When I asked Peter May if he had a preference for which scheme he would like to see done, he nominated this one SV-D A29-307 (Hiawatha). With 76 Sqn early on it likely had an all Green spinner.Later the spinner colour had been changed to the overall Silver (Nat Metal) style used in the 2nd half of 1944. 2nd Closeup of the nose art after 307 was transferred to 86 Sqn in 1945 (BTW it was an 'M' model not an 'N1'). Photo internet (Peter was able to say a photo from the collection of Peter Joubert. That's Hugh Mitchell standing in front. The photo was taken 16/12/1944). 2nd Photo Eddy Geary collection via Colin Ford (via internet, Facebook & ADF Serials).

I basically copied the colours from the cartoon for this drawing (with variations, the pants for example are clearly different), re the light Green colour that I used as the background for 'Hiawatha'. It is light in tone so Yellow, Blue, Green, Pink etc are options (well I really doubt that it was Pink...). I thought Green might be appropiate to represent the Green jungle behind him in the cartoon.

SV-D A29-307, seen in the photos above. Foliage Green/ Earth Brown with Sky Blue lower surfaces. Codes in RAAF Sky Blue and Black serials (8" stencil style). White tail but no White I.D markings on the wings. Note how the Blue sweeps up at the front of the nose. Some details of the markings Peter was able to advise from other photos held by him.

Peter advised the canopy remained fully painted as at December 1944 and the tail was fully white, like A29-316, with the serial stencilled in the same size colour and style. The white tail was latter changed to disruptive camo with a thunderbolt sometime between Jan and March 45, just like A29-354. It may have had the SV squadron code hand painted, not like the neat earlier application of squadron codes. After service with 86 Sqn in 1945 it was transferred to 2 OTU where it crashed in June 1945, claiming the life of George Donaldson. He was able to provide 2 photos of the burnt out wreck (not available for publication) showing the position of the letter 'D', the style of serial, Lightning flash and non standard camo pattern where they have painted out the White tail, rest of the pattern is not visible.

SV-D A29-307 end of 76 Sqn service. Foliage Green/ Earth Brown with Sky Blue lower surfaces. Codes in RAAF Sky Blue and Light Grey serials ((8" style). Yellow Lightning flash and the spinner is halved Silver/ Green.

Credits: thanks to Peter May (Ozhawk 40) for his assistance with this article. Also to Craig Busby for his advise on factory and RAAF repainted colours for these airframes.

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