We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the place now called Victoria, and all First Peoples living and working on this land. We celebrate the history and contemporary creativity of the world’s oldest living culture and pay respect to Elders — past, present and future.
Please be aware that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Some material may contain terms that reflect authors’ views, or those of the period in which the item was written or recorded but may not be considered appropriate today. These views are not necessarily the views of Victorian Collections.
Users of this site should be aware that in many areas of Australia, reproduction of the names and photographs of deceased people is restricted during a period of mourning. The length of this time varies and is determined by the community.
Reuse of any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander material on this site may require cultural clearances. Users are advised to contact the source organisation to discuss appropriate reuse.
Untitled image
Can you reuse this media without permission? No (with exceptions, see below)
All rights reserved
This media item is licensed under "All rights reserved". You cannot share (i.e. copy, distribute, transmit) or rework (i.e. alter, transform, build upon) this item, or use it for commercial purposes without the permission of the copyright owner. However, an exception can be made if your intended use meets the "fair dealing" criteria. Uses that meet this criteria include research or study; criticism or review; parody or satire; reporting news; enabling a person with a disability to access material; or professional advice by a lawyer, patent attorney, or trademark attorney.
Please acknowledge the item’s source, creator and title (where known)
Have a question? Contact Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre
Known to be have been made by an aircraft mechanic stationed here at the air school during the war
mechanics tool with fabricated hand containing a rachet mechanism with half inch drive component
none
This is the type of radio equipment used at the Aeradio building from 1938 and also the RAAF Direction Finding hut during the war.
bellini tosi, direction finder, radio receiver, aeradio
Typical of the maps used during navigation training here at Nhill during WW2
Aeronautical maps of Victoria, Printed on light card green text and markings
Third Edition May 1943, Sheet K8, Australian Aeronautical Map, Equatorial scale 1:1000,000
map, aeronaughtical map, navigation
Used by Air crew, allowed operator to use without hands also fits under oxygen mask
Headphones with white leather pads held by metal supports and attached cotton braided wire lead and plug. Attached is a throat microphone with elastic straps and metal closer hook
A & M with a crown between, 10A/12401
headphone, microphone, throat mic, headset, radio,
Silk maps produced by the USA for the Pacific war
White woven silk material with printed map and text North Celebes print on the reverse side South Celebes
No. 24 South Celebes
usa, us army air force, silk, map, celebes, saam,
1 Service Dog Tags 2 of 2 Cap badge RAAF 3 Uniform cloth badge RAAF wing $ Itnerim Certificate or Dicharge
WAAAF 11474, Discharge certificate 16/8/46
muriel holly, 114774, dog tag, discharge certificate, waaaf, badge
Hardcover blue with protective cover sheet, photos and sketches, 200 pages
book, promotion, story,
This shovel was purchased at the clearing sale here on the Aerodrome after the war.
Steel square mouth shovel with one short piece wooden handle
Mintern, Made by Mintern products Richmond Victoria
shovel, spade, schultz,
By the inscribed writing this book was in posession of the OC of Nhill Air School.
Hardback book 326 pages, with text and diagrams
For Official use, A.P. 1234 1941 Edition, Manual of Air Navigation Volume 1, Reprinted by Authority of Air Board: AH Pettifer, Acting Gov Printer (inscribed in pencil) Officer in Charge Nhill
book, manual, air navigation, officer in charge, nhill air school.
Hardback book bound with 262 pages
Nories Air Tables, inside are several stamps Technical Library No. 3 AOS, No. 2 Air Observers School RAAF Mount Gambier, JM Rowe
air tables, book, jm rowe, no. 3 aos, no. 2 ans, technical library
Solid brass aeroplane of fighter type
Black leather flying boots with fleecy wool lining
Kept in maintenance workshops to keep mechanics up to date with maintenance procedures including amendments.
Hardback book bound with cord. Has hand written protective cover 19 pages
Royal Australia Air Force, Aeroplane Maintenance Schedule, Anson-Cheetah IX, to be used in connection with Unit Maintenance Orders.
anson & cheetah maintenance schedule, sgt. gough,
Precision instrument used meteorological offices on air fields to measure barometric pressure
141.1 Metal cube shape instrument with button switch attached is a cylindrical read out and adjuster knob. 141.2 Carry box with hinged lid and metal latch, has three hold down screws. 141.3 Stainless steel and glass thermometer 141.4 batteries 4x 15v. Standard batteries were HT Eveready B123 30v x3, LT Eveready LLII 1.5 v x1
Aneroid Barometer, Type No. M.1991/A Range 800-1050mb. Ser No. 686/65, Mechanism Ltd, Made in England
barometer, instrument, aneroid barometer, thermometer
140.1 Green wooden carry box with hinged lid and metal latch. 140.2 Metal device with spring loaded handle, rollers and pointer assembly and graduations.
