A black and white photograph of Lt Colin Scott DFC, shows Capt Dick Niemela, an American Forward Air Controller and Lt Mike Meehan 161, (Indep) Recce Flt the area coordinates of a large NVA/VietCong force. Scott had flown over the enemy, under heavy fire until he had almost run out of fuel.photograph, 161 recon flt, nva/vc, lt colin scott, capt dick niemela, gibbons collection catalogue, lt mike meehan, nva, viet c, viet cong

Citation of Distinguished Flying Cross awarded to JOHN HUDSON WILKINSON: Service Number - 400444 : Date of birth - 18 Feb 1914 : Place of birth - RUTHERGLEN Victoria - tragically killed in action over Germany on 30th August, 1944. 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 in an attack on Stuttgart, a Junkers 88 attacked the aircraft five times, but Pilot Officer WILKINSON, by his accurate directions to his captain and coolly aimed return fire, drove off 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"Original typed document on blue/grey parchment with blue letterhead containing crestGovernor General Commonwealth of Australiapilot, kia, killed in action, dfc, distinguished flying cross, wwii, world war two, air force, wilkinson

Defence records belonging to 400444 John Hudson WILKINSON born 18./2/1914 at Rutherglen. He was a Pharmaceutical Chemist prior to enlisting in the RAAF on 2/9/1940 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. Killed in battle over Europe on 30/8/1944.White and green folder depicted with a sprig of rosemary above large group of soldiers.Defence Service Records National Archives of Australiapilot officer john hudson wilkinson, dfc, ww2, raaf, kia

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

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

Mr Webb King was an Air Raid Warden during World War 2. These badges were found when his workshop was being cleared out, and so were donated to our society. The badges in our possession do not have the word WARDEN printed on them, like the image of the badge shown on the Darebin Heritage 'Air Raid Protection Services (ARP)' publication, or the image of a badge offered for sale on ebay. At this stage we are uncertain of why this is so. If anybody knows the answer then please leave a message on this site. During World War 2 Australian municipalities were expected to take precautions against air raids, with the Government campaigning to recruit men over 45 to be volunteer Air Raid Wardens. It was also common for women to become wardens. Wardens carried gas masks, helmets, and rattles or whistles. The wardens received 7 to 8 one hour sessions of training, and their chief duty was to advise people of precautions to take, and to ensure those precautions were taken. Air Raid Precautions included air raid drills, shelters (usually trenches), first aid, fire fighting, rescue of 'gassed' persons, evacuation drills, demolition and repair squads, monitoring of blackouts. Melbourne was deemed vulnerable to aerial attack because of its centralised port and industrial facilities and so Anti-aircraft guns were installed in Maribyrnong. By early 1942 more than 60,000 people voluntarily carried out Air Raid Precautions duties according to the Autobiography of Robert V. J. Padula OAM. As the threat diminished during 1943 and 1944 the need for air raid precautions was slowly reduced, and some shelters (trenches) were filled. The two photos showing Air Raid Wardens are out of copyright and have been sourced from the 'Argus Newspaper Collection of Photographs, State Library of Victoria.' The image showing one warden on Swanston Street Melbourne has been cropped to remove extras not connected with the photo. Other sources of information for this report are: (1) http://bpadula.tripod.com/autobiography/id100.html, (2) https://www.awm.gov.au/exhibitions/underattack/mobilise/precautions.asp, (3) http://heritage.darebinlibraries.vic.gov.au/article/57. The ARP badges are a historic reminder of the precautions that were taken in Victoria during the early years of World War 2. The precautions were an effort to minimise the harmful effects of a theoretical air raid. The war started to turn and so an air raid never came, however many people received valuable training in what precautions needed to be taken.Pressed metal round badges with pins. Main feature of badges is the large whitish lettering ARP on a red background. A black outlined crown and the word VICTORIA in red on whitish background is also on the badges. At the bottom of the badges in black are the letters DC plus the numbers of the badges.Serial Numbers of the badges are: DC 361, DC 362, DC 364, DC 368, DC 370, DC 374, DC 375, DC 376, DC 377, DC 379, DC 388, DC 389.arp. arp badge, air raid precautions, air raid precautions warden, warden, badges

Two B/W photographs. One with fire truck with Tyres used to create smoke. Students from STS were involved as victims. Second photograph shows vehicles and people at the scene. Two ambulances two cars and one truck c 1968

An air raid siren which is cranked by the crank lever on the side to produce a loud noise noise. It was mostly used during the the event of an air raid during wars, hurricanes or fires.( Markings appear to be deleted)

Dugout Night is an annual event where Legatees gather and enjoy the company of fellow Legatees ("comradeship"), usually in April, close to Anzac Day. A dugout in wartime provides protection for soldiers from small arms fire, artillery bombardment and attack from the air. The sign could have been made to publicise Dugout night or most likely as a caption for photographs of the event displayed at Legacy House.Legatees supported each other by coming together for various events throughout the year. Dugout night was an annual gathering where Legatees could socialise together.White A4 poster for Dugout night.In black ink, 'Dugout Night / April 16th / Until the battery ran out ..........' Reverse side written in pencil 16/4/2008, (presumably the date of the event).comradeship, legatee event, dugout