airfields

Lores Bonney was an active Qld aviator of the time. She would have been an inspiration for others.

For what it's worth, the VH registration looks like VH-UHQ. Which takes me to these two links: www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austu/VH-UHQ.html. The aircraft was later re-registered as VH-AAQ - the story is here www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austa/VH-AAQ.html The ladies name is mentioned as a Miss Betty Faux. The majority of aircraft in Australia's early years were registered VH-U followed by two other letters.. trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/56441499?searchTerm=betty faux

This is Ivy May Pearce.

I would love to update our information to the State Library of Queensland One Search catalogue, with more relevant information. However I have three women mentioned for this photograph Maude Rose (Lores) Bonney, Ivy May Pearce and Miss Betty Faux. Can you please provide more information Graham and Sharyn as to why you believe this is Betty Faux or Ivy May Pearce.

Thank you for your help. The lady in this image has been identified as Pilot Ivy Pearce Hassard and our records will be updated.

The aircraft in the photo is not a JN-4 "Jenny", But a SPAD 13. This was a French build Scout/Fighter of World War 1. It was Manufactured by the French Aircraft Company Societe Pour L'Aviation et ses Derives (SPAD). This Aircraft can be identified as a SPAD 13 rather than the SPAD 7 due to the presents of 2 Vickers machine guns seen on the top of the engine cowl in recessed pits, the SPAD 7 had but a single machine gun. This aircraft type was used extensively by the French Airforce during the War producing such ACES like the famous Georges Guynemer (SPAD 7/13) and was flown and equiped the American famous Lafayette Escadrille Squadron, which is why or likely why this aircraft found its way to Camp Rathbun.

petemillair Thanks for the clarification!

I suspect these guys might be working on the motors from a Lockheed P-38 Lightning...the Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk/Warhawk had a very different air intake, etc...I'm guessing, but I suspect they're USAAF rather than RAAF...possibly the 49th Fighter Group...someone who knows about their operational history might be able to confirm this or add info re a possible location...they were briefly at Darwin in 1942...

Pic 25 of this series shows a row of P-38's lined up...if you zoom in you can see the match-ups...

collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/record/YezElR29/gpLqLxERm44ye

www.flickr.com/photos/193158484@N02/51754273338 - couple of P-40's here...as you can see, they're a different animal...

🔥 😮 ~~

covid convict I'll update with a ? on the P-38s for the moment. Thanks for helping out.

Nice detail of a P-38 that looks like a good match - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_P-38_Lightning#/media/File...
And see main article - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_P-38_Lightning

I tend to agree with 'covid convict', the US 49th Fighter Group were equiped with the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk while stationed in Australia before moving to New Guinea in Oct 1942. In September 1944, the group was re-equipped completely with Lockheed P-38 Lightning aircraft, providing a possible date for the photo, and following the same train of thought, the location is likely to be Port Moresby. Although only a month later they were located to the Philippines - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/49th_Fighter_Group

The other observation that may support covid convict's USAF ID is the head gear, Aussie aircraftsmen would probably be wearing the standard issue slouch hat not a baseball cap.

All looks plausible - I will update the entry and thanks for the links.