A.H.S.A. NEWSLETTER

Published by the Aviation Historical Society of Australia Inc. A0033653P, ARBN 092-671-773 Volume 28 Number 1, March 2012 Print Post approved 318780/00033 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.ahsa.org.au Editor: NEIL FOLLETT

Editorial. 1996, flying VH-GVA from England to Australia. Our sin¬ On page seven we have a request from the new editor of cere condolences go to John s family and friends. Aviation Heritage, Tony Clark for contributions to the jour¬ nal. Many of our members have been researching numer¬ VH-GVA c/n 1014, was built ous aspects of Australian aviation history for many years. in Australia and began life It is a little disappointing at times that the product of this as A17-579 with the RAAF. research does not reach a wider audience through Aviation Heritage. Tony is assembling a team of proof readers to not After its RAAF days it came only proof read contributions but to rework them if neces¬ onto the civil register as VH- sary. This means that even if you are not a confident writ¬ GME with McKenzie Flying ¦ er , please submit your research and we can shape it into School. a publishable article. In January 1961 it was re-' John Fisher AOM. It is with the deepest regret we record registered as VH-GVA with the death of AHSA member John Fisher. John died on 27 the Goulburn Valley Aero January 2012, when his Tiger Moth, VH-GVA, crashed on Club. take off from Maryborough Airport, in Victoria.

John was a retired partner in the accounting firm of Price- John s Tiger Moth, VH-GVA, shown here being refueled by Waterhouse . He was awarded an Order of Australia medal John at Point Cook during the RAAF Pilgrimage Flight. in 1996, was part of the 2020 Summit in Canberra in 2008 Photo from The Collection and was vice-president of the Maryborough Aero Club. He was also establishing a de Havilland aircraft museum on Captain Paul Wilson, the subject of Greg Banfield’s article Maryborough Airfield. in the last issue of Aviation Heritage very recently died. His family had requested a copy of the issue and it is pleasing Melbourne members will recall that John gave a talk at our to note that Paul read the article before his passing. September meeting last year about the flight he made in

1 Melbourne Meetings. tainous country somewhere in NSW where the anti-collision beacons were lighting up the passing trees. November 2011. This meeting was our annual John Duigan Memorial Lecture. Guest speaker was Air Commodore (ret) The other one was on an exercise where they were well out Mark Lax whose subject was The F-111 in RAAF Service. to sea approaching a target at 75 feet.

Mark was well qualified to talk on the subject , being an ex Part of the audience and Max during the talk. crew member on F-111 squadrons. He spoke of the history of the F-111 and the RAAF s decision to order it before it had made its first flight in the USA.

The differences between the various models were explained and the role they played with the RAAF.

Among the audience were two retired senior RAAF officers, Greg Gramtham and Ted Bushell, both connected with the F -111 during their RAAF service.

Max has recently written a book titled, From Controversy to Cutting Edge-a history of the F-111 in Australian service. He kindly donated a signed copy to the AHSA to be used as a door prize on the night. It was won and happily received by AHSA member Cam Care. Max also provided other prizes of another recently published book, To the Stars , which is a pictorial record of recent RAAF operations and activities, a signed print of a F-111 by AHSA member Juanita Franzi and a medal commemorating the RAAF s 90th birthday. Max pre¬ sented the medal to the youngest person in the audience. Luckily we had someone under thirty as controversy would Cam receiving his much appreciated prize from author Max. have reigned to pick the youngest out of the rest of us.

