ITEM

STORY

This relic is a section of plywood cut out from the leading edge of one of the wings of THE RED BARON's Fokker DRl triplane on 22 April 1918 at 3 Squadron's aerodrome at Poulainville near Amiens in France.

It is held by the family of  Lieut.  James (Lee) Smith, DFC, who was placed in charge of the party that brought back the Red Baron's body, together with his crashed aircraft, to 3 Squadron's base after dusk on 21 April 1918.

"PYANCUS" ... a mythical pre-historic character dreamt up, and carved into a walking stick from the broken propeller of an RE8,  by Lieut. James (Lee) Smith, DFC, in 1918. As he had a limp, due to one leg being shorter than the other after a motorbike accident in 1913, he used the stick as an aid to walking.

Pyancus became his aircraft mascot symbol and it was also painted on the fuselage of his RE8 (C2275). 

Pyancus also became his nickname within 3 Squadron.

FIRST WORLD WAR TRENCH GRID MAP

Maps like this, mounted on 3 ply, were typically standard cockpit-aids used by RE8 pilots for navigation reconnaissance flights over enemy sectors (e.g. sector ED). 

This map, whilst it was housed in a side pocket of Lieut.  Smith's RE8, was holed by the photographed steel balls of shrapnel which finished up rolling around the cockpit floor after having also nicked one of his flying boots.

During WWII, illustrated comic stories about war heroes were often published by "The Argus", a Melbourne newspaper.

This one describes the escapades of 3 Squadron's famous top scoring ace, Nicky Barr.  His story appears in the Aerial Victories section.

The full version  of the comic is held in 3 Squadron's  Crew Room Collection at Williamtown, NSW. 

The following week, 13 November 1943, another story appeared in "The Argus" describing the way Reg Stevens rose from the ranks to become Commanding Officer of the Squadron.

There's more about Reg Stevens in the Aerial Victories section.

The full version  of the comic is held in 3 Squadron's  Crew Room Collection at Williamtown, NSW. 

This is an authentic  Me109 gun-sight, complete with all attachments, which pilot FLTLT Tom Russell was able to quickly secure after 3 Squadron had occupied the landing ground at El Daba shortly after the ground had been hurriedly vacated by the Luftwaffe.  The gun-sight is housed within a neatly fabricated case and it is stamped REVI C/12DV (Vorrat).  Its production date was 1/5/1942.  It had never been fitted to a Me109 ... obviously a spare part.  Nevertheless, under external power, it works perfectly and well demonstrates how the Luftwaffe's Me109's aligned their "lead computing" gun-sights onto our own aircraft.

This plaque has been laid at the War Memorial in Canberra, ACT, Australia to commemorate the proud history of 3 Squadron.

The contents of a TIME-CAPSULE which contains these mementoes of the Squadron's past. 

It was ceremonially interred at Williamtown, on 18 December 1992.

The capsule will not be opened until 25 years have elapsed -  18 December 2017.

On that day, serving Squadron members of that era will be privileged to glimpse (and taste) some reminders of the previous Squadron's treasures.  

After photos of Arthur Pardey's "cliftied" Austrian flag, with insignia sewn onto it, were published, Brian Griffin, a relative of Brian Thompson (ex-3 Squadron  pilot) identified each emblem... 

Click here to see the descriptions.

Submitted by the Fitzgerald family, this is what  the newspapers were saying in 1941/1942 about the Squadron's performance in the "Near East" (as it was then called).

Note that any reference to 3 Squadron's number isn't made ... censorship at the time would have prevented any mention of the whereabouts of  any of the forces.

 I wonder how long it would have taken an enemy spy to figure out exactly who  "Australia's only air squadron in the Near East ..."  was at that particular time?

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

1943

(5 SFTS Menu from the Arthur Pardey collection)

"The Harding Collection"

"Tarp and Razor Blades" by Frank Harding.

The late Frank Harding was one of Australia's most gifted aviation artists. 

His wife Nan, and her family, display the collection in their Folklore Gallery at 177 Sixteenth Street, Renmark, South Australia, 5341.  Call Nan on (Australia-08) 8586 6972 to make an appointment to view this unique collection.

To view a few of his "3 Squadron" paintings, plus photos of the gallery and a short biography of the artist:  click here.

A moving 2009 pilgrimage and a permanent memento, the 3 Squadron Crest engraved in slate, set into the floor at RAF Chapel, St Clement Danes in London, 26/3/09.
 

Click for the full story:
Dedication of the RAAF Squadron Memorial Plaques
By Vicki Crighton.