Letter dated 7/1/1945 from Wing Commander ???? 83 Squadron RAF in Lincolnshire to Mrs Wilkinson acknowledging her letter dated 30/11/1944 seeking names and addresses of members of her late son's crew on the night they went missing. From collection of photographs and cuttings dedicated to the memory of WILKINSON JOHN HUDSON : Service Number - 400444 : Date of birth - 18 Feb 1914 : Place of birth - RUTHERGLEN VIC : Place of enlistment - MELBOURNE : Next of Kin - WILKINSON HUDSON. Wilkinson was awarded the distinguished flying cross in March 1944 and tragically killed in action over Germany also in 1944. See also 237 and 240. Original letter in black type Single page with embossed crest letterheadpilot, kia, killed in action, dfc, distinguished flying cross, wwii, world war two, air force

From collection of photographs and cuttings dedicated to the memory of WILKINSON JOHN HUDSON : Service Number - 400444 : Date of birth - 18 Feb 1914 : Place of birth - RUTHERGLEN VIC : Place of enlistment - MELBOURNE : Next of Kin - WILKINSON HUDSON. Wilkinson was awarded the distinguished flying cross in March 1944 and tragically killed in action over Germany also in 1944. See also 237 and 240. Two newspaper cuttings Distinquished Flying Cross Awarded to Flying Officer J H WILKINSONpilot, kia, killed in action, dfc, distinguished flying cross, wwii, world war two, air force

Keith William "Bluey" TRUSCOTT 400213 Awarded DFC & Bar - Born 17/5/1916 Prahran Victoria WW2 RAAF Squadron Leader and Ace fighter pilot who served in Europe, South West Pacific and Milne Bay. Played for Melbourne Football Club. Died at sea and buried at Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth Western Australia. Three coloured photographs depicting head stones in cemetery400213 Squadron Leader K.W. Truscott DFC & Bar Royal Australian Air Force 28th March 1943 Aged 26 In Loving Memory of our Darling Son His duty nobly done. truscott, raaf, ww2, dfc

Letter dated 16/9/1944 from M C Langslow Secretary, Department of Air, Commonwealth of Australia to Mr H H Wilkinson advising of citation received from the Air Ministry in respect of award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to his son Pilot Officer J H WILKINSON and future announcement in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. Citation attached signed by H R Winneke, Group Captain. From collection of photographs and cuttings dedicated to the memory of WILKINSON JOHN HUDSON : Service Number - 400444 : Date of birth - 18 Feb 1914 : Place of birth - RUTHERGLEN VIC : Place of enlistment - MELBOURNE : Next of Kin - WILKINSON HUDSON. Wilkinson was awarded the distinguished flying cross in March 1944 and tragically killed in action over Germany also in 1944. See also 237 and 240. Original letter in black type. Two page with embossed crest letterhead. Stamped envelope.Letter - Commonwealth of Australia - Department of Air Envelope addressed to - Mr HH Wilkinson, Mount Ophir, Rutherglen.pilot, kia, killed in action, dfc, distinguished flying cross, wwii, world war two, air force

From collection of photographs and cuttings dedicated to the memory of WILKINSON JOHN HUDSON : Service Number - 400444 : Date of birth - 18 Feb 1914 : Place of birth - RUTHERGLEN VIC : Place of enlistment - MELBOURNE : Next of Kin - WILKINSON HUDSON. Wilkinson was awarded the distinguished flying cross in March 1944 and tragically killed in action over Germany also in 1944. See also 237 and 240. Newspaper notice advising Flight Lieut. J H Wilkinson previously reported missing now presumed to have lost his life whilst on air operations over East Prussia on 30 August, 1944. Newspaper cutting containing photograph and typeVeteran Airman's Fatepilot, kia, killed in action, dfc, distinguished flying cross, wwii, world war two, air force

Distinguish Flying Cross medal awarded to John Hudson WILKINSON 400444 born 18/2/1914 at Rutherglen. He was a Pharmaceutical Chemist prior to enlisting in the RAAF on 2/9/1940 He was reporting missing during air operations over East Prussia and later presumed to have lost his life on 30/8/1944 Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross - citation reads Pilot Officer Wilkinson is an air gunner of great ability and determination. He has taken part in a large number of operational sorties many of which have been against some of German's most heavily defended targets. On one occasion in March 1944 when engaged n an attack on Stuttgart a Junkers 88 attacked his aircraft five times but Pilot Officer Wilkinson by his accurate directions to his captain and coolly aimed return fire drove ff the enemy aircraft in a badly damaged condition. At all times his unwavering devotion to duty and constant alertness have inspired confidence in his crew. The Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers, and since 1993 to other ranks, of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy"Black case which opens out from right side. The top affixed by two side hinges on the left and push in pin on the right side. Inside case the top is lined in satin fabric imprinted with a black crest and the base is lined in felt containing a silver metal medal in the shape of a cross attached to a purple and while diagonally striped ribbon.On Top - DFC impressed in gold colour paint. Inside Top - Royal Mint Medal inscriptions -400444 Flt Lt Wilkinson Stuttgart 1944 pilot officer john hudson wilkinson, dfc, ww2, raaf, kia

