Showing 73 items matching "fighter plane"
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Lara RSL Sub Branch
Framed photo print of Mosquito fighter plane
... Framed photo print of Mosquito fighter plane....Rectangular shaped picture frame showing Mosquito fighter.../mosquito.html fighter planes, ww2, british aircraft, mosquito fighter ...The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito is a British twin-engine shoulder-winged multi-role combat aircraft. The crew of two, pilot and navigator, sat side by side. It served during and after the Second World War. It was one of few operational front-line aircraft of the era whose frame was constructed almost entirely of wood and was nicknamed The Wooden Wonder. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_MosquitoIt is one of the paradoxes of aircraft development that some of the world's greatest aeroplanes have achieved their fame doing jobs other than the one they were originally designed for. No better example of this could be found than the Mosquito, which, conceived as a bomber, became one of the war's most potent fighters. More than this, indeed, it was probably the most successfully versatile of any twin-engined type built between 1939 and 1945. It excelled in all the widely varied roles. Its duties included the duties of low-level and high-attack day and night bomber, long-range photo-reconnaissance, mine layer, pathfinder, high-speed military transport, long-range day and night fighter, and fighter-bomber. It served in Europe, the Middle and Far East and on the Russian front. In fact, the ubiquitous Mosquito reigned supreme among General Purpose types. Of the grand total of 7,781 Mosquitos built, 6,710 were delivered during the war years. www.aviation-history.com/dehavilland/mosquito.html Rectangular shaped picture frame showing Mosquito fighter plane.fighter planes, ww2, british aircraft, mosquito fighter planes, lara r.s.l. -
Lara RSL Sub Branch
Faber's Fw 190A-3 Fighter Plane
... Faber's Fw 190A-3 Fighter Plane.... glass covered photo frame Faber's Fw 190A-3 Fighter Plane. ...Fw 190A-3 (Werk Nr 0313) at Farnborough, Hampshire, summer 1942. Faber's Fw 190A-3 now with British markings and being test flown by the RAF. There is no doubt that its study and that of the engine measurably assisted in the development of the Centaurus installation design of the Typhoon II (later to become the Tempest II, and eventually the Hawker Fury). Nevertheless its capture in no way compromised the appearance of the much faster A-4, and no doubt gave false confidence in the Spitfire IX's ability to out-fly the Fw 190. Rectangular shaped glass covered photo frame -
Bendigo Military Museum
Memorabilia - TRENCH ART, AEROPLANE ASH TRAY, C. WW2
... various rounds to depict a fighter plane. Belonged to John Donald...Fighter plane mounted on ashtray base(2 pieces). Plane... various rounds to depict a fighter plane. Belonged to John Donald ...Trench Art. Used shell base 25 pounder dated 1941 plus various rounds to depict a fighter plane. Belonged to John Donald McSween, no. 117346 LAC RAAF, enlisted 14.8.1942; discharged 14.5.1945Fighter plane mounted on ashtray base(2 pieces). Plane removable, made from artillery rounds, central stem welded onto ash tray base.Badge on central stem, "AUSTRALIAN MILITARY FORCES".ornaments - metal, souvenirs - military history, trench art -
Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch
Model - Minature Model Aircraft
... Green & brown fighter plane on a stand..... model airplanes Mirage. A3-100 Green & brown fighter plane ...Mirage. One of a collection of 25 model aircraft made by Brian Anthony DOWD Mirage is a name given to several types of jet aircraft designed by the French company Dassault Aviation (formerly Avions Marcel Dassault), some of which were produced in different variants. Most were supersonic fighters with delta wings.Green & brown fighter plane on a stand.A3-100model airplanes, mirage. -
National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
Slide - Sims Image Collection
