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"WHAT'S NEW" (September 2009)
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. This era is well recalled in our photo page:
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. Download here.)
We've had quite a few interesting recent Contacts from readers that have highlighted some fascinating snippets of history, from WW1 to POWs, along with some very attractive photos and paintings.
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
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.
Harold Roberts was a Tomahawk Pilot with 3 Squadron, flying combat in the Western Desert in 1941. In an extensive new illustrated feature we present his "War Diary", including a most interesting day-to-day description of Fighter Pilot Training. Harold's journey to the Middle East and his baptism of fire are also vividly described. But it was certainly not all "work" - there is some mention of "drink"; a number of beautiful women are left in Harold's wake; and we are often reminded of his love of flying. Harold became a seasoned operational pilot and towards the end his diary develops into typical gritty fighter-pilot banter. - However, little did Harold realise that he had a date with destiny; one of the "Black Days" of 3 Squadron history.
The Service Diary of Flying Officer H. G. H. Roberts
Mustangs, Mustangs Mustangs!
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!
Alan Clark joined the Squadron in northern Italy late in WW2 and flew Mustangs on several operations. He then had the dubious privilege of having his aircraft disabled by German anti-aircraft fire! He baled out - relatively successfully(!) - in northern Yugoslavia, and then spent the last few weeks of the war travelling by diverse means towards Allied lines with the help of partisans. His highly entertaining story is told in full, with several interesting illustrations:
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