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M>itsubishi A6M series was originally an
>Australian design that the Aussies rejected
>before the Japanese picked it up,
Australia's indigineous aviation industry in the 1930's licensed the Texan (Wirraway) as a technological lead-in to a front line fighter and bomber. It was a pretty immature industry in the 30's. Definately nothing of Zero level of aviation technology.
The lead-in got shortened with the events in Hawaii and Pearl Harbour. It ended up being the Boomerang. The Woomera was to be the dual engined bomber unique to Australia's situation.
Fred David was with CAC in 1941, he had previously been with Heinkel and had fled from Germany to Japan to escape persecution, he left Japan for the same reasons and came to Australia. In 1941 he had to report to the police each week.
When Japan attacked Pearl Harbour and invaded Malaya, Alan Bolton was in the CAC offices with Fred David and Fred David asked Bolton, what they were going to do. Bolton didnt know what to reply. Fred David replied, "Design a fighter, to fight the zero and use the biggest engine we make and as much as possible of the Wirraway jigs and tools."
It was to be the Boomerang. They got the prototype into the air in 16 weeks. The same design studio created the CA-11 Woomera and the CA-15 Kangaroo.
cam
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