Rev Ira Menear (1901 - 1977). Born at Kapunda. Worked at the Kimba and Pt Neill mission stations on the west coast of South Australia before studying at the Brighton Training College and Adelaide University. Graduated B.A. Adelaide University 1928. After completing his theological training he was appointed to the Norwood Circuit before being appointed to take charge of the Methodist Inland Mission at Cloncurry. Minister at Crow's Nest, Gympie & Rockhampton 1936 - 1940. In 1940 he was accepted as a pilot officer in the RAAF, having been given leave of absence by the Methodist Conference. Menear enlisted RAAF air crew but was later transferred to the administrative staff. He rose from A.C.1 to the rank of Acting Wing Commander. He served in many parts of Australia, including the Darwin area. After the war Rev Menear took charge of the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Centre at Mount Osmond and later Mount Breckan, Victoria Harbour Rehabilitation Centre. B & W waist length studio portrait of Rev. Ira Menear dressed in his RAAF Flt. Lt. uniform."Seasons Greetings I Menear F/LT Control Officer Operations Room Pearce W.A."ira menear, methodist, minister, adelaide university, brighton training college, methodist inland mission, cloncurry, raaf, commonwealth rehabilitation centre

Extract from The Spectator of June 12, 1946: "From the Queensland 'Methodist Times'. Dreams do come true. At any rate, that is what the Rev. Cliff Lanham believes, who after the lapse of several years finds that his early dream of a Flying Patrol for the Inland is now an actuality. The Methodist Inland Mission Board has purchased from the Disposals Commission of the R.A.A.F. a De Haviland Fox Moth Biplane. Indeed, two machines have been bought, but one will be broken up for spare parts. This 'new angel of the air' is fitted with a 130 h.p. engine and possesses a cruising speed of 100 miles per hour. The petrol consumption is only that of a big six-cylinder car—18 miles per gallon. In addition to the pilot there is room for three passengers, and a stretcher is installed whereby urgent cases of sickness or accident can be flown to the nearest hospital. In this machine, Mr Lanham proposes to cover the whole of S. W. Queensland and a portion of the Northern Territory from his headquarters at Mt Isa. It takes little imagination to realise what a boon the 'flying parson' will be to those of the great outback." …. "Before [Mr Lanham] inaugurated the scheme [the idea of a flying parson] he spent his first furlough from inland mission work (and incidentally £60) learning to fly. 'In a month,' he says whimsically, 'I was a pilot of sorts.' Mr Lanham is a son of the Church. His parents were staunch Methodists, and their home offered generous hospitality to mininsters and preachers. His brother, the Rev. Percy Lanham, M.A., died in Libya when on active service as a chaplain. His widowed mother must be proud of her tall, stalwart son, whom the Church now sends forth on his flying mission for the Lord. May he ever be wafted through inland skies on two wings and a prayer." It is of interest to note that although Cliff Lanham's brother, Percy, is listed in the Methodist Church of Australasia's Ministerial Index (9th Edition, Revised to 1961) Cliff Lanham himself is not listed as either active or deceased.Three B&W identical photographs of Lanham standing next to a Methodist Inland Mission bi-plane. Lanham and an unidentified man are holding a stretcher between them with a boy of about 10-11 on it. They seem to be exiting the plane. The original photograph F69-1 is a 110x65 mm Kodak print; the other two are 195x145 mm enlargements. Lanham is wearing a white shirt and grey trousers, the other person is wearing a safari helmet.All three photos identify "Rev. Cliff Lanham" on the back. They seem to have been originally used or intended for use by The Spectator.lanham, cliff, queensland, methodist inland mission, flying parson

From the early 1960s, the Forests Commission had pre-season arrangements in place with local aeroclubs and pilots across regional Victoria. Air observers from FCV districts routinely flew during the summer months in small, fixed-wing aircraft on fire spotting missions and to map fire boundaries. The information was often needed quickly by crews on the ground or in the control centre and these small chutes were used to drop messages and maps from the reconnaissance aircraft on a low pass above a cleared area like a football field. About 3-foot long when fully extended, they had a small pouch secured with a press stud for the map or package. The chutes were made from tough canvas with a small, weighted sandbag at one end and a long yellow streamer tail on the other to help direct its fall and locating it on the ground. Drop chutes were still in common use in the 1990s, but the increased availability of helicopters combined with improved digital data transfer made drop chutes redundant. Simple, but now redundant technologyAerial drop chute"Return to Forests Comm Vic" stenciled on sidebushfire

