"What's New" 2008-2010 Archive...
Click Here to see our Most Recent "What's New" Entries
New photos and links have been added to the inspirational story of How "Woof" Arthur earned his DSO
- flying combat in a Kittyhawk with no working guns!
The interesting photos and dramatic life-and-death stories of Medical Orderly Stu MORRIS have been presented in a new enlarged format.
Nicky Barr (left) with
Stuart Morris (right). Cutella 1944.
Added a tribute page for Coll Callander, who was a Kittyhawk pilot in Italy in 1944 and who died in Victoria in May 2010.
Our "Aircraft" page about the WW1 RE8 (a.k.a. "Harry Tate"!) has been revamped, featuring several gripping tales of derring-do in the air over the Western Front.
Record-holding RE8 "A4397". (Artwork
by Cam Riley.)
We've just received the excellent news that 3SQN C.O., Terry van Haren, has clocked up the exceptional total of 3,000 flying hours on F-18s. The Defence Department has created a photo gallery to commemorate the event. Terry also features, along with many of his Squadron personnel, in a fantastic recent magazine article from AUSTRALIAN AVIATION Magazine (April 2010): "3 Squadron - Tip of the Spear".
Our rollicking illustrated story of 3 Squadron's Sergeant Pilots has been updated. This article features accounts of the careers of Keith Kildey and Danny Boardman, who had the "right stuff" to take on leadership roles way above their rank.
Added a new tribute to Engine Fitter Bob Gillett in our "Lifetimes" section.
Also added several interesting photos to Padre Bob Davies' 80th Birthday Toast and Memorial Tribute pages.
One of our most popular articles, Brian Thompson's profusely-illustrated 1942 War Diary, has had all of the photos enhanced. New discoveries in the text include the fact that Brian composed the words to the popular 3 Squadron ditty "South of Benghazi" (to the tune of "South of the Border"):
South of Benghazi, down Antelat way...
That's where we met the Hun one day, when he came out to play.
We've been to Agheila*... but we did not stay...
South of Benghazi, down Antelat way...
[*El Agheila was the rallying-point for two of the General Rommel's successful Axis counterattacks, precipitating long 3SQN retreats...]
After returning from World War One, Jack Treacy became one of Australia's new breed of aviation pioneers. Besides surveying thousands of kilometres of new air routes, Jack also made the first-ever landing on Brisbane's Eagle Farm airport. We have now added an amazing passenger's tale, with illustrations, showing just how adventurous Jack's flying in the outback was in those early days: "Some Aerial Reminiscences".
A new photo set, covering our 70th Anniversary commemoration of the Squadron's marching off to War in 1940, has been added to "Past Events".
Eyewitness Account: On Saturday 26th of June 2010, Tom Russell delivered a well-received speech at Camden RSL, which covered many aspects of his service career as a fighter pilot.
Go Tommy!
Just prior to delivering his talk, 93-year-old Tom had put in a remarkable day of flying; he went up in a glider at Camden and then an ultra-light plane at The Oaks - and was then surprised to be offered an aerobatic flight in a beautifully-restored WW2-era Harvard trainer. Tom hadn't flown a Harvard for 67 years - since his days as an instructor in Africa - but he was still able to co-ordinate a few turns! See the new photo set added to our "Past Events" page: "Harvard Graduate".
One of the subjects covered in Tom's talk was the remarkable story of: "3 Squadron and the Plot to Kill Hitler." Our new page on this subject describes the strange connection between No.3 Squadron's operations on one busy day in Tunisia... and the planting of a time-bomb under Hitler's map table in July 1944!
Our article on The Frank Harding Gallery, which contains several original artworks depicting 3 Squadron historical high-points, has recently been refurbished.
The memorial details in the article about 3 Squadron AFC Pilot Lt. J. Clifford Peel have been updated. Clifford Peel disappeared on a reconnaissance mission over the St. Quentin Canal in November 1918, just a few weeks before WWI ended, but he will always be remembered for a pivotal contribution that he made to Australian Aviation. Whilst on a troopship on his way to Europe, Clifford Peel wrote a remarkable letter to the Rev. Dr. John Flynn, of the Australian Inland Mission, which outlined Peel's vision of a "Flying Doctor Service". Flynn later famously brought Peel's concept to life in the Australian outback.
Our "Links" page has added several interesting new external links: *Links to Recommended Websites
With much sadness we must convey the news that 3 Squadron Association's Honorary President, Peter Cuthbert, died on the 1st of June 2010. We have now reproduced, on our "Lifetimes" page, the moving tribute presented by Tom Russell at Peter's funeral (which was magnificently dignified by an Honour Guard of serving Avionics technicians from Williamtown). Tom's recitation of "The Ode" will also be long-remembered by all who were present. Peter himself recited those noble words at the funerals of so many other Association members.
A light-hearted poem from Tom Russell's collection, "Who Blew up Agnone Station?", has been newly-added to the Poems page.
The illustrations and text samples for many of the publications featured on our Books page have recently been enhanced and are well worth a look. They show the amazing range of activities that the Squadron has been involved in over its history.
Our "Lifetimes" page for Bobby Gibbes has been updated to add a link to the very nicely-illustrated biography on the Spitfire Association website. (The Spitfire Association also has hundreds of other pilot biographies and they are adding to their collection all the time. There are many familiar names including famous Desert Aces Clive Caldwell and Neville Duke.)
Two new colour photographs have been placed in our popular article: Our Adversary Hans-Joachim Marseille.
