Australia @ War

EFAS Public Meeting on the North side of Brisbane

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Dunn) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:20:00 +0000

"Pub #2", the second in a series of proposed
'around the suburbs' PUBLIC Meetings
to which we aim to attract interested
visitors / cum potential EFAS Inc members.

Eagle Farm Aviation Society Inc.
is holding a 2nd General Meeting at:-

Nundah and Districts Historical Society Inc., rooms,
adjacent to the BCC Nundah Library,
PRIMROSE Lane, NUNDAH

Assemble at 7:00 pm for a 7:30 pm start
on 18 June 2009

Visitors and prospective new
members are welcome to attend.

Help us to renew "The Legend of Hangar 7".

Visit our web page at:-

http://www.hangar7.org.au

Members of A.T.A.I.U. – Allied Technical Air Intelligence
Unit rebuilding a Japanese aircraft in Hangar 7 at Eagle Farm

The Eagle Farm Aviation Society, Inc. (EFAS) has been formed by AHQ - Aerospace Heritage Queensland to develop and then operate the Eagle Farm Community Heritage Centre located in Hangar 7 on the site of the old Eagle Farm airfield. This community heritage facility will be housed in the heritage listed “Hangar 7” which was used by the A.T.A.I.U. – Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit during WWII.

Aerospace Heritage Queensland (AHQ) was formed with the assistance of the State Government to provide a single voice to Government on aviation heritage matters and to co-ordinate aviation heritage projects within Queensland. It is an amalgamation of several of this State’s present aviation and military museum/collection bodies. Its aim is to promote and provide a Brisbane based showcase for its members’ parent displays.

The Eagle Farm Aviation Society Inc. (EFAS) will work with the Brisbane City Council, the current owner of Hangar 7 towards establishing this community heritage centre. EFAS is working to secure the relevant lease for the hangar and is in negotiations with the Victoria Barracks Historical Society, Brisbane Inc. with the view to a shared occupation of the hangar. EFAS will be responsible for the day to day management and operation of the facility.

We would love to see you at our 2nd General Meeting at:-

Nundah and Districts Historical Society Inc., rooms,
adjacent to the BCC Nundah Library,
PRIMROSE Lane, NUNDAH

Assemble at 7:00 pm for a 7:30 pm start.
on 18 June 2009

AMPLE PARKING AVAILABLE

Please ring Roger Marks (07-3343 8407) to advise if you are able to attend the meeting.

Beaufort Bomber Memorial Unveiling Ceremony

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Dunn) — Sat, 30 May 2009 11:31:00 +0000

At 1720 hours on 10 April 1945, Beaufort bomber A9-670 of 32 Squadron RAAF, crashed at Greenbank, SSW of Brisbane, killing the crew of four. It crashed after completing an air to ground gunnery practice exercise at the nearby Gailes Gunnery Range (also known as the Gailes Armament Range or Gailes Bombing Range) which is now part of the Greenbank Military Camp.

An unveiling Ceremony was held on 27 May 2009 at Grande Park, Grande Avenue, Springfield Lakes in Memory of the following men who were all tragically killed in this accident.

F/O Eric David Stephenson, Pilot
Flt. Sgt. Neville James Barron, Wireless Operator Air Gunner
P/O John George Harvey, Observer
LAC Raymond Patrick McGuigan, passenger

Unveiling of the Memorial by Mayor Paul Pisasale, Mayor of Ipswich, Councillor

Sheila Ireland and Darlene Clark, Project Director Delfin Springfield Lakes

The "missing" Barron Family at the Beaufort Bomber Memorial ceremony.
L to R:- Monica Barron (sister-in-law), Maree Wylie (nee Barron - niece),
Neil Barron (nephew), Sandra Kerr, Jack McClelland (brother-in-law) and
Garry Burton (nephew). Except for Sandra Kerr, all are related (as indicated)
to the late Flt. Sgt. Neville James Barron

http://www.ozatwar.com/ozcrashes/qld91ceremony.htm

500,000th Visitor to "Australia @ War"

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Dunn) — Sat, 30 May 2009 04:20:00 +0000

Congratulations to Don Clark who confirmed with me that he was the half millionth visitor to my "Australia @ War" web site at 8:20 pm on 26 May 2009 (US Time).

