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The Golden Years of RAAF 1921-1971. A Digger History Associate site.
Planes & Sqns

A History of the Australian Flying Corps and RAAF until 1971

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 Aircraft used by RAAF 1921-1971 & the Squadrons that flew them

Soon after the Royal Australian Air Force was formed on 31 March 1921, Air Board Agenda No. 123 Of 12 August adopted a proposal that 'a distinctive system of numbering' be used for RAAF aircraft and engines; the prefix A was chosen for aircraft and B for engines. For aircraft a sequential number was associated with the A prefix to identify different designs. This was then followed, after a dash, by a series number for individual machines. Thus the first aircraft type, the D.H.9A, of which there were 30 machines were numbered A1-1 to A1-30. This simple identification system, which is exclusive to the RAAF, has operated for fifty years. During this period the A series numbers have re-commenced twice. Consequently, the following tables cover the periods 1921-34, 1935-60, and 1961-71.

FIRST SERIES 1921-34
Prefix   Serials Total  Aircraft Remarks
A1 1-30  30 Airco D.H.9A Gift aircraft.
A2 1-36  35 Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a Gift aircraft. A2-2 became A2-36 (trainer).
A3 1-45  45 Avro 504K 33 gift aircraft. 12 ex Aus. Air Corps.
46-47 2 Avro 504L Gift aircraft. Seaplane version.
48-53 6 Avro 504K Built in Australia 1922.   
A4  1-11  11 Sopwith Pup Ex-Aus. Air Corps.
A5 - 1 Vickers Vimy To Commonwealth Govt. as G-EAOU.
1-9 9 Westland Wapiti Introduced 1928. Mod. to IIA.
10-38 29 Westland Wapiti IIA A5-37 Antarctic seaplane.
A6 1-28 28 Airco D.H.9 Gift aircraft.
A7 1-2 2  D.H. Cirrus Moth Introduced 1925.
3-24  22 Cirrus Moth  Introduced 1928.
25 Gipsy Moth Introduced 1929-30. Refer 2nd series.
A8 1 1 D.H.50A Used as a seaplane and landplane.
- D.H.50A Used 5/31-5/32 as VH-UAB
A9  1-6 6 Supermarine Seagull III Introduced 1925. Fleet co-operation.
7-9 3 Supermarine Seagull III Introduced 1927. Fleet co-operation.
A10  1-6 6 Fairey HID Seaplane Ex-ANA 1-6 (naval numbers).
A11  1-2 2 Supermarine Southampton Introduced 1928.
A12  1-8 8 Bristol Bulldog 11 Introduced 1930.
1 Wackett Widgeon I Introduced 1925 Registered G-AEKB.
1 Wackett Widgeon 11 Introduced 1928.
1 Wackett Warrigal I Introduced 1929.
1 Wackett Warrigal 11 Introduced 1930.

