RAAF in New Guniea Video(a must see!)

Nathan · **Posted:** Sun Jun 20, 2010 5:57 pm

A wonderful video of the RAAF in New Guinea during WWII.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm1mqhsJ ... re=related

JDK · **Posted:** Sun Jun 20, 2010 7:13 pm

Good find, Nathan!

It's actually (half) a copy of an Australian War Memorial archived film, going by the the time-stamp style. A quick check on the AWM website reveals the film, and some background.

Quote:

F01739 - With the RAAF in New Guinea
Film copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
ID number F01739
Places made
* Pacific Islands: Bismarck Archipelago, New Britain, Gasmata;
* Papua New Guinea: Papua, Papuan Islands, Goodenough Island;

Date made December 1943-January 1944; 1944
Physical description 35mm/b&w/silent
Collection Film
Description
Beaufort bombers of No. 100 Squadron RAAF (Sqn code GH) preparing for a raid against the enemy in the Gasmata area, New Britain; Beauforts taking off in flight and bombing target. The Beauforts were escorted by Spitfire fighters from No. 79 Squadron RAAF (Sqn code UP) and P40 Kittyhawks from No. 77 Squadron RAAF (Sqn code AM). Identified personnel: Lieutenant A. Moore Official War Artist, Flt/Sgt. Eric Shipway No. 100 Sqn, P/O G.R. Liddell, Flt/Sgt. F Westphalen, Squadron Leader H C Plenty DFC, Flt/Sgt Leo Reid, Sgt Jack Madden of RAAF Meterological Section.

Permalink: http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/F01739

War artist Moore went onto paint in Belsen. http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions ... en_e.shtml

http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions ... re_e.shtml

Nathan · **Posted:** Sun Jun 20, 2010 8:38 pm

Hi James,

I really got to brush up on my RAAF and RNZAF. Such a broad topic. :shock:

Glad you like the vid. I am guessing you saw it before. :wink:

Do you have facebook? I really could chat with you about some ideas. In the near future I will be going co-onwer on a website and I think your knowledge on the Pacific war would come in handy for some site updates.

Let me know.

Thanks,
Nathan

Nathan · **Posted:** Sun Jun 20, 2010 8:49 pm

JDK wrote:

Good find, Nathan!

Quote:

F01739 - With the RAAF in New Guinea
Film copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
ID number F01739
Places made
* Pacific Islands: Bismarck Archipelago, New Britain, Gasmata;
* Papua New Guinea: Papua, Papuan Islands, Goodenough Island;

Date made December 1943-January 1944; 1944
Physical description 35mm/b&w/silent
Collection Film
Description
Beaufort bombers of No. 100 Squadron RAAF (Sqn code GH) preparing for a raid against the enemy in the Gasmata area, New Britain; Beauforts taking off in flight and bombing target. The Beauforts were escorted by Spitfire fighters from No. 79 Squadron RAAF (Sqn code UP) and P40 Kittyhawks from No. 77 Squadron RAAF (Sqn code AM). Identified personnel: Lieutenant A. Moore Official War Artist, Flt/Sgt. Eric Shipway No. 100 Sqn, P/O G.R. Liddell, Flt/Sgt. F Westphalen, Squadron Leader H C Plenty DFC, Flt/Sgt Leo Reid, Sgt Jack Madden of RAAF Meterological Section.

Permalink: http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/F01739

Also thanks for the added info. It was really great being able to watch the daily lives of these men and the preparation for a mission. And to be able to identify some of these via the video is something even more special. Australia and New Zealand faced threat of invasion and I think most people today forget how close that came to happening. If it wasn't for the RAAF, RNZAF and all the ground grunts repelling a very fast moving fortress! I trully hope to be able to isit both nations someday. Both with so much WWII heritage. I hear the girls arn't too bad either! :wink:

tom d. friedman · **Posted:** Sun Jun 20, 2010 10:15 pm

great footage of the daily between missions drudgery!! gives real perspective to the area & conditions. the guy carving the beaufort trench art model is especially interesting!! i did an extensive article on trench art some years ago on the military art form in "military trader" magazine. the guys in the fire suits must have really loved their jobs in that wet assed heat. i'd bet the footage is late 1943 early 44 hence the p-40's. i thought the beaufort was withdrawn from combat in 1942!! i'm not surprised it ended up their as many of the rejects & old war weary birds often ended up in the pacific following european duty.

