I normally build
1/72nd scale kits of aircraft used by the RAAF, both past and
present. But while doing some research a few months ago I came across some
photos of RAF Thunderbolts in SEAC colours as based in Burma. The information with these photos suggested that
the squadrons concerned apparently had a sizeable contingent of Aussies amongst
the aircrew ranks. A more detailed search of the excellent on-line reference
database of the Australian War Memorial revealed that in late 1944, 134 Squadron
(RAF) not only had RAAF pilots in the aircrew number but was commanded by an
RAAF Squadron Leader from a suburb in Sydney, Australia, near where I lived as a
youth. One particular photo of one
of these aircraft can be seen at www.awm.gov.au
– go to the database search and type in SEA0041 – where you’ll see a great
photo of one Thunderbolt of 134Sqn and three RAAF pilots, as described in the
accompanying caption on the AWM site.
Well this well and
truly whetted my appetite to build one and eventually more Thunderbolts as
possibly flown by RAAF pilots in these RAF Squadrons based in My two kits were
basically made ‘out of the box’ with some additional items
in the cockpits. The principal changes are in
colour schemes and decals, with the camouflage kit (GQ-A) using the Academy SEAC
roundels with serials and codes on the sides obtained from my own collection of
letters and numbers. The silver aircraft used letters and numbers from these
same decal collections, but the roundels and fin flashes came from assorted
Spitfire, Mosquito and Vengeance decal sheets that I had saved up. The two aircraft
relate to the following squadrons: GQ-A KL173 of 134SQN
– camouflaged Thunderbolt 2 FJ-G
KL849 of 261SQN – silver finish Overall I’m happy
with the final products, as they not only let me produce aircraft kits that I
wouldn’t normally have done, but they also gave me a chance to experiment with
varying techniques. But most importantly, it helped me discover a little bit
more about the role that RAAF pilots and groundcrew
played during World War 2 as part of the RAF. Now to
think about including a kit of a P47 Thunderbolt 1 (Razorback) in RAF SEAC
colours to finish off this collection. David Fredericks |
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Photos and text © by David Fredericks