by Steve Mackenzie

#41-2156 'Limping Lizzie' while with 8 PRS with pilot LeGrand Kneeskern in the cockpit. Photo: Bill Fairbank.

One of the lesser known aspect of RAAF operations is that the three F-4 Photo Lightnings used by 1 PRU were not the only ones used by the RAAF. During the period Aug-Dec 1943, 75 Sqn operated 2 airframes for PR work (flown by the unit's normal pilots), USAAF serials #41-2156 and #41-2220 being the airframes involved (they were not allocated RAAF serials during this attachment). On 21 Dec 1943, the 75 Squadron attachment ended and the two airframes were returned to 8th PRS.

F-4 #41-2156 'Limping Lizard'

This airframe was named 'Limping Lizard' while with 8th PRS, and it is assumed that the nickname was retained in 75 Sqn service (the colour appears to be Yellow with Black shadowing). It retained it's 'Haze' colours it had while in USAAF service, with unit codes '56' ('last two' of the serial) in White on each outer tail fin and engine cowling. For some unknown reason it had '44' on the nose cone in small Yellow numbers (it is a bit of mystery why as it is there as that does not equate to either the USAAF serial or Lockheed construction number 5374).

Fuselage roundels are RAAF B/W roundels with White bars (seemingly painted over the original USAAF cocardes and bars). The wings are harder to tell but there appears to be standard RAAF roundels under each wing (see photos), thus I assume there are markings in all six positions and that it has upper wing roundels also on both sides. The spinners appear to be two colours, dark tips and light coloured rears (I will suggest White with Red tips but there are other possibilities also).

.

b=#41-2156 'Limping Lizzie' having the cameras removed or replaced, probably at 14 Mile airstrip. Photo: via Bobby Rocker.
c=#41-2156 'Limping Lizzie' clearly showing the number '44' on the nose, and that the name was on both sides. Photo: Bill Fairbank.
d=#41-2156 flown by WGCDR Woof Arthur over New Britain, possibly on 20 October 1943. The photo was taken by Geoff Atherton who was flying the other 75 Squadron Lightning #41-2220. Photo: Geoff Atherton.
e=#41-2156 force landed on Hisiu Beach after running low on fuel in poor visibility. The aircraft was flown out to Port Moresby two days later. Photo: Bill Fairbank.

F-4 #41-2220

This airframe was not named while with 8th PRS, and it is assumed that it was the same in 75 Sqn service. It also retained it's 'Haze' colours with unit codes '20' ('last two' of the serial) in White on each outer tail fin and engine cowling. It had '220' on the nose cone in large White numbers (8 PRS usually repeated the 'last two of the USAAF serial on the nose but this airframe used three). Fuselage roundels are again RAAF B/W roundels with White bars (seemingly painted over the original USAAF cocardes and bars). The wings also had standard RAAF roundels above and below each wing (see photos), thus I assume there are markings in all six positions. The spinners appear to be three colours, dark tips and rears, with light coloured centres while with the RAAF (I will suggest Dark Blue, White with Red tips but there are other possibilities also).

F-4 Lightning #41-2220 flown by Flight Lieutenant 'Buster' Brown) when they were ferried from Port Moresby to Turnbull Strip. Photo: via AHMWA.

.

g=F-4 Lightning #41-2220 note the upper wing roundel visible.
h=F-4 Lightning #41-2220 at Rockhampton while attached to No. 75 Squadron RAAF in 1943. Photo: Judith Salecich.
i=F-4 Lightning #41-2220 being serviced at No. 75 Squadron RAAF in 1943. The camera on the truck is a Fairchild K-18. Photo: Judith Salecich.
j=F-4 Lightning #41-2220 with Clark Sykes in the cockpit at Fourteen Mile. Photo: Bill Fairbank.

F-4 #41-2130 'Malaria Mabel'

There are images of several other airframes which have been associated with 75 Sqn on either the Adastron website or AWM image captions. I will give my suggestions as to the situation with them, which differs a bit from the info given in those sources.

k=Copy of a page from Geoff Atherton's photo album taken during the period when the initial 75 Sqn personnel were under training, showing 'Malaria Mabel' and 'Map Happy Pappy'. Photo Geoff Atherton.
l=#41-2130 'Malaria Mabel' with a group of 75 Sqn and 8 PRS personnel during the training period. 'Buster' Brown 2nd from left and Geoff Atherton 2nd from right. Photo Geoff Atherton.
m=The four RAAF pilots undertaking F-4 conversion sitting on the wings of #41-2130 'Malaria Mabel'. Photo Geoff Atherton.

F-4 #41-2130 'Map Happy Pappy'

The serial of this one is not known but it served with 8 PRS and was apparently used as one of the training airframes.

n=Again the page from Geoff Atherton's photo album taken during the period when the initial 75 Sqn personnel were under training, showing 'Map Happy Pappy'. Photo Geoff Atherton.
o=Enlargement of the image of 'Map Happy Pappy' with a group of 75 Sqn and 8 PRS personnel on the wings during the training period. Photo Geoff Atherton.
p=Image of the starboard side showing that the name 'Map Happy Pappy' was carried to that side also.

F-4 #41-2144

Another airframe associated with the 75 Sqn training period was F-4 #41-2144. There are several AWM images showing this airframe being used for training 75 Sqn ground crew in July 1943. On the Adastron website they are confused with #41-2156 due to both of them having #44 painted on the nose cone. But a close inspection of the images show some differences leading to the conclusion that they are not of the same aircraft. The paintwork surrounding the number '44' is quite different. Another important point is that the close up image of the camera window in the side of the fuselage shows the window being placed on an oval panel. #41-2156 is not like that, it just has a rectangular opening, in fact I did not see any other 8 PRS airframe with that odd oval panel (it likely is a panel over a repaired area). I believe that this one is actually #41-2144.

og0566=First of a batch of AWM images showing RAAF ground personnel undertaking training on the F-4. I believe this is #41-2144. Photo AWM.
og0567=Note the oval shaped panel behind the rectangular camera port. #41-2156 (or any other 8 PRS F-4 airframe) does not have this. Photo AWM.
og0568=Also on OG0566 & 0568 note the overpainted area behind the #44 on the nose cone. This is different to #41-2156 which also has #44 there. Photo AWM.
og0579=For these reasons I beleve this airframe and #41-2156 are not the same. Photo AWM.

Apparently that was not the end of the association of #41-2144 with the RAAF. While the main page on A55-3 on the Adastron site links it to #41-2122 as that is what is notated on the Aircraft History Card, a later amendment (http://www.lockheed.adastron.com/lightning/44.htm) presents newer information showing it to actually be #41-2144 (likely this airframe was substituted at the last minute and the records did not catch up with the facts). Supporting this are the following two images, the first a document showing #41-2144 going to 1 PRU (along with #41-2158/A55-1 and #41-2159/A55-2). Secondly the attached image of A55-3 in 1 PRU service shows it had #44 on the nose cone, same as #41-2144.

q=The RAAF document extract referred to.
r=RAAF personnel loading camera magazines in Lockheed F-4 Lightning. Darwin area c.1944-45. Photo AWM P00727.004.

This concludes the interesting history of F-4 Lightnings with 75 Sqn RAAF. Hopefully one day we can do a followup on their use with 1 PRU. (Steve Mackenzie).

Use the index button to return to the main issue 37/3 index.