by Steve Mackenzie

A65-38 VHCUH H 35 Sqn. The single I.D letter is unusual for 35 Sqn. No Sqn codes typical of 35 Sqn for the period. Note - it is now known that this is a 34 Sqn airframe, despite it being said on the net a number of times that it is shown with 35 Sqn. This explains why the style of markings is from 34 Sqn and not 35.

I intend to run a series of articles looking at the Douglas DC-3/C-47 transports use in RAAF/ADAT service during 1939-46. After some thought I have decided the best way to approach such a large subject is to look at each user unit in turn (in numerical order to simplify things) with images of some of their airframes. No profiles as that involves a lot of extra work for an airframe type that I will later probably have no more use for.

35 Squadron RAAF was formed at RAAF Base Pearce in Western Australia in February 1942 and was initially equipped with a Fox Moth and a de Havilland Dragon aircraft. Later a Moth Minor, and two Fairey Battles joined the squadron in September 1942.A Dragon Rapide joined the motley collection of squadron aircraft in November 1942 with six Tiger Moths and a Northrup Delta during December 1942 through to January 1943.While this sort of menagerie of types was typical of the early RAAF Transport units it was not very suitable for major operations. Thus they eventually replaced this strange collection of aircraft with Dakotas on 18 December 1943.

Like 33 Sqn (see issue 34-3) 35 Sqn marked their airframes in an unusual manner by carrying the 'last 2' of the ADAT radio call sign just behind the cockpit (but note the od exception above) or on Nat Metal airframes below the cockpit,and rarely appear to have applied their Sqn codes 'BK' to their C-47s (I only located images of 2 airframes that clearly showed such). Serials were in the usual Light Grey on the rear fuselage. The 'VHxxx' radio call signs were applied in their usual position above the fin flash (or sometimes on the rudder). They could be variously in Light Grey, White, Black (on Nat Metal airframes) or even Sky Blue. They could also be with or without a dash after the 'VH' (in theory there should be no dash, but there were many, many exceptions as we will eventually see thru this series).

Two Natural Metal unit airframes A65-85 VHRFB and A65-86 VHRFC. Any possible Sqn codes unknown.

Of course there are always anomalies, the airframe below A65-97 VHRFN'N'while not carrying the Sqn code has the individual letter 'N' on the rear fuselage. There were possibly more like this but it is the only photo that I have of this practice. It was later stripped to Nat Metal (see the later photo below).

And just to prove that the unit did eventually carry their 'BK' codes, this image shows A65-100 BK-P VH-RFQ in flight, circa c.1945 (photo: AHMWA P019298 via Mike Mirkovic). In the final years of the war, detachments operated out of Darwin, Northern Territory, Townsville, Queensland, and later Morotai Island. Following the Japanese surrender in August 1945, No. 35 Squadron flew Australian soldiers and ex-prisoners of war home. In early 1946 it was disbanded, to be re-established later on Caribous and now C-27s.

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a.jpg	b.jpg	c.jpg
d.jpg	e.jpg	f.jpg

More photos are in the table above:
a. A65-20 VHCTU 35 Sqn Rabaul, New Britian. 1945-10-30. The busy scene as the mail plane arrives at Lakunai Airstrip which is located near Matupi crater.
b. A65-100 BK-P VHRFQ in flight, starboard view, 35 Squadron, c.1945. AHMWA P029767 via Mike Mirkovic.
c. A65-89 VHRFF 35 Sqn (AWM Photo P00822.001).
d. A65-97 VHRFN BK-N again. Shown postwar while repatriating personell, by now it is stripped of camo.
e. A65-115 VHRGC BK-A 35 Sqn.
f. A65-115 VHRGC BK-A again. Labuan Island, Borneo 1945-11-07. 9TH Division Postal unit unloading mail bags.

Use the index button to return to the main issue 35/1 index.