RAAF Piper Cub

[Lang]

cliff,

If you want to pm me I will give you all you need on this cub. I restored two of them in the 80's. The exact copy of the one in your photo VH-LIV is at Caboolture (you can rent it if you have a licence)

4 Squadron had either 3 or 4 of them in the Lae-Markham Valley area (where your photo was taken) I talked to the Army captain in the photo, the RAAF Sgt pilot was killed in an accident in the 1950's (his name was Padge).

US serial numbers were not retained and the aircraft were painted by the RAAF as "official" RAAF planes - see the QE for 4 Squadron. They later painted a couple with just gray enamel with 6 inch brushes and they looked really rough. I have a photo of one marked "Bullshit Bomber"

None of the cubs was on official Australian charge but organised by Sqn Ldr Munroe the OC on a deal with the yanks. I also have a picture of all the cubs burning in a grass fire at Nadzab airfield. The fire was threatening the bomb dump and you can see the blokes trying to save the dump while ignoring the burning cubs.

Photo attached of me and Bev flying VH-LIV into Watts Bridge a couple of years ago.

Lang