[spidge]

Originally Posted by David Layne

Spidge, when the Australian aircrews came over how much training had they received? Would the picture I have posted contain Australians, Canadians, South Africans etc? In my ignorance I had presumed they all came from the home countries.

Hi David,

I will have a look at cross referencing the names in the list with those of the RAAF deaths in 50 & 97 squadrons and the 15 (14 OTU) and see if we come up with a match.

Australians would do some training in Australia then predominantly to Canada through the EATS programme.(Empire Air Training Scheme)

Training of EATS recruits took place in Australia, Canada, Rhodesia and Britain. By war's end, almost 40,000 Australians had been sent overseas under this scheme, serving in Europe, the Middle East, Burma and other places. Many men in Australia and overseas died in training accidents. Many who graduated from courses flew with Bomber Command, which had the highest operational loss rate of any British Commonwealth force in the war. The RAAF also sent ground crews to serve in most of its Article XV squadrons (as well as 3 and 10 Squadrons), most serving up to four years overseas. Hundreds of RAAF members became prisoners of war in Germany and Italy, as well as a smaller number in the Far East. Australian born aircrew after completing flying training in Australia had accepted Short Service Commissions with the RAF and were serving when War broke out. These men saw action during the German invasion of France and during the Battle of Britain. The calibre of these men is exemplified by the deeds of Flying Officer L.R. Clisby DFC, who is credited with 17 and one half victories in France and Flight Lieutenant P.C. Hughes DFC, the top Australian ‘ace’ of the Battle of Britain with 14 individual and 4 shared victories. Other Australians who served with distinction as members of the RAF were Air Commodore ‘Hughie’ Edwards VC and Air Vice Marshal D. Bennett, the founder of the famous Bomber Command ‘Pathfinder’ Force
Under Article XV of the Agreement, provision was made for the Dominions to retain their own identity. This would manifest itself in the gathering of nationals in Dominion squadrons with equipment and facilities being supplied by the RAF. Australian squadrons in the RAF were numbered from No. 450 to No. 467. (No. 465 was not allocated). Of these seven operated fighters in the Far East, Middle East and Fighter Command, five were associated with Bomber Command, two in Coastal Command and the remaining three served in the Middle East. Yet, while these 17 squadrons were designated as Australian squadrons, the reality was that Australians who were trained under the EATS actually served in more than 200 RAF squadrons.

RAAF Aerospace Centre http://www.defence.gov.au/aerospacecentre/default.htm