The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Four pilots of No.75 Fighter Squadron RAAF going out on a strafing raid. They are seen here walking to their P-40E Kittyhawk fighters along the distinctive Pierced Steel Plating (PSP) aka 'marston mat' that was laid by US Army engineers for the allied aircraft at Milne Bay.
Identified from left to right are the following pilots:
403084 Flying Officer Bruce Duddridge Watson (later Squadron Leader, DFC) commander of A Flight, 401657 Sergeant Cecil Salisbury Norman (later Flight Sergeant, DFM), 404355 Sergeant Roy Gordon Riddel (later Flight Lieutenant), 408830 Sergeant Archibald 'Archie' Hall (later Flying Officer) and 404062 Flying Officer Arthur John 'Nat' Gould (later Flight Lieutenant with RAAF, Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm and Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm).
Several of these pilots had already experienced combat in the European theatre of war attached to Royal Air Force (RAF) Squadrons prior to be posted to 75 Squadron RAAF. Bruce Watson had flown Hawker Hurricanes with 32 Squadron RAF. Roy Riddell had flown Supermarine Spitfires with 65 Squadron RAF and 'Nat' Gould had flown Hawker Hurricanes with 17 and 134 Sqns RAF, including in Murmansk, Russia (hence his nickname of 'Natski' shortened to 'Nat).
The AWM holds several collections and historic items relating to these pilots including many photographs (such as P05597.008) and an oral history interview with 'Nat' Gould and the Distinguished Flying Medal group of Flight Sergeant Cecil Salisbury Norman.
Informal portrait of 404060 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) Arthur John (Nat) Gould, RAAF, with his Kittyhawk aircraft "Vodka" at Horn Island, Torres Strait Islands. Born in Queensland on 5 May 1920, Flt
Informal group portrait of three members of 75 Squadron RAAF outside a recreation hut, probably at their base at Gurney Airfield. From left to right: 402963 Pilot Officer (PO) Stuart Munro, 404062 Fl
FIGHTER PILOTS OF THE RAAF STANDING BY AT THEIR AIRFIELD. IDENTIFIED, LEFT TO RIGHT: PILOT OFFICER BRUCE BROWN; SQUADRON LEADER L. JACKSON, 75 SQUADRON; FLIGHT LIEUTENANT V. SULLIVAN, 76 SQUADRON; FLI
Distinguished Flying Medal (Geo VI). Engraved around edge with recipient's details. 401657 Flight Sergeant Cecil Salisbury Norman was born in Adelaide in 1916 and enlisted in the RAAF on 28 March 19
Portrait of 401657 Flight Sergeant Cecil Salisbury Norman DFM, No. 75 Squadron RAAF. Norman had the distinction of being the only RAAF fighter pilot awarded a DFM in the South West Pacific area. The a
Pacific Star. Late issue, engraved reverse with recipient's details. 401657 Flight Sergeant Cecil Salisbury Norman was born in Adelaide in 1916 and enlisted in the RAAF on 28 March 1941. He served a
