ADF/SERIALS
Australian &
New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History
RAAF A73 Avro/GAF Lincoln Mk.30 & Mk.31
Government Aircraft Factory (GAF) monthly Lincoln production reports (from August 1951to October 1953)
This is the data from the monthly production reports, which consist of a written report and a table setting out expected, actual and cumulative production. The reports to April 1953 are signed by V. F. Letcher, Director of Aircraft Production. From May 1953 signed by S. C. Wheetman for Assistant Secretary (Aircraft Production)
August 1951
One Lincoln aircraft to a
total of 62 was competed by the GAF during August. Delivery,
however, was not to be made to the RAAF since this and the 11 aircraft
remaining to complete the project plus eight aircraft to be returned
by the RAAF are to be converted for GR purposes. Table says 0 produced
this month, cumulative production total 61.
September 1951
No Lincoln aircraft were delivered to the RAAF by the GAF
during September, total deliveries being 61 at the end of the month.
Since the 12 aircraft remaining to complete the project are to be
converted for GR purposes before delivery together with eight aircraft
to be returned by the RAAF for that purpose, it is not anticipated
that further Lincoln aircraft will be delivered before March 1952. Table
says 0 produced this month, cumulative production total 61.
October 1951
As was explained in the
preceding report, it is not anticipated that further deliveries of
Lincoln aircraft will be made by the GAF until March 1952 since
aircraft beyond No. 61, which was delivered during September 1951, to
the total of 73 are to be converted for GR purposes before delivery to
the RAAF together with eight more Lincoln aircraft to be returned
by the RAAF from service. Table says 0 produced this month,
no cumulative production total given.
November 1951
No deliveries of Lincoln
aircraft were made by the GAF during November. Further
deliveries beyond aircraft No. 61 will not, it is anticipated, be made
until March 1952 approximately since subsequent aircraft, up to the
project total of 73, together with eight aircraft to be returned from RAAF
service, are to be converted for GR purposes before delivery. Table
says 0 produced this month, cumulative production total 61.
December 1951
No further Lincoln bomber
aircraft beyond the 61st which was delivered to the RAAF in July 1951,
will be delivered by the GAF until March, 1952, since the 12 remaining
to complete the project, together with eight to be returned from service
by the RAAF are to be extensively modified for GR purposes. Manufacture
of the extra fuselage units and details required for the modifications
progressed during December. Table says 0 produced this
month, cumulative production total 61
January 1952
Manufacture of the extra
fuselage units and details required for the conversion for GR purposes
of Lincoln bomber aircraft beyond aircraft No. 61 proceeded at the GAF
during January. Delivery of the converted aircraft will be
delayed beyond the scheduled date because certain essential airframe
equipment cannot be obtained in time from the United Kingdom. Table
says 0 produced this month, cumulative production total 61.
February 1952
During February arrangements proceeded at the GAF for the
conversion for GR purposes of the twelve Lincoln aircraft remaining to
complete this project and of eight more aircraft to be returned by the
RAAF. Certain shortages of parts from overseas will probably make it
necessary to complete the prototype up to the stage of flight trials
and to incorporate the remaining items as the parts become available. Table
says 0 produced this
month,
cumulative production total 61.
Work was continued at the GAF
during March in connection with the conversion for GR purposes of the
12 Lincoln aircraft remaining to complete this project and of eight
more aircraft to be returned from service by the RAAF. Shortages of
parts from overseas had an adverse effect on progress and it will be
necessary to flight test the prototype aircraft in an incomplete
condition because of this. Within the limits of the shortages,
work was done on the 12 new aircraft to complete the
conversion. Table says 0 produced this month, cumulative
production total 61.
April 1952
Shortage of some supplies required by
the GAF for the conversion for GR of the twelve Lincoln aircraft
remaining to complete this project and of eight more aircraft to be
returned from service by the RAAF affected progress during
April. The prototype of the conversion project was completed to
the flight trail stage minus some of the parts stipulated for complete
modification and it is anticipated that the initial flight tests of
this aircraft will commence in June. The cumulative effect of the
shortages has necessitated the preparation of a new delivery schedule
providing for the twenty aircraft to be delivered from July 1952 to
March 1953. Table says 0 produced this month, cumulative
production total 61.