... Phantom II (Jet fighter plane)... plane) jet fighter plane F-4 Phantom II fighter Jet taking off ...From a collection of 253 images on slides taken by Corporal Peter Stanley Sims (44304) while on deployment in Vietnam, in the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps, 1969 - 1970.F-4 Phantom II fighter Jet taking off, Vietnam 1970.peter stanley sims, 44304, slides, royal australian army medical corps, vietnam war, sims, australian force vietnam, phantom ii (jet fighter plane), jet, fighter plane -
Bendigo Military Museum
Photograph - PHOTOGRAPHS OF BRITISH ARMY
... in WW2 in front of a British Fighter plane. Refer Cat no. 304P... creased of 6 women in uniform in a field in front of a fighter... in uniform in WW2 in front of a British Fighter plane. Refer Cat ...1. Taken 1944 at Liverpool base with a mix of men and women including "Beryl Scrimshaw" (Morrel) from British Army. 2. Aug 1944, Liverpool base, formal photo of men and women in uniform and some women in white coats at same location. 3. Women in uniform in WW2 in front of a British Fighter plane. Refer Cat no. 304P & 315.1. Black and white photo, 14 women and 2 men in British uniforms in formal photo in front of buildings. 2. Black and white photo, same location as photo 1, mix of men and women in uniform and some women in white coats. 3. Black and white photo, heavily creased of 6 women in uniform in a field in front of a fighter plane.1. & 2. Both have the stamp of photographer on back and a note saying photo taken in Liverpool Aug 1944. 3. Identification notes written on back and identification of Unit - faded and hard to read.british army, liverpool, uk, ww2 -
Frankston RSL Sub Branch
Model Plane
... Brass, trench art fighter plane, single wing, WW2...., trench art fighter plane, single wing, WW2. Model Plane ...Trench art, WW2Brass, trench art fighter plane, single wing, WW2.brass, plane, ww2, trench art -
Bendigo Military Museum
Book, Nicky Barr. An Australian Air Ace, 2005
... of a fighter plane with a contour map in background. Back cover has two... has drawing of a fighter plane with a contour map ...Light brown soft cover. Front cover has drawing of a fighter plane with a contour map in background. Back cover has two fighter planes. Author - PETER DORAN Pages 282 Written on front page. "Donated by BGO YMCA" books-military-air force, military history -
Waverley RSL Sub Branch
Crib board
... Made from downed Japanese zero fighter plane and New Guinea... melbourne Made from downed Japanese zero fighter plane and New ...Made from downed Japanese zero fighter plane and New Guinea timber -
Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch
Print - Framed print, N.E. Framing Studio
... of fighter plane in sky.... produced and strategically important British single-seat fighter ...The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II. No. 243 Squadron was a flying squadron of the Royal Air Force. Originally formed in August 1918 from two flights that had been part of the Royal Naval Air Service, the squadron conducted anti-submarine patrols during the final stages of World War I. The squadron was later re-raised during World War II, operating initially as a fighter squadron in Malaya and Singapore during 1941–42. It was briefly disbanded just prior to the fall of Singapore, and was re-formed in mid-1942, again as a fighter squadron, and fought in the Tunisian and Italian campaigns in 1942–44, before being disbanded in October 1944. In 1945, after training on transport aircraft in Canada, the squadron moved to Australia where it operated in support of the British Pacific Fleet before disbanding in mid-1946 Spitfire, also called Supermarine Spitfire, the most widely produced and strategically important British single-seat fighter of World War II. The Spitfire, renowned for winning victory laurels in the Battle of Britain (1940–41) along with the Hawker Hurricane, served in every theatre of the war and was produced in more variants than any other British aircraft.Brown timber frame with white mount containing photograph of fighter plane in sky.Spitfire by Barrie A F Clark (signed) Vickers Supermarine Spitfire Mk VB of 243 Squadron Royal Air Force 243 squadron royal air force, spitfire -