A copy of the "Australia @ War" Data DVD will be in the mail to Don for being the 500,000th visitor to the main page.

Regards Peter Dunn
Webmaster of the "Australia @ War" web site.

Half Millionth Visitor soon

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Dunn) — Thu, 21 May 2009 11:32:00 +0000

Gidday ALL,

My "Australia @ War" web site started on 22 June 1996. I just noticed a while ago that the counter for the front page was 499, 372 so in a few days time it will have its half millionth visitor.

I'd like to point out that this is a counter for visitors just to that page only. It is not a site counter, just a page counter. These days I usually get somewhere between 70 and 100 visitors a day to the main front page. I now have well over 5,000 different web pages in the "Australia @ War" web site.

www.ozatwar.com

If you do happen to be the half millionth visitor to the site, send me a screen shot. Just press the "Print Screen" button and paste it into an e-mail or save it as a file and attach it to an e-mail.

Send it to me and I'll send you a complimentary copy of my "Australia @ War" Data DVD.

Regards Peter Dunn

Spitfire collided with B-24 Liberator 18 Sep 1944

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Dunn) — Wed, 20 May 2009 12:08:00 +0000

RAAF B-24 Liberator

RAAF Spitfire

On 18 September 1944, Flying Officer Arthur Keith Kelly (401968) of 452 Squadron RAAF, piloting Spitfire A58-435, was taking part in an interception and attack exercise on B-24 Liberator #42-40935 of the 380th Bomb Group, 5th Air Force over Cape Van Diemen. During a head on simulated attack, F/O Kelly's Spitfire collided with the B-24 and spiralled into the sea. His body was never found.

Collision of a D-82A Tiger Moth with a P-39 Airacobra

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Dunn) — Thu, 07 May 2009 10:29:00 +0000

RAAF Tiger Moth

I received a bundle of photos a few days ago of the 36th Fighter Squadron, 8 Fighter Group. Then last night Justin Taylan of Pacific Wrecks asked me about the crash of a Tiger Moth at Halifax Bay near Townsville on 10 September 1942.

I already had a web page on this crash and at that stage I knew that the pilot, Captain "Hoot" Bevlock, had been killed in this crash and his passenger had bailed out safely. There was a suggestion that the Tiger Moth had collided with another aircraft.

I went through the photos I had received earlier in the week and found two photos of "Hoot" Bevlock and then to my amazement I found a photo of a Tiger Moth at Ross River Airfield in Townsville with the following caption written in pencil on the back of the photo:-

"Bill Bennett - standing. 'Hoot' Bevlock in Gypsy Moth, Ross River, Townsville, Aust. August 1942. 'Hoot' was killed in this plane same day picture was taken. Collided with a P-39 flown by Lt. Grover Gholson."

The above caption incorrectly stated that it was a Gypsy Moth and also stated that the crash was in August 1942 rather than on 10 September 1942. This caption did however confirm that the Tiger Moth had collided with a P-39 Airacobra piloted by Lt. Grover Gholson.

So this would have been the last photograph taken of "Hoot" Bevlock sitting in the Tiger Moth on the day that he was killed.

I have now added the new photos and added some more information about the crash to the following web site.

www.ozatwar.com/ozcrashes/qld133.htm

.

Eagle Farm Aviation Society General meeting 30 April 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Dunn) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 09:13:00 +0000

Eagle Farm Aviation Society Inc. is holding a General Meeting at the Royal Queensland Aero Club (RQAC) at Beatty Road, Archerfield, President's Room at 7.30 PM THURSDAY, 30 APRIL 2009.

Visitors and prospective new
members are welcome to attend.

Help us to renew "The Legend of Hangar 7".

Visit our web page at:-

http://www.hangar7.org.au

Members of A.T.A.I.U. – Allied Technical Air Intelligence
Unit rebuilding a Japanese aircraft in Hangar 7 at Eagle Farm

The Eagle Farm Aviation Society, Inc. (EFAS) has been formed by AHQ - Aerospace Heritage Queensland to develop and then operate the Eagle Farm Community Heritage Centre located in Hangar 7 on the site of the old Eagle Farm airfield. This community heritage facility will be housed in the heritage listed “Hangar 7” which was used by the A.T.A.I.U. – Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit during WWII.

