Aircrew for the Duration WWII
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FOR THE DURATION WWII I I I EDITORS: Bruce Gaston DFC t Harry Horner DFC OAM, Raymond Storer his publication records many diverse incidents, exploits and history of a group of men who trained and served as aircrew in the RAAF T during World War TI. It was in mid 1940, when Britain had suffered military reverses in Europe that we begin. Each month, approximately a hundred physically fit, well educated young men, mostly aged 19-25 years, were accepted to train as aircrew in Western AustTalia. We follow the experiences, and lives in training, of some of the 417 who volunteered then to serve VIliththe RAAF officially - "For the Duration of the War and a period of twelve months thereafter" The trainees, about whom and by whom this book has been compiled, fotTned Courses 10, 11, 12 and 13 of the Empire Air Training Scheme and entered Pearce Initial Training School in January, February, March and April 194L AIR CREW FOR THE DURATION WWII Editors: Bruce Gaston, DFC Harry Horner, DFC DAM Raymond Storer . OF AND BYMEMBERS OF RAAF EATS COURSES 10, II, 12 & 13. 1 Aircrew for the Duration WWII ISBN 1875317066 Design&Productionby WordsWorkExpress 156 Mills Street, Welshpool WA Ph: 350 5311 Fax: 350 5572 @1990 Bruce Gaston DFC, Harry Horner DFC OAM, Raymond Storer Limited edition. Copies obtainable from Raymond Storer 69 Smyth Road, Nedlands, 6009. Ph: 386 4712 2 DEDICATION To fellow air crew members of Empire Air Training Courses 10, 11, 12 and 13 who were killed while serving in the Royal Australian Air Force within the duration of WWII. They are forever in our memory. .. :.. 3 Aircrew for the Duration WWII INTRODUCTION This publication records many diverse incidents, exploits and history of a group of men who trained and served as aircrew in the RAAF during World War n. It was in mid 1940, when Britain had suffered military reverses in Europe that we begin. Each month, approximately a hundred physically fit, well educated young men, mostly aged 19-25 years, were accepted to train as aircrew in Western Australia. We follow the experiences, and lives in training, of some of the 417 who volunteered then to serve with the RAAF officially- "For the Duration of the War and a period of twelve months thereafter" The trainees, about whom and by whom this book has been compiled, formed Courses 10, 11, 12 and 13 of the Empire Air Training Scheme and entered Pearce Initial Training School in January, February, March and April 1941. Initially they came together as civilian clerks, teachers, farmers, university students, accounts, etc. and nine months later most had qualified as pilots, navigators or wireless operator/gunners. Although annual reunions since 1951 have brought some of the surviving members of these courses together, nothing positive was done to record the service, postings, experiences and fate of the original 417. Our records in 1990 show that one in three was killed on service during the war, another third has since died and the remainder, considered the really lucky ones, are generally 70 plus years of age. This book, 1 therefore, is printed not only for the participants, but it is our hope that it will be read by our grandchildren and their progeny in an attempt at understanding why we enlisted voluntarily to serve as aircrew in the RAAFduring World War II. No doubt the Air Force, as a service, was attractive as most young men wanted to experience the thrills of flying and also to travel to other parts of the world. Underlying this desire, however, was a deep sense of duty and patriotism. We considered ourselves part of Australia, we appreciated our way of life and we proudly considered Australia as part of the British Empire with England as our Mother Country. At the time of enlistment we believed that Hitler and the then Nazi 4 regime of Germany was evil and inhuman. We did not want those regimes ruling our world and subjecting our families to such unacceptable forms of life. We believed that then and we still do now - 50 years later. For those of us who came through. relatively unscathed it was a wonderful experience. We saw places which we did not know existed. Before 1940 very few of us had been outside our own State. There was a camaraderie that we had never experienced before. Many friendships formed in training have lasted till today. We scaled heights we had never reached before - and sometimes we reached depths of despair. Our mates with whom we had marched, and lived with and enjoyed life with so intensely were killed in a moment and we were untouched. We were taught discipline, an essential in the life of aircrew. The benefits carried on into civilian life. Included stories are many and varied: some sad, some brave, some just