Description
Object description
Australian officer served as pilot with Royal Australian Air Force attached to Qantas in Australia, 1942-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Perth, Australia, 1918-1941: family; education; Anzac Day at school; call up for national service, 1940; anticipation of war in Europe. early interest in aviation; flight over Perth; how war changed his life. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Australia Air Force in Australia, 1941: reasons for choosing air force; opinion of instructors; pattern of training; military training with 28th Bn prior to joining air force; opinion of German Air Force; attitude to service in air force.
REEL 2 Continues: wartime marriage; reaction to Japanese entering war; hearing of Japanese bombing of Broome; role of Quantas in formation of 11 Sqdn; opinion of Americans; degree of knowledge of invasion of Singapore. Recollections of operations with Royal Australian Air Force attached to Qantas in Australia, 1943-1945: background to attachment to Qantas; flying Consolidated Catalina; comparison between flying Avro Anson and Consolidated Catalina; flights across Indian Ocean; obtaining tools and fuel from Americans on Swan River; number of aircraft on Swan River.
REEL 3 Continues: US personnel in Perth; deployment of army in Western Australia; atmosphere in Perth; American presence in Perth; panic in Geraldton, 1942; contrast in flying aircraft from land and water; problems of taking off from lake in Ceylon; taking off from Perth; secrecy surrounding flights from Australia to Ceylon; composition of crews for long distance flights; introduction of hot plate into aircraft; duration and heights of flights; navigating to Ceylon; character of first flight to Ceylon; loading of fuel and capacity of Consolidated Catalina to fly on one engine.
REEL 4 Continues: incident of engine failure over Indian Ocean; endurance of Consolidated Catalina; survival equipment; taking neighbours child to see aircraft; how senior captains recieved Royal Aeronautical Society award for long distance flights; extension of flights to Karachi; over night accommodation in Ceylon; VIP passengers carried; flying through cyclone; poor quality of early meteorology reports; transporting meteorologists; astro-navigation; character of pilots; attitude to flying in flying boats; opinion of Consolidated Catalina.
REEL 5 Continues: flying in Consolidated Catalina across Indian Ocean; suitability of Consolidated Catalina for long distance flights; flying clothing worn; passing over Cocas Islands; logging sites of ships; secrecy of operations; comradeship; opinion of Australian contribution to Second World War; duration of take offs; number of flights made; flying in Consolidated B24 Liberator; contrast between flying Consolidated B24 Liberator and Consolidated Catalina; flying characteristics of Consolidated B24 Liberator; engine fire in Consolidated B24 Liberator; crew and passengers on board Consolidated B24 Liberator.
REEL 6 Continues: former bomber pilot who didn't enjoy long distance flights; leaving Quantas, 1948. Reflections of service with Royal Australian Air Force during Second World War: reaction to flying back to Australia; attitude to dropping of atomic bomb; return to civilian life; story of pilot trainee who volunteered as air gunner; lessons learnt from service during Second World War; attitude to service during Second World War.