This folder of text and photographic memorabilia relating to Robert Wilson Baxter (1935py) is a fascinating record of this former student's service and ultimate sacrifice for his country. Robert Baxter was awarded the George Medal on the 28th July 1942 for heroism in rescuing a fellow crewman from the burning wreck of their aircraft. The Medal was received by his family after Robert's death on 7th August 1942 as a result of an accident while taking off on operations. Robert Baxter's father, also Robert Wilson Baxter, was a Ballarat businessman who purchased the Ballarat Star Newspaper in 1897, selling it to the Courier in 1924. He was also part of Baxter and Stubbs Pty. Ltd. (Printers). Robert's mother attended Mrs Kennedy's School for Girls. Items in the folder have historical significance as they document the service and sacrifice of a RAAF sergeant during World War Two. Archival folder relating to Robert Wilson Baxter (05/03/1918 - 07/08/1942), including photographs of RWB in squadron uniform and receiving wings, visit of Robert Menzies to Squadron, gravestone at Selby, England; telegrams to parents re war injury and discharge from hospital; letters, newspaper clippings and extract from the London Gazette relating to his posthumous receipt of the George Medal; letters of condolence from his Wing Commander and His Majesty George VI; Obituaries and in memoriams; letter from his sister, Margaret Jamieson, re donation of items to BCC. raaf, royal australian air force, george medal, second world war, robert wilson baxter, world war two honour roll, margaret jamieson, robert menzies, 1935py

The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft of the 1930s–40s that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. for service with the Royal Air Force (RAF). It was overshadowed in the public consciousness by the Supermarine Spitfire's role during Battle of Britain in 1940, but the Hurricane actually inflicted 60 percent of the losses sustained by the Luftwaffe in the engagement, and it went on to fight in all the major theatres of the Second World War. Url Hurricane.html. The Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIc - LF363, first flew on the 1st January 1944 and is believed to be the last Hurricane to enter service in the RAF. It was in service with 63 squadron and 26 squadron. After hostilities, LF363 was spared the scrap yard and used on various station flights and also appeared in films 'Angels one five', 'Reach for the Sky' and 'The Battle of Britain'. Whilst flying to Jersey in September 1991, LF363 suffered engine problems and had to be diverted to RAF Wittering but on the final approach the aircraft suffered complete engine failure and had to make an emergency landing. The pilot was saved with relative minor injuries (a broken ankle and minor burns) but the aircraft suffered severe damage. Historic Flying Limited completely rebuilt LF363 and by 1998 it was flying again as part of the B.B.M.F. LF363 currently wears the colour scheme of a Mk.I Hurricane of 17 squadron, P3878 'YB-W' which was flown by Flying Office Harold Bird-Wilson at Debden and Tangmere. Harold 'Birdy' Bird-Wilson had previously been badly burned in a pre-war flying accident. Upon his recovery he joined 17 squadron and fought through the 'Battle of France' and the 'Battle of Britain' achieving 6 confirmed kills. On 24th September 1940, 'Birdy' was shot down by Adolf Galland, his 40th 'kill', and had to bale out. 'Birdy' survived the war and when he retired from the RAF he had reached the rank of Vice Marshall and had been awarded the CBE, DSO, DFC & Bar and the AFC & Bar. British single-seat fighter aircraft manufactured by Hawker Aircraft, Ltd., in the 1930s and ’40s. The Hurricane was numerically the most important British fighter during the critical early stages of World War II, sharing victory laurels with the Supermarine Spitfire in the Battle of Britain (1940–41) and the defense of Malta (1941–42). Hurricanes served in all theatres of war where British forces were engaged. https://www.britannica.com/technology/Hurricane-airplane Framed coloured picture print on plastic sheetOn the aircraft are the markings LF 363

