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wdolson -> RE: Wirraway aircraft (9/17/2009 12:33:02 AM)
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The Australians saw that the UK was not going to be able to provide them with enough aircraft when war looked likely with Japan. They saw they needed to develop a domestic aircraft industry and licensed the trainer from North American as their first project. The Wirraway was fairly maneuverable for a bomber, but it was really intended as a stop gap and a training project for the fledgling Australian aircraft industry.
It was pushed into the fighter role a few times early on, usually with disastrous results. As far as maneuverability went, it was probably about the same as the SBD, but had less protection, I think it was lighter armed, and the crews were not as experienced. Before the war, the USN rotated their pilots from one plane type to another, so a lot of the more experienced SBD pilots had experience flying fighters and had some clue about fighter tactics. The Wirraway pilots didn't have any such benefits.
It is a little weird that Australia doesn't have any fighters at start, but the Wirraway wasn't really a fighter and it was all that was available. The Australian fighter pilots were all flying with the RAF in Europe and the Med. Australia had been stripped of their most experienced pilots for the war on the other side of the world.
The Australian government managed to get a Wing of Australians back, but by the time they arrived, the tide had turned and they saw little action. They tried to get into action with the 5th AF, but the Americans tended to exclude non-American units to rear area action by late 43. This short sightedness denied the Allies of some very good units on the front lines.
Bill
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