100 Years of Central Flying School

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

100 YEARS OF CENTRAL FLYING SCHOOL Today marks 100 years since the formation of Central Flying School at Point Cook, Victoria. CFS has a rich and varied history, originally training pilots for the Australian Flying Corps, and later training instructors, which it continues to this day. Since its inception, several thousand personnel have passed through the School as students or staff and in the hundred years since it was established the school has operated over 50 different types of aircraft. It is possible to trace the beginnings of CFS back to 1909, when the Department of Defence recognised the potential of aviation. In 1912, Lieutenants Henry Petre and Eric Harrison were selected to establish CFS, beginning with four mechanics, three other staff and five aircraft including a Bristol Boxkite for initial training. The first flying course in 1914 had just four students, including Air Marshal Sir Richard Williams. CFS was disbanded in December 1919 — having trained 156 pilots. CFS was reformed in April 1940 as part of the fledging Royal Australian Air Force, seven months after Britain declared war against Germany during World War II. The unit had a number of homes including Camden, Tamworth, Parkes, returning to Point Cook, before being moved to its current home in East Sale in November 1947. During World War II, CFS trained 3600 instructors - a phenomenal effort. From 1948 to 1981, CFS also trained Air Traffic Controllers, in addition to pilot trainees and instructors. In 1978, the achievements of CFS were recognised with the presentation of the Queens Colour. Although the role of CFS has changed over time, CFS has a proud tradition of setting the high standard for Air Force’s flying standards. CFS has an integral part of setting and maintaining our customs, traditions and esprit de corps for our Air Force. I congratulate CFS on their outstanding achievements. It is a magnificent milestone that we can all be justifiably proud to celebrate. Many Air Force personnel – past and present – have contributed to the proud tradition and high standards of CFS, which I am confident will prevail into our future. original signed G.C. BROWN, AO Air Marshal Chief of Air Force 7 March 2013 .

Copy Link

Recommended publications

Serving Faithfully
Serving Faithfully Newsletter of the Catholic Diocese of the Australian Military Services April 2021 Published by the Diocesan Curia. Editor: Brigadier Alan Hodges AM, KCSG (Ret’d) Issue #38 In This Issue THE RISING SUN AND THE TRUMPET CALL US TO NEW LIFE ♦ Page 2 nce again we are raised WGCDR Whiting writes about the O observing ANZAC DAY incorruptible, and origins of Australia’s involvement in the in the midst of Easter Time! we shall be air war and the Centenary of the Royal This year Easter Sunday was changed.’ Australian Air Force. 4th April. In 1915, Easter (1 Cor 50 – 52) Sunday was also on the 4th St Paul gives this ♦ Page 3 April. We are told that the teaching in the The story of World War 1 Chaplain Australian and New Zealand context that Edward O’Sullivan Goidanich MC and a forces stationed in London marched through Christ’s portable altar in need of conservation. the city and held a memorial service in Resurrection is Westminster Abbey on the first anniversary of the very the landing and Easter Day in 1916 was on the foundation of this ♦ Page 4 23rd April. I was also recently reflecting that promise. A detailed eyewitness account of the Anzac Day rarely falls on a Sunday, and that is Our Anzac first week at Gallipoli by Private Murray the day of the Lord’s Resurrection, but it does observance is Aitken, later promoted to Lieutenant this year. In any event, the day of observance marked by many and awarded the Military Cross.