May 1952
During May, ten test flights were
carried out with Lincoln aircraft number 48 which had been converted
by the GAF for GR purposes as the prototype of the conversion project,
involving extensive modifications to the last twelve of the Lincolns
to be delivered to the RAAF in the completion of the production of 73
of these aircraft plus eight aircraft to be returned from
service. The trials were arranged to test the stability of the
aircraft during flight and the effectiveness of the window deflectors
and other fittings. Concurrently with the prototype tests, as much
work as possible, having regard to the non availability of certain
parts from overseas, was done on one aircraft returned by the RAAF and
the remainder of the production aircraft. Table says
0 produced this month, cumulative production total 61
June 1952
Initial flight trials with Lincoln aircraft No, 48, which is
being modified by the GAF as the prototype of the GR conversion
project involving extensive modifications to 20 Lincoln aircraft for
the RAAF, indicated the necessity for minor changes to be effected to
the deflectors and some of the fittings of the aircraft. These
were in progress at June 30. Concurrently, production aircraft
still to be delivered to complete the Lincoln project were being
modified as far as possible having regard to the delays being
experiences in the receipt of supplies from overseas. Table says 0 produced this
month, cumulative production total 61.
July 1952
Apart from certain new requirements of the RAAF in regard to the
conversion of 20 Lincoln aircraft for GR purposes that were in the
course of being engineered at July 31, the main outstanding matter
affecting the delivery of the first few aircraft at that date was the
non availability of parts on order from overseas. Within the limits of
these shortages, as much work as possible was in progress on the
conversion of the aircraft remaining to complete the production
project and on two aircraft that had been returned by the RAAF for
repair and overhaul. Table says 0 produced this month, cumulative
production total 61.
Certain of the items required by the GAF for the conversion of 20
Lincoln aircraft for GR purposes were still undelivered from overseas
and local sources at August 31. In the light of this position,
the RAAF decided to accept delivery of the prototype aircraft
"short fitted" and delivery on this basis will be affected,
it is anticipated, during September.
Subsequent converted aircraft may be accepted by the RAAF on a
similar basis. These developments will necessitate revision of
the delivery schedule for this project. No table included in
report.
Also included
in the file is GAF Report number 80, August 1953, dated 5th September
1952, headed Lincoln Bomber Project.
(a)
Production. The number of aircraft delivered to the RAAF remains
at 61. The remaining 12 are to be converted to GR before
delivery.
(b)
Major modifications, cumulative to 31 July are, 826 submitted to L.M.C,
749 effective aircraft determined, 32 balance under review.
Cumulative to 2nd September, 828 submitted to L.M.C, 802 effective aircraft determined, 26 balance under review.
(c)
Conversion of 20 Lincolns for G.R. The total of 20 is made up of
12 new aircraft still to be delivered plus 8 returned from the RAAF.
There is still a considerable number of shortages from overseas and
local sources that are required to incorporate all the modifications
at
present desired by the RAAF, and until these shortages are covered,
actual delivery dates are difficult to forecast.
The
matter was discussed with the Resident Technical Officer last month
with a view to our delivering aircraft short fitted of certain items,
but we are now in receipt of memorandum from him stating that aircraft
48 can be delivered short fitted of certain items as a prototype but
that
A/C
48: Modified by our Experimental Engineering Workshop as a prototype;
will be delivered early in September short fitted of certain items.
A/C
28: Returned from the RAAF and held in our Servicing Dept. awaiting
incorporation of required parts as they come to hand.
A/C
62, 63: These are new aircraft and are practically due for delivery as
soon as missing parts are received..
A/C
57: Returned from the RAAF and being worked on in Servicing.
(d)
Repair and modification. The following aircraft are now in the
Plant:
A/C
28, 57, GR aircraft,
A/C
38: Scheduled for 29 Oct 1952,
A/C
3: Scheduled for 28 Nov 1952.
(e)
Spares. Items urgently required by the RAAF are being supplied
to the satisfaction of the RAAF E.L.O.
Production report. The
prototype Lincoln aircraft converted for operation in the GR role was
delivered to the RAAF during September, short fitted in respect of
certain items of equipment. The RAAF has advised that the
remaining 19 GR Lincolns will be accepted without certain items of
equipment that have not yet been supplied from overseas but that all
equipment of local origin is to be installed before the aircraft will
be taken over. The delivery program is, consequently, being re-planned. Table
says 1 produced this month, cumulative production total 62.
October 1952
Shortage of certain essential items on order from overseas
and local sources prevented the GAF completing during October the
conversion of further Lincoln aircraft for GR purposes. There
were 19 aircraft still to be converted at October 31 and although the
RAAF has decided that these will be accepted minus certain of the
imported items, the absence of these supplies has, in some instances,
prevented the fitment of such local items that are available. However,
it is anticipated that four aircraft additional to the one delivered
in September will be delivered before December 25, 1952. A new
schedule is being planned on this basis. Table says 0 produced this month, cumulative
production total 61, the cumulative total is noted as amended. It
is down by 1 from September.
