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In 1939, the Ryan Company in America produced the Ryan ST-A, which was an improved version of the original Ryan ST (Sports Trainer), of 1933. The ST-A attracted wide attention and a military version was developed with larger cockpits, dual controls, and night-flying equipment.
This aircraft became the first low-wing monoplane trainer to be used by the USAAC, where it was known as the PT-16. The Dutch Government purchased a large number of these trainers, as STMs, for service with the Royal Netherlands Indies Army Air Corps and, early in 1942, some of these aircraft were captured and used by the Japanese. However, the remaining Dutch Ryans were evacuated to Australia, including the STM-2 seaplane version which had been used in Java.
Thirty-four Ryan STMs were absorbed into the RAAF, and the first aircraft, A50-1, was received on 21 July 1942 and the last, A50-34, on 27 August 1942. The Ryans were used mainly for refresher training at a variety of aircrew training units, while others were flown on transport missions with Nos 1, 2 and 3 Communications Units. Also, at least one float-plane version operated for a short time from RAAF Rathmines.
In March 1954, many of the STMs still in service were stored for disposal at RAAF Evans Head where, unfortunately, quite a number were damaged by a hurricane on 9 April 1945.
Today, several ex-RAAF Ryans are still flying in Australia and some have been re-equipped with Gipsy Major engines.
On this day in Air Force history: 19421226 26/12/1942 Wirraway's only combat success
While on a tactical reconnaissance mission off Gona, Papua, on this day, the two-man crew of Wirraway A20-103 from No 4 Squadron spotted a Japanese fighter approaching them about 1000 feet below. The pilot, Flying Officer John Archer, immediately engaged the enemy machine and caused it to crash in flames into the sea. Archer’s victory was unique, as the Wirraway was developed from a design intended for nothing more than advanced training. Although the RAAF had armed and employed some as ‘fighters’, the Wirraway proved totally outclassed in earlier combat with high performance Japanese types such as the Mitsubishi Zero. In this case, however, the enemy machine encountered was probably not a Zero but a Nakajima Ki-43 Oscar of the Japanese Army's recently- arrived 11th Sentai. Very likely, the Japanese pilot had himself mistaken the RAAF machine for a Zero. For his singular success, Archer was awarded the Silver Star by the Americans.