Photo of Bluey Truscott. Squadron Leader Keith William (Bluey) Truscott was regarded as one of Australia’s most well known WW2 fighter pilot aces. He was born on the 17/5/1916 and died over Exmouth, Western Australia on 28/3/1943 in an Aircraft accident whilst on duty. He initially trained under the Commonwealth Empire Training Scheme In Canada at the beginning of WW2, and later on was posted to Number 452 Squadron England where he flew Spitfires over Europe. He was awarded the distinguished Flying Cross in 1941 for his Air action and bravery. In 1942 he was further awarded the DFC Bar for further outstanding Air action and bravery. He returned to Australia and commanded number 76 Squadron who undertook duties in Papua New Guinea, specifically Milne Bay. When with 76 Squadron they largely flew Kittyhawks. There is a club named after SQN LDR Truscott, called the Truscott Club, at Airforce Base Darwin. There is also a decommissioned WW2 Airfield in the Kimberley’s called after him ( Truscott Air Base). Truscott has more recently been called Mungalu-Truscott Air Base as it is now owned by the traditional people of the Wunambal Gaambera. The Airfield is now used for commercial and private flying and is heritage listed under the National Trust of Australia (W.A.) due to its historical significance relating to WW2 and the remaining artefacts that are still in place presently. Bluey Truscott was also a well known Australian Rules Football player prior to WW2 having played for Melbourne. Photograph of Keith William (Bluey) Truscott in uniform.ww2, bluey truscott, flying cross

Photocopy of Luther College Year 10 History assignment telling the story of Ronald Mosely Peake who served in the Royal Australian Air Force. He did advanced training in Canada and eventually was transferred to the United Kingdom where he officially became a bomber pilot. On 12 March 1943 he and his seven crew members failed to return from a mission over Stuttgart.Australian War Heropeake, ronald mosely, royal australian air force, royal air force, world war, 1939 - 1945, war memorials

A Luther College Year 10 essay which researches the history of George Maxwell Walker (1924 - 1944). A pilot with the R.A.A.F. who spent much of his flying days with the British R.A.F. At the time of his death his squadron was carrying out anti-submarine patrols and internal security in and around the Middle East. He was the son of George Walker and grandson of Edgar and Myra Walker, owners of Australia Tesselated Tile Company. The George Walker family lived in Harrison St, Mitcham. The home is on the City of Whitehorse Heritage planning overlay.A Luther College Year 10 essay walker, george maxwell, royal australian air force, royal air force, world war, 1939 - 1945, war memorials

Wooden framed picture of 6 roulette planes flying upside down in formation. Message Roulettes on the picture " To Dandenong RSL Keep the spirit alive ! Roulettes '04".Signed on picture by 6 pilots R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 Fly Navy R6 (Signatures hard to accurately read). 4 small pictures at bottom of main picture-: 1 maintenance personal working on plane 2 a roulette pilot with children 3 roulette pilot with children 4 maintenance personal working on plane. On bottom of picture "The Royal Australian Air Force aerobatic team THE ROULETTES July-December 2004. Photography by Warrant officer Ray Bennell..See physical description above.

Melrose died in July 1936, at the age of 22, when his new high-wing monoplane "Billing", a Heston Phoenix registration VH-AJM, broke up in turbulence over South Melton, Victoria on a charter flight from Melbourne to Darwin. Two days later, over one hundred thousand people lined the streets of Melbourne to pay their last respects. Black and white photographic image of Charles James Melrose, the only Australian contestant and the only solo flier in the England-Ausralia air race, 1934. He is being chaired by R.A.A.F. men. Two years later Melrose crashed.aeroplane, aviation, flight, pioneer pilot, charles kingsford smith, p. taylor

Book of Pilot's Notes General. Promulgated by order of the Air Council. Contains notes on Aircraft , engines, and dealing with emergencies.

WWII Historical significanceBlue covered Log Book from WWII.Crabtree R.D. 419855 written on front cover.

The Stinson L - 5 Sentinel was a World War 11- era liaison aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces, U.S Army Ground Forces, U>S Marine Corps and the British Royal Air Force. It was produced by the Stinson Division of the Vultee Aircraft Company (Consolidated - Vultee from mid- 1943). Capable of operating from short unimproved airstrips the L - 5 Sentinel delivered personnel, intelligence, and supplies to the front line. On return flights it carried wounded soldiers who were evacuated to rear area field hospitals for treatment. The L - 5 carried a pilot and observer. It had a length of 24.1 feet, wingspan of 34 feet, It had a maximum speed of 130 mph, a cruise speed of 100 mph with a range of 375 miles.The L - 5 was a significant asset to the allied war effort.Wooden propeller from Lycoming engine, with photograph of aircraft. Stinson L 5 Sentinal reconnaissance plane used in Korea and Vietnam. Propeller displayed from a similar plane.

