A.H.S.A. NEWSLETTER Published by the Aviation Historical Society of Australia Inc. A0033653P, ARBN 092-671-773 Volume 30 Number 3, August 2014 Print Post approved 318780/00033 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.ahsa.org.au Editor: NEIL FOLLETT 2013 Oswald Watt Medal re- Editorial comment. Our congratulations to Roger McDon- cipient. The Royal Federation ald on his award of the Bob Wills Plaque for 2013. His of Aero Clubs of Australia award winning series of articles titled, “The Fascinating (RFACA) have announced that NSW Triangle of Air Services” is typical of the in-depth re- the 2013 recipient is Marj. Gil- search that AHSA members used to indulge in. Sadly this lespie OAM. Marj learnt to fly in deep research is not practised as much as it was in the 1983 at the Manning River Aero past. Why spend time and effort on research when it can Club, where she served as just be seen on the internet? What you find on the internet President for twenty-six years. is often ill-conceived and under researched material which unfortunately may change history for future generations. Marj. Was elected President of the RFACA in 1997, a position that she still holds. Her career Don’t get me wrong, the internet is an excellent source of and achievements will be fully material to begin research, but not always a good resource documented in due course in the of completed research. Oswald Series of articles in Aviation Heritage. AHSA Archive. The Archive Sub-committee has discussed 2013 Bob Wills Plaque. The 2013 award was presented at the issue of an AHSA archive at great length. It has been the July meeting to Roger McDonald for his extremely well decided that we will not set up an archive of books and arte- researched series of articles on the NSW Triangle of Air facts because we don’t have a permanent location to store Services. them, and the cost of storing, cataloguing and lending books would require a substantial increase in membership fees. There are several other associations with such archives (e.g. AARG, CAHS), and when we find historically signifi- cant books etc. amongst donated collections we will offer them to a relevant association. The question of a photo ar- chive is still being discussed – we haven’t decided exactly how we might go about this, although if we had one it would probably be held in digital format. However, our main business is producing Aviation Heritage and other publications and we are working on getting to- gether two full sets of all AHSA publications to date (Journal, Aviation Heritage, Newsletter etc) and having them bound, to be stored in separate locations. At the same time we will produce a digital file of these publications, suitably indexed, to be made available for use by researchers. We intend to produce CDs of the scanned volumes for sale. We need assistance from members in this important en- deavour - we are short of some issues of the Journal and the Newsletter (particularly the early ones); both publica- tions have to be scanned to digital format; and the task of indexing them is far from complete. If anyone can help with any of the above, please contact the Archives Sub-committee leader Allan Trower ([email protected]). We will provide instructions and original issues for scanning and for indexing, and anyone donating copies of the Journal or Newsletter prior to 1980 will receive a free set of CDs for those early publications as soon as they are completed. Antony Grage. A very pleased Roger 1 MELBOURNE MEETINGS. Chris spoke on the WW2 record of 273 Squadron RAF, a Commonwealth squadron based in Ceylon and then India, May: Loris fighting over Burma. After the War ended the squadron Molent, head of went to Siam and then French Indo-China. Chris’s father Emerging Air- Flt Lt Geoffrey (‘Pip’) Piper flew Spitfire Mk VIIIs over the craft Structural period May 1944 – July 1945. Chris presented material, Integrity, De- including his father’s Log Book and Squadron unofficial fence Science Organisation diary, describing the daily life in the squadron as it sup- spoke on the F/ ported Allied ground forces during the reconquest of A-18A Hornet Burma (see “Pip” Piper in Burma, www.torqaid.com/ life extension images/stories/spitfiresoverburma.pdf). Chris and his program. brother are researching for a book on the history of 273 Squadron, and have already received some leads follow- Members will ing Chris’s lecture; anyone who can assist with informa- recall Loris tion on this lesser-known campaign can contact him at spoke at our [email protected], or through the Editor. August 2011 meeting on the crash of the July. Rex Hobson, honorary secretary of the Royal RAAF Lock- Victorian Aero Club (RVAC) spoke about the early heed Orion at history of the foundation of the aero club movement in C o c o s Australia, from (Keeling) Is- the formation of lands in 1991. the Australian