scroll down >
click here to return to INDEX page click here to return to "Sergeant pilots"
BOOKS about 3 SQUADRON and other RAAF Squadrons
1. (a) John Bennett's historical book: "The Imperial Gift" (b) Click here for a review of : "The Imperial Gift"
2. (a) How to buy John Jackson's biography "A Lot To Fight For" (b) Sample of "A Lot To Fight For"
3. (a) Felix Sainsbury's "Ground Crew" ... click to buy (b) Extracts from "Ground Crew" - squadron life 1941 - 43.
5. Russell Brown has sent details of three excellent books. Click for details.
6. In July 1942, Ted Sly, after serving with Bluey Truscott's 452 RAAF Squadron, was posted to 450 squadron, 3 Squadron's sister squadron. There he flew Kittyhawks until, after 22 missions and fighting the same foes as 3 Squadron, including Hauptmann Hans-Joachim Marseille, he was posted to 92 Squadron, RAF. Here he began his long love affair with Spitfires. Today, Ted in his mid 80s and actively working, is still an integral part of the Spitfire Association.
His cracker-jack autobiography "The Luck of the Draw" is, in my opinion, going to join the ranks of Australia's exceptional historical records. It is a truly delightful read. (click anywhere on this line to access more details and extracts from the book.)
He begins so vividly with his early days on the land before he joined up. He writes, describing his RAAF service days, concisely and informatively recounting hundreds of instances which he shared with such well known characters as Neville Duke, Bobby Gibbes, Paul Brickhill and Clive Caldwell whilst attached to 457 Squadron fighting the Pacific War from Morotai.
Added bonuses are being able to read about some of Ted's ancestors who were Australian pioneers and also reading about how he spent his life during the 58 years following the war. Every young person could well benefit from a study of his achievements. I was particularly taken with Ted's viewpoint expressed on Page 11:
"I consider the period of one's teens to be the best time for learning self-discipline and how to cope with adverse conditions. My early experiences of survival in adverse conditions, held me in good stead in all war zones."
7. 3 Squadron's and other RAAF history is described in these fine books ....
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WRITTEN BY H. N. WRIGLEY, "THE BATTLE BELOW" IS A HISTORY OF THE SQUADRON DURING WWl. PROBABLY IT IS NOW OUT OF PRINT BUT WORTH WATCHING FOR IN SECOND-HAND BOOKSHOPS. |
"SECRETS REVEALED" WAS PRODUCED IN 1991 TO COMMEMORATE THE 75th ANNIVERSARY. IT WAS WRITTEN BY PETER MULLER and JOHN HUTCHISON. IT IS AN EXCELLENT AND CONCISE HISTORY. FOR AVAILABILITY, CONTACT THE ADMIN -OFFICE, RAAF BASE, WILLIAMTOWN, NSW. PH: (02) 4964 7452 |
WGCDR JOHN WATSON and LOUIS JONES PRODUCED THIS CLASSIC WWll HISTORY: "3 SQUADRON AT WAR". DENNIS ADAMS'S ARTWORK ADORNS THE COVER. VERY DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN A COPY BUT TRY CONTACTING 3 SQD ASSOCIATION FOR HELP. |
ONE OF THE SQUADRON'S LEGENDS, BOBBY GIBBES, HAS NOW WRITTEN HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY AND IT GRAPHICALLY DESCRIBES HIS EXCITING TIME WITH 3 SQUADRON. FOR INFORMATION PH: (02) 9971 1190 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Russell Brown has written this marvellous classic, dedicated to the P40s and their pilots who fought the Desert Air Force's war between 1941 and 1943. It is available from Banner Books of 122 Walker St Maryborough QLD 4650 or visit www.banner-books.com.au |
"THEY FLEW FOR THE KING". THIS CLASSIC COLLECTION OF INDIVIDUAL STORIES OF 34 FAMOUS AIRMEN IN WWll WAS PRODUCED BY FRANK HARDING. IT INCLUDES HIS MAGNIFICIENT PAINTINGS THAT PORTRAY INCIDENTS RELATING TO AIR HISTORY. FOR AVAILABILITY CONTACT: NAN or MEGAN HARDING AT FOLKLORE GALLERY, RENMARK. S.A. 5341 PH: (08) 8586 6972 |
IN HIS BOOK," THE DESERT HARASSERS", LEN BARTON HAS WRITTEN ABOUT HIS OWN 450 SQUADRON, RAAF ... A PARTNER- SQUADRON IN 239 WING DURING WWll. CONTACT: (02) 9960 2271 Another of Len's books(451 Sqd) is now available too.
|
THE REVEREND FRED McKAY'S INSPIRING BIOGRAPHY WRITTEN BY MAISIE McKENZIE IN 1990 GIVES A PROFILE OF ONE OF 3 SQUADRON'S DEAREST MEMBERS IN BOTH WARTIME AND IN PEACETIME IN HIS ROLE AS THE SUCCESSOR TO THE FAMOUS "FLYNN OF THE INLAND". CONTACT: BOOLARONG PUBLICATIONS, BOWEN HILLS, BRISBANE, QLD |
|
|
|
|
|
| THIS STORY OF THE BASE IS AVAILABLE
FROM THE ADMIN-OFFICE, RAAF BASE, WILLIAMTOWN.
