Rufford Abbey Grand Historical & Vintage Bizaar 23 April 2016

A Bunch of Mates gathered at a regular haunt. Here are a few pictures.

Sheffield Blitz 75th Commemorative Evening 12th December 2015

The following photos are from the first gathering of A Bunch of Mates. The event was to commemorate the raid on Sheffield on the night of the 12th December 1940. Two original WW2 searchlights beamed into the sky outside The Moor Market followed by 1940's singing and dance. As it was a wet evening some shelter was required and an authentic Sheffield pub dating from the period was found for the purpose.

Blue's Tiger Moth Flight

Originally posted 10/5/2015. These are photos from Blue's Tiger Moth flight

The RAAF

The RAAF traces its history back to the Imperial Conference held in London in 1911, where it was decided aviation should be developed within the armed forces of the British Empire. Australia implemented this decision, the first dominion to do so, by approving the establishment of the "Australian Aviation Corps", which initially consisted of the Central Flying School at Point Cook, Victoria, on 22 October 1912. By 1914 the corps was known as the "Australian Flying Corps".

First World War

Soon after the outbreak of war in 1914, the Australian Flying Corps sent aircraft to assist in capturing German colonies in what is now north-east New Guinea. However, these colonies surrendered quickly, before the planes were even unpacked. The first operational flights did not occur until 27 May 1915, when the Mesopotamian Half Flight was called upon to assist the Indian Army in protecting British oil interests in what is now Iraq.

The corps later saw action in Egypt, Palestine and on the Western Front throughout the remainder of the First World War.

Second World War

In September 1939, the RAAF's Air Board directly controlled the Air Force via RAAF Station Laverton, RAAF Station Richmond, RAAF Station Pearce, No. 1 Flying Training School RAAF at Point Cook, RAAFStation Rathmines and five smaller units.

In 1939, just after the outbreak of the Second World War, Australia joined the Empire Air Training Scheme, under which flight crews received basic training in Australia before travelling to Canada for advanced training.  No. 7 Elementary Flying Training School was a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) pilot training unit that operated during World War II. It was established in August 1940 at Western Junction Aerodrome, Tasmania, and provided introductory flying training to new RAAF pilots. Training activities ceased in December 1944, and the unit was disbanded in August the next year. 

No. 7 EFTS's first eleven Tiger Moth trainers arrived on 11 September 1940, and flight training began nine days later. The unit was initially organised as a half-strength elementary flying school, and comprised two flights. The flights operated 18 Tiger Moths, and several others were held in reserve. A total of 17 RAAF bomber, fighter, reconnaissance and other squadrons served initially in Britain, and/or with the Desert Air Force located in North Africa and the Mediterranean. Thousands of Australians also served with other Commonwealth air forces in Europe during the Second World War. About nine percent of the personnel who served under British RAF commands in Europe and the Mediterranean were RAAF personnel.

Total RAAF casualties in Europe were 5,488 killed or missing.

One of the most well-known bombing raids was the attack on the Ruhr dams – the Dambusters. For an over view of the raid see here –

12 RAAF  flew on the dams raid in 617 Squadron

Aircraft Name/Rank Crew Position Wave 

AJ-G (ED 932/G) Plt Off F.M. SPAFFORD Bomb aimer 1 Service No. 407380

AJ-M (ED 325/G) Fly Off A.F. BURCHER Rear gunner 1 Service No 021979 (403182)

AJ-P (ED 909/G) Flt Lt J.F. LEGGO Navigator 1 Service No. 402367

as above Flt Lt R.C. HAY Bomb aimer 1 Service No 407074

as above Plt Off B.T. FOXLEE Front gunner 1Service No. 404595

as above F/Sgt T.D. SIMPSON Rear Gunner 1Service No. 408076

AJ-L (ED929/G) Flt Lt D.J. SHANNON Pilot 1 Service No 407729

AJ-N (ED 912/G) Plt Off L.G. KNIGHT Pilot 1 Service No 401449

as above F/Sgt R.G.T. KELLOW Wireless Operator 1 Service No 411453

AJ-E (ED 927/G) Flt Lt R.N.G. BARLOW Pilot 2 Service No 401899

as above Flg Off C.R. WILLIAMS Wireless Operator 2 Service No 405224

AJ-O (ED 886/G) Plt Off C.L. HOWARD Navigator 3 Service No 406248

A thirteenth Australian was also on the Raid but was actually enlisted in the RAF - Harold Brownlow Morgan MARTIN nickname "Mickey" RAF Service No 68795 and he was the Pilot of AJ --P ( ED 909/G ). Marking this event, Colin Wright was fortunate enough to fly in a Tiger Moth along the route used to practice the runs over the Derwent Valley Reservoir. Dressed in an early war Prestige suit over RAAF Officers Service Dress and carrying original maps of the area.(Health and Safety restrictions preclude wearing the original seat type parachute and Stagg B Type helmet Colin took!) Colin was able to take control of the aircraft along the route. It certainly was an unforgettable experience and brought new understanding to the demands placed on young pilots – either trying to fly in the valley on the Dambusters Raid or as a fighter pilot in the Battle of Britain. Trying to control a plane and looking around for other planes must have been a mentally and physically challenging time. Flight was through Blue Eye aviation –

http://www.blueeyeaviation.co.uk/

Text and photos by group member 'Blue' and is by way of reference and respect for the RAAF and also the RAN.