014029 Accession Number: 014029

Description

Informal portrait of Pilot Officer (PO) John S (Jack) Archer, No. 4 Squadron, RAAF, shaving. On 26 December 1942 PO Archer, with his observer Sergeant J L (Les) Coulston, both from Melbourne, Vic, were flying Wirraway A20-103 on a tactical reconnaissance over a Japanese ship wrecked off Gona when they sighted an enemy Zero 1000 feet below. Taking advantage of his position Archer dived on the zero firing a long burst with his two Browning .303 inch guns and as he pulled away the enemy aircraft was seen to crash into the sea. PO Archer later stated that he had acted on impulse and was lucky to get in an effective first burst. Wirraway A20-103 is now in the Australian War Memorial Collection.

Details

Accession Number
014029
Photographer
Classification
Photograph
Object Type
Negative
Physical Description
Colour: Black & white
Date Made
8 January 1943
Place Made
Whole/Part
Whole
Item Count
1
Copyright
Copyright expired - public domain

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Accession 014029

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Last modified: 20 July 2026 - 2.58 am