010871 Accession Number: 010871

Description

AN RAAF PILOT TRAINEE LEADS A FULL LIFE. LEADING AIRCRAFTMAN (LAC) GORDON KEVIN JOHNSON, WHO WORKED IN THE CHIEF SECRETARY'S DEPARTMENT OF THE WEST AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT BEFORE HE ENLISTED IN THE RAAF, IS NOW A PILOT TRAINEE IN VICTORIA. HE IS TYPICAL OF THE PHYSICALLY PERFECT AND HIGHLY TRAINED YOUNG AIRMEN WHOM AUSTRALIA IS SENDING OVERSEAS IN LARGE AND FREQUENT CONTINGENTS. LIKE MANY THOUSANDS OF OTHER TRAINEES HE IS EAGER TO GRADUATE AND TAKE HIS PLACE AT THE CONTROLS OF A FIGHTER OR BOMBER IN ACTION AGAINST THE ENEMY. "HE'S A FATHER TO HIS LADS." WIRELESS INSTRUCTOR BYRNE HAS AUTOGRAPHS OF 2600 OF HIS PUPILS, NOW PILOTS, OBSERVERS AND WIRELESS AIR GUNNERS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE GLOBE DEFENDING THE EMPIRE, ALSO AUTOGRAPH OF THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER. MR. BYRNE WAS A CHIEF PETTY OFFICER IN THE R.A.N. IN THE LAST WAR, DURING WHICH HE ALSO SERVED WITH THE A.I.F. IN HIS THIRD SERVICE AND SECOND WAR, H.L. BYRNE KNOWS JUST WHAT A YOUNG TRAINEE NEEDS IN THE WAY OF GUIDANCE. HIS EXPERIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING MAKES HIM MOST POPULAR WITH HIS LADS. BEFORE LEAVING FOR ANOTHER STATION FOR FURTHER TRAINING, LAC JOHNSON ADDS HIS AUTOGRAPH TO MR. BYRNE'S COLLECTION.

Details

Conflicts

• Second World War, 1939-1945

Places

• Victoria
• Western Australia

Units

• Air Training Corps
• Royal Australian Navy