Robert Bibo

Category: General

  • Warbirds

    Warbirds is a collection of photos of aircraft from 1955 to 1973 encountered during one person’s career as a navigator in the Royal Australian Air Force. You will find a selection of RAAF, RAF, RNZAF, USAF, CAF, and l’Aéronavale aircraft and one HMS vessel.

    The autobiography of T.G.Bibo begins, “As a small boy I used to stand on our verandah […] wondering if anyone knew what was on the other side of the mountains out to the west”. During his career with the Royal Australian Air Force he photographed some of what was on the other side and these are published here.

    You can also view photos of a Bomb Strike from this page.

    Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar, (53-7877)
    October 1956 at Kaitak, Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar, (53-7877).
    C-124A Globemaster
    September 1955 at Sale, Douglas C-124A Globemaster II, 49-245 (MSN 43174). This is an initial production version with 10 windows and troop door on the upper level, a blunt nose with no radar, no wingtip heater pods and other variations.
    C124C Globemaster
    October 1956 at Kaitak, Douglas C-124A-DL Globemaster II, 51-136 (MSN 43470). This version has 8 windows on the upper level and wingtip heater pods.
    Gloster Meteor T7, (A77-702)
    October 1955 at Williamtown, Gloster Meteor T7, A77-702.
    Gloster Meteor F8, (A77-258), 9 in photo.
    October 1955 at Williamtown, Gloster Meteor F8, A77-258 and 8 others.
    H.P.67 Hastings, (NZ5801)
    November 1955 at Amberley, (Handley Page) H.P.67 Hastings, NZ5801.
    Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune, (131479)
    November 1955 at Amberley, Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune, 131479.
    GAF Canberra Mk.20, (A84-217), 4 in photo.
    December 1955 at Amberley, GAF Canberra MK.20, A84-217 and 3 others.
    De Havilland DH-100/DH-115 Vampire, (A79-704 & A79-467)
    December 1955 at Laverton, De Havilland DH-100/DH-115 Vampire, A79-704 and A79-467.
    Boeing B29 Superfortress
    March 1956 at Singapore, Boeing B29 Superfortress.
    Beaufighter TT10, RAF Selatar Wing, (RD814)
    March 1956 at Singapore, Beaufighter TT10, RAF Selatar Wing, RD814.
    De Havilland DH.112 Venom FB.1, (WR272)
    April 1956 at Singapore, De Havilland DH-112 Venom FB.1, WR272 (RAF flown by RNZAF). Pilot Officer Ian Ferguson suffered minor injuries when attempting to take off on 4 April 1956.
    HMS Thorough (P324)
    March 1956 at sea near Singapore, HMS Thorough P324.
    Short S.25 Sunderland, KN-F
    March 1956 at Singapore, Short S.25 Sunderland, KN-F.
    Supermarie Spitfire F.24, (VN485)
    October 1956 at Kaitak, Supermarine Spitfire F.24, VN485, now on display at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford (without the red lightning strike over the exhaust).
    North American F-86D-50-NA Sabre, 52-10001, (Japan JASDF 84-8190)
    October 1956 at Kaitak, North American F-86D-50-NA Sabre, 52-10001 (JASDF 84-8190).
    North American F-86D-50-NA Sabre, 52-9998, (Japan JASDF 84-8195)
    October 1956 at Kaitak, North American F-86D-50-NA Sabre, 52-9998 (JASDF 84-8195).
    Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star
    October 1956 at Kaitak, Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star.
    Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune, (128369)
    November 1956 at Amberley, Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune, 128369 and 3 others.
    North American F-100F-10-NA Super Sabre, FW813 (56-3813)
