The Empire Air Training Scheme: Identity, Empire and Memory
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
The Empire Air Training Scheme: Identity, Empire and Memory Suzanne Jillian Evans Submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy November 2010 Department of Historical Studies The University of Melbourne Produced on Archival Quality Paper Abstract This thesis charts the change in images surrounding the institution of the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) in both the Australian national narrative and individual accounts. Formed in response to the demands of aerial warfare in 1939, EATS was embedded in a cultural environment of Australian Empire relationships, masculinity and the technology of flight. In the collective narrative of the early war years EATS was proclaimed as the greatest sign of unity and Empire loyalty, yet in the decades following the end of the war it is difficult to discover any mention of the Scheme, and in the twenty-first century it no longer holds a place in Australian collective memory. The purpose of this thesis is twofold. The first purpose is to provide reasons for the marginalization of EATS in the national narrative. While numerous negative aspects emerged to diminish recognition of the Scheme, I argue, two major influences worked to delete EATS from the Australian story namely, the decline of the position of Empire within the Australian context where EATS became an uncomfortable reminder of previous subservience to Britain, and, the redefining of the Anzac myth, as a central theme in Australian nationalism, which would not allow inclusion of the image of the elite airman Entwined with the collective image is the second purpose of this thesis. This is to consider the response of individuals to their experiences in EATS and the ongoing change in the surrounding cultural influences as the individual aviator negotiates shattered lines of identity. Individual stories, I maintain, evoke responses not only to the national narrative but also, to the emotional challenges faced in initial combat as their trust in the concepts of Empire, masculinity and the romance of flight, was questioned. The testaments of veterans reveal individual solutions as they negotiate the challenges and in a tormented journey achieving a new identity that offers explanation for their experience in a rapidly changing world. I propose, while it is important to study the institution of EATS and the lives of the aviators in their own right, in following the reshaping of images of EATS a variety of perspectives emerge, adding to the understanding and importance of the selective iii nature of the national and individual identities we create, and the stories we choose to tell and when we choose to tell them. iv Declaration This is to certify that: this thesis comprises only my original work towards the PhD except where indicated in the Preface, due acknowledgement has been made in the text to all other material used, this thesis is less than 100,000 words in length, [92,517] exclusive of the bibliography. Signed: _______________________________ Suzanne Jillian Evans Date: ________ v Preface My interest in the Empire Air Training Scheme arose when I was given a book, Survival of the Fortunate, written by John McCredie, who trained under the Scheme. The gift of the book came with the comments that the content highlighted the need for much work to be done to place EATS in a perspective of Australian experiences. As I read, I slowly realized that it was possible my own father had been involved in training with EATS and part of the combined allied air force. He, like so many others, had never talked about it and this increased my determination to explore the history of EATS and the reasons for its exclusion from the Australian public knowledge. Deciding to formalize the investigation in an academic context, the University of Melbourne required I complete first a Graduate Diploma in History, and then a Post Graduate Diploma in History. During this time I continued to focus on areas related to EATS. In one subject, Oral History and Life Stories, I conducted interviews that related to Australia’s attitude to Britain in 1939, and when possible, I interviewed veterans of EATS. The material from some of these interviews has been used in this thesis. In 2008 work on the structure of this thesis began as a Master of Arts in History and in 2009 it became confirmed PhD Research. vi Acknowledgements My first expression of gratitude must be to the many individuals who so willingly agreed to be interviewed and answer the questions I directed around their experiences in EATS. Their answers were perceptive and articulate and they were unstinting in the time they contributed. Many offered personal papers that provided insight into the research. The bibliography has named each contributor but it is impossible to express the admiration and respect I hold for the modest and unassuming testimony of each one who was interviewed and whose words appear in this thesis. There are many who have provided, help with extra information and contacts that were vital in advancing the research and I thank each for their generous assistance. Members of the Catalina Club, Odd Bods Association and the Royal Australian Air Force Association have offered access to materials, introductions and expressed interest in contributing to this research. Without the dynamic, perceptive and yet gentle guidance of my two supervisors, Dr Mary Tomsic and Professor Joy Damousi, of the Department of Historical Studies, the thesis would not have found its final shape, and I thank both for their generous enthusiasm, encouragement and constructive advice. They both have my enduring admiration. My final thanks must go to my family, Kate, John, Suzie, Joss, William, Alexandra, Georgie, Freddy, and Lily for their endless distractions and help in maintaining a sense of reality. vii Table of contents Abstract ..................................................................................................... iii Declaration ................................................................................................. v Preface ....................................................................................................... vi Acknowledgements .................................................................................. vii List of Abbreviations ................................................................................ ix List of Illustrations .................................................................................... xi Introduction: Evolution of the Image ........................................................ 1 CHAPTER 1 Aerial War Comes of Age ............................................... 25 CHAPTER 2 This is a Man’s Job: Seduction and Production of the Image ........................................................................................................ 43 CHAPTER 3 This is Really It. The Image Under Fire .......................... 74 CHAPTER 4 A Diminishing Image .................................................... 103 CHAPTER 5 Reconstruction of the Image .......................................... 129 CHAPTER 6 Reconciling Contradictory Images ................................ 165 CHAPTER 7 The Masculine Image Challenged ................................. 187 CHAPTER 8 Reinventing The Image ................................................. 217 CONCLUSION The ‘I’ now and the ‘I’ then ...................................... 245 BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................. 251 viii List of Abbreviations ABC Australian Broadcasting Corporation AWM Australian War Memorial AIF Australian Imperial Forces BCATP British Commonwealth Air Training Plan CBC Canadian Broadcasting Corporation CO Commanding Officer DFC Distinguished Flying Cross DFM Distinguished Flying Medal DSO Distinguished Service Medal EATS Empire Air Training Scheme LMF Lack of Moral Fibre PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder RAF Royal Air Force RAAF Royal Australian Air Force RCAF Royal Canadian Air Force RSL Returned and Services League of Australia SLV State Library of Victoria SWPA South West Pacific Area WAAF Women’s Auxiliary Air Force VD Volunteer Decoration ix x List of Illustrations Figure 1 Postcard Kingsford Smith and Ulm. .............................................................. 49 Figure 2 This is a man’s job. ........................................................................................ 51 Figure 3 Publicity image for recruits. ......................................................................... 53 Figure 4 Men embarking for further Training with EATS. ......................................... 54 Figure 5 Charles Kingsford Smith .............................................................................. 55 Figure 6 Leonard Waters ............................................................................................. 57 Figure 7 Wings over Europe ........................................................................................ 58 Figure 8 Poster for the Recruitment Campaign ........................................................... 65 Figure 9 Bomber Crew ................................................................................................ 84 Figure 10 At The Churchill Club: large and small worlds........................................... 86 Figure 11 Argus Publicity Photograph for the Empire Air Training Scheme. ............ 87 Figure 12 Halifax Crew. ............................................................................................