Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

This summary of Carleton Pollitt's military service during World War II was compiled by Peter West a former employee and other members of the Victor Harbor RSL Sub-branch History Research team and presented to Bill on the occasion of his 100 th birthday celebration 16th December 2002 at waikerie

Carleton Pollitt was born in Tanunda on 16th December 1912 the oldest child of 4 born to Cyril Arthur and Hermine Wanda Pollitt (nee Sobels from Watervale). he attended the local Tanunda Primary School and St.Peter's Boys College in Adelaide where he completed Leaving Honours with credits in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.
In 1930 Carleton, Bill as he was popularly known, commenced his tertiary education at Roseworthy Agricultural College. During his 3 year stay at Roseworthy College he was a member of the 18th/23rd Light Horse Machine Gun Battalion and was discharged when he left the district. He graduated with a Diploma in Agriculture (RDA with honours) in 1933.
Bill joined the Department of Agriculture in in 1934 as Assistant Manager at the Blackwood Experimental Orchid and later transferred to Mt. Gambier where he took up the position of District Horticultural Advisor on 26th Sept. 1936. Age 23 he married Edith Vera Oliver later known as Vee in The Wasley's Methodist Church.
When Australia first committed forces in World War II Bill applied to the Department and was given leave to join the Military Forces. On June 12th 1940, he enrolled in the Royal Australian Air Force in a reserve capacity and on 11th November 1940 he was enlisted in the in the Citizen air Force and immediately posted to the No.4 Initial Training School (ITS) at Victor Harbor. Following the initial 6 week basic and air cadet training Bill was musterd for pilot training and sent to the No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) at Parafield.
On passing his basic flying training Bill was mustered for twin engine training at No. 1 Service Flight Training School at Pt.Cook. He qualified for his flying badge on 27th June 1941 and was promoted to sergeant. he then attended a 4 week course at the Communication Flying School in Canberra. On 6th August 1941 Bill commenced a 13 month course at the no.2 Bombing and Gunnery School (BAGS) at Pt. Pirie. He gained promotion to Flight Seargeant and Warrant Officer, then attended an 8 week GMS course at Cressy with a commission as a pilot officer, followed by 4 weeks of training at the no.2 Air Observer's School at Mt. Gambier.
In December 1942 Bill was posted to Bairnsdale for an 8 week intense training course on night time, low level anti-surface vessel attack using the newly developed ASV radar, torpedo version of the Beaufort aircraft. the course comprised 18 pilots, 18 navigators and 36 radio operator gunners. After 3 weeks the pilots selected their crews and thence trained, worked and went into combat together. Training involved many hours of lectures and discussions on theory and tactics. For securit reasons ni manuals were issued, no notes taken and some flights were not entered into logbooks.
In February and March 1943, based at Jervis Bay Naval Station, crews were sent to sea for a week on a navy corvette for experience in escort patrol and launching dummy torpedoes but most time was spent practising low level bombing and skip bombing. At the completion of training Bill was promoted to Flying Officer.
In mid April 15 of the Beaufort crews were posted to RAAF Canberra. Their new commading officer advised they would continue training together and be known as No.8 Squadron - Torpedoes. April and May was largely formation flying using bicycles on the ground and then using aircraft.
At the end of May 15 new torpedo versions of the Beaufort were delivered. each pilot was issued and sigbed for his own aircraft, parachute , revolver and survival kit. Bill was alloted A9- 302 which was fitted with 6 machine guns, 2 cannons and a long torpedo bay.
On June 1943, the squadron transferred to the new Vivigani airstrip and camp on Goodenough Island, off the east coast of Papua new Guinea. the aircraft dispersal bays were well camouflaged among the plams and tropical trees surrounding the strip. Their home for the next 6 months was a series of tents just big enough to holld 4 camp stretchers and a larger tent for the mess. the crew were ordered to dig a 6 foot deep slit trench near their tent before sundown and then without warning the whole area shook and the explosives were deafening. They were now at war!!
Bill and his Beaufort crew remained at Vivigani airstrip and continued to patrol the Coral Sea sector until Mid-March 1944. it was during this time that Bill and his crew were "mentioned in despatches" with the following citations.
" Flying officer Bill Pollitt has been the captain of a crew in the No. 8 Squadron since March 1943. due to his fine leadership and personal example his crew has been most efficient and successful. They have carried out 22 operational missions including 12 strikes and 5 anti shipping sweeps by night. On 9th January 1944 when en route to Rabaul the starboard engine of Flying Officer's Pollitt's aircraft failed completely. Due to his excellent leadership and efficient work of his crew, their aircraft was flown a distance of 120 miles over sea and by night, to an Allied base where a successful landing was effected. His leadership, courage and devotion to duty have been of a high order.
On 21st March 1944 Bill was transferred to no.4 Embarkation Depot in Adelaide for a short period before commencing a 16 week Beaufort Instructor's course at No.1 OTU at east Sale in Mid-May. At the completion of this course he was transferred to the Reserve Personnel Pool (RPP) in Townsville where in October 1944 he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant. He was then transferred to No.5 Communication Unit in nearby Garbutt where he was stationed until early May 1945. On 7th May 1945 Bill attended a 2 week course at the General Reconnaissance School(GRS) Bairnsdale before being transferred to the Air Armement and Gas School in Nhill where he was posted at the end of the war and officially discharged from the RAAF on 19th September 1946.