SECOND SERIES 1935-60
A1 1-54  54  Hawker Demon I  Introduced 1935.
55-64 10  Hawker Demon 11  Introduced 1936.
A2 1-24  24  Supermarine Seagull V  Introduced 1935.
- 37  Supermarine Walrus  Retained RAF serial numbers.
A3  1-2 2  D.H. Dragon Rapide  Introduced 1935- Phased out 1938-
1-2 2  CAC C.A.2 Wackett  Became A3-1001, 1002, Trainer C.A.2A.
1-200 200 C.A.6 Wackett Trainer
A4 1-48 48  Avro Anson GR1
969  Avro Anson T1 Retained RAF serial numbers.
1 Avro Anson XII  Retained RAF serial number.
2 Avro Anson XIX  Retained RAF serial numbers.
A5 39-44  6  Westland Wapiti II  Ex-RAF. Refer 1st series.
A6 1-34 34  Avro Cadet II
A7 -122  98 D.H. Gipsy Moth (G, GIII, M, X)  Continued from 1st series. 48 impressed ex-civil.
A8 1-364 364 DAP Beaufighter 21
A9 1001  1 Bristol Beaufort I  Prototype, ex-RAF L4448.
1-180 180 DAP Beaufort V-VII  Includes Mk V, Va, VI,VII.
181-700 520 DAP Beaufort VIII  46 Mk IX (Renumbered A9-701/746).
A10  1 1 D.H-50A Impressed; ex VH-UAB.
A11 1-56  56 Auster AOP III
60-61 2 Auster AOP V
200-201 2 Auster AOP Mk VI Antarctic versions.
300-301 2 Auster Autocar To RAN.
A12 Bristol Bulldog  Refer 1st series. Retired 1940.
A13 1 Bristol Bulldog  AO Link Trainer. Refer 3rd series.
A14 1-7  6 Wackett Gannet A14-1 renumbered A14-7
A15 1 1 Miles Magister  Trials only.
A16 1-247 247 Lockheed Hudson Includes Mk 1, 11, 111, IV.
A17 1-784  784 D.H. Tiger Moth U.K. and Aust. built.
-  101 Tiger Moth  Retained RAF serials.
A18  - 9 Short Sunderland I  Retained RAF serials.
10-14 5 Short Empire  Impressed.
A19 1-218 218 Bristol Beaufighter U.K.-built. Includes 1, IV, V1, X, X1.
A20 1 1 North American NA-16 Fixed U/C prototype.
2 1 North American NA-33 Retractable U/C prototype.
3-757 755 CAC Wirraway  Includes CA-1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 16.
A21 1-42  42 D.H. Moth Minor
A22  - 366 Fairey Battle  Retained RAF serials.
A23 1001 1 CAC Woomera CA-4  Prototype.
1 1 CAC Woomera CA-11 Production.
A24 1-114 114 Consolidated Catalina Includes PBY5, 5A, 5A(M).
200-206 7 Consolidated Catalina PB2B-1
Consolidated Catalina PB2B-2
350-386 37 Consolidated Catalina PB2B-2R
A25 - 391 Airspeed Oxford  Retained RAF serials
A26  1-6 6 Short Sunderland III  Earlier A26 Boeing B-17E order cancelled
A27 1-99 99  Vultee Vengeance I, IA
200-321  122 Vultee Vengeance II
400-422 23 Vultee Vengeance IVA
500-549 50 Vultee Vengeance IV
560-566  7 Vultee Vengeance IV 
600-640 41 Vultee Vengeance IV
A28 1-40 40 Douglas Boston Includes A-20C, A-20A
50-78 29 Douglas Boston A-20G
A29  1-205  205 Curtiss Kittyhawk Includes P-40E, P-40K
300-389 90 Curtiss Kittyhawk P-40M
400-587 88 Curtiss Kittyhawk P-40N
600-704 105 Curtiss Kittyhawk P-40N
800-828 29 Curtiss Kittyhawk P-40N
1000-1079 80 Curtiss Kittyhawk P-40N
1100-1221 122 Curtiss Kittyhawk P-40N
A30    1-4 4  Douglas DC3  Impressed. Returned to civil.
5-14  10 Douglas DC2  Ex-U.S. civil.
A31 1-8 8 D.H. 86 Includes six D.H.86As-two D.H.8611s.
A32 1-2 2 Percival Vega Gull  Impressed -Gull i and 6.
A33 1-7 7 D.H.89 Dragon Rapide  Impressed.
A34 1-11 11 D.H.84 Dragon                 Dragon I and II. Impressed.
12-98 87 D.H.84 Dragon Australian built.
A35 1-4 4 Douglas Dolphin
A36 1-4  4 Fairchild 24 Impressed. Three R models, one G model
