Strana 73
A29-512, S/L Adam H. Brydon, No. 78 Squadron (RAAF), Noemfoor Island, 1944
FX835, Kittyhawk Mk.IV, No. 450 Sqn RAAF, Italy, Spring 1944
Adam Howie “Curley” Brydon was born on April
14, 1921, in Armidale, and at the age of 18, the day
after Australia entered the war, he enlisted in
the RAAF. A year later, he became a member of
No. 1 Squadron, where he flew Hudson bombers.
It was the first Australian unit to fight outside its
home territory, and on August 1, 1943, he became
its commander. At the age of 22, he was the
youngest Squadron Leader in the Australian Air
Force. From December 30, 1943, he was a member
of No. 78 Squadron, and from July 1 to October
12, 1944, he commanded the unit. Subsequently,
from July 26, 1945, he was assigned to the Royal
Australian Navy Volunteer Reserve with the rank
of lieutenant and flew Supermarine Seafires on
the aircraft carriers HMS Indefatigable and HMS
Implacable (as a member of the Fleet Air Arm).
In total, he flew 470 operational hours during
138 missions, including 52 attacks on ground
targets. He left the Royal Australian Navy on
July 18, 1946, and devoted himself to car racing.
During his service with No. 78 Squadron, he flew
a total of 19 different Kittyhawks, Pistol Packin’
Mama being one of them. The aircraft, taken
over by the USAAF under number 42-105360,
was decorated with a drawing by Alberto Vargas.
From the photographs, it is clear that this was
a poster clipped from Esquire magazine, which
was apparently stuck to the hood. The dark
border could have been a layer of glue used to
cover the edges.
The Australian No. 450 Squadron was activated
in February 1941 at RAAF Station Williamtown
in New South Wales and became the first
Australian squadron established under the
Empire Air Training Scheme. In February 1942,
it began combat operations with Kittyhawks
and fought in the North African and Tunisian
campaigns over the next 15 months. It performed
both fighter and fighter-bomber roles in support
of ground forces. Its pilots destroyed 49 German
and Italian aircraft, and the unit earned the
nickname “The Desert Harassers.” After the
end of the African campaign, No. 450 Squadron
took part in the invasion of Sicily following the
move to the RAF base at Luqa in Malta on July
13, 1943. This was followed by a move to Sicily
and then to the Italian mainland in December.
The unit flew Kittyhawks until the end of the
war, rearming with Mustangs only after the war
ended in Europe, and was disbanded on August
20, 1945. Kittyhawk FX835 bore the typical
colors of Kittyhawk IVs, which were delivered in
American Olive Drab on the upper surfaces. This
was complemented by Dark Earth camouflage
patches. Both colors were already considerably
faded on this aircraft. The drawing of a girl and
the inscription “No Orchids” on the nose was
painted on a field of fresh Dark Green paint.
The engine cowling with this drawing was used
on several aircraft.
KITS 12/2025
INFO Eduard
73
December 2025