COMMONWEALTH AIRCRAFT WIRRAWAY - In April 1938, the North American NA-16 advanced trainer was adopted for manufacture in Australia, becoming the first project for Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation. Named the Wirraway, first Australian-built example flew on March 27, 1939, and production by CAC totalled 755, with deliveries spread from July 1939 to June 1942 and then from November 1943 to July 1946. Total included 233 funded by Britain to support Empire Air Training Scheme. Production batches identified by different CAC charge numbers, but with few external changes and mostly minor improvements. Mark numbers seldom used, but comprised: Wirraway I, 40 CA-1; Wirraway II, 60 CA-3, 32 CA-5, 100 CA-7, 200 CA-8 and 188 CA-9; and finally Wirraway III, 135 CA-16. The Wirraway was powered by 600 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340-S1H1G Wasp (most of which were built by CAC) and basic specification included two Vickers Mk V 0.303-in (7.7-mm) machine guns in the upper front fuselage and a third (Mk I) gun on a mount in the rear cockpit. Up to 1,000 Ib (454 kg) of bombs (or 1,500 lb/ 680 kg in Wirraway III) carried on wing racks, and practice bombs under centre section. Classified as a general purpose type, Wirraway served in numerous roles, including light/dive bombing, coastal patrol and advanced training. Service use with RAAF began with No 12 Sqn in September 1939 at Darwin, engaged on coastal patrols, and then No 21 (GP) Sqn in 1940 in Singapore, seeing service against Japanese forces invading the Malayan Peninsula in December 1941. Six more squadrons flying Wirraways
operationally by January 1942, including No 24 engaged in defence of Rabaul. Army co-operation added to Wirraway's roles in 1942, and No 4 (AC) Sqn operated in New Guinea in 1942/43. In training role, Wirraways equipped several Service Flying Training Schools as part of EATS through out war.

Max speed, 220 mph (354 km/h) at 5,000 ft (1,524 m). Rate of climb, 1,950 ft/min (9.9 ml sec). Service ceiling, 23,000 ft (7,010 m). Range, 720 mis (1,158 km). Empty weight, 3,992 lb (1,811 kg). Gross weight, 6,595 lb (2,991 kg). Span, 43 ft 0 in (13.1 m). Length, 27ft 10 in (8.48 m). Wing area, 255.8 sqft (23.8 m2).