ACCIDENT INVOLVING A KITTYHAWK AND A STEER
AT AITKENVALE AIRFIELD, TOWNSVILLE, QLD
ON 19 JUNE 1944

On 19 June 1944, RAAF Kittyhawk A29-704, was landing at Aitkenvale airfield in Townsville to have a belly tank fitted when it struck and killed a steer on the airfield. 3 Repair and Salvage Unit RAAF, which was based at Aitkenvale airfield contacted North Eastern Area HQ for some legal advice and eventually took possession of the steer for the Unit's Mess room. The cooks butchered the steer and the Unit ate like kings for some time. The Unit's History Record states that "the fillets of steak proved very tasty morsels!"

The Kttyhawk suffered a damaged port flap and keel cowl fairing as a result of the collision. They were quickly repaired and A29-704 was in the air again.

REFERENCE

"Units of the Royal Australian Air Force - A Concise History"
Volume 7 - Maintenance Units

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"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 16 July 2000

This page last updated 02 February 2020