IT
WAS WRITTEN BY PETER MULLER and JOHN HUTCHISON IN 1991 AND DESCRIBES LIFE ON
THE RAAF BASE WHICH 3 SQUADRON HAS CALLED HOME FOR MANY
YEARS.
PH: (02) 4964 7452 |
THIS EXCELLENT BOOK BY KEITH ISSACS SHOWS FULL DETAILS, DESCRIPTIONS AND ILLUSTRATIONS OF MANY AIRCRAFT USED ON ALL SIDES DURING WWl (3 Squadron's aircraft are there). THE AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL, CANBERRA, ACT, SHOULD BE ABLE TO ADVISE ON ITS AVAILABILITY. | "HIGHEST TRADITIONS" WAS WRITTEN BY JOHN BENNETT, A CONCISE RESEARCHER AND AN EXCELLENT AUTHOR. IT IS A FINE HISTORY OF 2 SQUADRON. AT PRESENT JOHN IS IN THE FINAL STAGES OF PRODUCING HIS HISTORY OF 3 SQUADRON. PH: (02) 6258 4867 | This is a really well researched record of many of the
aces who fought in both wars.
The book should be in most libraries. The Australian War Memorial should also be able to advise on availability.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| By Brian Cull with Don Minterne, Grub
Street, 1999
As its title suggests, it is concerned with the role played by the
Hurricane squadrons in the defence of Tobruk. All of 3 Squadron's |
By Lex McAulay, also from
Banner Books, (1998).
This book has a very detailed chapter on Nicky Barr's career with 3 Squadron. The other pilots in the book are Hugo Armstrong, Peter Panitz and his navigator Dickie Williams. |
"THE AUSTRALIAN SOCIETY OF WORLD WAR l AERO HISTORIANS" PRODUCE JOURNALS AND PAPERS RELATING TO WWl AIRCRAFT AND THEIR PILOTS. In past records of ASWW1AH, there are frequent articles about 3 Squadron AFC aircraft and personnel. For information: Keith Keohane (02) 9982 3040 | PETER A DAVIDSON WROTE THIS HISTORY OF
CHAPLAINCY IN 1990. IT HAS MANY INSIGHTS INTO THE WORKINGS OF THE
MINISTRY WITHIN THE SERVICE. REFERENCE: NATIONAL LIBRARY OF AUSTRALIA
...
ISBN 0 7316 4982 4 |
John Bennett has discovered a new book that includes 3 Squadron AFC. He bought it over the Internet from the US. It covers all the British WWI squadrons, including the 69 Sqn/3 Sqn data. He says it's a great book, 296 pages, from the US specialist military publisher Schiffer.
Kristen Alexander has a bookshop in Canberra, ACT, Australia, specialising in Military Books. Phone (02) 6259 0540 or e-mail: alexfax@goldweb.com.au
Kristen's Website is: www.alexanderfaxbooks.com.au and she kindly offers any ' 3squadron.org.au ' enthusiast 10% discount from any purchase made from her bookshop. Just mention to her that you are a 3 Squadron fan.
Canberra Bookshop: The two owners of
Crusader Trading, Antony Garrett and Rick
McQualter, both have backgrounds in the Australian military and also enjoy many aspects of
military history, with Tony preferring aviation history and Rick the land based subjects. All staff at the shop have a passion for the subject matter
and can be counted on to assist anyone looking for a particular item. Tony and Rick are keen to expand their product range and invite Canberra
visitors to visit their unique and friendly shop, sure in the knowledge that most will find something to their liking.
To visit: Townsville Street just next to Kennards. Open Monday to Saturday.
Phone: (02) 6239 2332 on-line at: http://www.crusaderbooks.com.au
Behind all great men (read Servicemen) there are loving and caring women (read AAMWS)
Many ex-servicemen are quick to say that, were it not for the skilled and loving care they received at the hands of nurses and nurse's aides during their illness or wound treatment during their wartime service, they may not be here today.
Certainly the individual nursing services
attached to the fighting forces … RAAFNS, RANNS and AANS all
carried out marvellous work but little is known about the girls who formed the
original Voluntary Aid Detachments (the famous VADs) and their subsequent
transformation in December 1942 into the Australian Army Medical Women’s
Service (AAMWS).
Betty Mount-Batten, ex-AAMWS herself, has brilliantly researched the history of each of the many AAMWS units that served on Australian soil, in the Middle East and in the New Guinea and the South-West Pacific areas. In 1995, Betty privately published her book "From Blue to Khaki" (see insert for an explanation of the significance of this title) and it contains photos and poignant descriptions of daily life in the various theatres of war in which the VADs and the AAMWS participated.
Click onto this line to read extracts from her book and to view a few photos.
To purchase a copy of her book (Aust $ 24 + postage) contact:
Betty Mount-Batten, 3/238 Jersey Rd, Woollahra. NSW. 2025. (Australia)
Phone: (Australia) ... (02) 9363 4934
