A77-851, Koreon War Veteran
The nose of A77-851 at South Australian Aviation museum (Nigel Daw)
WK683 was handed over to the RAAF on 16 July 1952 and arrived in Australia on 29 July 1952. It was allocated to 91 Wing who took delivery on 28 August 1952. In March 1953 it arrived in Korea and served with 77 Squadron. On 27th March 1953 it destroyed a MiG 15 in combat while being flown by George Hale. Another ‘probable’ kill was recorded to the aircraft. Its Korean service included taking part in 77 Squadron’s last strike.
The aircraft returned to Australia on board HMAS Sydney in December 1954. It was allotted to 23 Squadron on 24 August 1956. It suffered damage on 01 March 1957 when the ejection seat drogue gun inadvertently fired. The aircraft was repaired and later allotted to WRE at RAAF Edinburgh on 17 October 1960. Fairey Aviation converted it to a U21 model. It was received by 1 ATU (TAS) 25 March 1963 but soon after crashed on landing at Woomera during an unmanned trial flight. The remains were disposed of to Brown’s metal recyclers in Adelaide but the nose section was retained in Woomera. The Museum received the aircraft from the Warbirds Museum Mildura in 1990.
The cockpit of A77-851 is displayed at the South Australian Aviation museum in Port Adelaide.