Aerospace Heritage Queensland (AHQ) was formed with the assistance of the State Government to provide a single voice to Government on aviation heritage matters and to co-ordinate aviation heritage projects within Queensland. It is an amalgamation of several of this State’s present aviation and military museum/collection bodies. Its aim is to promote and provide a Brisbane based showcase for its members’ parent displays.

The Eagle Farm Aviation Society Inc. (EFAS) will work with the Brisbane City Council, the current owner of Hangar 7 towards establishing this community heritage centre. EFAS is working to secure the relevant lease for the hangar and is in negotiations with the Victoria Barracks Historical Society, Brisbane Inc. with the view to a shared occupation of the hangar. EFAS will be responsible for the day to day management and operation of the facility.

We would love to see you at our General Meeting at:-

Royal Queensland Aero Club (RQAC)
Beatty Road,
Archerfield
President's Room

7.30 PM THURSDAY, 30 APRIL 2009.

Please ring Roger Marks (07-3343 8407) to advise you are able to attend the meeting.

Anzac Day Brisbane 25 April 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Dunn) — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 10:44:00 +0000

Two mates helping each other on Anzac Day

I had the honour again today to march with the veterans of 460 Squadron RAAF on Anzac Day in Brisbane. My late father-in-law, John Goulevitch, was a member of 460 Squadron RAAF.

After the march the 460 Squadron group traditionally retires to the Irish Club in Elizabeth Street, for a meal and few friendly drinks to remember their mates who did not return

Click on the link above to see a new web page with many photos of Anzac Day in Brisbane - 25 April 2009.

6 Stores Depot RAAF, Dubbo, NSW

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Dunn) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:59:00 +0000

6 Stores Depot RAAF Dubbo

The nucleus of 6 Stores Depot RAAF was formed at at 2 Stores Depot at Waterloo in New South Wales on 1 December 1942. The advance party of 6 Stores Depot moved to Dubbo in New South Wales by train on 4 December 1942. Wing Commander Denis Archibald John Creal (03126) was the initial Commanding Officer for 6 Stores Depot.

The 45 hectare (110acre) site of the former 6 Stores Depot is bounded by the Mitchell Highway (Cobra Street) at its northern boundary, a railway line to the east, High Street at the southern boundary and Palmer Street on the western boundary. It comprised 5 type W3 igloo hangars (Buildings 4, 5, 7, 8 and 11) and 3 Bellman hangars, a "Rabaul" design storehouse and a number of other smaller buildings including a Sidney Williams hut. The 5 main igloos and two Bellman hangars can still be clearly seen on Google Earth.

Open Day at Caboolture Airfield 2 August 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Dunn) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 09:32:00 +0000

The Beaufort Restoration Group in conjunction with the Warplane Museum and the Caboolture Aero Cub is holding an Open Day at Caboolture Airfield on 2nd August 2009 between 10.00a.m. and 4.00p.m.

The Beaufort Restoration group have a fabulous raffle prize on sale. How would you like to have

- a 20 minute flight in a P-51 Mustang!!!

- or a flight in a CAC Wirraway!!

- or a flight in a powered glider!

The Spirit of the Forty-Second

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Dunn) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:26:00 +0000

Spirit of the Forty-Second, Narrative of the 42nd Battalion
11th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division, Australian Imperial Forces,
during the Great War, 1914-1918
by Vivian Brahms

Around Christmas time in 1915, the 42nd Battalion under Commanding Officer Lt.-Colonel A. R. Woolcock, was allocated a site at Thompson's Paddock, at Enoggera, some few miles distant from Brisbane.

Then ensued the preparation of rolls, attestation-papers, allotments and pay-books. Issues of clothing and equipment followed in due course. Spasmodic training, fatigue duties and the furnishing of picquets, vaccination and innoculations, gradually eliminated the civilian side of life from the embryo soldier.

They were soon headed off overseas to England for training and then into battle.

Story of the 42nd Australian Infantry Battalion in WWII

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Dunn) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:21:00 +0000

Story of the 42nd Australian Infantry Battalion in World War II
by Cpl. S.E. Benson

From Yeppoon the story follows the battalion on its moves to Tiaro, north again to Townsville and New Guinea, through the Salamua campaign to Lae, back again to Australia and finally over to Bougainville, where the battalion saw its last action before being broken up at the end of the war.

