014059 Accession Number: 014059

Description

SALVAGING AIRCRAFT IN NEW GUINEA. LITTLE IS HEARD OF THE GROUND STAFF OF THE RAAF - THE MEN WHO WORK ALL HOURS AND UNDER ALL CONDITIONS, KEEPING OUR AIRCRAFT IN THE AIR, AND STILL LESS IS KNOWN OF THE MEN OF THE RAAF WHO SALVAGE MACHINES FORCED DOWN THROUGH A VARIETY OF CAUSES. TRAVELLING AS FAR AS 650 MILES, THESE MEN USING MAKESHIFT HOISTS, AND ASSISTED BY NATIVES, HAVE SAVED MANY AIRCRAFT WHICH OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE BEEN WRITTEN OFF AS LOST. THIS SERIES OF PHOTOS SHOWS HOW THEY SALVAGED TWO OF THE MANY MACHINES WHICH THEY PUT INTO COMMISSION AGAIN. THE REPAIR AND SALVAGE UNIT READY TO LEAVE. THOSE ON BOARD ARE: SGT. R.S. COOPER, IN CHARGE OF THIS PARTICULAR UNIT, LAC. P. CALDWELL A RADIO OPERATOR, CPL. J. JOHNSON (MECHANIC) LAC. L.R. O'SHEA (SKIPPER OF THE LAUNCH). GEORGE KERO, A NEW GUINEA NATIVE PILOT WHOSE KNOWLEDGE OF THE REEFS AND SHOALS WAS INVALUABLE. LAC. C. ELLIOTT (COOK FOR THE UNIT) CPL. W. PHILLIPSON (MECHANIC) SGT. T. PEAREY AND RIGGER LAC. R.J. BROWN. USING THE MASTS OF THE NATIVE BOAT AS A HOIST, THIS ENGINE IS PLACED ON THE PLANE. (NEGATIVE BY BOTTOMLEY).

Details

Conflicts

• Second World War, 1939-1945

Places

• New Guinea

Units

• RAAF repair and salvage units

Tags

• Civilians
• Salvage
• Radio communication
• Aircraft crashes and wrecks
• Aircraft maintenance
• Inventions and improvisations