|
The Golden Years. The Royal
Australian Air Force 1921-1971 |
|
Text of the RAAF
story is in blue. Black text is for photo captions. |
|
|
Published
(originally) for the Minister for Air, Senator the Hon. Tom Drake-Brockman, D.F.C., by the Australian Government Publishing Service.
© Commonwealth of Australia 1971 Printed by Wilke and Company Limited 37-49 Browns Road, Clayton, Victoria |
 |
MESSAGE FROM
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN AIR COMMODORE-IN-CHIEF CITIZEN AIR FORCE
In this Golden jubilee year the Royal Australian Air Force can took back with pride on its achievements over the last half century. The Service has played its part with distinction in times of peace and war, and has won a world-wide
reputation.
Men of the Australian Flying Corps set the standard during the 1914-18 War, and since then, on those firm foundations, their successors have added lustre to a proud Service with splendid traditions.
Anniversaries are moments for reflecting on past endeavours and achievements, but they are also a time for looking forward. The future will present many challenges, but I am confident that the Royal Australian Air Force, because of the high calibre, professionalism and purpose of its men and women, will meet and overcome these challenges and will continue a story of development and success which will be an inspiration to new generations.
To all in the Service I offer my warmest congratulations on this important milestone in its history. |
MESSAGE FROM MARSHAL OF
THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS, THE PRINCE PHILIP DUKE OF
EDINBURGH, KG, KT, OM, GBE
Aviation has become such an essential part of military activity that it hardly seems possible that it all started such a short time
ago. Before the First World War, only the most far-sighted were
able to visualise the development of air power.
Even after that War, it needed all the tenacity and dedication
of a few enthusiasts to keep military aviation alive.
It was not long before they were proved right as subsequent history makes
it quite plain that air power played an absolutely vital part in every phase and in every sphere of the Second War.
Australians had already proved their military capabilities and
hard courage on the ground and at sea. When the Royal Australian Air Force went into action, it showed at once that it had a
particular aptitude for air warfare. |
 |
| From small beginnings fifty years ago, the Royal Australian
Air Force has faced the uncertainties of peace and the perils of war with the same enthusiasm and professional competence.
Pilots and air crew, commanders, staff and ground crew have met and overcome the widely different problems of air fighting
over Europe, over the desert and over the seas and jungles of South-East Asia.
Whatever the future holds, Australia can be certain that her
defence in the air is in the hands of a Service with the very highest possible traditions. |
| MESSAGE FROM HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH, THE QUEEN MOTHER AIR CHIEF COMMANDANT WOMEN'S ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE |
As Air Chief Commandant of the Women's Royal Australian Air Force, an appointment which I am most honoured to hold, I am glad to be able to send a message of warm congratulations on the occasion of the 5oth Anniversary of the formation of the Royal Australian Air Force.
Your record of service and loyalty to your Sovereign and Country over the past decades, and in particular in the ' Second World War, is one of which you can be justly proud, and I am confident that in the years ahead the reputation and fine traditions of your Service will be most worthily maintained. |
| MESSAGE FROM HER ROYAL HIGHNESS,
THE DUCHESS OF KENT AIR CHIEF COMMANDANT RAAF NURSING SERVICE |
On the 50th Anniversary of the formation of the Royal
Australian Air Force I would like to send my warmest congratulations to all members of the Royal Australian Air Force
Nursing Service of which I am honoured to be the Air Chief Commandant.
Since your own formation in the Second World War, you have given devoted service to your country and invaluable support to the Royal Australian Air Force. You have every reason to be proud of the fine traditions of the Service and I am confident that these will be maintained and enhanced in the future. |
| MESSAGE FROM THE PRIME MINISTER RT. HON. WILLIAM
McMAHON, MP |
I congratulate the Royal Australian Air Force on its jubilee.
In the past fifty years the RAAF has built up a fine record of service and achievement in many theatres of war. Its squadrons have served with distinction in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Pacific ... in all those places where freedom has been threatened and where the challenge of the aggressor had to be met with resolution and skill.
We remember with gratitude those who gave their lives on active service with the RAAF. None served with greater honour.
The traditions of the RAAF are in safe-keeping today.
I wish all ranks every success in the future. |
| MESSAGE FROM MINISTER FOR AIR
SENATOR THE HON. TOM DRAKE-BROCKMAN, DFC |
| It is my honour to be Minister in charge of the Royal Australian
Air Force in this its jubilee Year. In the past fifty years-at war and in peacetime-the RAAF
has developed into a fine fighting service of which every Australian should be justly proud.
The men and women of the RAAF have served in a major
world war. They fought and are still fighting in Asia to defend the oppressed and to further the cause of world peace. In all these conflicts they have acquitted themselves with
distinction and valour.
We live in an age in which aviation gains a greater significance
with every passing year and I am confident that the RAAF will meet every challenge of the future. I congratulate the men and women of the RAAF on their past
achievements and on the magnificent tradition they have created for this country.
To the Royal Australian Air Force I give my congratulations
and extend the wish that the next half century sees it achieve even greater distinctions. |
 |
|
Air Marshal Sir Richard
Williams, KBE, CB, DSO, RAAF (Retd). The first Chief of the Air Staff,
Royal Australian Air Force. |
|
Foreword: By Air Marshal Sir Richard Williams |
Although captive balloons had been used previously in war, it was the success of the Wright brothers in achieving sustained and controlled
flight in a heavier-than-air craft in December 1903 that made aviation, as we now know it, possible.