One of the questions asked of Max was about some of the Contributions to this issue from: Bob Fripp, Gary Sunderland, hairiest moments in the F-111. He related two. Leigh Ryan, Roger McDonald, Tony Clark, Philip Selth, Tony Clark, John Hopton & Keith White. A night time terrain following exercise at low altitude in moun- 2 SHORT BIOGRAPHY AHSA Melbourne BBQ. Another successful and pleasant AIR COMMODORE MARK LAX (Retd) annual BBQ was held on 18 December 2011 at Moorabbin Air Commodore Mark airport. Lax joined the Royal Aus¬ tralian Air Force Acade¬ my in January 1974 and graduated dux of his class. After navigator training, he had opera¬ tional, flight test and in¬ structional tours before llB completing a number of staff positions. During his career, he was Base Commander of RAAF Base, East Sale in Victo¬ ria and later in 1997, RAAF Base Richmond in NSW. Four happy members. L to R. John McCulloch, Dion Ma- kowski, Keith Meggs and Bob Fripp. In the following years, Air Commodore Lax held appointments at Glen- brook as Director in charge of plans and future development. He went on to hold a number of posts in Canberra develop¬ ing higher level policy and defence strategy. These included Director General Policy and Plans, Director General Military Strategy, and in 2006 - Director General Strategic Policy in Strategy Division - responsible for strategic assessments, the strategic plans function and a wide range of high level strategy and long term planning documents. It was in this post that he developed Force 2020, the blueprint for the AD- F s future.

Air Commodore Lax retired from the RAAF in January 2007 and for two years was managing editor of the ADF Journal. In 2008, he was appointed to the Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal where he acts as RAAF specialist advisor Long-time editor of Aviation Heritage and Life Member Bill for reviews into veteran medal claims. Air Commodore Lax Baker and Judith. also facilitates planning and exercise activities for Customs and Border Protection Command. In 2011, he completed his Coming Events. PhD and was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division for his work on military history and sup¬ Avalon Airshow. The dates have been announced for the port for various veterans organisations. next Avalon Airshow. In 2013. Tuesday 26 February until Sunday 3 March 2013. Air Commodore Lax is a graduate of the RAAF Academy, RAAF School of Air Navigation, Royal Air Force Cranwell, RAAF Staff College, USAF Air War College and Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. He enjoys crick¬ et, reading, writing and publishing on military aviation. He is also Vice-President of Canberra Legacy.

January 2012. The first meeting for 2012 was a member s night . The well-attended meeting saw a very interest film provided by Roger McDonald. It was a public relations film produced in the 1950’s on the subject of Australia’s civil avia¬ tion.

The now rare film showed action images of the Short San¬ dringham, Lockheed Constellation, Douglas DC-3 and DC-4, Convair 240, Lockheed Hudson and De Havilland Dragon. We even had a quick glimpse of a Liberator flying past. Temora Aviation Museum s Sabre A94-983 landing after its display at last years Avalon Airshow. A welcome visitor to the meeting was West Australian mem¬ ber, Charles Page who is on a research expedition gathering Tyabb Airshow. 4 March 2012 at Tyabb Airfield on Mel¬ material for his next book the Story of Victoria Cross recipi¬ bourne’s Mornington Peninsula. ent, William Newton. 3 NAMED AIRCRAFT Air Transport. It was struck off the register on 4 December 1956, being sold in America and becoming N55L Douglas DC-3, VH-BNH Warragamba . c/n 26675/15230, ex l-TROS, 43-49414. VH-BHN came onto the Australian Butler named their aircraft after rivers and areas in which they register on 25 November 1948 and was operated by Butler operated. Warragamba is a river in NSW.

4 Book Reviews. Ian K. Baker s Aviation History Colouring Book No. 74.

The Spitfire Pocket Manuel - compiled by Martin Robson Part 7 of the study of RAAF colour schemes.. This issues from National Archives (Air Ministry) files. This edition by covers the colour schemes and markings of the Directorate Herron Book Distributors. Queensland. ISBN 9781 8406 of Transport (DAT) which was created to co-ordinate the 55728. combined air transport resources of the RAAF and the USAAF. This little gem has the look and feel of the many official and secret, at the time, wartime publications although the mod¬ Available from : Ian K. Baker, 31A Mercer St. Queenscliff, ern paper and printing is a good deal better. Vic. 3225. Fax: (03)5258 3166 Email: [email protected]

The contents cover the background to the Spitfire story from the initial Air Ministry Specification F7/30 to Spitfire XVI fight¬ er bomber tactics of the 2nd T.A.F. William E. Hart. In the last newsletter we printed the photo below, showing a memorial to Hart in the Parramatta Park. It is just the opposite of the usual large and glossy coffee AHSA (NSW) member Keith White who has been research¬ table books on the Spitfire and it has much to interest any ing the life of Hart for many years has identified four errors in historian, not just the Spitfire enthusiasts. The detail is fasci¬ the inscription. nating but restricted by the space available.