[Show full text]
ADF Serials Telegraph News
ADF Serials Telegraph News News for those interested in Australian Military Aircraft History and Serials Volume 9: Issue 3: Spring 2019: Editors and contributing Authors: John Bennett and Gordon R Birkett News Briefs: from various sources. John Bennett & Gordon Birkett @2019 Story: No 2 SQUADRON A.F.C. PART I – THOSE EARLY DAYS by John Bennett 2019 Serial: RAAF WWII IN COLOUR; No.1 – RAAF Beaufighters: by John Bennett 2019 A series of RAAF aircraft in WWII – in Australia: New Guinea and the islands, and later, Europe and the Middle East will be included. Odd Stories: The attack on USS Sargo SS-188(S-7) 4th March 1942 and associated events by Gordon Birkett @2019 Odd Shots: Operated by the RAAF: Liberator Spread by Gordon Birkett @2019 Curtiss Wright Corner: P-40K-10-CU A29-164 by Gordon Birkett @2019 Corrections: Zip Message Traffic: Please address any questions to: [email protected] or https://www.facebook.com/groups/233552413412953/ News Briefs 19 May 2019: A39-007 arrived at Amberley (Pic is in UK prior) after ferrying from Getafe, Spain, on the 16 May 2019, via Canada, USA. It’s since been in regular use. New NZ Hercs 11 June 2019: New Zealand Defence Minister announced that the NZ Government has selected the Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Super Hercules to replace the RNZAF’s C-130H Hercules. The announcement, made on June 11 in Wellington, will see the Government request detailed pricing for five stretched fuselage C-130J-30 models, the requirement for which was considered the highest priority project in the most recent Defence Capability Plan 2019.
[Show full text]
EAST INDIA CLUB ROLL of HONOUR Regiments the EAST INDIA CLUB WORLD WAR ONE: 1914–1919
THE EAST INDIA CLUB SOME ACCOUNT OF THOSE MEMBERS OF THE CLUB & STAFF WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN WORLD WAR ONE 1914-1919 & WORLD WAR TWO 1939-1945 THE NAMES LISTED ON THE CLUB MEMORIALS IN THE HALL DEDICATION The independent ambition of both Chairman Iain Wolsey and member David Keating to research the members and staff honoured on the Club’s memorials has resulted in this book of Remembrance. Mr Keating’s immense capacity for the necessary research along with the Chairman’s endorsement and encouragement for the project was realised through the generosity of member Nicholas and Lynne Gould. The book was received in to the Club on the occasion of a commemorative service at St James’s Church, Piccadilly in September 2014 to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. Second World War members were researched and added in 2016 along with the appendices, which highlights some of the episodes and influences that involved our members in both conflicts. In October 2016, along with over 190 other organisations representing clubs, livery companies and the military, the club contributed a flagstone of our crest to the gardens of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. First published in 2014 by the East India Club. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing, from the East India Club.
[Show full text]
THE IMPACT of TECHNOLOGY and COMMAND on No 1 SQUADRON
THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY AND COMMAND ON No 1 SQUADRON OPERATIONS 1916-1958 by Mark Lax A thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Arts at Honours Level at the University College of the University of New South Wales, 1995 ii CERTIFICATION I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or written by another person, nor material which to a substantial extent has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma of a university or other institute of higher learning, except where due acknowledgment is made in the text of the thesis. M.R. LAX October 1995 NOTICE TO READERS OF THE ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THIS THESIS Due to the age and old format of the original thesis computer files (1993-1995), some formatting errors have occurred during transfer to PDF format. These are minor such as a full line separator between text and footnotes on many occasions. This file is therefore as close to the original as was possible and I certify that no text errors have occurred. Mark Lax 2009 iii TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Part I List of Tables, Figures, Maps and Annexes iv List of Abbreviations vii Table of Rank Equivalence xi Table of Conversion Factors xii Preface and Acknowledgments xiii Abstract xv Part II Introduction 1 Chapter 1 - Army Days - World War I (1912-1919) 13 Chapter 2 - A New Force - The Inter-War Years (1919-1941) 73 Chapter 3 - Defeat to Victory - World War II (1941-1945) 132 Chapter 4 - The War of the Running Dogs - The Malayan Emergency (1948-1958) 200 Conclusion 265 Annexes 273 Personal Interviews and Correspondence 319 Select Bibliography 323 iv LIST OF TABLES, FIGURES, MAPS AND ANNEXES Introduction Figure Page 1.