Bendigo Military Museum
Photograph - PHOTOGRAPH RAAF, FRAMED, 1940 -45
... B&W photo showing two WW2 era Wirraway fighter planes... Wirraway fighter planes in the air. Photograph PHOTOGRAPH RAAF ...B&W photo showing two WW2 era Wirraway fighter planes in the air.photographs, raaf, wirraway -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Robert F Dorr, Phantoms forever, 1987
... phantom - fighter plane - history...-and-the-dandenong-ranges phantom - fighter plane - history fighter planes ...A pictorial book of the Phantom fighter aircraftill (col), p.128.non-fictionA pictorial book of the Phantom fighter aircraftphantom - fighter plane - history, fighter planes - united states - pictorial works -
National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
Book, Davies, Peter E, US Marine Corps F-4 Phantom 11 Units Of The Vietnam War, 2012
... Phantom II (Jet fighter plane)... fighter plane) Vietnam War 1961-1975 -- Aerial operations American ...Comprehensive histories of fighting aircraft and their crews, highlighting their vital role in the development of warfare in the 20th and 21st centuriesComprehensive histories of fighting aircraft and their crews, highlighting their vital role in the development of warfare in the 20th and 21st centuriesunited states. marine corps -- aviation -- history -- 20th century, united states. marine corps -- history -- vietnam war, 1961-1975., phantom ii (jet fighter plane), vietnam war, 1961-1975 -- aerial operations, american -
National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
Book, MiG-21 Units of the Vietnam War, 2001
... Fishbed (Jet fighter plane)... Newhaven phillip-island-and-the-bass-coast Fishbed (Jet fighter ...fishbed (jet fighter plane), vietnam war, 1961-1975 -- aerial operations, vietnamese, vietnamese conflict, 1961-1975 -- aerial operations, vietnamese -
National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
Book, F-105 Thunderchief Units of the Vietnam War, 2010
... Thunderchief (Jet fighter plane) -- History.... fighter plane) -- History. Vietnam War 1961-1975 -- Aerial ...thunderchief (jet fighter plane) -- history., vietnam war, 1961-1975 -- aerial operations, american. -
Wangaratta RSL Sub Branch
Print - Framed Print
... print of fighter plane flying over field....The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter ...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. Due to its lightweight, yet robust, construction and ease of maintenance, the Hurricane had a long operational life in many theatres of war. It was also built by, or exported to, several other countries.. The Hurricane was unusual in that it was flown operationally by both the Allies and the Axis during the WW2.Brown timber frame with cream coloured mount containing print of fighter plane flying over field.Hawker "Hurricane" Mk 11b G-TWTD S/N AE77hawker, hurricane, ww2 -
Orbost & District Historical Society
black and white photograph, C1917
... next to a small fighter plane (a biplane). There are two copies... of a man in uniform standing next to a small fighter plane ...The pilot is more than likely Flt Lieut. Jim Nixon with his Spad aircraft during WW1. James Harold Claude Nixon was born 12/12/1890 and before enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force was an auctioneer at Delegate. After training at Aldershot for the Royal Flying Corps he was granted an Aviators Certificate (No. 4607) by the Royal Aero Club. ( more reading in "From White Knowle to Pumpkin Point" by Peter Nixon)The Nixon family was a prominent family in the history of Orbost and its surrounds.A black / white photograph of a man in uniform standing next to a small fighter plane (a biplane). There are two copies and a letter from Peter Nixon with this photograph.handwritten on back - "Since writing that letter of grief, found now that I am going out to fly the Spad Scout which photo you see here. I am going across tomorrow morning so will not be long to know what ariel (sic) warfare is like now. I am in the best of health & happy as a lark. This is all I have to say with lots of love from your son Jim"nixon-james-pilot-ww1 -
Ballarat RSL Sub-Branch Inc.
