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Another esoteric RAAF photo brought to you by Aerothentic |
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A mighty Martin Mariner of RAAF No. 41 Squadron on the slipway at Horn Island in early 1945. The RAAF designation for these aircraft was A70. Horn Island lies right ast Australia's northern tip, and Mariners were used for mainly reconnaissance and liaison roles, quite often delivering documents and VIPs to Port Moresby. The Mariner, a fine aircraft, could carry more but lacked the range of the PBY which was overall a more versatile seaplane. All of the RAAF Mariners were modified ex U.S Navy model PBM-3Rs. The RAAF acquired a dozen of them and after the war one of them wound up as a houseboat on Australia's Murray River !
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