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has operated McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet fighter aircraft since 1984. The Australian Government purchased 75 "A" and "B" variants of the F/A-18 in 1981 to replace the RAAF's Dassault Mirage III fighters. The Hornets entered service with the RAAF between 1984 and 1990, and 71 remain in operation as of 2017. The other four Hornets were destroyed in flying accidents during the late 1980s and early 1990s.F/A-18 Hornet Jet Fighter replaced the Mirage Jet Fighter. Still in service in 2018.Framed PictureNILf/a-18 hornet jet fighter raaf

Reginald Charles ALLARDICE enlisted first in the CMF on 10.8.1940 age 21 years Regt No V40236. During this time he applied to join the RAAF so was discharged from the Army on 21.5.1942 as a Pte in the 24/39th Bn. Two days later he is in the RAAF as a Trainee Aircrew WEF No 418577. On 31.12.1942 he is listed as a LAC (Leading Aircraftsman. Ongoing training sees him at Benalla, Mallala in SA, Mt Gambier, Pt Cook, Camp Miles Standish USA. Finally he is stationed in England at Pembroke with 461 Sqd RAAF with the rank of Sgt on 10.10.1943. This was a Sunderland Sqd which was a large long range patrol Flying Boat. The unit was mainly Australians from many nations. He rises through the ranks to T/F/Sgt, Officer, Pilot Officer, Flying Officer and last Flight Lieutenant on 10.3.1945. He is discharged from the RAAF on 7.12.1945 at RAF Station Beecles Suffolk England. 461 Sqd was a Coastal Command unit mostly involved in submarine detection and hunting in the Atlantic and Bay of Biscay. They were involved in the D Day landings. The Sqd lost 20 aircraft to enemy action and accidents. A total of 86 Sqd members were lost of which 64 were Australian.Medals, individual with ribbons re R.C.Allardice. (1) 1939 - 45 Star, original not engraved. (2) Atlantic Star, original not engraved. (3) Defence Medal. (4) British War Medal 1939 - 45. (5) Australian Service Medal 1939 - 45. (.3, .4, .5) “418577 R.C.ALLARDICE”medals, campaign, service, world war2

The Schweizer SGS 2-12 or TG-3A as officially certificated is a glider that was designed in 1941-1942 and produced in United States of America from 1942 for training of military glider pilots. It is understood that over 100 TG-As were supplied to the USA military and at the end of the war many were sold off as surplus. Fred Hoinville imported the Museum’s TG-3A into Australia in August 1950. It is understood that it had been built in 1948 and given construction number G15. On arrival in Australia it was assembled at Bankstown aerodrome and delivered by aero-tow behind a DH Tiger Moth to Camden where Hoinville’s club, the Hinkler Soaring Club, was based. Hoinville’s TG-3A performed well at the Hinkler club in 1950-1951. Several altitude records (including a solo flight to 8000 feet by Grace Roberts – a national women’s record) were set and many soaring flight made over Camden. However, it was badly damaged in a crash landing on 15 April 1951. The glider was repaired after the crash at Camden. It is likely that modifications were made to the cockpit canopy at this time. There were three configuration tried at various times: the original dual cockpit canopy as was standard for TG3As; an unusual dual bubble canopy set up; and a single canopy over the forward seating position (in effect converting the glider to a single seater). When the glider was flown by Hoinville at the 1958 Australian Gliding Championships at Benalla, Victoria in January 1959 (refer The Age Newspaper, January 10, 1959 p.21) it had a single canopy. Records show that the glider was entered on the Australian register as VH-GDI on 6 May 1957. And the Logbook commencing in 1959 shows that ownership passed to the Port Augusta Gliding Club in South Australia on 16 August 1959. Inspections were carried out at that club and airworthiness certificates renewed in 1965. The logbook record indicates that VH-GDI had 1191 flights with an aggregate time in the air of 197 hours at the Wilmington Road Airstrip used by the Port Augusta Club. The glider was transferred to the Cooma Gliding Club, New South Wales. Flying at Cooma began in November 1966 and continued until August 1969: the glider was in the air a further 108 hours from 1067 flights. The last recorded technical inspection of the glider was conducted on 28 September 1968. The glider then passed on to Bill Riley on 20 March 1980 who stored the glider until March 2004 when it was collected by the Australian Gliding Museum. It is not clear whether the current poor state of the airframe is due to accident damage or the conditions under which it has been stored over many years or a combination of factors. Although in poor condition, this exhibit is the sole example of a TG3A ex-US military aircraft in Australia. Further the connection with the story of well-known power and glider pilot Fred Hoinville adds to its historical significance. Tubular metal framed fuselage (without covering and fittings), wooden rudder (no covering) and in damaged condition, wooden fuselage component (formers for fuselage top), Parts of control mechanism, Wooden stringers, Wooden wings without fabric covering and in damaged condition, Ailerons, Tailplane /Elevator without fabric covering, Perspex bubble canopies.australian gliding, glider, sailplane, schweizer, tg 3a, hoinville, roberts, hinkler soaring club, port augusta gliding club, cooma gliding club, riley

