AUTUMN 2021 WINGS NO.1 73 VOLUME CELEBRATING LOOKING BACK THE RAAF’S EARLY YEARS AN AIR FORCE AVALON THE SHOW GOES ON MILESTONE AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE defencebank.com.au 1800 033 139 The credit card that has tails wagging. Introducing Australia’s Defence Bank Foundation VISA Credit card. It’s a win for members, a win for veterans and a win for specially-trained dogs like Bruce, whose handsome face appears on the card. .99 p.a.% .99 p.a.% 6 month Ongoing 3 introductory rate.* 8 rate.* • Up to 55 days interest free on purchases. • Same low rate for purchases and cash advances. • Additional cardholder at no extra cost. Australia’s Defence Bank Foundation supports the Defence Community Dogs’ Program. It provides specially-trained assistance dogs to veterans living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Thanks to you, we’ll donate half of the annual card fee every year to do what we can to serve those who protect us. 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ON THE COVER The cover pays tribute to the Air Force Centenary and invokes a faded memory of rugged beginnings, while paying homage to the men and women who provide the bedrock of a potent fighting force. 38 WINGS TEAM WINGS MANAGER Ron Haack EDITOR Sandy McPhie ART DIRECTOR Katie Monin SENIOR ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE CONTENTS Sue Guymer ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Phil Whiteman wings autumn 2021 volume 73 / NO.1 ASSISTANT EDITORS Mike Nelmes (history) 4 WELCOME MESSAGE John Kindler AO AFC (industry news) 5 MANAGER’S MESSAGE & LETTERS Bob Treloar AO MiD (military aviation) 6 MILITARY AVIATION 12 PRESIDENT'S CORNER CONTACT & ASSOCIATION NEWS E [email protected] 16 INDUSTRY NEWS W wingsmagazine.org 22 AN INDEPENDENT AIR FORCE RAAFANSW Publications Pty Ltd A Early history of the RAAF Salamander Bay LPO, PO Box 656 Salamander Bay 2317 27 CENTENARY COMMEMORATIONS Air Force 2021 events PRINTED BY: WHO Printing, Regional Printer 30 A VALON ON FOR 2021 of the Year, National Print Awards 2020. The Australian International Airshow 32 NEWTON VC AND THE BOSTON DIGITAL EDITION RAAF Victoria Cross recipient To read this publication online, or subscribe 22 34 A LONG ASSOCIATION to the print issue, go to wingsmagazine.org Boeing in Australia 38 CENTREFOLD FACEBOOK Pull out and keep Wings on Facebook, go to facebook.com/ 40 ORIGINS OF THE F-117 WingsMagazineRAAFAPublications Lockheed’s Skunk Works, part 2 44 RAAF'S LARGEST BASE DISCLAIMER RAAF Base Amberley & its Aviation Information in the articles in this magazine was current at time Heritage Centre of publication but more recent developments should be checked 50 THE FASTEST AUSSIE ON EARTH with the relevant Defence and other authorities for currency and any changes to conditions. Content appearing in this publication World land speed record attempts does not necessarily reflect the views or have the endorsement 54 THE BIRTH OF A NUMBER of the Department of Defence or the publisher. While every effort No.450 Squadron turns 80 has been made to ensure accuracy and currency in the articles presented, reliance should not be placed on the information 56 THE PROPELLER ERA contained without reference to the relevant authorities. No part Qantas history, part 2 of this magazine may be reproduced without the written consent 62 A DIVERSE ENTERPRISE of RAAFANSW Publications. No responsibility is accepted by the publisher for the accuracy of advertisements or information. Rolls-Royce ship design 63 MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP 66 PERSONAL FINANCE 68 CADETS NEWS 71 LAST FLIGHT AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION 74 BOOK REVIEWS 40 WINGS VOLUME 73 NO.1 | 03 WELCOME. SADFO RAAF BASE AMBERLEY MESSAGE FROM Custodians of the land – and pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. We share a commitment for RAAF Base AMBERLEY protecting country and community and looking after our people. We also have a strong and collaborative relationship with our local Elders and I encourage you all to take the time to better S THE SENIOR understand our Indigenous history, AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE culture and customs. FORCE (ADF) OFFICER RAAF Base Amberley was officially for RAAF Base Amberley, opened in June 1940 and will celebrate AI am delighted to introduce both this 81 years’ service as an operational air autumn edition of Wings magazine and base in 2021. provide an insight into one the largest On 31 March 2021, the Air Force will Air Force bases in the country. celebrate its 100th year of service as an RAAF Base Amberley is one of our