
The reminiscences of S/Lt. Michael Price, formerly an Avenger
pilot with the test flight of MONAB II at Bankstown.
Michael joined the test flight after a brief spell with 706
Squadron at Jervis Bay. He became the first RN pilot to fly an
Avenger Mk III when they arrived at Bankstown in June 1945. After
his spell at Bankstown Michael moved to NOWRA to join 854 Avenger
squadron, a unit with which he had previously served.
The MONAB with which I was primarily
concerned was HMS "Nabberley" situated at Bankstown. I had
previously been part of 854 Squadron which at that time was attached
to HMS "Illustrious", but due to a couple of unfortunate incidents I
had managed to accumulate two log book endorsements and two
'Loggings' and it was decided to dispense with my services when
Illustrious arrived in Sydney in February ‘45.
I was posted firstly to a temporary
RNAS at Warwick farm racecourse in Sydney, where we were
accommodated in tents in the center of the racecourse, and used the
grandstand bar as the wardroom. After several days there I was
packed off to the 'bad boys' squadron, 706 at Jervis Bay, which was
under the command of the biggest (and baddest) of them all, Lt.Cdr.
Bobby Bradshaw. After two weeks of idleness and still accommodated
in tents, the C.O. asked us one day to add up the hours we had flown
In Avengers, and since it transpired that I had the greatest number
I was posted to Bankstown for test flying duties.
The purpose of RNAS Bankstown was to
repair unserviceable or damaged aircraft, and assemble new ones.
Once they were deemed serviceable by the engineering section they
were then test flown by members of test flight who pointed out any
unserviceabillties still remaining or passed them as being fit to go
into front-line service.
The composition of test flight at
Bankstown was I believe, quite unique, since it consisted of about
one third of its number being Royal Navy pilots and observers with
about a couple of TAGs [Telegraphist Air Gunners], and the remaining
two thirds were RAAF pilots seconded to the Navy for test flying
duties.

R.N. and R.A.A.F. personnel who formed the R.N.A.S. Bankstown
test flight, Summer 1945
STANDING - From Left: 1) TAG Macintosh 2) Self
(S/Lt. Michael Price) 3) N/k 4) N/k 5) Lt.Cdr - N/k 6) Lt.Cdr. Roy
Dence Cdr.(F) 7) F/Lt. Geoff Schaeffer - (O.I.C. test flight.) 8)
F/Lt. 'Jerry' Myers 9) F/Lt. Ron Rae 10) F/O. Lyie Holtkamp 11)
S/Lt. Rex Smith 12) N/k 13) N/k 14) N/k.
KNEELING - From left: 1) F/O. Clem Schmitzer - later Cdr. RAN 2)
F/Lt. Lester Henning 3) F/Lt. 'Glbby' Gibaon 4) F/O. Ken Lockley
Our immediate C.O. was FIt.Lt. Geoff
Schaeffer, he was killed under the most tragic circumstances. His
wife had just given birth to their firstborn in Melbourne, and our
Cdr. Flying, Lt. Cdr. Roy Dence suggested that Geoff had better take
a Seafire down to Melbourne for a fuel consumption check. After
spending a day with his wife and new daughter he took off for Sydney
and within a few minutes had flown into the Dandenongs, a mountain
range to the south east of Melbourne. The Dandenong range would not
be more than 2500 ft. at its highest point, yet it seems to attract
certain cloud formations and has claimed the lives of many
(admittedly Inexperienced) pilots.
The harmony between the two services in
test flight was quite outstanding. Many close friendships were
formed and one of the RAAF pilots, FIt. .Lt. Ron Rae became one of
my firmest friends and remained so until his death in 1986. His
youngest daughter is, in fact, my God daughter.
It was understood that the pilots of
test flight would have no scheduled days off, and would work every
day that weather permitted. When the cloud base fell below around
3000 ft. a decision would be made by Cdr. (F) and Geoff Schaeffer as
to whether flying would be cancelled for the day and test flight
given a day off. When this decision was given in the affirmative
test flight would, amidst loud cheers, move into Sydney as a body
and do the rounds of the pubs and bars, which seemed to be the
obligatory way of enjoying oneself during free time in the services.
