3 Squadron RAAF engaged in its first aerial combat of WW2

This entry to my "Australia @ War" Blog has been provided by Gordon Clarke:-

On this day (19th November), 69 years ago 3 Squadron RAAF was engaged in its first aerial combat of WW2. At 1340 four Gloster Galdiator IIs took off from Gerawla led by F/L Blake Pelly (260226) on a tactical reconnaissance operation of enemy positions (ie. the Italians). F/L Pelly was in Gladiator N5753 and had as escort S/L Peter Heath (87) in N5750, F/O Alan Rawlinson (386) in L9044 and F/O Alan Boyd in N5752. As they approached the township of Rabia they spotted Italian Fiat CR.42s strafing British troops and tanks that were engaged in a battle with Italian artillery.

At 1300 hours 18 Fiat CR.42 from 13 Gruppo took off from Gambut and comprised of 12 aircraft led by Secondo Revetria with an escort of 6 aircraft led by Guglielmo Chiarini which were some 6,000' higher and behind the initial group of CR.42s. They came across the battle between the Italian artillery and British tanks and Revetria led his formation on a strafing attack of the British positions.

When the Australians led by Pelly saw the Italian Fiats they turned around and headed for their base as per their orders. However, before they had managed to fly any distance they were jumped by the 6 Fiats led by Chiarini, who had estimated the Australian strength at 8 Gladiators. In the ensuing combat the Australian formation was broken up and the other Italian formation entered the fray. In the opening moves of the combat F/O Boyd was attacked by 3 CR.42s, presumably from the section led by Chiarini. By manoeuvring desperately Boyd managed to shoot down two of his attackers and damage the third, unfortunately during the engagement his guns jammed though he managed to free two of them. Then he saw Pelly, who was attempting to land, being attacked by two CR.42s. He went to Pelly's aid. Boyd managed to shoot down one before his two remaining guns jammed again. He took off, hotly pursued by the remaining Fiat at low level, before the latter eventually gave up. Boyd joined up with Pelly, but the latter had to land early when his engine gave out.

The Italian pilots claimed 6 Gladiators shot down with a seventh shared probable and the eighth seriously damaged, which is interesting given there were only 4 in the combat. Of the Australians as already mentioned Pelly landed early due to a damaged oil tank, while Alan Boyd and Alan Rawlinson both landed back at their base. S/L Peter Heath was shot down and killed and it appears buried next to his aircraft by Libyan army personnel, who claimed to have confirmed the six aircraft shot down by the Italians. F/O Boyd claimed four destroyed, but was given three destroyed with the fourth that was last seen trailing black smoke and spinning towards the ground as a probable. F/L Pelly claimed he shot down a CR.42 but was given no credit, while F/O Rawlinson claimed a damaged. Perhaps Pelly did shoot down a Fiat and that is what the Libyan's counted on the ground - one Gladiator and five CR.42s.

Holidaying on the Continent

Holidaying on the Continent
The Journey of an RAAF Volunteer: 1940-45
460 RAAF Squadron
by Richard Munro



When Jim Munro wanted to join the RAAF he had a medical problem with his kidneys so he arranged another person to provide the test sample and Jim was soon training for his Pilot's wings. Like many others, he was "scrubbed" as a pilot and became a bomb aimer and was soon on his way to the United Kingdom.

After further training, he was sent to 460 Squadron RAAF flying Lancasters and then the night raids over German occupied Europe began.

Over the following months Jim and other members of the crew became a tight-knit team, raiding targets such as the notorious Ruhr Valley, Turin in Italy, Cologne, Hamburg, the previously secret Peenemunde rocket works and finally Berlin.

The raid to Berlin was one too many and they were singled out by the famous German night fighter ace, Wilhelm Herget. Using his innovative upward-firing cannons Herget attacked their Lancaster and, on his fourth pass, it was all over.

The Lancaster was in distress, and as it headed down, the crew frantically tried to exit the burning aircraft. Only three of the crew survived when the aircraft suddenly exploded throwing them clear and they parachuted to the ground. The rest of their mates were dead and the three survivors were too badly injured to attempt an escape from the Germans.

After weeks in hospital they were sent to prison camps and Jim Munro became a resident of Stalag IVB.

This excellent book tells the story of Jim Munro, his crew mates, the Lancaster they flew in and the way of life, fears and hopes that the young flyers experienced.

Hard Cover with General and People indexes
251 pages
135 Photographs and Sketches
13 Maps
4 Appendices

To order you copy of this excellent book, send a Cheque
or Money Order for $45:00 (includes postage) to:-

Richard Munro
PO Box 273
Beecroft
NSW 2119
Australia

For overseas orders please contact Richard Munro to determine extra postage charges

Make sure you tell Richard Munro that you found
out about his book on Peter Dunn's "Australia @ War" web site

http://www.ozatwar.com/

In Just Five Years - The RAAF & Nhill in WWII

IN JUST FIVE YEARS

THE RAAF & NHILL

IN WORLD WAR II 1941 - 1946

The operational history of the RAAF during WWII – its aircraft, battles and heroes – has been well documented. Less well known are the extraordinary contributions of the training systems set up in Australia to support the war efforts not only of Australia but of the Commonwealth.