[Show full text]
The First Fateful Shot: Port Phillip Bay, August 1914
The First Fateful Shot: Port Phillip Bay, August 1914 THE FIRST FATEFUL SHOT : PORT PHILLIP BAY , AUGUST 1914 THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONFERENCE HELD AT THE QUEENSCLIFF /P OINT LONSDALE R.S.L. BY MILITARY HISTORY AND HERITAGE , VICTORIA . 2 AUGUST 2014 Proudly supported by: The First Fateful Shot: Port Phillip Bay, August 1914 Fledglings: Australia’s Military Aviation and preparations for war Squadron Leader Steve Campbell-Wright Introduction Australia was not ready to provide a credible military aviation capability at the outbreak of World War I. This was certainly not for any lack of appreciation that a military aviation capability was required. It was more due to the political and economic situation in Australia in the second decade of the twentieth century. The rapid pace of aviation technical development in Britain, Europe and the United States—and the successive Federal Governments’ inevitable lag in keeping abreast of aviation matters—conspired with Australia’s remoteness, and matters of greater urgency to politicians, to ensure that military aviation was slow to develop in Australia. Australian military aviation was immature at best at the outbreak of the war. The determined will of a handful of notable politicians and the power of public opinion brought a rudimentary capability into being just in time to participate in Australia’s first overseas action of the war. To claim Australia was not ready to provide a military aviation capability, it would be useful to know what constituted a mature capability in August 1914. Numbers vary, but Germany had about 246 aircraft in military service, organised into field detachments; France had 160, organised into 21 squadrons; Russia had some 260 aircraft of varying standard, organised into mixed squadrons; while Britain had 113 aircraft, organised into four squadrons with depots and a flying school.
[Show full text]
104742 Wings 14 Cover.Indd 1 11/02/14 11:44 AM Volume 66 No
104742 Wings 14 Cover.indd 1 11/02/14 11:44 AM Volume 66 No. 1 Wings Official Publication of the AUTUMN 14 RAAF Association EDITOR COVER Editor Lance Halvorson Following the assembly of two Contributions to Editor Wings aircraft at the Central Flying School, PO Box 83, Mitchell ACT 2911 Point Cook, VIC, two airmen Telephone 02 6286 7825 contemplated taking to the air - on Email [email protected] the quiet - with no press around. Web www.raafa.org.au On an overcast Sunday morning, March 1, 1914, the Bristol Biplane, DIVISION CONTACTS was run up and under control of Lieutenant Harrison, ‘floated’ into the ACT 0428 622 105 [email protected] air on the first tentative military flight NSW 02 9393 3485 [email protected] in Australia. Lieutenant Petre then QLD 07 5428 7305 [email protected] joined Harrison later in the day for several more flights, reaching a height of 1000 feet; all SA 08 8227 0980 [email protected] landed without accident. Petre twice went aloft in the TAS 03 6234 3862 [email protected] flyable Deperdussin on the same day. The first military VIC 03 9813 4600 [email protected] flights in Australia were recorded, low key events at the WA 08 9311 4445 [email protected] time. Compare these with the flights achievable in the Super Hornet, the latest fast jet in the RAAF. Cover: Phil Crowther Photos: 6SQN Super Hornets, Replica NATIONAL EXECUTIVE Bristol Boxkite and painting of CAPT Reg Francis by Norman President Brenton Espeland AM Clifford – courtesy of RAAF and Norman Clifford
[Show full text]
An Interesting Point © Commonwealth of Australia 2014 This Work Is Copyright
AN INTERESTING POINT © Commonwealth of Australia 2014 This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission. Inquiries should be made to the publisher. Disclaimer The views expressed in this work are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defence, the Royal Australian Air Force or the Government of Australia. The Commonwealth of Australia will not be legally responsible in contract, tort or otherwise, for any statements made in this document. Cover Image: ‘Flying Start’ by Norm Clifford - QinetiQ Pty Ltd National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Author: Campbell-Wright, Steve, author. Title: An interesting point : a history of military aviation at Point Cook 1914-2014 / Steve Campbell-Wright. ISBN: 9781925062007 (paperback) Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index. Subjects: Aeronautics, Military--Victoria--Point Cook--History. Air pilots, Military--Victoria--Point Cook. Point Cook (Vic.)--History. Other. Authors/Contributors: Australia. Royal Australian Air Force. Air Power Development Centre. Dewey Number: 358.400994 Published and distributed by: Air Power Development Centre F3-G, Department of Defence Telephone: + 61 2 6128 7041 PO Box 7932 Facsimile: + 61 2 6128 7053 CANBERRA BC 2610 Email: [email protected] AUSTRALIA Website: www.airforce.gov.au/airpower AN INTERESTING A History of Military Aviation at Point Cook 1914 – 2014 Steve Campbell-Wright ABOUT THE AUTHOR Steve Campbell-Wright has served in the Air Force for over 30 years. He holds a Masters degree in arts from the University of Melbourne and postgraduate qualifications in cultural heritage from Deakin University.
