Over five years ago a batch of colour images taken at the large USAAF 4 ADG (Air Depot Group) complex at Townsville by a 'Life' photographer surfaced on the internet. They were mainly of C-47 nose art along with a few B-25 Mitchells. But among them was the attached image of 'The Texas Wrangler' after the paintwork had been refinished from the very worn state that we see on Page 5. Even allowing for the vagaries of colour film, it is very clear that they used the local Australian colours Foliage Green, Earth Brown and Sky Blue when they did the job. Beautful image, unfortunately no full shot to enable me to do a profile.
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Since then a couple more Black/ White images have come up (see above) but no full info yet. One day...
As noted in issue 19/4, the NEIAF forces in Australia received 5 C-60 airframes from the USA which were given NEIAF registrations LT931 to 935 inclusive. A cause of later confusion is that 931 to 934 duplicated the numbers of airframes which had been ordered in 1941 but taken over by authorities in the U.S with the fall of the Dutch East Indies. Originally they were operated by an organisation designated T.S.M (Transport Section Melbourne). However due to the perennial shortage of Ground Personnel to service them (few such had escaped to Australia in 1942 and most of the ground crew for 18 Sqn NEIAF had to be supplied by the RAAF), the airframes and air crews joined 37 Sqn RAAF which were operating the RAAF's C-60 Lodestars.
In 1945 after 37 Sqn RAAF had converted to C-47s, the 9 surviving RAAF C-60s (1 having been written off) were transferred to Comm Units and the NEIAF airframes returned to Dutch control. I believe that they went to 19 Sqn NEIAF (119 Sqn RAAF nomenclature) a Dutch transport unit set up at this time with Douglas C-47s and I believe the Lockheeds. What we did not know before was that at least some of LT931 to 935 carried individual names.
NEIAF crew with a Dutch C-60 named 'Princess Margriet'. SH 72295 1/72 kit has decals for this airframe and says it is LT931 (#42-256034).
LT931 (#42-256034) taxying.
LT934 (#43-16448) with some 120 Sqn NEIAF P-40s. It can be seen to have a name (unknown at thus stage) on the nose.
Which LT rego this is I don't know, but it can be seen to carry the name 'The Flying Dutchman',
And finally not a Lockheed C-60 Lodestar but the original LT924 from the 1941 order, which later became C-56B VHCAK in a very different camo scheme to the usual Dutch colors. Included for interest.
NOTES: Many of the Reference images are very dark and the cano denarcation lines are very hard to pick up. I have done the best I can when doing the profiles. Also in many cases one cannot see the under wing area to determine if 'US Army' markings are carried. I have added them on the profiles unless I can see that they are NOT there.
REFERENCES: The majority of the photos come from the SLNSW (Hudson Fysh collection), Geoff Goodall webpage on ADAT, and SLSA (Guinea Airways collection). Others are as indicated or via extensive Google searching which located some interesting items. Don't forget our original Lodestar articles in issues 19/1 and 19/4, available as PDF downloads from the IPMS (NSW) at www.ipmsnsw.com/magazine.
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