| Place | Oceania: Australia, Queensland, North Queensland, Townsville |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | NEA0040 |
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white |
| Physical description | Black & white |
| Place made | Australia: Queensland, North Queensland, Townsville |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Townsville, Qld. RAAF men preparing food in front of an Avro 618 Ten monoplane trimstor aircraft, ...
Description
Townsville, Qld. RAAF men preparing food in front of an Avro 618 Ten monoplane trimstor aircraft, call sign VH-UXX at Garbutt aerodrome. The aircraft (so-named becuase it carried two crew and eight passengers) was a licence built version of the Dutch Fokker F.VIII B/3m. Fourteen were built, and served with Australian National Airways (ANA) among other airlines. In 1933 the aircraft was re-registered and renamed "Faith in Australia" (call sign VH-UXX) by Charles Ulm. It was transferred to Stephens Airways in Wau, New Guinea in 1941. In late 1941 and early 1942 the aircraft, piloted by Eric Stephens, Royal Flying Corps veteran, and sometimes co-piloted by Norman R Wilde, was used to evacuate civilians from the highlands to the coast. In February 1942 Stephens and Wilde transported evacuees from Port Moresby to Townsville. The aircraft was withdrawn from use (wfu) and remained abandoned on the airfield for some time.