Trench craft - Ashtray
... Lightning fighter plane (made from bullets) mounted on top of lge... with lge bullet in middle; replica P-38 Lightning fighter plane ...Shell Case Base with lge bullet in middle; replica P-38 Lightning fighter plane (made from bullets) mounted on top of lge bulletcollectables, ballarat rsl, ballarat -
Mansfield RSL Sub Branch
Model, Aircraft, LAC. F.L. Cochrane, RAAF, circ. 1944
... Handmade wooden Spitfire Fighter Plane World War Two. Dark... Fighter Plane World War Two. Dark Blue paint, handmade metal ...A handmade scaled replica of a World War Two Supermarine Spitfire aircraft for Tropical Operations, for defence of Australia and operations in the South Pacific flown by Australian Airmen.Signed by highly decorated World War Two Pilots Handmade wooden Spitfire Fighter Plane World War Two. Dark Blue paint, handmade metal propeller, 20mm cannon, exhaust manifold and undercarriage and perspex canopy. Mounted on buff coloured acrylic baseboard. Autographed by known & unknown World War Two Fighter Pilots and ACE Fighter Pilots.model, aircraft, spitfire, raaf, world war two, -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Box - jewel, 1941-1946
... fighter plane lapel badge...., and an aluminium toy fighter plane lapel badge. Box - jewel ...Made in Tatura Internment Camp for the Internee's son and daughter.Jewel box, hand craft wooden, lined internally, and containing two tortoise shell carved pendants, tortoise shell and leather wrist ornament held with metal clasp, and an aluminium toy fighter plane lapel badge.Raised circular section on lid with letter "B"handcrafts, woodwork -
Bendigo Military Museum
Magazine - MAGAZINE WW2, Associated Newspapers Limited, Pix, 6.5.1941
... riding a bicycle past the front of a fighter plane propeller... of a fighter plane propeller. Other planes are in the background. 31 ...Vol 13, No 19, 6.5.1941. Cover shows an Air Force Officer riding a bicycle past the front of a fighter plane propeller. Other planes are in the background. 31 pages, illustrated black & white photos, military & civilian topics. Sub titled: “Australia's Spitfire Air Aces pages 16-17. Cost 6d” Written in the X of PIX: “Tresize”books - magazines, military history - air force, pix -
Dandenong/Cranbourne RSL Sub Branch
Souvenir - Souvenir piece of Japanese Aircraft
... Aluminium. Part of a Japanese Zero Fighter Plane shaped... Fighter Plane shaped in form of Boomerang. Has Royal Aust Navy ...Aluminium. Part of a Japanese Zero Fighter Plane shaped in form of Boomerang. Has Royal Aust Navy badge attached in middle. Blue brass and red with anchor in middle crown on top. Incription Darwin Feb 1942. Refer also to item 0136-02.Stamped on souvenir Part of Jap Fighter Zero on left hand side and Darwin Feb 1942. Badge Royal Aust Navy. with anchor.trench art -
Lara RSL Sub Branch
Picture Print, The Hunters
... shows four German fighter planes on a mission over the Isle... which shows four German fighter planes on a mission over ...Print number 110 of painting by Geoff Nutkins the "Hunters. The picture shows Major Helmut Wick and others leading Schwarm of 4 planes on a mission over the Isle of Wight during the summer of 1940. The print is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from the publisher784.1 Picture frame, Rectangular in shape with a timber edge, glass cover and a green border around the picture which shows four German fighter planes on a mission over the Isle of Wight during the summer of 1940 784.2 Picture Frame Rectangular in shape with a timber edge, glass cover and a green border around the picture. Shows Certificate of Authenticity for the Hunters signed by the publisher784.1 The Hunters by Geoff Nutkins. Major Helmut Wick and Oberleutnant Rudi Pflanz lead a Schwarm from the Richthofen Geschwader on a mission over the Isle of Wight during the summer of 1940 784.2 ww2, planes, german air force, lara r.s.l., messerchmitt, prints, world war two, luftwaffe -
Bendigo Military Museum
Currency - WAR SAVINGS STAMPS, C.WW2