The flight from Calais across the English Channel to Dover by Bleriot in
1909 brought the possibilities of this type of aircraft prominently to the notice of the British Government and people.
The Australian Army was probably as alive as any to these possibilities for in that same year it offered a prize
of £5,000 for as aircraft which 'could remain over a marked area of not more
than half a square mile and be navigated at such speed as to allow an observer to make a comprehensive description of the
land in the area' -in other words, it was calling for 'a vehicle for reconnaissance'.
At an Imperial Conference in London in 1911 it was decided that Military
Aviation should be developed within the armed forces of the British Empire. Australia implemented this decision - the
only Dominion to do so - by establishing a Central Flying School at Point Cook, Victoria, in 1914.
This action made it possible to add a Flying Corps to the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) in the 1914-18 War and that Corps established a most creditable reputation for itself in the
war, in both Palestine and France.
Whilst the principal duty of our first squadron in the field was reconnaissance, experience soon revealed the much wider useful role that aircraft could perform and they were used in addition for the attack on hostile targets not only in the air but
also on the ground, as well as at sea, at speed and at great distances apart, quite beyond the ability of sea or ground forces.
Both the Royal Navy and the British Army had their air services at this time and on
1 April 1918 they were amalgamated to form the Royal Air Force - a third fighting service co-equal
with the Navy and Army. The reason for this was not only to discontinue the duplication of staffs and establishments involved in the two services, but also to terminate the competition between them for the output of industry which was not of benefit to the British Treasury.
The Australian Flying Corps remained part of the Army but disappeared with the demobilisation of the A.I.F. at the conclusion of the 1914-18 War.
It was Government policy at this time to adopt the same organisation in Australia's armed services as in, the United Kingdom. It was perhaps not surprising then that on completion of service in the A.I.F. and on appointment as Director of Air Services at Army Headquarters, I found the Minister for Defence, Senator G. F. (later Sir George) Pearce and the Prime Minister,
Mr. W. H. (Billy) Hughes, determined to establish an Australian air force as a separate service.
The only existing aviation establishment in Australia at that time was the Central Flying School at Point Cook, which had been maintained throughout the 1914-18 War only by the refusal of the Minister to approve proposals for its being closed down as a training establishment.
The Flying School alone would not have formed a sufficient foundation on which to build an air force, but fortunately the United Kingdom Government had presented Australia with 128 aeroplanes together with spare engines, spare parts, tools, transport, canvas hangars, etc. These were sufficient to form units, and it was with these assets that the Air Force was established on 31 March 1921.
I am-sure that without either Sir George Pearce or the gift equipment from the United Kingdom Government, the Air Force would not have been formed at that time.
It was my privilege and honour, at the age of thirty, to be the senior officer of the new service.
Almost at once Australia began to suffer a financial depression and, 'defence' being traditionally the first to take a cut, development was extremely slow.
Experience in Palestine - where the conditions were comparable to those of Australia - made it clear to me that an air force, being the most mobile, the most flexible and the hardest hitting of the armed services, capable of attacking an enemy before he reaches our coast and of continuing such attack if he succeeds in landing was what a huge island continent such as Australia most needed. Yet whilst
Mr. Bruce was in power from 1923 to 1929 I was told that the defence of Australia depended
on the Navy and consequently, although a programme of development for the Air Force was approved, little was achieved because of lack of funds.
This position existed until 1929 when, with another financial depression approaching, the Scullin (Labor) Government came into office, and a proposal was made to it by the then Secretary of Defence to split the Air Force between the older services.
It fell to me to meet this attack principally by the claim that the full power of aircraft would only be developed by airmen, not by sailors or soldiers who regarded aircraft merely as auxiliaries.
The Scullin Government rejected the proposal.
Another change of Government (Lyons) came in 1932 and the easing of the depression together with the activities of Hitler in European politics, resulted in more funds becoming available, but the Navy was still said to be our main line of defence, and the amount provided for Air Force development remained small until 1937
Whenever I claimed that ships were vulnerable to air attack I was met with the statement,.'it has not been proved in war'. That was true, of course, but there had been tremendous development in the hitting power of aircraft since the 1914-18 War and the proof of my claim was soon to come.
The. existence of the Air Force was not again threatened, but war came in 1939 when it was still below the strength considered necessary and indeed approved by Government ten years earlier. What Air Force we had was good, most members of it were there because of their interest in aviation and they proved their worth in the work they were called on to do when war came, be it in the field or in training others.
The thousands of young Australian men and women who came into the Air Force during the 1939-45 War gave magnificent service in every theatre in which they were employed, to the credit of themselves and of Australia. But the details of the achievement of the service in that war as well as in subsequent smaller wars - service which has been second to none - are given in the pages of this book.
The Royal Australian Air Force can hold its head high on the occasion of its fiftieth birthday.
I am proud to have worn the blue uniform.
Air Marshal Sir Richard Williams |
 |
|
Mirages at Williamstown
RAAF Base, at dawn. |
|
