Rawlinson's AM386 'Sweet FA' with ground crew, 3 Squadron, Lydda, Aug 1941. Image AHMWA P031177 via Mike Mirkovic.

AM386 'Sweet FA'

Alan Rawlinson's next 'personal' airframe after AK446 'Blackie' was AM386 which he gave the name 'Sweet FA' (his favoured aircraft name throughout the war). This airframe was taken on charge with 3 Sqn on 01/08/1941 and Alan took it up as 'his' (ignore the claim on the Tomahawk serial listing on ADF Serials that Peter Turnbull shot down 2 Dewoitine D520s on 10/7/1941 (two weeks earlier) in this airframe), that was in AK386, AM386 had not yet joined the unit. It was painted as in my profile attached later. On 22/08/1941 the Starboard horizontal tailplane broke off during aerobatics, forcing Alan Rawlinson to crash land at Rayak. Initially he was going to bail out but experimenting found he could keep control of some sort if he kept his speed up. He landed 'hot' and all went well until he ran into a ditch (at low speed) at the end of his run. This saved a valuable airframe which went for repair.

The tailplane of AM386 after landing his damaged aircraft (note P12424.052 is flipped horizontally on the AWM site). Images AWM P12424.051 & 2

More images of AM386 after the crash landing. Images Coffs Harbour Library mus07-8731a, Ces Tillgren via Doug Norrie, Alan Rawlinson.

Several more images of AM386 in happier times. Images Alan Rawlinson.

Following are some images of non identified airframes, serials can't be read and no individual names, which still show the typical markings..

Likely Syria One of our Tommies. A Tomahawk flown by pilots of No. 3 Squadron, RAAF. AWM P12424.075.

Likely Syria l-r 270530 Edward Hamilton Bell Jackson, 62739 LAC Stan McDonnell and John Francis Jackson, in front of a Tomahawk. AWM P12424.086.

The mobile radio unit of No. 3 Squadron RAAF operating at Rosh Pinna, Palestine IWM (CM 1009).

And finally a bit of Aussie humour. I have seen a similar sign for the other Flight which said something like 'The hydraulics - will lift anything' but could not locate a copy when I needed to. B Flight ('Clifty-Kings'), No. 3 Squadron RAAF sign in front of the Tomahawk flown by Squadron Leader (Sqn Ldr) John Francis Jackson. AWM P12424.055.

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