Kevin O`Reilly has indeed provided a valuable historical reference for RAAF operations in Nhill: its establishment as a training base with No 2 Air Observers (Navigators) School, the early presence of No 1 Operational Training Unit and No 97 Reserve Squadron and finally Air Armament and Gas School. But it is much more than that. The book draws you in with its recollections of a childhood in Nhill in the lead up to and during World War II.

A 208 page pictorial collection of reminiscences, RAAF records, news reports, photographs and official documents covering life in Nhill and the RAAF base in the War years between 1941 - 1946.

Contents include Nhill and District citizens who served in the RAAF and the names of over 800 personnel who served at Nhill either as Trainees, Instructors or Base Staff.

Click here to order your copy

of this excellent book

Please let Kevin O'Reilly know
you found out about his book on
Peter Dunn's "Australia @ War" web site

Miracle of the Mountains

MIRACLE OF THE MOUNTAINS

Bernard O'Reilly and the Stinson Crash

"Miracle of the Mountains"
60th Commemoration Edition

An outstanding docu-drama which relives the true story of a humble Australian bushman who sets out to solve the mystery of the Stinson airliner... and succeeds.

Extended version - New footage added!

This is the awe inspiring true story of the resourcefulness, courage and endurance of Australian mountain man, Bernard O'Reilly.

Working on no more than a bushman's intuition, O'Reilly battled for days over miles of dense and seemingly impenetrable rainforest; across ranges so treacherous that a single slip meant certain death, through constant blinding rain to try and locate a downed Stinson airliner.

While the official search continued hundreds of miles to the South, Bernard O'Reilly relentlessly followed his hunch. After a 2 day battle with the elements, he not only miraculously located the crashed Stinson but physically assisted in carrying out the 2 survivors.

This heroic epic is told in graphic docu-drama style with re-enactments so "real" that people who were there in 1937 believed they were seeing film of the actual event.

This is a documentary that will stoke the first of imagination in the most jaded viewer. Acclaimed within Australia, it gives overseas viewers their first unique glimpse of the tough, resilient and courageous breed of men on whom the Australian bush legends are based.

Click here to order your copy of this DVD Video

Please let John Schindler know you found out
about this DVD on the "Australia @ War" web site

By the Seats of their Pants

.
BY THE SEATS OF THEIR PANTS
(DVD Video)

.

An enthralling flight with the men and women of Australia's aviation past and the spirit they share with the space pioneers of today.

When pilot Dick Scobee blasted off aboard the ill-fated Challenger Space Shuttle, he took with him a unique piece of Australia's aviation history: a rib from Bert Hinkler's glider.

As Dick's widow June recounts, this same piece was miraculously recovered floating in the ocean amongst the Challenger debris.

"By The Seats of their Pants" is a fascination look at Australia's aviators. From pioneers such as Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith, Charles Ulm, and Lores Bonney, through to the pilots of both World Wars and Vietnam, to the barnstorming antics of today's airmen and women.

Experience the thrills of cattle mustering by helicopter in Australia's wild outback, spectacular aerobatics in a rugged Pitt Special, the life-saving endeavours of the Royal Flying Doctor Service and low-level manoeuvers by crop-duster adventurers.

A breathtaking view of Spitfires, F18's, Boston Bombers, Zeros, Kittyhawks. Sopwith Camels, Iroquois Helicopters, Tiger Moths, Catalinas, the Challenger Space Shuttle and many more! This is a first hand account from the pilots who were, and still are, flying "by the seats of their pants".

Director: Peter Wiltshire
Editor: Bob Blasdall
Producer: John Schindler

Click here to Order your copy of this great DVD Video

Please let John Schindler know you found out
about this DVD on the "Australia @ War" web site

The Story of the Krait - Tigers & Snakes

.

THE STORY OF THE KRAIT
TIGERS & SNAKES
(DVD Video)

A gripping special of intrigue, heroism and tragedy. More powerful than fiction because it actually happened.

"Tigers and Snakes" is the story of Z Special Unit and it's men. It is the story of operation "JAYWICK" - a mission that should never have succeeded. It's also the story of a follow up mission that went tragically wrong.

Until now, little was known about the men of Z Special Unit. They were sworn to secrecy. The men of Z Special Unit would never speak of their experiences, not even to each other. "Tigers & Snakes" takes you on the two missions to experience the intrigue, danger and emotions of men at war.

Fourteen men and a tiny ex-Japanese fishing boat the "KRAIT" set out from Exmouth Gulf, to the islands south of Singapore. Reaching their destination, they transfer to canoes and armed with limpet mines proceed to destroy the forty thousand tons of Japanese shipping before returning through Japanese infested waters to Australia.

The second mission "RIMAU" took place almost exactly one year later and with many of the original men. Their objective, much the same as the first mission, enter Singapore Harbour and sink as much as you can. With their target in sight, something went horribly wrong - not one man survived. Why?

We talk to some of the survivors of Operation "JAYWICK" and find out why men volunteer for missions where violent death is an everyday experience.

Click here to order your copy of this great DVD Video

Please let John Schindler know you found out
about this DVD on the "Australia @ War" web site

Hangar 7 Open Day

Eagle Farm Aviation Society (EFAS) open day at Hangar 7 at Eagle Farm in Brisbane this Sunday 16 Aug 2009 at 1 - 3 pm.

Please spread the word.

http://www.hangar7.org.au

Ph 07 3343 8407 if you would like to attend.


-- Post From My Ipod Touch