For example it would be interesting to have some comment from someone like Keith Meggs, on the fluid six formation as against the “finger four”. To this reader the formation looks like two (or more) vies of three in line astern in pre- 1939 arrangements.

In this context it is worth noting that the Spitfire external rear -vision mirror was retained until the bubble canopy XIV came into service. In such a high velocity area the mirror must have involved a large drag penalty. Axis fighters seem not to have mirrors and presumably left it to their No.2. to look after their 6 o clock position.

David Crook s description of a couple of 600 mph plus dives during the Battle of Britain is a testimonial to a great air¬ A NATIVE OF THIS CITY, A frame. (My friend, the late Boris Slusarev, claimed more than 645 mph on a test flight in Egypt.) AND THE HOLDER OF THE FI ST ISSUED BY TH AERO LEAGUE OF AUSTRALIA. LANHFr Needless to say the book is very highly recommended. Gary Sunderland. HIS AEROPLANE AFTER A CROSS-C THE FIRST IN AUSTRALIA, FROM PENRIT OF 18 MILES WHICH TOOK 19 MINUTES.

PARRAMAT A IS PROUD TO HONOUR THE NAME OF ITS HERO HO ALSO SERVED HIS COUNTRY S Ah DRAWINGS & NOTES FOR MODELLERS ILLUSTRATORS & ENTHUSIASTS OF THE R.F.C.IN THE GREAT WAR OF 1914-18. HE DIED ON 29V JULY 19 3, AT THE AGE OF 56.

They are: 1. The date of the flight was the 3rd November, not the 4th tAAT? COLOUR SC EMES November. MARK ING . 1021-1W31 2. The first cross-country flight was by J.J. Hammond on 18 February 1911. Hart was the first Australian.

3. He served with the AFC, not the RFC.. He did spend a short time in England from where he was sent back to Aus¬ tralia for discharge.

4. He died at age 58, not 56.

5 AVIATION COMP NY LI ITED

>»« ST, OCOOOC S TCO„ PERT , VESTEON USTRALIA TELEORAMS And C ALeS!HAVlATIONCO.M PERT .

JW: VF 30lh July 1945

It is again brought to your notice the necessity of informing the Head Office of your whereabouts should you decide to be away from home more than four hours, especially about weekends. Owing to an alteration in the Riots Roster recently a First officer could not be found, and it was

necessary to send a Captain, which was not very convenient.

There appears to be a slackening off of etiquette amongst junior officers, which with the great headway operations in the future will develop this must not be allowed to deteriorate, and all

Captains must be treated with respect as becomes their rank, and to speak of them as such.

