Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Supplied by Dudley Mitchell OAM

RAAF service number 48975—rank Corporal-mustering Fitter-Driver motor transport.

On enlistment at RAAF  recruit C.depot Adelaide, a 4 th year Motor Mechanic apprentice and a 4 th years fitter/turner scholar,  Finally ‘called up on the 30th June 1942

Posted to 1 recruit depot— Shepparton in Victoria a RAAF recruit base set up to train ‘rookies’ to become ‘Airmen’ learn the ‘basics of learning to march, salute, drill with weapons, aircraft ‘identification, the only training of such for my whole War period, all in 14 days  

13/7/42 posted to No. 7 School of Technical Training

15th May 1940 attended  the RAAF Recruiting Depot on North Terrace, The Recruiting Officer,after perusing my records, suggested that as they were recruiting only Air Crew, that my application would be listed and a call up would happen, ‘if and when’, of course there no sign of our war with Japan.

During the 6 weeks course at Geelong on the 13th August I met the most wonderful girl  Marjory Heather Tyack, who 4 years later agreed to be my Wife forever!!.

On 3rd September posted to RAAF no3 School of Technical Training at Ultimo Sydney University.  An 8 weeks School for Motor Mechanicsor F/DMT[ Fitter Driver Motor Transport]and I qualified at the top of the class, helped by my previous workshop experiences in the trade. Volunteers were called for 25 of those that qualified —to go immediately, next morning to parade with full gear and make no contact with family or anyone. More than half of these Men became my friends for 4years of the war, sharing the same campaigns and the rest of our civillian lives as friends.  So it was off to No. 2ED  Bradfield Park, for 3 days of  health checks,innoculations for all sorts of diseases. Next a 4 day train trip to Townsville RAAF Base. From there posted to No 5 Works Squadron which was constructing Wards Strip at Port Moresby in PNG  (lacking in F/DMTs).  After several days being ‘toughened up for the tropics, at 3am. on the 30th of November, we were called to the Garbut Airfield, to board  - 25 of us into  an American B17 “Flying Fortress” Bomber with a crew of 10 , we loaded our C bags into the bomb bays, then found a place to sit or stand in the ‘walk ways'. It was first air flight  for myself and the crew (no parachute) - I was petrified.

At 5-30am  a Japanese Air raid out on the town and wharves held up our take off” This was war and we were in it, and not knowing how long for.  We got airborne at  6am. soon out over the Barrier Reef (a marvelous sight).   Flying at about 8,000 feet as we approached the N.G. coast the Yankee gunners cleared their Machine Guns. We landed safely at Jacksons (7mile) Airfield to be picked up by our squadron truck, instructed to erect our tent, erect our own beds and dig our air raid trenches. Such is war.