Aero Club by offi- June: Chris Piper (MICD). Chris is a multi-skilled develop- cers of the AFC ment/humanitarian practitioner and qualified trainer/facilitator, at Point Cook in who has worked extensively across the Australian, Asian- 1914. Pacific, Eastern & Southern Africa, and European regions. He is a member—DRR specialist); the Australian Institute of Emergency Services; and Professionals in Humanitarian Of great interest Assistance and Protection. in Rex’s presen- tation were docu- ments pertaining to the early his- tory of the RVAC, such as granting of the ‘Royal’ De- cree. Elizabeth Leckie (left) proudly shows trophies won by her fa- ther, Squadron Leader Doug Leckie when a member of the Royal Victorian Aero Club. Chris holding a photo of his father in the cockpit of his Spit- fire. 2 Centenary of Military Aviation – RAAF Williams, Point Cook, Victoria, March 1- 2 2014 (CMA 14). by Dion Makowski 2014 opens a period of significant centenaries, among which goes to the RAAF Beech KA-350 King Air display team the Australian Defence Force opened the RAAF base at Point (known to us for the weekend as the “Kingettes”). Tastefully Cook for a well executed weekend of aviation - related activi- decorated with ‘tactical swirl’, the team, from the School of air ties to celebrate establishment of Military flight at the CFS – Navigation at RAAF Base East Sale, gave us a remarkable Central Flying School. The focus is on the first flight of 1 four-ship team handling demonstration on the public days. It March 1914 (Capt. Eric Harrison). With a recently completed, is good to see ADF expand the display envelope to include airworthy Bristol Boxkite Replica VH-XKT /CFS 3 now with light transports! the RAAF Museum, it was appropriate that flights were made to commemorate this event, including a flight departing at the Ground activities included the crowd favourite RAAF dog han- exact time, one hundred years to the hour, of Harrison’s dling team; the C-17 walkthrough and the RAAF Band – dis- Flight. Other events this week included an appearance over played on the crowdline. Army displayed their MRH-90 and Castlemaine, of the Roulette display team, commemorating Tiger ARH attack helicopters on the ground, there was even the birthplace of Eric Harrison. an opportunity for a photo of the Boxkite with the Helicopters, personnel in WWI period costume and Army Aviation Offi- As well as attracting a fly-in of interesting historical aircraft, cers. The mandatory “expo’ marquee included booths for the airshow was planned to have the same flying programme several ADF units including RAAF Amberley and Heritage over both days. This was to be a showcase of current ADF Centre, 2SQN (the E-7A operator), aviation museums and airshow activities, including the following notables: simultane- commercial outlets. Of interest to our members, AHSA ous flypast of Sopwith Pup replica with F/A-18A Hornet caught up with the team from Celebrating Harry Hawker in “Classic” -illustrating the old and the new; trainer mass flypast Australia 1914 – 2014. Descendants, including Chris, Dale (Winjeel and CT-4A), CAC Wirraway; antiques (notably Aus- and Judy Hawker and Jim Dale, President, City of Moorabbin ter AOP III, DH Moth Minor, Avro cadet) and Temora warbird Historical Society, continue to promote Hawker’s achieve- fighters; jets (Meteor and Sabre) and Hudson bomber ments and memory with an expanded, well turned out dis- (including mixed formations as have become an interesting play. Please visit their page at www.facebook.com/ inclusion at airshows over the past decade), HARS Catalina, HarryGHawker. See also Project Hawker 2013 on the Circuit Dakota and Caribou; West Sale Vampire (ex-Rhodesia); RAN of Britain 100th Anniversary commemorative flight by Catalina Historic Flight Iroquois and current ADF – Roulettes; Classic G-PBYA in the UK. There was a Centenary of Military Avia- Hornet display team “Purple Cobras” of 3SQN RAAF William- tion art contest for kids – we were impressed that beyond the town, NSW, including air refuel setup with Airbus Military KC- usual interest in fast jets, some kids drew WWII types, includ- 30A, Air combat manoeuvres (ACM) and ground attack se- ing the Commonwealth Woomera bomber! quences; F/A-18F “Rhino” solo ship display; Hawk 127 LIF; Orion; E-7A Wedgetail; C-130J Hercules handling demo and We also attended the launch of a significant history of Point the navy squirrel team “Squirrel Dance”. Special mention Cook; An Interesting Point: A History of Military Aviation at 3 Point Cook 1914 – 2014. Author, SQNLDR Steve Campbell- AHSA would like to thank RAAF Public Affairs and Defence Wright was introduced by Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Media Operations for arranging access and media opportuni- Geoff Brown, AO, while attending was Air Chief Marshal An- ties across the weekend including practice day.