A37 1-6 6 Miles aircraft Impressed. One Merlin, three Falcons, two Hawks.
A38 1 1 Stinson Reliant Impressed.
1 Stinson Sentinel  Ex-U.S.A.F., 99129 on loan.
A39 1-3 3 Beechcraft 17 Impressed.
A40  1 1 Cessna C-34 Airmaster  Impressed.
A41 1-4 4 D.H. Fox Moth  Impressed.
A42  1 1 Lockheed Vega  Impressed.
A43 1  1 D.H.90 Dragonfly  Impressed.
A44 1  1 Junkers G-31  Impressed.
2 1 Junkers W-34f  Impressed.
3 1 Junkers W-34d Impressed.
A45 1 1 Ford 5-AT-C  Impressed.
2 1 Ford 4-AT-E  Impressed.
A46 1-105 105 CAC Boomerang CA- 12.
106-200 95 CAC Boomerang CA-13-
201-249 49 CAC Boomerang CA-19
1001 1 CAC Boomerang CA-14/14A  prototype.
A47  1-50 50 North American Mitchell B-25D, B-25J.
A48  1-18 18  Vought-Sikorsky Kingfisher
A49 1-6 6 Dornier DO 24K  Ex-Dutch East Indies.
A50 1-34 34 Ryan Trainer ST-M and ST-M-S2 versions.
A51 1-17 17 Brewster Buffalo
A52 1-212 212 D.H.98 Mosquito  Includes FB-40, PR.40, FB-42.
300-327 28 D.H.98 Mosquito P.R-41
500-537 38 D.H.98 Mosquito  FB.V1.
600-622 23 D.H.98 Mosquito PR.XV1
1001  1 D.H.98 Mosquito F.11
1002-15 14 D.H.98 Mosquito T.111
1050-1071 22 D.H.98 Mosquito T-43
A53  1-22  22 Bell Airacobra P-39 D/F.
A54 1 1 Waco YQC-6   Impressed. Returned to civil.
A55 1-3 3 Lockheed Lightning F-5.
A56  1-8 8 Republic Lancer  Includes P-43A, P-43D.
A57 1001 1 D.H.A.-1 Glider Ex-de Havilland EG-1.
1002 1 D.H.A.-2 Glider Ex-de Havilland EG-2. 
1 *-6 6 D.H.A.-2 Glider A57-1 became Suction Wing Glider*.
A58 1-185 185  Supermarine Spitfire V
200-259 60 Supermarine Spitfire V
300-550  251 Supermarine Spitfire FVIII
600-758  159 Supermarine Spitfire HFVIII
A59 1-20 20 Lockheed Ventura B-34  Ex-U.S.A.F.
50-63 14 Lockheed Ventura PV-1  Ex-U.S.N.
64-104 41 Lockheed Ventura B-37  Ex-U.S.A.A.F.
A60  -   1 Hawker Hurricane 1 Retained RAF serial V7476.
A61 Northrop Delta D-1 Impressed.
A62 1001 1 CAC CA-15  Prototype.
A63 - 3  Bombing Teacher/ Celestial Nav. Trainer.
A64  3 Vultee Vigilant Operated ex-U.S.A.A.F.
A65 1-124 124 Douglas Dakota Includes C-47, C-47A, B, D. 4 to R.A.N.
A66 1-2 2 Avro Lancaster III  A66-2 to AWM as W4783-
A67 1-10 10 Lockheed Lodestar
A68 1-200 200 CAC Mustang Includes CA-17, CA-18.
500-583  84 North American Mustang  P-51 K.
600-813  214 Nth A/can Mustang P-51 D.
1001  1 Nth A/can Mustang P-51 D.
A69 1-10 10 Curtiss Shrike U.S.A.A.F. version of naval Helldiver.
A70 1-12 12 Martin Mariner PBM-3-
A71 1-14  14 Noorduy Norseman Ten to civil post war.
A72 1-13  13 Consolidated Liberator Includes B-24D, B-24J
31-68 38 Consolidated Liberator B-24J
69-142 74 Consolidated Liberator B-24L
143-148 6 Consolidated Liberator B-24M
300-405 106 Consolidated Liberator B-24J/R
Consolidated Liberator C.87. Retained RAF serial BW63
Consolidated Liberator C-87 Callsign VH-CBL
A73 1-5 5 Avro Lincoln  Imported in component form.
6-24 19 GAF Lincoln Mk 30
25-54 30 GAF Lincoln Mk 30A
55-73 19 GAF Lincoln Mk 31  Long-nose maritime version.
A74 - 1 Avro York Retained RAF serial 'MW140-
A75 - 1 Percival Proctor IV  Retained RAF serial NP336.
A76 - 2 Boeing Washington Retained RAF serials WW'353-354. Order for Avro Tudors A76-1/12
cancelled.
A77 1 1 Gloster Meteor F-4  Ex-RAF EE427
701-707 7 Gloster Meteor T-7
2  1 Gloster Meteor T-7
3 1 Gloster Meteor NF.1 1