Group of 7 airmen in uniform Four in front row three at front Alwyn Till Front rank right.Photo is signed by on rear of photo and their place in the crew eg navigator, rear gunner etcRear Row G Goring (Engineer)|J Ross (WOP /MG) Machine gunner|F R Holledge (Rear Gunner)|J M Morgan (Mid Gunner)|Front Row R> Pedrazzini (Navigator)|Eric Firth (Pilot)|Alwyn Till (Air Bomber)alwyn till, air crew, r a a f

Colour photograph showing Norm and Norma Fiedler of Lakes Entrance with their son Geoff, Pilot of Navy Sea Hawk Helicopter at Air Show Bairnsdale Victoriagenealogy

Colour photograph of Geoff Feildler , Pilot of Navy Sea Hawk Helicopter at Air Show Bairnsdale Victoriagenealogy

Worn by Air Ambulance Victoria Air Crew.Zip up blue flying suit with Ambulance Service Victoria patches on each shoulder. Pilot wing badge on left breast.ambulance service victoria, air ambulance victoria

The Kyeema airline crash took place on 25 October 1938 when the Australian National Airways Douglas DC-2 Kyeema, tail number VH-UYC, flying from Adelaide to Melbourne, commenced final approach to Essendon Airport through heavy fog and crashed into the western slopes of Mount Dandenong, killing all 18 on board instantly. There is strong evidence that the pilots were becoming unsure of their position. According to Macarthur Job's book, Disaster in the Dandenongs, the radio operator had requested the controller at Essendon give them a radio bearing. Essendon had acknowledged and told them to leave their transmitter on, but the signal stopped and no further contact was made. It is thought that this is the moment that Kyeema hit the mountain. There were 18 people on board the DC-2: 14 passengers, the captain, the first officer, an air hostess, and a cadet pilot who operated the radio during the flight. The victims were :— THE CREW. CAPTAIN A. C. D. WEBB, 32, pilot, married, of Essendon, Victoria. JUNIOR CAPTAIN ALAN J. STEEN, 25, pilot, married, of Essendon North, Victoria. ELVA JONES, 27, air hostess, single, of Toorak, Victoria. PHILIP D. PRING, about 20, cadet pilot attached to Australian National Airways' Aeronautics School, Sydney. PASSENGERS. CHARLES ALLAN SEYMOUR HAWKER, M.P., 44, single, of Adelaide. LEONARD SYDNEY ABRAHAMS, K.C., 51, married, barrister, of Sydney. SIDNEY HILL SMITH, 41, married, managing director of S. Smith and Son, of Yalumba, South Australia. ALFRED CECIL GAIN, 42, married, barrister, of Sydney. GORDON H. GODDARD, 30, single, accountant, of North Sydney. LANCELOT WILLIAM SHIRLEY, 27, single, solicitor, of Manly. JAMES IAN MASSIE, 25, single, solicitor, of Sydney. VAUGHAN PATE, 42, refrigeration cabinet manufacturer, married, of Unley, South Australia. THOMAS M. HARDY, 48, married, head of the firm of Thomas Hardy and Sons, vignerons, of Seacliff, South Australia. GEORGE WILLIAM LING, 72, of Kingswood, South Australia, former building inspector of the Municipal Tramways Trust, Adelaide. LOUIS HUGO GRAMP, 43, married, managing director of G. Gramp and Sons, Ltd., vignerons, Rowlands (sic) Flat, South Australia. Mrs. ELIZABETH MARY SCHRADER, 69, widow, of Adelaide. Mr. and Mrs. HANS L. GLOE, of Perth.Small section of the Kyeema DC-2 fuselage made up of 5 pieces of piece of twisted and torn aluminium riveted together. Marking can be seen in red but is indistinct. Aluminium has gold, silver and green colouring.kyeema, a webb, j steen, elva jones, philip pring, charles hawker, leonard abrahams, sidney hill smith, alfred gain, gordon goddard, lancelot shirley, james massie, vaughan pate, thomas hardy, george ling, hugo gramp, elizabeth schrader, mr hans gloe, mrs gloe

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

An amazing photograph of a British or Australian Air Force Observer waving to a nearby plane while in flight. Planes of the era were yet to possess sealed cockpits.There is an inscription on the back of the photograph that says "One of our mechanics going over to the lines. This was snapped by a pilot while in the air. Note the observer waving his hand".aeroplane, observer, biplane, ww1, world war 1, war, flight, flying, r.e.8, reconnaissance experimental 8