I found the work in test flight most interesting . I think I was
hooked on flying from the moment I went solo in 1942 and was quite
happy to fly seven days a week. (Which explains why I decided to
make flying my career and flew for the next forty years).
As you might expect, every piece of
equipment in the aircraft was checked - radio, guns, hydraulics,
engine performance, and handling characteristics. I normally took my
observer and air gunner with me on all test flights, even when I was
doing stalls with and without flaps, and diving to maximum
permissible speed. It was during the last manoeuvre that a couple of
incidents occurred that made me change my normal procedure.
If my memory is correct, the maximum
permissible diving speed (as per the handbook) was 320 knots. The
maximum speed we were obliged to attain during test flight was 310k.
However, since I was fully aware that front line squadrons
frequently achieved speeds of up to 350k I saw no reason why I
should pass an aircraft as being fit for operational service unless
I had also flown It to this speed. The first two months passed
uneventfully, but one afternoon, just as I was approaching 350k in a
dive, part of the skin on the upper surface of the wing started to
fold back, creating some minor turbulence. From then on I took off
by myself to do the stalls and dive to maximum speed, after which I
landed again to take on my crew to complete the rest of the test
schedule.
It was just as well that I did, for on one occasion, just as I was
approaching 350k in a dive the aircraft went completely out of
control with my body being thrown around the cockpit and the control
column belting me in the knees. At first I thought it was about time
I baled out, but then I grabbed the violently oscillating control
column and found that I could get the aircraft more or less under
control. The elevator control seemed rather sluggish but the other
controls were fairly normal so I decided to come in for a landing.
This was achieved without too much difficulty and after taxying to
the tarmac and getting out of the aircraft I saw only too plainly
what had happened. Most of my starboard elevator had broken away
during the dive. This incident did not change my determination to
push the aircraft up to 350k - the only difference being that I now
started the dive from 12000 ft instead of 10000.
The really exciting moment occurred,
however, when Cdr (E) came up to me one day and said ~ Price, have
you ever flown an Avenger 3? At this tine I had never even heard of
an Avenger 3 and was quite excited when he told me that Bankstown
had Just taken delivery of a number of them still In packing cases,
and that after assembly I would be flying them. For the next two
weeks I made an earnest study of the handbook, and finally the great
day arrived when the first one was rolled out on to the tarmac.
After a fairly lengthy cockpit check I
took off, and was amazed at the improved performance of this later
model. Viewed from the outside it did not appear to be much
different from the Marks I and 2, apart from the colour scheme which
was all over navy blue. However, it had several refinements that the
others did not have, including a very good autopilot. Also its 2000
HP engine gave it a top speed of 25 knots above the earlier
Avengers.
It was about this time that I learned
that the "Illustrious" had been withdrawn from the Pacific, as she
was well overdue for a re-fit. Consequently, my old squadron, 854,
had been disembarked and sent to Nowra. I also learned that 854 were
to be re-equipped with Avenger 3s, and this finally convinced me
that, as much as I enjoyed my time with Test Flight It was time to
return to squadron life, which, to me, was what being a Fleet Air
Arm pilot was all about.
I therefore requested, and received, a
transfer back to 854 Squadron in July, where I was received with
open arms by the CO, Lt.Cdr. Freddie Nottingham, as I was the only
person who knew anything about the Avenger 3. So for the first week
I found myself acting as instructor to my old squadron mates, after
which we spent the next two months working up as a night intruder
squadron to be embarked on the "Formidable" and operate against
Japan. Fortunately for us the atom bomb was dropped ten days before
we were due to embark. As far as I know, 854 Squadron was the only
one to be equipped with the Avenger 3, and in all probability I was
the first person in the RN to fly it.
Michael Price
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