Collision of 2 Airspeed Oxfords 1 mile west of the You Yangs

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Dunn) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 12:15:00 +0000

Airspeed Oxford

Airspeed Oxford BM712 collided with Airspeed Oxford X7115 whilst formation flying one mile west of the You Yangs in Victoria at approximately 1420 hours E.A.S.T. on 23 January 1943. Both aircraft were with 1 Service Flying Training School (1 S.F.T.S.)

Aircraft BM712 while in a turn to the left collided with the tail fin of X7115 and went into a spin one mile west of the You Yangs hitting the ground. The crew of three personnel were killed in this tragic accident.

Radioman, An Eyewitness Account of Pearl Harbor and World War II in the Pacific

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Dunn) — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 11:51:00 +0000

A new book by by Carol Edgemon Hipperson

"Radioman" is the biography of Ray Daves, a non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy and an eyewitness to World War II. It is based on the author's handwritten notes from a series of interviews that began on the 82nd birthday of the combat veteran and gives a first-person account of the world's first battles between aircraft carriers.

"Radioman is the best written biography of a World War II career I've ever read."

Mal Middlesworth, National President Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Inc.

Crash of a B-24 Liberator near Fenton Airfield - 2 Feb 1945

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Dunn) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:13:00 +0000

B-24 Liberator

RAAF B-24L Liberator, A72-88 (#44-41460), of 24 Squadron RAAF, crashed when attempting to land at Fenton airfield in the Northern Territory on 2 February 1945 after a bombing raid on shipping targets. Six aircraft from 24 Squadron had taken part in this raid. The Liberator was out of fuel and losing height rapidly. It was just before midnight and conditions were very hazy and the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Arthur Cambridge could not see the runway flare path. On his first approach to land he was too far to the left of the runway. He was advised of this by radio contact with ground control.

On his second attempt to land, three of the four fuel pressure gauges dropped to zero and the Liberator swung violently to port. Cambridge ordered the crew to crash positions and with his undercarriage still retracted the Liberator crashed through some trees 3 kilometres from Fenton airfield and struck the ground in a more or less level attitude. A fire broke out below the flight deck, possibly due to damage to the auxiliary power unit.

The fire spread quickly and crew members Flight Lieutenant J.R. Parkinson and Flying Officer J.M. Pitt were trapped in the aircraft and killed. They were buried at Adelaide River cemetery the following day. A small section of this Liberator is now on display at the Darwin Aviation Museum.

Crash of a De Havilland DH84 Dragon at Mt Druitt, NSW

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Dunn) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:31:00 +0000

DH84 Dragon

De Havilland DH84 Dragon A34-65 of 2 Aircraft Depot Richmond (2 AD) RAAF encountered engine problems and attempted to make a forced landing at about 1215 hours on 5 January 1945 during a travel flight. Whilst attempting to reach a small clearing it stalled and spun into the ground at Plumpton Road, Mt. Druitt, New South Wales. The five personnel on board, 3 RAF and 2 RAAF were all killed.

Crash of a Lockheed Hudson near Richmond Airfield

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Dunn) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 11:34:00 +0000

Lockheed Hudson

Lockheed Hudson A16-68 of 2 Aircraft Depot (2 A.D.) crashed after a test flight on its landing approach to Richmond airfield at 1635 hours on 20 December 1944. Whilst making a normal landing approach with wheels and flaps down, when it was approximately a 1/4 of a mile for the airfield boundary at about 200 - 300 feet it was seen to make a flat turn to port slowly, and then drop the port wing, strike overhead wires in falling, then spin into the ground on a vacant block in Dight Street and burst into flames. The 8 RAAF personnel on board were all killed.

Crash of an Avro Anson on Richmond Golf Course, NSW

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Dunn) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 06:03:00 +0000

Avro Anson N4887 of 1 Flying Training School (1 F.T.S.) crashed on the Richmond Golf Course near Richmond, New South Wales at 0119 hours on Monday 18 December 1939 during a a night reconnaissance flight to Point Cook, Victoria.

The following crew were all killed in this tragic crash:-

Flight-Lieutenant Arthur Moorehouse Watkins, 25 yrs old
Flight-Lieutenant Hugh Vaughan Bonham Horner, 27 yrs, married (Service No. 2)
Flying Officers Henry Parker Fitzgerald, 21 yrs, married
Flying Officer Malcolm Musgrave McInnes, 21 yrs
Leading Aircraftman Leonard John King, 23 yrs (Service No 3891)

The aircraft had arrived at Richmond from Victoria on Friday 15 December 1939.

