With the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor the Australians suddenly found themselves on the front lines of WW-II. With Briotian just barely able to make enought aircraft for her own needs and the United States not up to full production capacaity the Aussies figured they better make their own fighter. Using the Wirraway advanced trainer as a starting point they had the Boomerang in peoduction in a very short time.
Unfortunately though well armed the Boomerang had rather poor perfomance versus most fighters of the time. Fortunately for the Aussies the Americans were able to supply some P-40s and the RAAF returned home 2 squadrons of Spitfire MkV aircraft. The Boomerang was used in the home defemse role mostly though one squadron was posted to New Guinea for intrerceptor duty. The Boomerang proved outstanding in the close air support role. it's ease of flying coupled with it's heavy aemament and armor plating ,ade it well suited for the task.
The Wirraway was a development of the North American BC-1 aircraft, the immediatte forerunner of the T-6 Trainer. It was built in Australia by the Commonwealth Aircraft Company and served as a fill in fighter/attack aircraft in the early days of WW-II until more modern aircraft could make it into the theater. The Wirraway served as a trainer with the RAAF until the late 1950s. On with the pics
Inflite semi head on shot of a restored Boomerang.
Port side view.
A shot of the Boomerang underside, the Texan heritage is evident here.
Inflite shot of the Wirraway, note the macine gun mount in the rear cockpit.
A clean view of the Wirraway underside, Looks like a T-6!!!
A sepia toned inflight formation pic of the Wirraway and Boomerang]
From work again y'all have a great weekend. Regards
alfa6 ;>}
