Acouple Of Iroquois Questions

First question
When and why was A2-649 painted bright red?

Attached Image

Second question
Did 35 Squadron normally have these "Wallaby Airlines" markings on the tails of their Hueys?
I wonder if A2-377 (on display at Point Cook) will ever be returned to RAAF scheme and maybe carry these markings.

Attached Image

I think it was for the Solomons RAMSE activity.

I believe so - about 4 or 5 aircraft were transferred up from 9SQN at AMB, and had the tail marking replaced with the wallaby.

Thanks Batman
We have A2-278, -279, -295, -296 and -310 as having served with 35 Sqn but none of our photos show the Wallaby.
I hadn't realised that for a time 35 Squadron operated the Hueys as well as the Caribous
That must be pretty unique for a squadron to operate fixed and rotary wing aircraft at the same time.

Gday All,

the red colour scheme was for the Op Belisi deployment to Bougainville in the 90s. As I understand it, it was to distinguish our Army birds from the four ex RAAF birds gifted to the PNGDF (505, 506, 509 & 510 which retained the standard RAAF camo colours) in 1989.

As far as the Wallaby tail flash goes, the majority of 35SQN's UH-1Hs carried it at the time of the handover to Army. There were some variations in its position between a/c. Some had it high up above the A2-XXX and some below as per 377.

The original version of the 35SQN tail flash was an orange band with white edge stripes and a white wallaby and was copied from the unit's Caribou.

spot on Rod.

Attached Image

Indeed, there was a red UH-1 in The Solomon's RAMSI (Regional Assistance Mission Solomon Islands) operation, but it was a Kiwi example. It carried Santa in for the Christmas party too! :D