November 1952
No deliveries of Lincoln aircraft converted for GR
purposes were made by the GAF during November. At the end of the
month, there were still 19 of the 20 aircraft, comprising 12 of the
original order of 73 aircraft and seven to be returned from service by
the RAAF, remaining to complete this project. Progress on these has
been retarded because of the shortage of certain essential items from
overseas and local services. However, agreement
was
reached with the RAAF during the month as to the modifications that
are to be incorporated before delivery and concessions were raised
covering the short fitment of the few overseas items that are not yet
available. In the light of these concessions, it was anticipated
that a number of the converted aircraft would be delivered during
December. Table says 0 produced this month, cumulative production
total 61.
Two Lincoln
aircraft converted for GR purposes were delivered by the GAF during
December leaving ten production aircraft and six aircraft to be
returned by the RAAF still to be completed to finalize the conversion
project. Total deliveries of new Lincoln aircraft against the current
order for 73 was 63 at December 31, 1952. Table says 2 produced
this month, cumulative production total 63.
Although no new Lincoln aircraft converted for GR
purposes were delivered to the RAAF by the GAF during January and
total deliveries of these aircraft remained at 63 at the end of the
month, an aircraft that had been returned by the RAAF especially for
the conversion work was completed and redelivered to the Service
during the period. At January 31, the aircraft remaining to
complete the conversion project comprised ten new and five RAAF
aircraft, a total of 15. Table says 0 produced this month,
cumulative production total 63.
February 1953
One new Lincoln bomber aircraft converted to GR purposes
was delivered to the RAAF by the GAF during February leaving nine
aircraft to complete the project of 73 aircraft of which the last
twelve together with eight to be returned by the RAAF were to be
converted to the GR role. Of the total of 20 aircraft to be so
modified six had been completed and delivered to the RAAF at the end
of the month. Table says 1 produced this month,
cumulative production total 64.
During March, one new Lincoln bomber aircraft converted to the GR role
was delivered to the RAAF by the GAF. At the end of the month
eight new production aircraft plus five to be returned by the RAAF, a
total of 13 aircraft remained to complete to the GR project.
They are scheduled for completion by July 1953. Table says 1 produced
this month, cumulative production total 65.
April 1953
One new Lincoln bomber aircraft converted for GR operations was
completed by the GAF during April but delivery to the RAAF was not
effected pending completion of experimental work in connection with
Project "J". An aircraft returned by the RAAF for
conversion to the GR role was completed and redelivered to the Service
during the month. Table says 0 produced this month,
cumulative production total 65.
The 66th Lincoln bomber aircraft, after conversion for GR operations,
was delivered to the RAAF by the GAF during May. Seven more
Lincolns to a total of 73 aircraft remain to complete the project at
May 31. These will be converted to the GR role before delivery
together with seven other Lincolns which are to be returned to the
Factories by the RAAF for the conversion work, Table says 1 produced
this month, cumulative production total 66.
June 1953
One Lincoln bomber aircraft was
delivered to the RAAF by the GAF during June. Total deliveries
at June 30 were 68 aircraft. Concurrently with production, the
last twelve of the project total of 73 aircraft are being extensively
modified for GR purposes together with seven Lincoln aircraft to be
returned by the RAAF for modification during normal repair and
overhaul. At June 30 eleven aircraft had been modified to the GR
role of which ten had been delivered to the RAAF and one held at the
factory for experimental purposes in connection with Project
"J". Table says 1 produced this month,
cumulative production total 67.
July 1953
Three Lincoln bomber aircraft were delivered to the RAAF
by the GAF during July after extensive modifications had been made to
the aircraft during production to convert them for the anti submarine
role. Total deliveries at July 31 were 70 aircraft. The
three aircraft remaining to complete the Lincoln project will also be
converted to the same purpose as portion of the RAAF requirements for
the conversion of Lincoln aircraft for GR work, comprising twelve new
aircraft and seven returned from service by the RAAF. Five of
these aircraft remain to complete the conversion project. Table
says 3 produced this month, cumulative production total 70.
August 1953
During August, one Lincoln aircraft, was delivered to the
RAAF by the GAF after conversion to the GR role had been affected
concurrently with production. Two aircraft remained at August 31 to
complete this project - both are also to be converted to anti
submarine operations. Table says 2 produced this
month, cumulative production total 71. (so it looks like 1 was
produced)
No mention of Lincolns in October 1953
onwards reports, so it is assumed the final 2 new Lincolns were built
in September 1953.
The
above information was provided by Mr. Geoffrey Sinclair.
Updated 1st May 2015
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