[Show full text]
Remembering Lieutenant Merz: Australia's Military Aviation Medical
Remembering Lieutenant Merz: Australia’s military aviation medical officer pioneer Dr. Tracy L. Smart, BMBS DAvMed The Early Years Abstract George Pinnock Merz was born at Prahran in Early in 2003, as many of its aviation medicine Melbourne on 10 October 1891 1, the second child trained military medical officers headed off to and only son of George and Annie Merz 2. When support the war against Iraq, the Australian he was about six years old, the family moved to Defence Force (ADF) officially classified these Ballarat where Merz began his education at the personnel as Aviation Medical Officers (AVMO). highly regarded State School No. 34 in Humffray Ninety years ago, the man who can be regarded St. Merz was dux of the school in 1905. He went as Australia’s first AVMO also headed off on the on to attend Grenville College where he “great adventure” of war in the Middle East. This continued to excel, passing both junior and senior man was Lieutenant George Pinnock Merz. public school exams and matriculating on 31 Lieutenant Merz began his military aviation career March 1909. He also won an exhibition prize of on graduating from medicine, becoming one of the 200 pounds towards studies at the University of first four to graduate as a military pilot in Australia Melbourne 2. in November 1914. Shortly afterwards, he participated in the first overseas deployment of Merz began a medical degree at the University of Australian military aviators to German New Melbourne in 1909, deciding on this career 3 Guinea. Following a brief tour as an instructor at because he had a genuine wish to help people .
[Show full text]
Challenges of the Australian Flying Corps During World War I
BearWorks MSU Graduate Theses Fall 2021 (Australian): Challenges of the Australian Flying Corps During World War I Patrick Joseph Blizzard Missouri State University, [email protected] As with any intellectual project, the content and views expressed in this thesis may be considered objectionable by some readers. However, this student-scholar’s work has been judged to have academic value by the student’s thesis committee members trained in the discipline. The content and views expressed in this thesis are those of the student-scholar and are not endorsed by Missouri State University, its Graduate College, or its employees. Follow this and additional works at: https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses Part of the Military History Commons Recommended Citation Blizzard, Patrick Joseph, "(Australian): Challenges of the Australian Flying Corps During World War I" (2021). MSU Graduate Theses. 3688. https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/3688 This article or document was made available through BearWorks, the institutional repository of Missouri State University. The work contained in it may be protected by copyright and require permission of the copyright holder for reuse or redistribution. For more information, please contact [email protected]. (AUSTRALIAN): CHALLENGES OF THE AUSTRALIAN FLYING CORPS DURING WORLD WAR I A Master’s Thesis Presented to The Graduate College of Missouri State University TEMPLATE In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts, History By Patrick Joseph Blizzard December 2021 Copyright 2021 by Patrick Joseph Blizzard ii (AUSTRALIAN): CHALLENGES OF THE AUSTRALIAN FLYING CORPS DURING WORLD WAR I History Missouri State University, December 2021 Master of Arts Patrick Joseph Blizzard ABSTRACT The air forces of the Great War faced many challenges.