    February 1958 at Clarke AFB, North American F-100F-10-NA Super Sabre, 56-3813. This photo is reproduced with permission at the North American F-100 Super Sabre photo archive.
    Gloster Meteor F8
    August 1957 above Malaya, Gloster Meteor F8.
    De Havilland DH.112 Venom FB.1 (RAF flown by RNZAF)
    September 1957 above Singapore, De Havilland DH-112 Venom FB.1, (RNZAF).
    De Havilland DH.112 Venom FB.1 (RAF flown by RNZAF) in formation
    October 1957 above Malaya, De Havilland DH-112 Venom FB.1, RNZAF with RAAF No.1 Squadron.
    Avro GAF Lincoln Mk.30A (A73-37) in formation with No. 1 Squadron.
    May 1957 above Singapore, Avro GAF Lincoln MK.30A, A73-37 in formation with RAAF No.1 Squadron.
    Avro GAF Lincoln Mk.30A, 4 aircraft of No. 1 Squadron
    June 1957 above Malaya, Avro GAF Lincoln MK.30A, 4 aircraft of RAAF No.1 Squadron.
    Avro GAF Lincoln Mk.30A, 5 aircraft of No. 1 Squadron in formation.
    September 1957 above Malaya, Avro GAF Lincoln MK.30A, 5 aircraft of RAAF No.1 Squadron.
    October 1957 above Malaya, RAAF No.1 Squadron dropping bombs.
    Avro GAF Lincoln Mk.30A (No. 1 Squadron)
    June 1957 above Singapore, Avro GAF Lincoln MK.30A, 2 aircraft of RAAF No.1 Squadron.
    Tengah Air Base from the air, June 1959.
    June 1959, Tengah Airfield.
    Avro Lancaster (B.VII), French Aeronavale Air Force, (WU-27), ex RAAF.
    August 1959 at Fiji, Avro Lancaster (B.VII), French Aeronavale Air Force, WU-27 (ex RAAF).
    McDonnell RF-101C-65-MC Voodoo, (56-0085)
    May 1959 at Richmond, McDonnell RF-101C-65-MC Voodoo, 56-0085.
    Lockheed C-130A-9-LM Hercules, (56-0543)
    May 1955 at Richmond, Lockheed C-130A-9-LM Hercules, 56-0543.
    Douglas RB-66B-DL Destroyer, (53-0477)
    April 1959 at Richmond, Douglas RB-66B-DL Destroyer, 53-0477.
    Douglas RB-66B-DL Destroyer, (53-0477)
    June 1959 at Richmond, Douglas RB-66B-DL Destroyer, 53-0477 (same plane as in the previous photo).
    Avgas fire.
    March 1969 at Richmond, avgas fire.
    Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation CA-22/CA-25 Winjeel.
    May 1960 above Laverton, CAC CA-22/CA-25 Winjeel. The Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation’s Winjeel was developed as a basic trainer for the RAAF.
    Lockheed C-130E Hercules, (A97-160)
    During 1968, Lockheed C-130E Hercules, A97-160 unloading a Bell UH-1 Iroquios.
    Lockheed C-130E Hercules, (A97-171)
    During 1968 at Rockhampton, Lockheed C-130E Hercules, A97-171 loading troops.
    De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou, (A4-233)
    During 1968 at Rockhampton, De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou, A4-233 with a C130 and troops.
    A C130E and land Rover Series 1 at Vanimo PNG.
    A C130E and Land Rover Series 1 at Vanimo PNG.
    Un/loading APCs.
    March 1970 at Mangalore Victoria, un/loading APCs.
    Canadair CP-107 Argus Mk.2, (10733 renumbered 20733)
    April 1971 at Richmond, Canadair CP-107 Argus Mk.2, 10733 (renumbered 20733).
    Government Aircraft Factory Canberra Mk.20, (A84-229)
    April 1971 at Richmond, GAF Canberra MK.20, A84-229.
    Nimrod MR Mk 1, (XV242)
    April 1971 at Richmond, Nimrod MR Mk.1, XV242.
    Hawker Siddeley HS 748, (A10-59?)
    During 1970s at Canberra, Hawker Siddeley HS 748, A10-59? getting some engine oil.
    HRH Prince Philip arrives at Canberra
    During 1973 at Canberra, HRH Prince Phillip.
    Avgas fire.
    The End. The vehicle burning appears to be a Canadian Military Pattern (CMP) C60X.