MacRobertson Miller Aviation Co. Ltd

J Woods Operati ns Mana er

Distribution: First Officers

Was this Australia s (or the world s) first kerbside check¬ in?? After an initial check, passengers remained outside on the footpath amongst the stack of luggage until the Butler coach In May 1948, the Sydney Agent for and arrived. A more formal check-in was carried out at Mascot provider of their city booking office and departure lounge, the Airport, causing a slight delay in departure of both flights. NSW Department of Immigration and Tourist Activities moved their office and booking office to 169 Philip Street in (The Sydney Morning Herald 17 May, 1948) the city. I!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The move was undertaken over the weekend of Saturday, 8 Smoking Phones and Laptop Fires. May and Sunday, 9 May with the lounge being ready to re¬ The recent reports in the newspapers and Flight Safety Aus¬ ceive the first Butler passengers late that week. The building tralia , issue 84 January February 2012 (see In your hot was owned by the Church of England Property Trust who little hand page 4), of a iPhone catching fire in a Rex was unaware of its use as a lounge by Butler, apart from the Saab 340B suggests that members review their actions in the Government Department activities. The Rector of St. James event of their phone or laptop starting to smoke. Church, the Reverend E.J. Davidson was astounded when told that Butler Air Transport had an office within the building. Many mobile phones and laptop computers contain lithium I am sure my church wardens are also unaware that Butler batteries. are in the building he said. There is a training video available on-line at: On the first Sunday of its use by Butler, passengers started www.fire.tc.faa.aov - find “Videos under “Announcements arriving to check-in for flights to Lismore (Evans Head) and and select Video on Laptop Battery Fires Charleville but became bewildered when told by a Butler rep¬ resentative that he was forbidden by Church wardens not to See what can happen to your laptop and what to do. The open the office and lounge for their use because under vital message in the video is to cool the batteries Church rules, their building was not to be opened on Sun¬ extinguishers that do not DON’T WORK. days for the purpose of trading! 6 WE NEED YOUR HELP Lionel Conrad Shoppee. We are establishing a new feature in Aviation Heritage that I am writing a biographical article on Lionel Conrad Shop¬ will include your photographs. The maxim, a picture is pee, an early Australian and New Guinea aviator (and gold worth a thousand words , is especially true for aircraft and miner). so we would like to include some of those photographs that you have taken both from the past and recent I am writing to ask if the Society might be able to assist me times. Photographs are preferred in digital form and with information about Squadron Leader Shoppee (as he should be scanned at a minimum of 300dpi or as gloss became). prints. If you are unable to scan photographs, please let us know and we will arrange to scan them for you. I have searched the National Archives and TROVE, but this doesn't tell me much about Shoppee's Australian /New Your submission of stories is also sought, together with Guinea life (although James Sinclair's 'Wings of gold' is ideas for future articles. very helpful).

Sub editors are required to assist in the publication pro¬ I am in the processing of reading both 'Aviation heritage' cess and if you are reasonably able to check spelling and and the AHSA Newsletter in the hope I can find refer¬ grammar and have a good familiarity with Australian avia¬ ences to Shoppee. tion history, we would be delighted to have you on the team. If it might be of any interest, I am happy to submit my arti¬ Thanks Tony. cle to you for possible publication in some form.

Electrical Equipment. We have received a request from Many thanks, a member of the public to identify the equipment shown in the accompanying photographs. They were discovered in Philip Selth their grandfathers shed. The Bar Association Servants of all, yet of none Philip Selth OAM Executive Director Selborne Chambers 174 Phillip Street Sydney NSW 2000 DX 1204 Sydney P (02) 9229 1735 F 02 9221 1149 E [email protected]

Research Queries. From Neil Follett. For a future article I am seeking photo¬ graphs of the RAAF Airspeed Oxford AS618 which crashed on Deal Island in on 25/9/1943.

I am also interested in obtaining details on any aviation activity on Deal Island. There is an airstrip on the Island, but is now closed due to it being considered dangerous.

Over the years there have been reports of aircraft making a forced landing there. Does anyone have any details?

Has any member landed there? SM

They were purchased at auction in 1973. If any member can identify the items please let the editor know and the DE-SOU- iR L TG R* SMI ' ChfKIL dOXLci? information will be passed on . BELL JffiES'i'CW JHGESfciffiOBISHICK JUdS 'OB & (A Mi)E LAWiJjJiU £LACKSLLLitL''- Cto BEAL ISL K DAMI?] lAOlU) tiKMOWM,MlS PLMECA 7 THE ODD SHOTS.

Have a look at these two photos. One is an old photo of all closely, you ll notice that all are placed in the exact same- the 6 Squadron members with a Beaufort bomber. places and poses as the original members.

The other is the current members of 6 Squadron with the Beaufort replaced by a Super Hornet. If you loo more

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