Rick65 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 21, 2010 2:04 am

For information on the Beaufort in New Guinea and elsewhere refer to Beaufort, Beaufighter and Mosquito in Australian Service by Stewart Wilson

Apparently Australia produced Beauforts into 1944 with the final deliveries as late as August/September being delivered straight to storage. The RAAF used what we had and Beauforts were used to the end of the war but had little post war use apart from some used for aerial spraying.

My late father in law met his bride when training in Sale in Victoria in amongst other planes Beauforts. Happily for the survival of the O'Mahony clan his training was just too late for operational service.

JDK · **Posted:** Tue Jun 22, 2010 1:55 am

Nathan wrote:

I really got to brush up on my RAAF and RNZAF. Such a broad topic. :shock:

Indeed you should! :lol:

Certainly interesting, including the RAAF 'how not to run an air force' episodes.

Quote:

Glad you like the vid. I am guessing you saw it before. :wink:

No, new to me, so thanks!

Quote:

Do you have facebook? I really could chat with you about some ideas.

Sorry, don't do Facebook, for various reasons. Always happy to chat here, though!

Quote:

In the near future I will be going co-onwer on a website and I think your knowledge on the Pacific war would come in handy for some site updates.

To be honest, my knowledge of the Pacific War's very average! Always happy to try and help though, provided you keep bothering me until you get what you want!

Nathan wrote:

Also thanks for the added info. It was really great being able to watch the daily lives of these men and the preparation for a mission. And to be able to identify some of these via the video is something even more special. Australia and New Zealand faced threat of invasion and I think most people today forget how close that came to happening.

Yes, it's an interesting insight, and I particularly liked the war artist, a particular interest of mine.

As to invasion, the Japanese threat to Australia is a matter of some debate; but we know that they were not very nice on their approach, and the bombing of Darwin and Broome was a nasty wake up. Not a lot of people realise that Japanese reconnaissance aircraft overflew Sydney and Melbourne harbours - in the case of Sydney prior to a Mini Sub attack.

How much New Zealand faced invasion is another question - I'll defer to my Kiwi colleagues there.

Quote:

If it wasn't for the RAAF, RNZAF and all the ground grunts repelling a very fast moving fortress!

And as you want to know, here's a factoid - Aussie solders get called Diggers.

Quote:

I trully hope to be able to isit both nations someday. Both with so much WWII heritage. I hear the girls arn't too bad either! :wink:

Well make sure you let us know when you plan to visit, and we'll show you a good time! Can't comment on the girls, as I married a Canadian who found me in Britain...

Cheers,

JDK · **Posted:** Tue Jun 22, 2010 1:58 am

tom d. friedman wrote:

the guys in the fire suits must have really loved their jobs in that wet assed heat.

Yes, that can't have been very funny at all.

Quote:

i'd bet the footage is late 1943 early 44 hence the p-40's.

You can bet what you like.

Did you notice my post above with the date in it? the AWM says December '43 - January '44, and on that kind of thing, they'll (usually) be right.

Quote:

i thought the beaufort was withdrawn from combat in 1942!! i'm not surprised it ended up their as many of the rejects & old war weary birds often ended up in the pacific following european duty.

No, no no.

These are Australian-built DAP Beauforts - new into the Pacific war and used to the war's end. The American type engines (Australian built Wasps, not Bristol Tauruses) was one of he reasons they were a more usable type.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol_Be ... _Beauforts

Quote:

When production ceased in August 1944, a total of 700 Beauforts had been built. These aircraft served with numerous units including Nos 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 32 and 100 Squadrons and established an impressive operational record. They attacked shipping in all areas of the South-West Pacific and sank cruisers, destroyers and submarines, as well as bombing and strafing inland supply dumps and troops. They were also used for routine convoy protection and coastal reconnaissance.

http://www.raaf.gov.au/raafmuseum/resea ... es2/A9.htm

Regards,

airnutz · **Posted:** Tue Jun 22, 2010 2:54 pm

Good one Nathan. In reference to comment section concerning the wording around the nude
noseart, it looks like it says, "Hallelujah Brothers!" "We Are Saved".(1st video.)

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RAAF in New Guniea Video(a must see!)

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