WIX Archives
Re: Woomera Test Site
Posted by bertie on Tue Jul 09, 2002 04:00:57 PM
In reply top Re: Woomera Test Site posted by bertie on Tue Jul 09, 2002 03:46:33 PM
: : A number of Supermarine Swifts were positioned out there
: f
: : or the tests.
: There were certainly no Mustangs or any aother aircraft at
: the Emu Site in 1987. They were all cleared away, intact
: as well. And not as 'hot' as you would imagine.
:
: See article in 'Warbirds Journal' Jan 1999 titled 'Operati
: on Totem Mustangs'.
Well, here goes!
Summary: 6 Mustangs to Emu site in Apr 53. Idea was to position them a distance away from the (small) blast to determine the damage they would suffer. Nukes come in all sizes and not just Hiroshima size! Pegs were inserted on the ground underneath to see if they moved, and photographic film placed in cockpits to determine flash effects. Also, 'pebble dash' effects were noted. They all survived the tests.
May 67, Dept of Supply put out tenders for the ac. One group was successful, and decided to restore to fly A68-1 (c/n 1326) the first Australian built P 51.
The ac flew (yup!) from Emu to Coober Pedy and a permit was requested for the ferry flt from there to Adelaide. Oddly, the official in charge of issuing the permit was the ac's original test pilot!!
Reg'd as VH-EMQ in '67. Last heard of as N51WB owned by Gary Levitz and raced at Reno.
The other airframes were towed to the rail head and spirited to the US, believed to have been used in the Cavalier project rebuilds.
Does this help?