After their resounding defeat in
the First Emu War, Australia had more to worry about than the humiliating peace treaty they were forced to accept.
Their armed forces were in disarray and seriously in need of new kit.
In addtion, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
was upset about supposed animal rights violations during the war and this could've further degraded Australia's international standing.
Fortunately, the RSPCA was somewhat mollified when the RAAF updated their roundel to focus on native wildlife.
Now that the heat was off, Australia could concentrate on modernizing their air force. To this end, the Government Aircraft Corp. was formed.
Australia is a nation known for its bravery but they're also quite cunning. When staffing the G.A.C., they were able to poach some of the best international aeronautical engineering talent available. Fiorello "Fee" Ott was hired away from the Fiat concern of Italy. Beauregard "Beau" Ing came over from Boeing in the U.S. along with Kurt Ish from Curtiss. Last but not least, Gil Oster was lured away from Gloster in the U.K.
In short order, the G.A.C. developed a new night fighter-attack biplane uniquely suited to Australian conditions. Including bits of inspiration from Fiat, Boeing, Curtiss, and Gloster, the aircraft was powered by a large radial engine and featured an enclosed cockpit with a perspex canopy for good all-around vision. It was heavily armed with four guns, two on the decking behind the engine synchronized to fire through the propeller and two more in under-wing pods. Large lights were located beneath the upper wingtips enabling the pilot to acquire targets in the dark. The attack night-fighter also featured the sleekest, most streamlined spatted undercarriage yet seen in the antipodes.
It was not due to this incredibly intimidating landing gear but because of its four guns that it was dubbed the Exterminator.
Of course, the Emus were unaware of all this, simply biding their time while concocting various sinister plots.
If only the Australians could find a way to bait these big birds
into conflict again, their new night attack-fighter might bring them victory and erase the stain of their past defeat at the beaks of this fearsome, feathered foe.
Using the seasonal migration as a pretext, Australia declared war on the big birds when they mistakenly crossed the border at 10:51 PM. The Emus were attacked nine-and-a-half minutes later at 2300 hours or 23 o'clock.
Aussie recon bush scouts stealthily sneaked up on the main body of Emu invaders and radioed their position to the already airborne G.A.C. Exterminator prototype which was designated by a rather large white 'P' in the interest of enhanced camouflage, no doubt.
The Exterminator went into a fast, steep dive
but just before it could bring its four guns to bear, the engine seized up and the pilot was forced to make an unfortunate emergency, dead-stick landing.
Fortunately for the reputation of the RAAF, that landing was directly on top of the leader of the Emu invasion. Upon seeing a very large SPLAT! and realizing their Emu army had been decapitated, the entire flock surrendered en masse.
The RSPCA once again flexed its Commonwealth muscle and stepped in to ensure the Emus were granted status as stateless, flightless war refugees and assisted them in emigrating to the United States. The Emus eventually landed in New York City where they went on to become successful musicians.
No more G.A.C. Exterminators would be made and the sole example was scrapped shortly after being towed around Australia on a victory tour. Nothing exists of it today except this cottage-industry short-run model kit of which only one was ever built.
Still for one brief moment, the G.A.C. Exterminator overcame the Emu threat even if the so-called "experts" refuse to believe it all and squawk that this one is for the birds.
Kit used was the 1/72 Revell Fiat CR 42 with an early Airfix Gladiator engine/cowl and Hawker Fury I prop. Aeroclub Gauntlet spats were added and the canopy is a drop-tank half. Gun pods and lights were made from bomb halves. The model was brush-painted by hand in acrylics and rigged with plastic wire. Decals were from spares.
Brian da Basher