... colour which feature a fighter plane, price per stamp 6d (pence... stamps, there are 6 stamps blue colour which feature a fighter ...The Symbol on the front cover “WSS” stands for War Savings Stamps.War Saving Stamp folder, folds out to three pages, front has blue cover with print in black and white with area for “to and from”, inside 3 pages have blue/white with squares divided into 32 places for War savings stamps, there are 6 stamps blue colour which feature a fighter plane, price per stamp 6d (pence), rear 2 pages are blue edged with information re War savings stamps and value.On front in black type, “To Mrs J Guiney”, “from Robert Tea Co Ltd”stamps, war savings, currency -
Bendigo Military Museum
Photograph - PHOTOGRAPHS - BCOF, c 1948
... . Ground level picture of fighter planes lined up at an airfield... level picture of fighter planes lined up at an airfield ...Photos of fields and towns of Japan taken during the occupation of Japan by BCOF in the late 1940’s. Items in the collection of "Richard William McGILVERY" RAAF. Refer Cat No. 7287P for his service details, photos and awards,Black and white original photos. 1. Picture of 5 large buildings in the foreground and bar in background. 2. Photo taken from the hills looking down into a valley with a town in background. 3.& 4. Same photo of view from hills looking down upon an industrial city/town. 5. High view down on a town in the valley. 6. Ground level picture of fighter planes lined up at an airfield with hangar in background. 7. High picture looking down on fields and town in the background.bcof, japan -
Bendigo Military Museum
Photograph - PHOTOGRAPHS, WW2
... and at least 12 fighter planes lined up in formation. 4. Photo... and at least 12 fighter planes lined up in formation. 4. Photo ...The photo with the stage is most likely for the "Gracie Fields" show for the troops in Borneo in 1945. It is unclear where the other photos were taken.WW2 Asian Theatre five photos.Black and white photos of various sizes. 1. Photo of Allied Navy ship at dock. Union Jack flag and Navy Personnel at bow. 2. Photo of temporary stage set up with seating set in a small rural valley. 3. Photo of Airfield with town in background and at least 12 fighter planes lined up in formation. 4. Photo of Allied soldiers resting under thatched roof and palm trees in a casual setting. 5. Photo of crashed Bomber or Transport US Aircraft, partially stripped of parts.airfield operations, ww2, photos -
Moorabbin Air Museum
Book - OSPREY AIRCRAFT OF THE ACES 73 Early German Aces of World War 1, 2006
... fighter downing British bi-plane, blue sky... wing fighter downing British bi-plane, blue sky OSPREY AIRCRAFT ...OSPREY AIRCRAFT OF THE ACES 73 Early German Aces of World War 1Front cover showing close up painting of German mono wing fighter downing British bi-plane, blue skynon-fictionOSPREY AIRCRAFT OF THE ACES 73 Early German Aces of World War 1 -
Bendigo Military Museum
Photograph - PHOTOGRAPHS, KOREA, 1950-1953
... ) Photo, black & white, aerial view of a fighter plane. .21) Photo... view of a fighter plane. .21) Photo, black & white, on deck ...The photos are a collection held by T. J. IRELAND C/K853677 P.O. STOKER MECHANIC RN while serving on HMS TRIUMPH, Korea 1950-53. Many are of the landings at INCHON, Sept. 1950. .1) Kure Harbour, Japan 1950. Ships assembling for the landings at INCHON, Korea. Ships across the top, left to right: HMAS SYDNEY, Fleet Oiler, VSS ANTIETAM, Hospital Ship & Japanese Coaster. In the foreground on the right, HMS BELFAST, HMS TRIUMPH, HMS CONSORT. On rear most photos are written on in blue pen. .2) INCHON landings Walmi-Do in background and landing barges - could be one I was driving. .3) Island - Walmi-Do - US landing craft. .4) INCHON landings. .5) US landing craft. .6) INCHON oil tanks and military targets on fire. .7) Grounded coaster after an air attack. .8) Two North Korean supply ships hit by rockets. .9) Korean supply vessels camouflaged. .10) Rocket attack on Korean supply vessel. .11) Sunken coaster that was carrying arms and food. .12) Sunken coaster in harbour. .13) & .14) North Korean armour taken from an observation flight. .15) & .16) Chinese tanks and armour. .17) HMS BELFAST, Fleet Oiler, HMAS WARRAMUNGA .18) Targets from rocket attacks. .19), .20) & .21) "Seafires" coming to land on HMS TRIUMPH. .22) Rearming cannon and rockets on a "Seafire'. Photos not written on, information was supplied by T.J. IRELAND. The "Seafire" was a naval adaption of the Supermarine Spitfire for carrier use..1) Photo, sepia tone, aerial