Fairey IIID  A10-6                                           (c/n   ?)

                               

                                    Six Fairey IIID aircraft were acquired by the Royal Australian Navy in 1921 (12 were originally
                                    ordered but budget constraints limited the number delivered to 6). They were almost immediately
                                    seconded to the newly formed Royal Australian Air Force, who gave them serial numbers A10-1
                                    thru 6.   This rare photo, from Wendy Richardson, taken in the mid 1920s at Long Island off
                                    the Bass Strait's Cape Barren Island, shows the ultimate machine.  Evidently Wendy's family
                                    owned the small island at the time.   Although well liked by their crews, maintenance was a
                                    problem with the IIIDs and by 1929 all had diappeared from the inventory.