DAP – Aviation Historical Society of Australia

DerekB22/03/202321/05/2024

AHSA Melbourne Meeting March 2023 (Annie Floodin: Boeing History)

Our March 2023 Melbourne meeting featured a presentation by Annie Floodin, a historian from Boeing Historical Services who is currently visiting Australia connecting with...

1941 RAAF Base Williamtown was formed on 15 February 1941 to provide protection for the strategic port and steel manufacturing facilities of Newcastle and the Hunter Region. The base was initially served by four runways, each 1,100 m (3,600 ft) in length to meet the needs of the Williamtown Flying School. The School consisted of 62 buildings which accommodated 366 officers and men. Located 30 kilometres north of Newcastle on the lands of the Worimi people, RAAF Base Williamtown is Australia’s premier fighter pilot training base and this will continue with the introduction of the F-35A Lightning II aircraft. Source: airforce.gov.au website

1944 Number 7 Operational Training Unit was formed at RAAF Station Tocumwal on 15 February 1944. The RAAF's first heavy bomber training unit was formed with an initial establishment of 473 personnel and 9 aircraft, Consolidated B-24 Liberators. This would grow to over 2,100 personnel and over 70 aircraft by mid-1945. Over the next 18 months, 7 OTU would train over 4,000 aircrew and 2,000 ground crew. Known primarily for the iconic B-24 Liberator, 7 OTU would also operate other aircraft including P-40 Kittyhawks for fighter affiliation, Vultee Vengeances for target towing and Airspeed Oxfords for transport and training. 7 OTU would become the largest and most significant of all Operational Training Units operated by the RAAF during World War 2. Source: Tocumwal Aviation Museum

1970 Commonwealth Aircraft CA-18 Mk 22 Mustang VH-DBB operated by Mr Don Busch crashed at Welford Forest, near Bendigo, Victoria on 15 February 1970. The aircraft was taking part in an air show being held at Bendigo airport for the official opening of the aerodrome. Although arrangements had been made for the pilot to "fly past", the pilot made two low passes along the runway and after being requested to perform a third low pass, pilot lost control of the Mustang in a steep turn, and spun into the ground. Owner and pilot Don Busch was killed. Upon reaching a height of approximately 1,500 feet, and when in a nose high attitude and probably at a low airspeed, the aircraft entered a very steeply banked turn to the right. Almost immediately, the aircraft flick rolled several times to the right, then adopted a steep nose down attitude together with a rapidly descending, tight, spiral flight path which it maintained until it struck the ground. There was an intense fire which virtually consumed the wreckage. The examination of the wreckage was limited by the destruction but it was established that the engine was delivering considerable power at impact. The possibility that the pilot became incapacitated in flight was considered but rejected on the basis of the medical and operational evidence. The probable cause of the accident was that the pilot, who was inexperienced on the aircraft type (25 hours on type), attempted a manoeuvre in which his capacity to control the aircraft was exceeded. Source: atsb.gov.au website