Avro Anson: WWII Aircraft, RAAF Legend & Restored Icon

The Avro Anson was one of the most versatile and widely used British aircraft of the Second World War — a light bomber, reconnaissance platform and multi-crew trainer rolled into one. It played a critical role in preparing aircrew for frontline service, with more than 1,000 examples flown by the RAAF across Australia.

Known for its distinctive low-wing design and twin radial engines, the Avro Anson plane served at bases from Geraldton to Kalgoorlie in roles that shaped a generation of Australian aviation. Today, the beautifully restored W2121 Anson on display at the Aviation Heritage Museum offers visitors a rare chance to connect with this pioneering aircraft’s enduring legacy.

The Story Behind the Avro Anson Aircraft

Originally designed as the Avro 652 Anson, the aircraft began life as a civilian airliner for Imperial Airways. Its twin-engine layout, enclosed cockpit and retractable undercarriage made it unusually advanced for the early 1930s. When the British Air Ministry called for a new coastal reconnaissance platform, Avro adapted the 652 into the Avro Anson Mk I, creating one of the most influential multi-role aircraft of its time.

The Avro Anson aircraft made history as the first British monoplane with a retractable undercarriage — a major leap in aviation design. Though considered outdated for combat by the time war broke out, its reliability and crew training potential made it essential to Allied air forces. It quickly transitioned from patrol missions to become a core training platform for navigators, radio operators, and bomber crews.

More than 11,000 Avro Anson Mk I aircraft were produced, which served in over 20 air forces globally. It became one of the most common sights in Commonwealth skies during the 1940s, particularly in Australia, where it trained thousands under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Avro Anson in Australia and the RAAF

The Avro Anson RAAF story is one of skill and quiet heroism. With over 1,000 Ansons in operation across the country, this aircraft became the beating heart of Australian aircrew training during the Second World War. Pilots, navigators, radio operators and bombardiers all sharpened their skills in its twin-engine frame, learning the disciplines that would carry them into combat across Europe and the Pacific.

Wartime airfields like No. 4 Service Flying Training School in Geraldton saw generations of young Australians pass through its hangars under the Empire Air Training Scheme. The 64 Avro Ansons’ reliability and forgiving flight characteristics made it the perfect choice for training multi-crew teams — a role it performed from the start of the war to its final days. In the early 1940s, it even carried out coastal surveillance and anti-submarine patrols off Australia’s shores to fill the gap until more specialised aircraft arrived.

Post-war, many Ansons transitioned to civilian roles. One of the aircraft’s most famous peacetime roles was the transport of passengers and goods to and from Rottnest Island, with Woods Airways operating several examples on these scenic routes.

No story better captures Anson’s resilience than the 1940 Brocklesby incident. Two Ansons collided mid-air, became entangled and were remarkably landed safely by one of the pilots. The tale became legend and symbolised the aircraft’s sturdy design and the courage of those who flew it. Decades later, the Avro Anson Australian WWII legacy still echoes through museums, memorials and the families of those who trained in its cockpit.

Technical Specifications of the Avro Anson

With its low-wing monoplane design and twin radial engines, the Anson Avro was engineered for dependable performance over long Australian training missions. Below are the key specifications of the Avro Anson Mark I variant displayed at the Aviation Heritage Museum:

Status: On display
Type: Multi-role (coastal patrol and crew trainer)
Avro Anson Engine: two 350-horsepower Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah radials
Maiden Flight: 24 March 1935
Primary Users: RAF, RAAF
Manufacturer: A.V. Roe and Sons
Civil Registration: VH-WAC
Length: 12.08 m (42 ft 3 in)
Height: 3.99 m (13 ft 1 in)
Wingspan: 17.22 m (56 ft 6 in)
Powerplant: Two Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah radial engines (260 kW / 350 HP each)
Empty Weight: 2,500 kg (5,500 lb)
Max Loaded Weight: 3,900 kg (8,500 lb)
Maximum Speed: 303 km/h (188 mph)
Range: 1,300 km (790 mi)
Service Ceiling: 5,800 m (19,000 ft)
Power-to-Mass Ratio: 140W/kg (0.88 HP/lb)

The Anson’s Role During WWII

The Avro Anson WW2 story began with coastal patrols and light bombing runs, often operating from Australian bases in the war’s early years. While quickly outclassed as a frontline combat aircraft, the Anson remained essential in support roles that trained the backbone of Allied air power.