view over a harbour with warships, bomb damage foreground, hills and buildings in the distance. .2) Photo, black & white, aerial view of harbour, city with several fires from shelling. .3) Photo, black & white, aerial view of island with landing craft. .4) Photo, black & white, aerial view over ships and harbour. .5) Photo, black & white, aerial view over four landing craft. .6) Photo, black & white, aerial view over city and fires. .7) Photo, black & white, aerial view over islands, boat .... small island. .8) Photo, black & white, aerial view over harbour with two boats on fire. .9) Photo, black & white, aerial view over structures covered. .10) Photo, black & white, aerial view over ship being attacked. .11) Photo, black & white, aerial view over harbour with sunken ship. .12) Photo, black & white, aerial view showing harbour, fire and sunken ship. .13) Photo, black & white, aerial view, five tanks along a road. .14) Photo, black & white, aerial view, same area as .13) showing a wider area. .15) Photo, black & white, aerial view showing tanks and armour. .16) Photo, black & white, aerial view road with armour, vehicles, people and smoke in distance. .17) Photo, black & white, aerial view showing three ships together. .18) Photo, black & white, aerial view showing a road control with targets either side on fire. .19) Photo, black & white, aerial view with aeroplane coming onto the deck of a carrier. .20) Photo, black & white, aerial view of a fighter plane. .21) Photo, black & white, on deck of a carrier. .22) Photo, black & white, rearming a plane with ammunition on carrier deck. Photos are various sizes.photos, korea, rn, inchon -
Orbost & District Historical Society
war souvenir
These pieces of canvas are from a German plane brought down by an allied fighter. The pilot was shot through the head. It was given to Mary Gilbert by Alex P. Cameron to be donated to the museum.This item is a reminder of the personal stories of WW1.Two small pieces of canvas from a German plane brought down by another fighter. It is part of a black cross on the plane. There is hand-written information written on the back of both pieces.souvenir ww1 -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Newspaper - News Clipping, Herald, The big Eltham clean-up gets under way, Herald, 4 March, p3, 1965
Full page newspaper clipping featuring the March 1965 Victorian bushfires. Items include: Photograph - TWO-WOMAN BUCKET BRIGADE, Mrs Henry Marsden (left) and Mrs Moureen Ellis, whose fire-fighting efforts yesterday were highly praised today by their Eltham neighbours, carry out mopping-up operations Photograph - DOGS MADE HOMELESS by the fire in North Eltham yesterday are being cared for at First-Constable Doug. Mummery's kennels at Eltham and here is kennel maid Helen Oliver, 17, with some of them today. The two basset hounds are owned by Mr Bill Guy who lost about 100 daschund and basset hound puppies and dogs in the fire. Photograph - He died at Eltham [Picture of John Lawrence Coleman] Builder Mr John Lawrence Coleman, 31, of Main Rd., Eltham, one of three men burnt to death yesterday in the fire at North Eltham. The other two were XXXXX, 33 who lives opposite the Colemans and Mr William Elwers, 64 of Batman Rd., Eltham. John Lawrence Coleman (1934-1965) born January 10, was the son of Raymond John Coleman and Hanna May (Gillet) Coleman. He married Margaret Frances Dare in 1955 and was the father of two children. He died whilst attempting to rescue an older man trapped in the bushfire at North Eltham on March 3, 1965 Other news stories of the day: Bushfires rage in Victoria, Snowy: Three dead (1965, March 4). The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), p. 1. Retrieved May 19, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131758981 Includes two photos of the fire in North Eltham “Firemen make for safety as fire rages in Upper Glen Park Road, North Eltham, Victoria. The smoke hides a house.” and “A house explodes into flames at North Eltham, Victoria. Firemen said bottled gas went up.” Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Thursday 4 March 1965, page 1 ________________________________________ Firemen make for safety as fire rages in Upper Glen Park Road. North Eltham. Victoria. The smoke hides a house. A house explodes into flames at North Eltham. Victoria. Firemen said bottled gas went up. Bushfires rage in Victoria, Snowy: Three dead MELBOURNE, Wednesday.