MASTERS, Peter Addison
| Service Number: | 407330 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 September 1940, Adelaide |
| Last Rank: | Flight Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | No.1 Elementary Flying Training School Parafield |
| Born: | Mymemsingh, India, 23 December 1920 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | King’s School (now Pembroke College) |
| Occupation: | Public Servant pre War / Chrysler Executive post war |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 14 Sep 1940: | Involvement Flight Lieutenant, 407330 | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Sep 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 407330, Aircrew Training Units | |
| 14 Sep 1940: | Enlisted Adelaide | |
| 14 Sep 1940: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 407330, No. 1 Initial Training School Somers | |
| 4 Mar 1942: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 407330, No. 75 Squadron (RAAF), Air War SW Pacific 1941-45, Flying Officer Masters flew in the critical '44 Days' of the air defence of Port Moresby and was credited with 2 Zeros destroyed | |
| 17 Mar 1942: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, 407330, No. 75 Squadron (RAAF), Air War SW Pacific 1941-45, Served during the initial '44 Days' defence of Port Moresby credited with 2 Zeroes destroyed | |
| 5 Apr 1945: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 407330, No.1 Elementary Flying Training School Parafield | |
| 5 Apr 1945: | Discharged | |
| 5 Apr 1945: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 407330, No.1 Elementary Flying Training School Parafield, Instructor |
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Peter Addison MASTERS was one of the pilots of No. 75 Squadron (/explore/units/1292) who defended Port Moresby in the dark days of March-May 1942 against Japanese raids launched from Lae on the north coast of New Guinea.
During the course of his war service he served in a number of Squadrons
No. 4 Squadron (/explore/units/1797)
No. 75 Squadron (/explore/units/1292)
No. 80 Squadron (/explore/units/1339)
No. 86 Squadron (/explore/units/393)
Biography
Peter Addison Masters (1920-2006)
Peter Masters was born in Mymensingh India on 23rd December 1920, to missionary parents. The family later relocated to Adelaide and Peter finished his schooling at Kings School (now Pultney Grammar School). He left school and was employed by the SA Public Service in Adelaide.
Peter Masters enlisted in the RAAF at Adelaide, SA on 14 September 1940 under the Empire Air Training Scheme, which had originally been formed to supply aircrew to serve in or with the RAF in defence of Britain. By the time Peter graduated it was obvious he was going to be needed closer to home, particularly as a fighter pilot.
He completed four operational tours each in a different squadron. During his service in New Guinea, FO Masters shot down two Japanese Zero fighter aircraft in April 1942.
Peter Masters was part of the No. 75 Squadron RAAF group that flew from Sydney to Port Moresby in their brand new P40 Kittywhawk fighters with the pilots having less than ten hours on type in most cases; in Peter's case, just six. They were a desperate attempt to bolster the air defences there in the darkest days of April 1942 with the seemingly inexorable advance of the Japanese sweeping south.
44 days later, having mounted a Herculean defence and with only three serviceable aircraft left they withdrew to reinforce re-equip and refit in Cairns and once again flew north to take part in the defence of Milne Bay in August 1942, playing a key role in the first defeat of Japanese land forces in WW2. Their story was brilliantly told be Geoffrey Robinson QC in a 1990s video documentary titled '44 Days'.
Peter didn't get that far. Smitten with an acute case of malaria, and with no suitable treatment facilities available, he was given an aircraft and sent south to fly himself to hospital! He only just made it, a rather harrowing tale related in the transcript of an interview he did with noted author Peter Brune, in 2004.
In the accompanying photograph, taken in Cairns after their return from Port Moresby in July 1942 the simple name on Masters' aircraft (his nickname) was applied as the unit had been cobbled together in a frantic rsuh and had no skilled painters who normally would have completed more artistic designs on individual aircraft.
FO Masters flew this aircraft and others of the same type during the decisive battles for Port Moresby in 1942.
He susbequently flew operational tours in No. 86 and 80 Squadron, all on Kittyhawks.
At war's end he was an instructor at No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School Parafield, SA, from whence he was discharged on 5 April 1945. He was a lifetime member of the Mitcham Branch of the Royal Australian Airforce Association in SA.
Compiled by Steve Larkins from a range of sources:
AWM https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P03869.003 (accessed 3 April 2021)
Click images to start slideshow.