THE CAMDEN MUSEUM
OF AVIATION
OF AVIATION
Wirraway C.A.-16 Mk 3 A20-685A20-685 was the 1137th Production Wirraway, built by Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation in 1944, delivered to the RAAF in December 1944 and stored at 1AD Det B Tocumwal pending a post-war usage. In 1951 the aircraft was put back into service as a trainer with the RAAF Base Squadron at Point Cook and her flying life lasted until 1959 when she was retired and stored at Tocumwal for disposal. Later the same year, A20-685 was sold and removed to Albury with the intention of converting her for aerial crop-dusting, but this did not eventuate and the aircraft remained in storage until purchased by the Museum from Marshall Spreading Service in 1967. The Wirraway (aboriginal word for Challenge) was developed by CAC in 1937 from North America NA-16 and NA-33 designs and went into production in 1939. They were mainly used by the RAAF to give advanced training to pilots who had gained their wings on Tiger Moths. By 1956 they were gradually being supplanted by the Winjeel. The most famed Wirraway, at the Australian War Memorial, was flown by F/O John Archer and whilst on a tactical reconnaissance flight over Gona, NG on Boxing Day 1942, he amazed the RAAF and himself by shooting down a Japanese fighter, a Zero. A particularly noteworthy feat, when it is considered that the Zeros considerably outclassed the Wirraway's performance in every way. |
 A20-685 at Camden Airport. Photograph courtesy of NM Parnell  A20-685 at the Museum. Photograph courtesy of Alexandra Satina  |
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