—Three people died today in a bush» fire which raged through North Eltham, about 15 miles from Melbourne. The victims were three men. A fourth man is feared to be dead. Another bushfire. sparked off by the heatwave sizzling over south-eastern Australia, is burning out of control in the Kosciusko State Park, in the Snowy Mountains. Firefighters fear that if it reaches pine forests up the Yarrangobilly River, they will be powerless to stop it. The three victims of the North Eltbam fire were trapped by flames in a valley. Their bodies were found only a few yards apart. They were named by police tonight as Mr. George Crowe, 78, of North Eltham, William John Ewers, 64, and John Laurence Coleman, 31, both of Eltham. The other two have not been identified. They are believed to be a man aged about 40 and an 18-year-old youth. At least 12 homes were destroyed by the fire, the worst in Victoria since 1962, when eight lives were lost and hundreds of homes burnt down at Warrandyte. At one time the township of Eltham was threatened, but a cool change swept in from the south and held back the wall of flames. More than 100 dogs, worth about £4,000, died when the fire raced through two kennels in Short Street, Eltham. and Upper Glen Park Road, North Eltham. A trickle of water Residents ran into the streets as the blaze raced towards their houses. Others frantically dug firebreaks around their homes. Mrs. Sue Recourt wept when firemen arrived while she was vainly trying to stop the flames with a trickle of water from the garden hose. A stack of firewood was blazing, but the firemen managed to save the house and rescue four goats. Many homes in Eltham were saved after flames had crept to within feet of their fences. Students at North Eltham State School had to be evacuated when the blaze threatened the building. Fire fighters were severely hampered by lack of water and narrow roads. The blaze, which began in above century heat, turned toward Wattle Glen, where two houses were gutted. Then the flames raced towards Hurstbridge to the north. Firemen battling desperately, controlled the fire late this afternoon. Five forest fires were still burning in Victoria tonight. IN VICTORIA THIS WEEK Tragic lack of central fire authority (1965, March 9). The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), p. 2. Retrieved May 19, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131759928 Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Tuesday 9 March 1965, page 2 ________________________________________ IN VICTORIA THIS WEEK Tragic lack of central fire authority From Rohan Rivett It was the worst week for Victorian fire fighters since Black Friday 27 years ago. On that day one pilot up in a spotter plane said afterwards: "It seemed at times that half the State was on fire." This time, for three days on end, Gippsland men, women and children had moments of conviction that their towns would have blackened into anonymity before the weekend was out. The week began with horror at Eltham on the North-eastern edge of Melbourne. Eltham today is something of an artists' colony. Oil painters, water colourists, potters and sculptors proliferate. A number of University folk have emulated the example of Professor MacMahon Ball who pioneered the way by moving to Eltham and carving a home out of the bush in the thirties. Innermost Eltham is barely 14 miles from the G.P.O. Farthest Eltham stretches miles beyond. It served to illustrate the tragi-ludicrous truncation of Victoria's fire control. Part of Eltham is under the protection of the Melbourne Fire Brigade. But this responsibility ceases at some invisible and incomprehensible line — apparently determined by the meanderings of the water mains. At this point everybody's property throughout the rest of Eltham is dependent on the Country Fire Authority. Half an hour before midday on Wednesday, a fire suddenly started on the West side of Upper Glen road on the edge of Eltham. Before the fire brigade could arrive, it was burning on a widening front through timber and high grass north of Eltham. Two wind changes in rapid succession saw the fire leaping Diamond