Westland Wapiti info RAF/RAAF serials to id discovered wreck

[battle]

Hi all , tring to do some research on six Mk 2A Wapitis transfered to the RAAF from RAF stocks , need to tie up RAF to RAAF serial numbers on the following , K2257 , K2262 , K2268 and K2287 , have being able to id K2265 as A5-40 need to tie up the rest , all should be in the range of A5 - 38 to A5- 44 , RAAF history cards do not give RAF serial no. I have the remains of one of these ac recovered from western Victoria , have being able to eliminate A5-44 as being written off before delivery and A5-39 was destroyed in a mid air collision , the remaining four were converted into instructional airframes for training , i have the remains of one of these four . Can any one help?

cheers dave

[Mark_Pilkington]

Dave,

thats a great find, what do the remains consist of? can you post or PM/email any pictures of the remains?


regards

Mark Pilkington

[RMAllnutt]

I'd love to see them too... can't have enough Wapiti's out there! Are there any plans to restore her?

All the best,
Richard

[paulmcmillan]

Looked in the K-File. Sorry no tie up to RAAF serials.. Methinks answer will be in Australia archives not UK archives.. But have you any construction/airframe numbers

Paul

[battle]

Hi all , thanks for the help , wapiti remains consist of enginemount , firewall many sections of frame including fuel and oil tank mounts rudderbar , two bays of the rear frame intact and other smaller parts , also have engine tool box from A5-9 found at another location , looks like all the long sections of frame were removed by the farmer for use leaving all the structual sections . At the same location i also found sections of Hawker Demon , firewall bits of frame etc. anyone who wants pics email me at debdavid@bigpond.com.au and i will send or wait for next classic wings issue.

cheers dave

[battle]

Found some numbers on rear frame will put them up here sortly

cheers dave

[battle]

Anyone who wants better pics , let me know , anyone local [ Melbourne area ] are wellcome to come have a look.

cheers dave

[battle]

Hi all , found some part/airframe numbers on section of rear frame from the wapiti as follows 28058-13
8058-13
28058-9
28058-14

Me think these are part numbers , i will keep looking over the other sections.

cheers dave

[battle]

Hi all , after close study of wapiti history cards , crash reports in Aust. national archives , have concluded that the wapiti parts are the remains of A5-40 ex RAF K2265 this is the only one that fits the bill .
A5-43 was struck off charge at No 1 FTS PT COOK and converted to produce.
A5-41 was struck off at 1 FTS 2/6/40 converted to conponents , main planes issued to 1 ITS 28/10/40
A5-42 Recieved at 2 CRD Richond NSW for conversion to conponents after taxing into Vultee Vengence
A5-39 Completly destroyed after colliding with A5-21 24/2/41 at 1 SFTS
a5-44 Not received by RAAF damaged beond repair during delivery.

Anyone come up with any more info?

cheers dave

[RMAllnutt]

Interesting reading. I noted in a previous post that the farmer who'd originally bought your aircraft had removed the longer sections of airframe, presumeably to use around the farm. Any chance that these items were still extant in another part of his property? I guess that you must have looked pretty hard though. When did you come across these remains, and what are your intentions with them?

Incidentally, when I was at the Indian Air Force museum a few years ago I saw that they had a Wapiti in their collection. It was very rough, and a lot of it was crudely replicated (ie. wooden engine, and badly sagging wings). Have you had any contact with them, and do you know how much of that airframe is original?

Cheers,
Richard

[battle]

Hi Richard , these are all the remaining sections that could be found , but in saying that i will be going back to make sure ! As for plans for these parts i am intending to trade them for parts for my battle project , as for the Indian Air Force museum wapiti , parts of it are original how much i am not sure have tried to contact them via email no response also tried RAF museum and westlands for info and also got no response , if anyone has any manuals , plans good pics or even parts for the wapiti i would love to here from you!

cheers dave

[PA]

Dave,
if the farmer in question is anything like the one's here in Queensland, then all the Wapiti bits he had (that you have not already acquired), are buried on his property.