1956 we flew air to ground gunnery using Wirraways based at Central Flying School at RAAF Base, East Sale in Victoria.
No 1 AFTS also had machine gun-equipped Wirraways at RAAF Base Point Cook, Victoria in 1952.
Any information very much appreciated either by PM's or PPRuNe pages.
Centaurus.
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Browning M1919 in .303 British, Mk1?
Vickers on a swivel?
I have one of each in full working order sitting in a vault down south. No mounting system though...
Althought I do have several unoped "sardine" cans of cotton belts of ball/tracer rounds there as well.
Now that I think of it, I have a RAAF No5 Jungle Carbine in there as well in unissued condition, still in the grease paper. Also have a .38 Webley which you would have carried...
Vickers on a swivel?
I have one of each in full working order sitting in a vault down south. No mounting system though...
Althought I do have several unoped "sardine" cans of cotton belts of ball/tracer rounds there as well.
Now that I think of it, I have a RAAF No5 Jungle Carbine in there as well in unissued condition, still in the grease paper. Also have a .38 Webley which you would have carried...
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Erm, you meant another kind of ammunition, not tracers right? I'm fairly sure tracers are illegal for mere mortals...
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Longrass:
Leave it in the grease paper and cosmoline. Kicks like a mule, noisier and less accurate than a standard SMLE.
I have a RAAF No5 Jungle Carbine in there as well in unissued condition, still in the grease paper.
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Shall be remaining in this condition, I have a nice ROF Fazakerley No5 with aperture sights that I shoot regually.
As far as the tracers are concerned, they are not an issue on collectors or dealers license. Drama is trying to import them now as the attorney general believes they are bad... Think of the children...
As far as the tracers are concerned, they are not an issue on collectors or dealers license. Drama is trying to import them now as the attorney general believes they are bad... Think of the children...
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Tried the Pt Cook museum Centaurus? They have an extensive library (old aircraft manuals) and accommodating to requests for info, unless things have changed.
Excerpt from a modelling site describing the installation
On 6 December 1944, Wirraway Order Number 127 was issued to provide the electrical wiring for wing guns which were installed under Armament Order 84/9 (date unknown). This order detailed how to modify the outer wing bomb release wiring to fire guns. One gun was mounted on each wing.
Only one photograph showing the guns in place has been found but the mounting bracket is visible in many photos, particularly those of post-war trainers.
The gun used was the Browning 303in Mark II, mounted sideways on a steel bracket attached to the wing using the inner four bomb steady bolts. The ammunition was stored inside the wing and exited via a slot cut in the inboard bomb slip access panel.
This equipment was used until the late 1950s to enable advanced trainees to carry out live firing.
Richard Hourigan
But you are right, I cant see a hole for the ammo either
Only one photograph showing the guns in place has been found but the mounting bracket is visible in many photos, particularly those of post-war trainers.
The gun used was the Browning 303in Mark II, mounted sideways on a steel bracket attached to the wing using the inner four bomb steady bolts. The ammunition was stored inside the wing and exited via a slot cut in the inboard bomb slip access panel.
This equipment was used until the late 1950s to enable advanced trainees to carry out live firing.
Richard Hourigan
But you are right, I cant see a hole for the ammo either
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Just reviving this old thread, as I've been doing some research on this topic myself...
Arm Out the Window asked about the missing hole...
The hole for feeding the ammunition belt is on the outboard side of the inboard access cover for the bomb release units (slips 1 and 2) if that makes sense. In the photo showing the close-up of the brackets the hole is hidden by the front bracket (the lower part of which has swung aft, obscuring the hole). The drawing below shows how the hole lines up with the feed opening in the Browning's breech casing.
It's interesting to note that the middle photo (showing the close-up of the brackets) is actually A20-103 (Archer's famous aircraft) on display in the War Memorial.
I've added some more details to my Wirraway web page, under the section on armament.
Another question might be "how did the pilot aim these wing guns, since the ring and bead sight is nowhere to be seen?". That must have been covered by Wirraway Order 134 - Reflector Sight Mk II Installation. It looks like there is a reflector sight above the instrument panel on A20-371 in the Point Cook photos.
Cheers,
Derek
Arm Out the Window asked about the missing hole...
The hole for feeding the ammunition belt is on the outboard side of the inboard access cover for the bomb release units (slips 1 and 2) if that makes sense. In the photo showing the close-up of the brackets the hole is hidden by the front bracket (the lower part of which has swung aft, obscuring the hole). The drawing below shows how the hole lines up with the feed opening in the Browning's breech casing.
It's interesting to note that the middle photo (showing the close-up of the brackets) is actually A20-103 (Archer's famous aircraft) on display in the War Memorial.
I've added some more details to my Wirraway web page, under the section on armament.
Another question might be "how did the pilot aim these wing guns, since the ring and bead sight is nowhere to be seen?". That must have been covered by Wirraway Order 134 - Reflector Sight Mk II Installation. It looks like there is a reflector sight above the instrument panel on A20-371 in the Point Cook photos.
Cheers,
Derek