James Mallett Bennett AFM and Bar MSM was born in St Kilda in 1894 and died in Weybridge, near London England, on 13 April 1922, in an aeroplane accident. Killed in the same accident was renowned aviator Sir Ross Macpherson Smith, KBE, MC & Bar, DFC & Two Bars. They were test-flying a Vikers Viking Amphibian aircraft which spun into the ground from 1000 feet (305 m), killing them both. Bennett was a long-serving crew member for Ross, as a mechanic, and had accompanied him on the first aeroplane flight from Egypt to India in December 1918, and from England to Australia in November-December 1919. He and Ross were mourned as national heroes and their bodies were brought back to Australia. Bennett was buried in St Kilda cemetery on 19 June 1922 after a lying-in-state at Queen's Hall, Parliament House. An obelisk in his honour was unveiled at St Kilda on 26 April 1927. The photograph was taken during a St Kilda Historical Society tour of St Kilda cemetery on 26 November 1978. Colour Polaroid photographBus trip 26/11/78 Bennetts Grave SKHS 00760. The inscription on the headstones reads: Erected by his parents in loving memory of Lieut James Mallett Bennett AFM and Bar MSM late Australian Flying Corp AIF. Born St Kilda 1894, passed to a higher life, 13th April 1922, at Weybridge England, result of an aeroplane accident, accompanied Late Capt Sir Ross Smith KBE on first aeroplane flight Egypt to India Dec 1918. Also first aeroplane flight England to Australia Nov-Dec 1919.st kilda, st kilda cemetery, lt james mallett bennett, aviators, graves

The cairn commemorating the Kyeema aircraft disaster with the addition of a smaller plaque listing the names of those who perished in the accident. This additional plaque was suggested by relatives of the victims who had attended earlier commemorations of the accident at the site. Mt Dandenong & District Historical Society members observed a minute's silence and drank a toast of South Australian wine, produced by vineyards with which some of the victims were associated, in memory of all those who lost their lives. The plaque reads: KYEEMA VH-UYC CREW AND PASSENGERS CAPTAIN ALFRED WEBB JUNIOR CAPTAIN ALLAN STEEN AIR HOSTESS ALVA JONES CADET PILOT PHILIP PRING LEONARD ABRAHAMS K.C. ALFRED GAIN HANS GLOE STELLA GLOE GORDON GODDARD HUGO GRAMP THOMAS HARDY CHARLES HAWKER M.H.R. GEORGE LING JAMES MASSIE VAUGHAN PATE ELIZABETH SCHRADER LANCELOT SHIRLEY SIDNEY HILL SMITHkyeema, air crash, mt dandenong, cairn, plaque, captain alfred webb, allan steen, elva jones, philip pring, leonard abrahams, alfred gain, hans gloe, stella gloe, gordon goddard, hugo gramp, thomas hardy, george ling, charles hawker, james massie, vaughan pate, elizabeth schrader, lancelot shirley, sidney hill smith

Simple wooden sign indicating the site of the Kyeema aircraft crash on the western slope of Mt Dandenong. The accident occurred on October 25th, 1938. All 18 onboard were killed.air crash, kyeema, mt dandenong