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SHOEBOX SPECIAL: Commonwealth Wirraways in the RAN, 1948-1953 - Collection of Berfnie Delaney, RAN 1951-57.EALTH wIRRAWAYS

6725. With an unidentified crew member in the foreground, here we see two veteran Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation [CAC] Wirraways on the tarmac at the RAN's Naval Air Station at Nowra, with a Hawker Sea Fury FB11 in the background.

 

Although found to be not up to speed [205mph] as a fighter during WWII, the Wirraways - based on the North American NA-16 design - were basically trainers pressed into multiple roles for the Royal Australian Air Force [RAAF], and a total of 755 were built.

 

Between 1948 and 1953, 16 former RAAF Wirraways were operated by the RAN as land-based trainers. They were flown by 723 and 724 Squadrons.

 

Photo: collection of Bernie Delaney, RAN 1951-1957, it appears here with kind permission from Bernie Delaney Jnr, and his 'blokes 2012' photostream, which can be found here:

 

www.flickr.com/photos/82934060@N05/

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Uploaded on October 19, 2013
Taken on October 2, 2012