Vultee Vengeance

Vultee Vengeance

12 Squadron RAAF Dutch New Guinea Dec 1943
Vengeance aircraft on Nadzab strip in New Guinea - Feb 1943.
History
Type	Dive bomber
Role	Army ground support
Manufacturer	Vultee Aircraft, Northrop Corporation
Produced	USA
Number built	1,931
Primary users	USAAF, USN, RAF, RAAF
Out of service	1946

Remarks

Australian received 342 Vengeance aircraft - 99 Mark 1s, 122 mark IIs, and 121 Mark IVs. They were flown by Nos 12, 21, 23, 24, 25 Squadrons and RAAF Communication Units Nos 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9. Some of these planes had already seen service with the USAAF, and the majority were received after April 1943 after the threat of Japanese invasion had receded. By late 1942 it had been recognised that the Vengeance was obsolete, and by March 1943 the front line Squadrons had returned to Australia to re-equip with more suitable aircraft. No 12 Squadron was the last to leave New Guinea, remaining at Merauke until July 1944. No.25 Squadron was he last RAAF combat unit to operate Vengeance aircraft in an anti-submarine role out of RAAF Pearce in WA until January 1945 when it also converted to Liberator aircraft.

The RAAF Communications Units then used the Vengeance for light transport and training tasks in addition to being used as aerial target tugs.

General characteristics

• Crew: two - Pilot, navigator/gunner
• Length: 12.12 m
• Wingspan: 14.63 m
• Height: 4.67 m
• Empty weight: 4,411 kg
• Max takeoff weight: 6,486 kg
• Powerplant: 1 x Wright Twin Cyclone 14 cylinder radial air cooled engine 1,600 hp
• Maximum speed: 443 km/h
• Range: 2,253 km
• Service ceiling: 6,860 m
• Armament
• Guns: 4 x 7.6mm Browning machine guns in wings; 2 x 7.6mm or .303 machine guns in rear cockpit
• Bombs:Internal 2x 230kg bombs; 2 x 110 kg bombs on wing racks.

Ground Crew No. 12 Squadron RAAF

• Ivan Lindsay Dunn 5 May - 25 Nov 1943

Ground Crew No. 25 Squadron

• Ivan Lindsay Dunn 11 Apr - 22 Dec 1944