fond memories and some showing the humorous side of serious events. Even though these stories have been written by individual members of our group, you can be assured that they mirror similar events experienced by many other members ()f Courses 10-13 during the same period. We hope that this book, produced by those who remain of the original enlistees at Pearce in 1941 will give you, who follow us, a better understanding of the circumstances surrounding the lives of members of aircrew during World War ll. Perth 1990 Editors: Bruce'Gaston Harry Homer Ray Storer 5 Aircrew for the Duration WWII 6 INDEX Page The Empire Air Training Scheme - Courses 10-13 9 Foreword to Members' Stories 18 Section I UK/Europe Area 19 Section II The Middle East 65 Section III The Australian-Pacific Area 103 Section IV Miscellaneous Stories 153 Condensed Service Histories 185 Course Enlistments 203 Course Honour Rolls 210 AD [After Duration] 227 Acknowledgments 230 Abbreviations and Definitions 231 7 Aircn!W for the Duration WWII 8 THE EMPIRE AIR TRAINING SCHEME for RAAF Courses 10,'11,12, and 13 9 Aircrew for the Duration WWII 10 The Empire Air Training Scheme THE EMPIRE AIR TRAINING SCHEME for RAAF Courses 10, 11, 12 and 13 In order to build up the air strength of the British Empire in the early stages of World War II, a plan for the training of aircrew was created. Initially organisation of schools and flying training were set up in Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It was known as the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) and based on RAF traditional experience. In it over 250,000 young men were eventually converted from civilians to trained aircrew. In 1940 all overseas service in the armed forces was voluntary and one could apply to join the Navy, Army or Air Force. The glamour of flying appealed to most young.men of the day and the Air Force was a popular choice. However, the educational and fitness standards required for aircrew entry were higher than those for the other services. Following an application to join the RAAF for aircrew training, the potential of the recruit was assessed at an initial interview. He was then required to attend a medical examination generally in the capital city of his State. Comparatively few passed these educational and medical tests. Those who did were accepted in the first instance as RAAF Aircrew Reservists to be "called up" for full time training about 9 months later. During that period as a Reservist they were supplied with a course of 21 lesson books on mathematics, navigation and meteorology. They studied these mostly with the help of classes set up in capital cities and large country towns. In addition, they were required to become proficient in the use of Morse Code. Using buzzer sets they spent many hours sending and receiving. Often they had voluntary help from operators in the GPO and country post offices. As mentioned earlier, 10-13 Courses were called up between January and April 1941 and became part of the RAAF. They spent the next eight weeks at Initial Training School (ITS). For our courses this was at Pearce, Bullsbrook. A very ragged 100 plus ex civilians were soon being drilled daily by sergeant drill instructors. In addition, all attended classes in various subjects such as RAAF Law, Mechanical Engines, Mathematics, Navigation, Signals, etc. There was also considerable emphasis on Physical Training and Sport. .. To add to our unairmanlike appearance, we were dressed in "goon 11 Aircrew for the Duration WWII skins" (drab overalls) and in our forage caps was a white flash (Kotex) which designated the wearer as a trainee of the lowest rank the RAAF, namely an ACn (Aircraftsman Second Oass). At the conclusion of two months at ITS Pearce, all trainees were re- assessed. Examinations were held in all subjects and there was an interview with Group Captain Norman Brearley, ex: Pearce. Following this, each trainee was allocated to the category of pilot, navigator or wireless operator / air gunner. The RAAFwantedan appropriate proportion in each category. Some were dissatisfied with their allotment and occasionally a trainee dropped out at this stage but most accepted the verdict. ACIIs became LACs (Leading Aircraftsman) and were posted to appropriate training centres. Only trainee pilots stayed in Western Australia. Concise details of further aircrew training follow: Pilot Training Those selected for pilot training were posted to 9 EFTS (Elementary Flying Training School) which was established early in 1941 at Cunderdin W A, about 90 miles east of Perth. The aircraft for initial flight training was the 51T\all,single engined Tiger Moth. The first hurdle was a solo take-off and landing. After 6 to 10 hours of dual flying instruction most trainees went solo.