Creek. With a freshening wind it struck home after home in three streets. More than one of them exploded suddenly as if hit by an incendiary bomb. There is no piped gas in the Eltham area, hence many housewives use bottle gas. The flames outside caused the bottles to explode. Altogether twelve homes were completely incinerated and four more were badly damaged. Thirty prize dogs perished. About three hours after the fire started it raced suddenly down a gully hillside trapping an elderly man. Two other men apparently raced to the rescue. Flames caught the three men within yards of each other, not 200 yards off the Upper Glen Park Road where safety lay. They were burned to death. Next evening an angry and convincing secretary of the Fire Brigade Union, Mr. W. M. Webber, came on television and appealed to the people of Victoria to end the ridiculous and dangerous dualism in fire-fighting control. The Eltham fire, he said, had precisely illustrated the situation. The Metropolitan Fire Brigade area touched Eltham, but where the fire had gutted and killed, was just outside its area. Mr. Webber said his union had constantly urged one authority for the State with a complete reorganisation of fire protection. On Wednesday the union had repeated its call for an inquiry into fire protection in Victoria to the Chief Secretary, Mr Rylah. "No matter how close the liaison between the two organisations, there are always divided sections of thinking," Mr. Webber told viewers. "I don't know how much tragedy the com-munity can take before it demands that it is properly protected." Rumours that differences in gauge between taps and hose nozzles (as between the two authorities) accentuated the damage were denied by fire chiefs who said that all appliances were now carrying adaptors so that hoses could be linked to mains everywhere. But there is grave concern in the Metropolitan Fire Brigade's higher councils at the action of several Federal authorities with projects in and around Melbourne. They are installing non-standard equipment without reference to the State authorities or any dovetailing of appliances and equipment. Public alarm was not diminished by the publication on Friday and Saturday of a heart tearing letter from the young widow of John Lawrence Coleman, 31 year old father of two, who had died in the flames apparently trying to rescue the old man trapped in the gully. By that time, a Vast area of Gippsland was in flames and the troops had been sent in to back up the overworked and often helpless fire-fighters. By Saturday, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Stoneham, who has previously demanded a Royal Commission into fire-fighting arrangements, repeated his demand. To add to the Chief Secretary's worries he was publicly rebuked for allegedly implying on television that lives had been lost at Eltham because people went to the wrong place at the wrong time. In a letter to the Press, Professor MacMahon Ball pointed out that two of the men involved were experienced bushmen who had gone "to help an old man in great danger fully aware of the danger to themselves". As Victoria faced its sixth day of total State-wide fire ban, it looked likely that even official resistance was not going to silence the demand for one central authority to control the fire fiend. At the moment, the 400 square miles where two million Victorians live in Greater Melbourne are divorced from the rest of the State in planning, communications, equipment and control of personnel. No one doubts the whole-hearted co-operation and willingness to back each other up of the M.F.B. and the C.F.A., both at top-level and among the firemen themselves. However, when a city straggles so deeply into the country side, the absence of a single authority, to oversee and analyse the fire threat as a whole, suggests suicidal policy of divide and fuel. Emphasis of the tragic loss of a member of a pioneering family who died whilst helping others in his communitybushfire, cfa, country fire authority, fire brigrade, glen park road, heroes, john lawrence coleman, north eltham, victorian bushfires - 1965, volunteers, william john elwers, fire fighter, frank martin, george john crowe, ken gaston, orchard avenue, doug mummery, helen oliver, mrs henry marsden, mrs moureen ellis