independent air force. Throughout 2021, largest operational air bases, where we we will acknowledge our centenary and, deliver airpower and joint capabilities together with industry, government, to defend our nation and its interests. council and – most importantly – our On any given day, the base is home to people, celebrate our history, our a range of air mobility, air combat and achievements and our future. airbase support capabilities, to name We will continue to meet day- a few, that together can rapidly deploy to-day operational requirements, in support of single service, joint or deliver flexible capability for our coalition operations. nation, develop future base plans and It is my honour and privilege to introduce technology that will keep us represent our Defence people and at the forefront of airpower generation. their families in the wider South I trust you enjoy this edition of Wings East Queensland community and to as we celebrate our 100th year as an concurrently ensure our base is ready air force. to support the range of operational, training and industry capabilities that Group Captain Iain Carty, CSM call RAAF Base Amberley home. Senior Australian Defence We acknowledge the Yuggera and Force Officer the Ugarapul people – the Traditional RAAF Base Amberley - WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS IN - PLEASE CONTACT PHIL WHITEMAN 0434 524 473 / [email protected] 04 | AUTUMN 2021 LETTERS. B-24 VISIT I read with interest your article and MANAGER'S photos, regarding the B-24 Liberator MESSAGE Bomber. I recall visiting the project many RAAFA Publications Pty Ltd, a resource years ago. I was not allowed to enter the fully owned by Air Force Association part-constructed fuselage. NSW, has been producing Wings in the I am a WWII veteran and, having modernised form for two years with this opened my log book for the first time edition and, by all accounts, it has been in 75 years, I noted I had completed 19 well received. sorties, approximately 240 operational In this edition, we acknowledge the hours, with trips varying from 12 to 15 Air Force centenary and the contribution hours over Burma, French Indo China air power has made to our young nation, and Siam as they were named. We were both commercially and militarily. We sworn to secrecy about our operations. begin an Air Force history series and Our crew was two pilots, two WAGs, continue the Qantas and Skunk Works a navigator, a bomb aimer and a tail series. We also introduce a short series gunner. I was a WAG. LIBERATOR on an Aussie larrikin determined to break Merv McGrane, Bundaberg, Qld his own land speed record and with RESTORATION aspirations to break the sound barrier I read with great interest the article in the while in contact with terra firma. Summer 2020 edition about restoring a AUSTRALIA'S We hope you continue to enjoy the B-24 Bomber at Werribee. FIRST AIRLINE magazine and encourage all with an I was the ADMINO at 21 Squadron I was pleased to read in Don Hill’s interest in air power, a little history, (City of Melbourne) for many years and feature on the early years of Qantas, technology and a good yarn to subscribe was associated with the project, as was that he mentioned Norman Brearley for a mail-delivered personal copy. the Squadron Engineering Section. Gary operated Australia’s first commercial I would also commend a subscription to Jarvis was the 21SQN officer to visit PNG airline, West Australian Airways. the magazine, as a gift, to budding young and make arrangements for removal and Brearley’s story is very interesting. (and the not so young) aviators, space transport of the wing section mentioned I had a copy of his autobiography many travellers and technicians with an interest in the article. years ago which I loaned to someone in all things that work in the environment The project was beset with problems and consequently lost. His book is between us and our neighbouring – break-ins and theft of tools and called Australian Aviator and is well planets and that evolve to advance our equipment, plus indecision as to the future worth reading. knowledge and improve our lives. of the hangar. I knew Bob Butler, as he Graham Thomas, via email Visit our website, wingsmagazine.org, was one of my instructors when I was an to read previous issues and arrange a Air Training Corps Cadet (8217) back in the • Please send letters to editor@ personal or gift subscription. late 1940s, and later on his many visits to raafapublications.org.au, including your 21 SQN as part of the project. Ron Haack name and details. Letters may be edited Wings magazine manager David Crickmore, Scarness, Qld for length and clarity.