KITS 06/2022

MA654, F/Lt Kevin F. Gannon, No. 615 Squadron,

Palel, India, July 1944

Kevin Francis Gannon was born on February 10, 1920

in Mareeba, Queensland. Before the war he served in

police as a cadet. On October 11, 1940 he enlisted in

the RAAF and after he finished his training he was

dispatched to No. 615 Squadron in Burma. From November 1943 till June 1944 he scored two confirmed

kills of the Japanese aircraft, one probable and three

damaged. He achieved his last success flying Spit-

fire MA654 destroying Ki-43 Oscar fighter. Spitfires

supplied to India sported Day Fighter Scheme camouflage. Upon their arrival in India the Ocean Grey

pattern was oversprayed in Earth Brown.

BS295 (A58-20), W/Cdr Clive R. Caldwell,

No. 1 Wing RAAF, Strauss Airstrip,

Australia, March-June 1943

Clive "Killer" Caldwell was the most successful Australian pilot of WWII (28.5 kills). After his promotion

to command No. 1 Fighter Wing based in Darwin he

followed the RAF custom of the personal aircraft

identification. He flew three Spitfires Mk.Vc (BS295,

BS234 and JL394). Most of his seven victories over

Japanese aircraft were scored in BS295. The aircraft

carried the camouflage of Foliage Green/Dark Earth/

Azure Blue and the code letters were replaced with

pilot's name initials CR-C. Wing Commander flag was

painted under the canopy.

A58-145 (EE852), F/Lt Llewellyn Wettenhall,

No. 79 Squadron RAAF, Kiriwina,

Trobriand Islands, December 1943

Spitfire flown by F/Lt Llewellyn Wettenhall within

No. 79 Squadron RAAF in the fall of 1943 carried the

name "Nipponese" and girl's nose art on the port side.

On December 31, 1943 the pilot's fate was sealed in

60

INFO Eduard

this aircraft when it was lost crossing the south coast of New Britain during the scouting mission of six

Spitfires near this island. After crossing the coast

the formation entered the dense clouds and the unit

lost contact with its leader. F/Lt Wettenhall has never

been seen again.

June 2022