Description
Object description
Twelve photographic prints relating to the RAF/RAAF service of Albert Ernest 'Bertie' Knapp during the Second World War. Four photographs relate to Knapp's flying training in the USA as part of the 'Arnold Scheme', one depicts Knapp with the members of 54 Squadron in front of a Spitfire, while the rest are various photographs of Knapp in uniform and with other RAF servicemen.
Physical description
Twelve black and white photographic prints.
History note
Bertie Knapp volunteered for RAF service at the outbreak of war and after training under the 'Arnold Scheme' in the United States was posted to 54 Squadron on 4 December 1943. During this period, the squadron was operating out of Nightcliff, Darwin, Australia as part of No. 1 (Spitfire) Wing of the Royal Australian Air Force.
No. 1 Wing was formed in October 1942 to defend Darwin and the surrounding area of Australia from Japanese air attack. Darwin was particularly vulnerable given its proximity to Japanese territories and indeed had been attacked several times throughout 1942 and 1943, including the single largest enemy attack ever on Australia, known as the 'Bombing of Darwin' (19 February 1942). At the time, Australia did not have adequate fighters (both in quality and quantity) to counteract these Japanese raids, leading to a desperate appeal to Britain and the United States for modern fighters.
In May 1942, Winston Churchill agreed to send three Spitfire squadrons to Australia (452 Squadron RAAF, 457 Squadron RAAF and 54 Squadron RAF), leading to No. 1 Wing being dubbed the 'Churchill Wing', however delays meant that most of the fighters did not arrive until October. The Wing was engaged against the Japanese throughout most of 1943, and although Japanese aerial attacks on Australia ceased in November 1943, the Wing remained in the area as a defensive measure, while also providing cover to convoys and intercepting Japanese reconnaissance aircraft. On one occasion (18 April 1944), the Squadron, including Knapp, was sent on a strafing run to the Babar Islands in Indonesia (Knapp's gun camera footage from the attack was reportedly shown at a conference later that day). Knapp and two others were also involved in the interception and destruction of a Mitsubishi Ki-46 'Dinah' reconnaissance aircraft on 20 July 1944, reportedly the last Japanese aircraft destroyed over Northern Australia during the war.