Following a long-hoped-for contact from from the family of Kittyhawk pilot Murdo "Doc" McLeod (who flew in Africa, was shot down and captured in Sicily, and who died in France on 11 Sept 1943 after being caught in a bizarre and tragic "friendly fire" incident) we have expanded Doc's entry in the Roll of Honour to reflect his full incredible story. We have also added new scenery photographs to Tom Russell's and John Howell-Price's accounts of their adventurous (and mischievous!) car trip with Doc, all the way to Algiers, after the fighting had finished in Africa.
Artist Drew Harrison has supplied a very attractive new artwork that we have added to the story of the Squadron's "Boxing Day" battle of 1944. We have also taken the opportunity to add some further photos and information that have come to light concerning this significant day when the Squadron shot down its "last-ever" Messerschmitt.
Click here also to see Drew's excellent illustrations of various models of jet-fighters in 3 Squadron service.
Tom Russell's tribute to Squadron Leader Reg Stevens (probably the Squadron's fastest-promoted man) has been renovated and added to our Lifetimes page.
Two new tribute pages have been added:
Jack Doyle, who flew with 3 Squadron in Africa and Italy, rising to the position of Flight Leader and Temporary CO of 3 squadron (and later Commanding Officer of 450 "Desert Harassers" Squadron);
Marcus "Mac" Macinnes, 3 Squadron's Equipment Officer in the early WW2 battles in Egypt, Libya and Syria.
We have recently revamped the fascinating Interview and Photo pages relating to World War I Instrument Mechanic Harold Edwards. They are well worth a look. Harold had many interesting experiences, but he became most famous for engraving the plaques for the Red Baron's memorial cross and coffin lid in April 1918. At the time of Harold's death in 1998 (aged 102) he was the sole remaining survivor of the Australian Flying Corps.
Neil Handsley's amusing "Sabre Memories" article has had some new illustrations and information added, including some more about Neil's personal contribution to 3 Squadron's big move from Australia to Malaya in 1958, "Operation Sabre Ferry".
Our new tribute to Lew Ranger, who passed away earlier this year. A Mustang pilot who served in the last frantic months of WWII operations in Northern Italy, Lew was an outstanding character and lifelong contributor to 3 Squadron Association. This tribute was written by Arthur Pardey, whose photo collection provides some glimpses of those days.
A new page of amazing photos of weird and wonderful experimental naval aircraft from the First World War.
Harry Clare took some interesting photos during his service with 3 Squadron in Palestine and Syria in 1941. It was during this time that the Squadron suffered an embarrassingly-large number of training accidents in their brand-new Tomahawks.
Accompanied by a history of 3 Squadron's Syria Campaign, this era is well recalled in our photo page: "Prangs for the Memories"
In our Lifetimes section we've added a great new tribute to Nigel Love, a World War I pilot who flew RE8s, and who also played a major role in Australia's early aviation history.
Our Family History Research page now has links added to two excellent new research sites, "Picture Australia" and the Google "Newspaper Archive".
WW2 Action Animation
An exciting new video is available (free of charge) online - "THE DESERT DOGFIGHTER". It's a spectacular "animation" produced to a very high standard by "Wolf" - an aviation enthusiast from the UK. Wolf used "IL2 Flight Simulator" software to generate engrossing action sequences backed by a gripping soundtrack...
It tells the story of Nicky Barr, 3 Squadron's leader and top-scoring ace in the desperate days of mid-1942. The video re-creates many scenes from Nicky's combat career, both in the air and on the ground. For instance, after being shot down on one occasion, Nicky gained the help of the local people and rode across the desert, passing between Rommel's armoured units dressed in the flowing robes of a Senussi nomad!
Nicky was shot down for the last time in late June 1942 and was captured with a broken leg, after parachuting from his Kittyhawk. However he then escaped from captivity in Italy three times (on one occasion from a moving train!) but each time was recaptured. On his fourth escape attempt he was luckier; he joined the Italian partisans behind the German lines. Nicky (very unusually for a flier) was later awarded the Military Cross for his daring partisan activities. He eventually walked out through the central Italian mountains in 1944, to be greeted by astonished members of 3 Squadron.
- HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! (123Mb file size. Access on Youtube: Part 1, Part 2.)
Sadly, time continues to march on apace for our World War II Veterans. We have lost several inspirational men this year.
For our latest tributes, several with illustrations, click the links below:Ivor Leaver Murray Nash Lew Ranger
Bill Shoesmith Cliff "Slim" Summerfield
Our photo-coverage of the Squadron's November 2009 "93rd Birthday" Parade, held in perfect conditions in front of a "trophy" FA-18 at RAAF Williamtown.
March 2009 saw the laying of a Memorial Plaque to 3 Squadron's War Casualties (along with those of several other Australian WW2 Squadrons) in the beautiful RAF Memorial Church - St Clement Danes - in London. Click here for the uplifting story, as told by our 3 Squadron Association Secretary, Vicki Crighton, who attended ceremonies organised over several days, and at several significant locations for Air Force History.
Neil Handsley of the Queensland Branch of 3 Squadron Association has had a 3 Squadron History DVD professionally produced, showing rare historical film footage and interviews with several former members of the Squadron.
This material will be of great interest to all friends of 3 Squadron.
The DVD is available for sale at a very reasonable price. For details of contents and an online video sample, Click Here.
Illustration by John Stanley
Aviation artist John Stanley has generously supplied us with some truly beautiful artworks of 3 Squadron Mustang aircraft.
Click: "The Mustang as a Work of Art"
We've seen previous examples of the fine research work of Steve Mackenzie of IPMS NSW. His article on...
"3 Squadron RAAF Mustang IVs - A Reassessment"
...is a real tour de force. Steve presents many informative photos and precisely detailed drawings which nail down the much-disputed colours and markings of the Squadron's late-model Mustangs from late 1944 until the end of the War in Italy in May 1945. There are no "blue spinners" to be found in Steve's work - to quote just one of the myths that he has put to bed!