PNG

Something I came across one day and had to try it out!

Rabaul New Britain

I was living and working in Rabaul in 1968/69. There were so many crashed aircraft/ transport of all kinds just lying about no-one bothered to do anything with it. We were only concerned about all the uxb’s that were everywhere. We put old tin cans over them and once a month the Aussie Bomb Disposal came and cleared them.
The harbour was full of sunken ships/ aircraft /tanks, one scrap dealer from Aussie had a team of divers going down every day recovering stuff. The attached picture of an aircraft was in my back garden when I took the house over from the previous tenant. I’ve no idea what it was!

One of the best documentaries made for a long time, well edited, and revealing facts not known before, as a result of the documents being found by the family. I shall watch it again.

Second Pilots

One or two of my bomber pilot logbooks show that the pilot often took the Flight Engineer on exercises as a second pilot. There are many instances of Flight Engineers gaining the DFC for bringing back a crippled aircraft (due to the pilot being wounded)

Air Crew Europe Star

Pamphlet:- ” Campaign Stars and Commemorative Medals Instituted for the 1939-45 War issued on 11th June 1948 Army Council Instruction 829 of 1945 Army Order 108 of 1945.
Medal awarded to:- Personnel for operational flying from UK bases over Europe (inc UK) from the 3rd September 1939 to the 5th June 1944.
60 days service in an operational unit engaged in operational flying. At least one qualifying sortie had to be made during the period of 60 days. The award could not be made unless the recipient qualified for the 1939/45 Star. Clasps Atlantic and France and Germany. Officially named stars to South African units being the rarest issued (only 130).

MOD Records

The MOD has stopped sending the colour copies and most of the info is heavily redacted if you are not NOK. They are trying to stop people asking for this information.

RAF Flag at Auction 7.1.12

Have a look at Lot 613 in the sale coming up on the 7th January at Dickins Auctions Middle Claydon in the UK (you can leave a bid on line) Est £80 -120 which is about right for this full sized original.

S/L Moss Medals

His DFC (1943) 1939 Star (Clasp Battle of Britain) Air Crew Europe Star, Africa Star, Burma Star, Defence and War Medal along with his Air Efficiency Award were on sold by Sothebys on the 15th September 1990 at Hendon, have they been re-acquired by the family? I do hope so.