A fine photographic study of a formation of Australian
Warhawks sitting off the port wing of a Fifth Air Force B-25. Their
fuselage code is SV indicating they are assigned to No 76 Squadron.
The distincitive background is Wewak, and this photo
would have been taken later in the war - around mid to late 1944 after
which Wewak was all but neutralized and then by-passed in MacArthur's
plan to move forward to the Philippines. .
IN teh SWPA it was rare that RAAF fighters escorted
U.S bombers, this being one exception.
Port Moresby's main airfield, Jackson's International
Airport, was named after Squadron Leader Les Jackson, who was down by
Tainan Kokutai Zeros in early 1942 when he was leading RAAF No. 75 Squadron.
His E model Warhawk crashed in to the side of Mt Lawes to the Northwest
of Port Moresby. Pieces of it still lie there today.
Several RAAF Squadrons flew Warhawks in the SWPA, including
Nos. 75, 76, 77, 78, 80, 82, 84, and 86.
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