Crash of an Avro Anson at Riverstone, NSW

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Dunn) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 05:08:00 +0000

Avro Anson A4-32 of 6 Squadron RAAF crashed at Riverstone, NSW on 28 April 1939.
Four men were killed.

After leaving Richmond Airfield the Avro Anson was flown out to sea in the vicinity of Smith Head, Sydney. The crew maintained constant radio communication with the airfield and the flight proceeded without incident until approximately 3:30pm. At 3:27pm a radio message was received from the aircraft to the effect that the aerial was being reeled in preparatory to landing. At that time the aircraft was within a few miles of the airfield and within a few minutes of landing. This was the last message received from the aircraft.

At 3:30pm Avro Anson A4-32 crashed into the ground. There were several eye witnesses. It would appear the aircraft was flying in normal level flight at about 1,000 feet when eye witnesses heard some spluttering from the engines along with the noises of backfiring and puffs of smoke were seen coming from the aircraft.

The nose of the Avro Anson dropped to an angle of 30 degrees and it started to lose height. Eye witnesses then indicated they could hardly hear the noise of the engines but they then made a sudden roaring noise and the nose pulled up again.. But then it went into a steeper dive and crashed directly into the ground with its engines roaring.

Crash of Wirraway 1/2 mile east of Wagga airfield

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Dunn) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 11:25:00 +0000

At 2255 hours whilst on a solo night flying practice on 30th August 1940, Wirraway A20-33 of No. 2 Service Flying Training School Wagga RAAF ( 2 S.F.T.S.) dipped its right wing during take-off and the aircraft veered to the right and flew into ground half a mile east of RAAF Station Wagga.

Crash of a B-26 Marauder 100 miles NW of Darwin

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Dunn) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 08:00:00 +0000

B-26 Marauder

B-26B Marauder #41-17593, 2nd Bomb Squadron, 22nd Bomb Group piloted by Lt. Charles I. Hitchcock, was forced to crash land in the sea off Cape Helvetius, about 100 miles NW of Darwin,

Prior to his tragic death, Sgt. Glenn A. Campbell, had shot down four Japanese aircraft. Australia on 3 November 1942. It was returning on one engine after being hit while over the target at Dili, Timor. Turret Gunner Sgt. Glenn A. Campbell died from injuries sustained in the crash and was buried at sea. Others were rescued by boat 17 hours later.

Crash of a Wirraway near Wagga

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Dunn) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 12:42:00 +0000

On 16 February 1941, Wirraway A20-4 No 2 Service Flying Training School (2 S.F.T.S.) at Wagga, New South Wales struck trees at high speed while diving on a friends homestead 10 miles west of Wagga.

Crash of an Airspeed Oxford near Seaspray, VIC

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Dunn) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 11:51:00 +0000

On 12 May 1943 Airspeed Oxford BM-711 of 3 Bomb and Gunnery School (3BAGS), West Sale, crashed on the completion of a gunnery exercise about 5 miles north east of Seapsray, Victoria. The aircraft apparently went out of control at 2,000 feet and dived into the sea about 1/4 mile off the coastline.The crew of three were all tragically killed.

Airshow tipped for Townsville 26-27 Sep 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Dunn) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:42:00 +0000

A SPECTACULAR air show, which may feature the world's leading formation flying team the USAF Thunderbirds, is tentatively scheduled for Townsville later this year.

It is believed there will be an afternoon twilight aerial display on Saturday, 26 September 2009, with Sunday 27 September 2009 being a possible open day at RAAF Garbutt, with a possible second flying program. Clearly nothing is firm at this stage.

City of Rayville sunk by German Mine

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Dunn) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:40:00 +0000

The American registered freighter "MS City of Rayville" (5,833 tons, owned by American Pioneer Lines) with stars and stripes painted on both sides of its hull, left Adelaide for Melbourne on 7 November 1940.

At approximately 7:47pm on Friday 8 November 1940 it was reported from Cape Otway Port War Signal Station that an explosion had been heard and seen and that a sinking ship could be seen in the fading light about 6 miles south of the Signal Station.

Fishing vessels from nearby Apollo Bay were directed to go to her assistance.