At bases like No. 4 Service Flying Training School in Geraldton, trainee aircrew undertook long cross-country flights to simulate bomber missions — learning navigation, wireless communication and gunnery in real-time conditions. As an adaptable platform for training bomber crews, the Avro Anson bomber became a workhorse of wartime aviation to guarantee that thousands were ready for the skies over Europe and the Pacific.

Restoring the Avro Anson to Airworthy Glory

The Avro Anson restoration story at Bull Creek begins with aircraft W2121, built in the UK and shipped to Australia in May 1941. It served with the RAAF at No. 4 Service Flying Training School in Geraldton before being sold post-war to the Flying Doctor Service in Kalgoorlie for just £250.

The aircraft was operated by George Lewis, a pioneering figure in Australian flying doctor services. Lewis operated W2121 from Kalgoorlie, continuing its legacy of service to remote communities. By 1962, the aircraft’s wooden wing spars were deteriorating due to age and posed a serious safety risk. Lewis made a farewell circuit of Kalgoorlie in the Anson on 30 June 1962, marking the end of its operational flying career. The aircraft was subsequently sold to the Kalgoorlie branch of the Air Training Corps for just 6 pence in 1963.

In 1970, the museum acquired the aircraft and began a full restoration project in 1983. Today, the beautifully restored W2121 is finished in authentic wartime camouflage and proudly bears the RAAF markings it wore during the Second World War.

A Link to Legend: The 617 Squadron Dam Busters Connection

W2121 holds a remarkable historical connection that few aircraft can claim. The young pilot David Shannon trained on this exact Anson at No. 4 Service Flying Training School in RAAF Geraldton. Shannon would go on to become one of the most decorated pilots of the Second World War.

On 4 January 1941, Shannon joined the RAAF as an air cadet under the Empire Air Training Scheme. He received his initial flying training at RAAF Pearce and elementary flying at RAAF Cunderdin, before progressing to multi-engine training at Geraldton—where his logbook records flying W2121. Following graduation as a pilot officer in September 1941, he was posted to the United Kingdom for further training.

Shannon’s extraordinary career took him to RAF 106 Squadron and then to the legendary 617 Squadron, flying under Wing Commander Guy Gibson. At just 20 years of age, Shannon became the youngest Lancaster Captain at 617SQN—and already a DFC holder. On the famous Dams Raid of May 1943, still only 20 years old, Shannon cracked the Eder Dam alongside fellow RAAF pilot Les Knight, earning him a DSO award for his role in this historic operation.

This connection makes W2121 a unique piece of aviation heritage—the aircraft where a future Dam Buster learned to fly multi-engine bombers. Shannon’s logbook, medals, and uniform are now housed at the Australian War Memorial, a testament to his extraordinary service and the training he received on aircraft like the W2121 Anson at RAAF Geraldton.

Visit and Explore the Avro Anson Exhibit

The restored W2121 Avro Anson aeroplane is proudly displayed at the Aviation Heritage Museum in Bull Creek, Western Australia. Painted in original wartime camouflage and RAAF markings, it stands as a centrepiece of Australia’s WWII aviation heritage. Visitors can view detailed Avro Anson images, admire its low-wing profile, and learn how this historic aircraft supported both military and post-war medical missions across WA.

The W2121 holds a unique place in Avro Anson Australian history. Situated alongside icons like the Lancaster, Catalina and Spitfire, the Anson exhibit invites you to experience the aircraft that prepared a generation for war. Visit Bull Creek to explore the original training aircraft that helped shape Australia’s WWII legacy.

Between the restored Anson and the Lancaster on display, visitors will also see the world’s latest Upkeep Mine Replica. This remarkable artifact is a recreation of the famous “bouncing bomb” used in the Dams Raid by 617 Squadron. The replica was constructed using original Luftwaffe drawings and engineering notes obtained from a crashed 617SQN aircraft, then painstakingly recreated by local Kounis Industries and gifted to the museum in April 2018.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Avro Anson used for in WWII?

The Avro Anson was used extensively for coastal patrol, light bombing and crew training during the Second World War. It helped prepare navigators, wireless operators, pilots and gunners for larger frontline aircraft under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Was the Avro Anson a bomber?

Yes — although only lightly armed, the Avro Anson could carry small bombs and was originally deployed in a light bomber and reconnaissance role. It was soon replaced by faster aircraft in combat zones, but it remained critical for training bomber crews throughout the war.