Vultee Vengeance
From Our Contribution
 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 |
Contents
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 Communication 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.
Crew members
Ground Crew
No. 12 Squadron RAF
- Ivan Lindsay Dunn 5 May - 25 Nov 1943
No. 21 Squadron RAAF
- Avon William Mills 13 Sep 1943 - 20 Jul 1944
No. 25 (City of Perth) Squadron RAAF
- Ivan Lindsay Dunn 11 Apr - 22 Dec 1944
No. 7 Operational Training Unit RAAF
- Frederick Matthew Howlett 26 Aug 1944 - 23 Apr 1945
No. 7 Communication Unit RAAF
- Stanley Gordon Devereux 18 Dec 1943 - 17 Mar 1946