The Spitfire Association

 

The Spitfire Association originated when a few comrades from 457 Squadron decided to keep in contact after the Second World War. They eventually expanded membership to include those who were members of No. 1 Fighter Wing (encompassing 457 and 452 Squadron, both RAAF Squadrons, and 54 Squadron RAF). As time passed, membership was open to those who flew spitfires in the defence of Australia. Some years ago, the Association changed its membership rules to allow for Associate Members, those who had not had war service, but had some connection with Spitfires, or the association, or an interest in the defence of Australia. The ‘boys’ realised this was important so that the Spitfire Tradition could be carried on by a new generation.

 I was accepted as an Associate Member some years ago and have my membership certificate proudly displayed in the shop. The Association produces Spitfire News which appears twice a year. Association magazines are a wealth of interesting stories you won’t necessarily find anywhere else. I was flipping through some of my old old copies of Spitfire News and my eye was caught by this from the March 2003 edition. West Australian Ron Rigg wrote that he was posted to 452 Squadron in Darwin in March 1943:

 

During my time with 452, three Spitfires were detached to Drysdale River Mission Strip which is sometimes known as Kalumbaru (about as far North as you can go in the Kimberleys) and I was sent there as duty armourer. Drysdale (WA) which was classified as a forward operational area after an earlier air-raid by the Japanese which saw the mission station bombed and three of its inmates killed, was the closest point to Portuguese Timor, an ideal crash strop for aircraft in trouble and a re-fueling and jumping off point for 31 Squadron’s Beaufighters from Coomalie Creek. I celebrated my 21^st Birthday there with 6 bottles of Flag Ale which I had saved up for the occasion and sharing them with my mates. We experienced 18 inches of rain in a matter of days and the dirt strip was closed for over a week as a result. Guildford Airport (Dunreath) which became Perth’s International Airport, was where 452 Squadron deployed to in the course of an emergency which turned out to be a false alarm. It was a massive task and two Spitfires were lost (without loss of life) on the downward flight. Two weeks later, the Squadron returned safely to Darwin. One day, whilst cleaning Tim Goldsmith’s Spitfire, I noticed an inscription showing through some recently painted camouflage. It read “Donated by Sir Harry and Lady Oakes”. Sir Harry was the Governor of the Bahamas and was murdered there later. (Spitfire News: Journal of the Spitfire Association Issue No 78 March 2003 pp30–31)

  

Coincidentally, the most recent issue of Aviation Heritage, the Journal of the Aviation Historical Society of Australia has an article on the Bourke Spitfire Fund and their presentation Beaufighter!

 

Here is a great Spitfire photo (well I think so anyway). Led by Clive Caldwell, these fighter pilots receive their final training in aerial combat at 2 Operational Training Unit, Mildura, October 1943–April 1944.