[Show full text]
Walteroswaldwatt Researchfile2012
Walter Oswald Watt, 11 February, 1878 – 21 May, 1921 was just passing St Jude's Cemetery this morning, and once again felt the irresitable urge to visit Toby's grave. "A great man and a great soldier" it says on his tomb. Tragically drowned at Bilgola Beach in a few feet of water. Slipped on the rocks, knocked himself out, fell into the shallow water and drowned. http://www.diggerhis...oswald_watt.htm PDF Picture: DISTINGUISHED AIRMAN'S DEATH. (1921, May 23). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 8. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news- article15950785 Muriel: Muriel Maud Watt (nee Wiliams) Date 1911 Source Extract from an historical photo Author unknown Underground shelter Collection number: 2008.045.71 Title: Underground shelter Creator/Photographer: Unidentified Date of image: Circa 1914-15 Description: Photos taken around the career of Walter Oswald "Toby" Watt. Notes: In Walter Oswald "Toby" Watt photographs, 1914-1915. Coll. No. 2008.045. Dimensions: 12.5 x 10 cm. Original format: Photographic print : b&w Digital format: image/jpeg Rights Info: This item may be subject copyright. Persistent URL: Repository: McFarlin Library, Department of Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tulsa. 2933 E. 6th St. Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104-3123 General information about the McFarlin Library, Department of Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tulsa is available at www.utulsa.edu/libraries/mcfarlin/special-collections.aspx In winter kit Collection number: 2008.045.79 Title: In winter kit Creator/Photographer: Unidentified Date of image: Circa 1914-15 Description: Photos taken around the career of Walter Oswald "Toby" Watt.
[Show full text]
Print This Page
RAAF Radschool Association Magazine – Vol 45 Page 10 Point Cook Air Show. Over the weekend 1st and 2nd of March 2014, the Centenary of Military Aviation Air Show was held at Point Cook, the oldest continually operating military air field in the world. You can click a lot of the pics below to get a bigger look. Back in 1913, a Lieutenant Henry Petre selected a parcel (300 hectares) of coastal grazing land for the purpose of establishing a flying school for the Australian Flying Corps (AFC). As flying was still in its infancy and still highly experimental, land at sea level, devoid of any hills or obstructions, was essential for flying training and development. The Australian Central Flying School was formed and began its operations at Point Cook with two Officer instructors and a few aircraft mechanics. On the 1st March 1914, a Lieutenant Eric Harrison left the ground in a Bristol Boxkite to become the first person to fly from the newly established Base and exactly 100 years and a few minutes after, Air Vice Marshal Mark Skidmore (retired) flew a recently built replica of the same aircraft in front of crowds of people at the Air Show. His descendants were guests at the Airshow and watched as the replica was flown early on the Sunday morning (02Mar2014). The brainchild of Group Captain (retired) Ron Gretton, AM, (below) and Wing Commander (retired) Geoff Matthews, the Boxkite replica was painstakingly built at the RAAF Museum, and was first flown on the 11th September, 2013. (See HERE). A RAAF Radschool Association Magazine – Vol 45 Page 10 The Boxkite has a rich history in the evolution of military aviation in Australia and was the first official military aircraft built in Australia that was used to train Australia’s military aviators.
[Show full text]
HISTORY of the R.A.A.F. a Proud Record of Half a Century by AIR COMMODORE D
64 HISTORY OF THE R.A.A.F. A Proud Record of Half a Century By AIR COMMODORE D. W. KINGWELL, C.B.E., D.S.O. (Read at a meeting of the Society on 25 March 1971.) Australia has always been an air-minded nation. It was the first of the Dominions to follow Britain in consti tuting a separate Air Force. But, even long before this was achieved, there had been strong national support behind demands for the setting up of a unified air command. The R.A.A.F. was formally constituted in 1921—only three years after the Royal Air Force—^but Australian squadrons, years before that, had fought overseas in World War I alongside the men of the Royal Flying Corps in Egypt and in France. Australia with its great distances and relatively sparsely populated areas separating the major cities was peculiarly suited for the development of aviation. At the turn of the century air-minded Australians were thinking of the conquest of the air. Lawrence Hargrave had been experimenting with his box-kites, and aviation pioneers such as Houdini and Duigan had convinced the public that manned flight was more than a dream. THE BEGINNING In 1911 the Government was considering a plan for the introduction of an Aviation Corps for the Australian Army, and then in 1913 Lieutenant Eric Harrison (an Australian who had gone to England to learn to fly) and Henry Petre received their commissions in the Australian Military Forces as aviation instructors. With them from England they brought a Bristol Box-kite, two Deperdussins and two BE2As; as well, a number of mechanics made the journey.
[Show full text]