The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Collection relating to the Second World War Service of 427110 Flying Officer Donald James Wells, 1 Wireless Air Gunners School, Royal Australian Air Force, Victoria, Australia, 1943.
Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of one letter from Flying Officer Donald James Wells to his friends, Mr Frederick Hilton Burrows and Mrs Elsie Burrows, dated 4 October 1943. It was written while Flying Officer Wells was undertaking training at 1 Wireless Air Gunners School, Ballarat, Victoria. In his letter, Flying Officer Wells thanks Mr and Mrs Burrows for a parcel of cake and biscuits that they had sent him. Flying Officer Wells wrote this letter while flying, anchored it with a rag, and dropped it from his aircraft while over the Burrows' property at Woodstock-on-Loddon, Victoria.
Also in the collection is a newspaper clipping; 'Landing sparks lifetime friendship'; dated August 9 1995
Flying Officer Donald James Wells enlisted to the Royal Australian Air Force on 20 May 1942. He undertook pilot training in Victoria and New South Wales, including a course at 1 Wireless Air Gunners School, based in Ballarat, Victoria. On 8 August 1943, Flying Officer Wells and Flying Officer Keith William Gillespie made an emergency landing in a paddock of the Burrows family in Woodstock-on-Loddon, Victoria. The two men experienced great hospitality from the locals while they were waiting for the mechanics and formed a lasting friendship. The Burrows family sent food parcels to Flying Officer Wells, and he sent back several letters of thanks. After his training, Flying Officer Wells went on to serve with 3 Squadron, and was discharged on 11 December 1945.
A torn piece of brown fabric featuring two blue and red stripes. Part of the rag has been tied into a loop to hold the letter. On 8 August 1943 a CAC Wakkett aircraft being piloted by Keith Gillesp
Collection relating to the Second World War service of 403380 Flying Officer James Alexander Saint-Smith DFC, DFM, No. 8 Elementary Flight Training School, Royal Australian Air Force, Australia, 1941.
Navigator's logbook evidences training at Evans Head, radar course at No 1 Wireless Air Gunners' School in Ballarat, and operational flying from Cecil Plains and Tocumwal bases. Other papers include p
Collection relating to the Second World War service of 423863 Flying Officer William James ‘Bill’ Painting, 320 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, Australia, Canada, England, Belgium and Germany, 1
Collection relating to the Second World War service of 413685 Flying Officer Harrie Donald Stitt (also known as Donald Harrie Stitt), No. 460 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force. The collection cons
Collection related to the Second World War service of 427577 Warrant Officer Albert Frederick Wells, RAAF, Melton Mowbray, La Vallion, Courtrai. Wallet 1 of 1 consists of a two-page report titled "Fo