The Westland Lysander in 3 Sqn RAAF Service (Page 2)
DRAWINGS
Now for a look at the schemes for a number of individual airframes:
L4684
Photos featuring Fred Inger & John Kerr
This is probably the best-photographed of the 3 Sqn examples that I have. The unusual aspect is the style of national insignia - roundels much smaller than on the others but with over-sized fin stripes (actually they are so large that the word stripes is hardly applicable anymore) which take up all the fin apart from the rudder. Also interesting in the first photo at top of page is the short-haired Fred Inger who, although a Fitter here, later trained as a pilot and flew Mk.VIII Spitfires with 457 Sqn.
Lysander Mk.I, L4684, Helwan, 1940.
Temperate camouflage of Dark Earth and Dark Green upper surfaces with Sky Blue lower surfaces.
Spinner drawn Dark Green (could be either camo. colour) with serials in Black.
The remaining four photos are all from John Kerr. Note that John's photos were taken on film similar to 'ortho' which causes the outer Yellow ring in the roundel to appear dark in colour and the upper surface colours (Dark Green & Dark Earth) to show greater contrast than usual. Photos J. Kerr.
P9195
Both Photos A. Rawlinson
These two photographs of P9195 were taken it is believed at Helwan again by Alan Rawlinson. He flew this machine on several occasions. Once again the film type has led to the outer Yellow portion of the roundel almost disappearing (believe me it is there) and the two upper surface colours virtually merging into one.
Lysander Mk.II, P9195, Helwan, 1940.
Temperate camouflage of Dark Earth and Dark Green upper surfaces with Sky Blue lower surfaces. Spinner drawn Dark Green
(could be either camo colour) with serials in Black.
P9192
This aircraft is camouflaged virtually identically to P9195 above (right down to the wavy demarcation to the under surface camo which is a sure sign of a local repaint - to Sky Blue). The photo by Jack Hamilton on page 1 gives a good view of the additional bomb racks carried under the rear fuselage (not on my drawing).
Lysander Mk.II, P9192, Gerawla, 1940.
Temperate camouflage of Dark Earth and Dark Green upper surfaces with Sky Blue lower surfaces. Spinner drawn Black
(looks very dark in the heading photo on page 1) with serials in Black.
P9197
The first photograph of P9197 was taken at Ismailia in Sep 1940 when it was newly delivered (this was reputedly the first airframe delivered to 3 Sqn). The other photo shows P9197 carrying the 'OS' unit codes which are known to have been used on the Hurricanes used after Feb 1941.
Both Photos J. HamiltonSome historians have tried to dismiss the 'OS' codes as having belonged to some unit other than 3 Sqn RAAF. This is obviously incorrect as the two known Hurricanes came from different units (see the Hurricane article elsewhere in this issue) and P9197 had always been with 3 Sqn from Sep 1940.
Lysander Mk.II, P9197, Benina, Feb 1941.
Temperate camouflage of Dark Earth and Dark Green upper surfaces with Sky Blue lower surfaces. Spinner drawn Red as it looks good
(could be any dark colour) with serials in Black. Code letters are in a light Grey colour.
Acknowledgments: Thanks to Alan Rawlinson, John Kerr, Jack Hamilton & Fred Inger who supplied most of the photos
used in these pages many years ago. One other photo is from the 3 Sqn Archives at Williamtown.