Box has brass plate with tension scale for various aircraft types, tool has 76 stamped on the handle.
cable tension tool, tool
small quantity of Irish linen fabric from No.2 Air Park Bankstown where many Ansons were repaired and overhauled during the war
aircraft covering fabric, Irish linen
linen, fabric, irish linen, dixon, avro anson
Paperback booklet, yellow cover, 60 pages, text and diagrams on the principals of the magneto, First published Jan 1942
The Aircraft Magneto, Electrical components division Bendix Corporation.
manual, magneto manual, text book, morrison
Text book used by trainee flight mechanics
Hardcover note book bound with cord, blue cover, 199 pages
RAAF Fitters II.E Flight Mechanics Course Notes, Engineering School, Issue 5, August 1945, The book is RAAF property and is not to be reproduced without authority.
text book, note book, trainee mechanic, lac dixon, pr dixon
Paperback ruled text book with hand writing.
No. 9397, Holton RW, No.1 Eng. School Showgrounds
note book, holton, hand written
These log books would have been kept for each aircraft at the air station
Hard back bound book 305 pages with columns. sections titled Chronological Log, Repair Log, Modification Log
Aero Engine Log Book, Type of engine-Cheetah BHP. 340. Series or Mk No. IX Makers number AS34299, A Number DG750, A 143950
log book, aero engine log, repair log, anson, cheetah
Typical of manual used by pilots
Paperback tan in colour, 10 pages
Pilots Notes, The Anson Aeroplane, Two Cheetah IX Engines
manual, pilots notes, cheetah engine,
Typical of the manuals used in training LACs and kept in air station technical library
technical manual, reference book
Typical manual used a by training LAC (leading air craftsman)
Hardback booklet bound by the RAAF, within is an intruction manual printed by the manufacturer.48 pages
Cambridge Aero Mixture Indicators, Promulgated for the information and guidance of all concerned. By Command of the Air Board. Air Force Headquarters Melbourne, S.C.1
booklet, instruction book, cambridge, aero mixture indicators
Metal panel with various instruments and controls
avro anson, control panel, instrument panel, cocpit
This photo was taken by Stan Guilfoyle with the folding Kodak camera.
Photo taken at Nhill during WW2
Framed photo of Avro Anson.
non
photo, stan guilfoyle, guilfoyle, avro anson
Possibly a training key
Morse Key with sounding coil and wire connectors. Mounted on a wooden box with removable bottom panel retain by screws.
none
morse key,
Canvas holster for firearm.
ME Co. 1843. (Mills & Co London)
holster, firearm,
These torches were used for night time refueling aircraft. Aircraft have been refueled at Nhill since the first landing field was established in 1921.
Owned by Bullen Bros , of Nhill, who for a number of years had the refueling contract for the aerodrome.
Alloy cylindrical body with screw on lens and switch assembly. Lens has a metal cross protector strip and a locking tag and pin.
GEC Safety Torch, Cat No. L6060 patent pending, certified by Mines Dept & Home Office, Made in England
torch, refueling torch, safety torch, bullen brothers, refueling
Metal container with cork stopper, coated with soft fabric material to create evaporative cooling when wetted, has an adjustable leather shoulder strap.
ZL&Tt, 1942 broad arrow military insignia. (Zephyr Loom Textile were a Canadian company.
water bottle
This camera belonged to Stan Guilfoyle who was a wireless operator air gunner (WAG) here at Nhill Air Navigation School, December 1943.
This item is of great significance being here at the air school during it's operation. Some of the photos in Kevin O'Reilly's book In Just Five Years were taken with this camera.
Folding Kodak Camera, metal casing with paper concertina folding body and lens assembly, comes with leather carry case. Has various lens adjusters and a scribing pin attached.
Kodamatic, No.1 Pocket Kodak Special, Made in USA by Kodak Company Rochester NY, 26980
camera, kodak, guilfoyle, stan guilfoyle, wag,
A promotional booklet produced by Tobacco company
paperback with tan paper 16 pages, collector card booklet with various cards attached, has been covered with plastic protector sheet
Issued by John Player & Sons, braqnch of the Imperial Tobacco Company of Great Britain and Ireland, price one penny
booklet, collector cards
Victorian Collections acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.
