The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Poretta, Corsica, France. April 1944. 12086 Sergeant Leo Moran of Melbourne, Vic, of No. 451 (Spitfire) Squadron RAAF makes the acquaintance of a young girl who lives in the vicinity of his camp. She is Mathea Pittiloni, aged 16. During the German occupation of the countryside, Mathea lived in the mountains for four months carrying supplies and ammunition and assuring liaison between the patriot groups resisting the enemy. One night she fell foul of a German patrol who opened fire on her with a revolver. She held the Germans in check with her rifle, managed to elude them to complete her mission successfully. Note that they are standing beside a French War Memorial.
Poretta, Corsica, France. April 1944. Informal portrait of Mathea Pittiloni beneath the French Tricolour flag whose honour she upheld during the German occupation of her village. Mathea, though only s
Poretta, Corsica, France. April 1944. Mathea Pittiloni, the 16 year old girl who exchanged rifle fire with a German patrol during the German occupation of her neighbourhood while carrying supplies at
Poretta, Corsica, France. April 1944. Informal portrait of a girl which the members of No. 451 (Spitfire) Squadron RAAF made the acquaintance of in the vicinity of their camp. She is Mathea Pittiloni,
Port Said, Egypt. 20 March 1944. Informal portrait of 12086 Sergeant Leo Moran of Melbourn, Vic, seems happy to be leaving Egypt. He is a member of No. 451 (Spitfire) Squadron RAAF which is bound for
Poretta, Corsica, France. April 1944. 417241 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) R. F. Sheppard of Adelaide, SA, an aircrew member of No. 451 (Spitfire) Squadron RAAF, now operating from Poretta, makes use of a
Port Said, Egypt. 20 March 1944. 33655 Corporal (Cpl) Jim McKensey, armourer, of Armidale, NSW, and 12086 Sergeant Leo Moran, on the deck of the troopship SS Circassia which is to take No. 451 (Spitfi
