Framed jigsaw puzzle, 'Big Guns Roar' : B J Roberts Accession Number: REL34054

Description

Framed 120 piece jigsaw puzzle entitled 'BIG GUNS ROAR - THE BATTLE OF THE SEAS'. Reproduction of a painted image in landscape format which depicts a British warship firing its guns at an enemy warship.

Contextual Description

One of three jigsaws assembled and used by Barry John Roberts (born 1937) as a child in Adelaide during the Second World War. The treatment and style is typical of the period. Roberts later served with the RAN Fleet Air Arm from 1956 until September 1963, when he joined Qantas. Soon after, in 1965, Qantas was pressured by the Australian Government to provide charter services for ferrying troops to and from Vietnam and continued this service until 1972, undertaking over 600 flights and being dubbed the ‘Skippy Squadron'. Roberts flew two missions as co-pilot to Saigon, Vietnam under this arrangement on 2 April 1969 and 27 August 1969. For this service, Barry Roberts was awarded the Australian Active Service Medal and the Vietnam Logistics and Support Medal. He continued flying with Qantas as a Captain until August 1989, when he retired. He successfully campaigned for the recognition of Qantas personnel's contribution to the logistical support of the Vietnam campaign and was nominated in August 2003 as patron of 'Skippy Squadron' by its members. He proudly led them in the Springwood Vietnam Veterans Day March on 17 August 2003. Barry Roberts died on 13 June 2004.