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Royal Australian Air Force
• This is just a small sample of what is on display at the museum ....
Click on images to see larger view.
• Walter H. Rose DFC – AUS 405605, Date of Death 23/11/43, 156 Sqn RAF (age 22). No known grave.
An apprentice electrician before enlisting in the RAAF in April 1941, P.O. Rose trained as a pilot in Australia and Canada as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme
(EATS). After being posted to 460 Squadron RAAF in March 1943, P.O. Rose flew Lancaster bombers, including 'G-George' during an operational sortie over Duisburg
on 27th April 1943.
In May 1943, P.O. Rose was transferred to 156 Pathfinder Squadron RAF, and in October 1943, was recommended for the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for his 'high
reputation as an operational pilot which has since been enhanced by his skill and determination with which he has pressed home attacks on varied targets in Germany,
Italy and occupied territory'.
P.O. Rose was killed during an operational sortie when his Lancaster, serial number JB223, radio call-sign GT-M (M-Mike) was shot down over Berlin on the night of
23/24 November 1943.
Aged 22 at the time of his death, P.O. Rose has no known grave, however a watch worn by PO Rose was uncovered by a German farmer after the war and forwarded to
his next of kin.
Related unit: 156 Squadron RAF; 460 Squadron RAAF
Related conflict: Second World War, 1939-1945
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of
other Commonwealth countries, for 'an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy'.
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Some items in the Walter Rose DFC display. See more in the Museum.
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See the complete cartoon in the display at the Museum.
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• Model plane enthusiasts will enjoy viewing the wide collection of locally made models of RAAF planes on display at the Museum.
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A bit of history ....
Although Australian Military aviation can be traced to flights made by a Royal Engineer Balloon Section at the Sydney Agricultural Ground on 7-8th January 1901, it wasn’t
till late 1910 that a plan for an Australian Aviation Corps was submitted to the Military Board.
Final approval to establish the Australian Flying Corps was promulgated in Military Order No.570 on 22nd October 1912, with orders placed for two B.E.2a, two
Deperdussin and a Bristol Boxkite to equip the new air arm.
During World War 1 Australian airmen also served with distinction with Royal Flying Corps/Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force Units in Europe and the Middle
East. Richard Williams commanded a Royal Air Force Wing and S.J. Goble flew operationally with the Royal Naval Air Service and commanded a squadron in France.
When the Royal Australian Air Force was established on 31st March 1921, these men played prominent roles, Williams reaching the rank of Air Marshal and Goble the
rank of Air Vice-Marshal.
Wartime experience and the technical development of aircraft made it obvious that air power had become an essential element in any military equation.
Between 1926 and 1928 the Air Force also assisted in a variety of national survey operations, mostly using the Seagull V aircraft. They surveyed the Great Barrier Reef,
Papua New Guinea, New Britain, the Solomon Islands, outback Australia, potential civilian landing grounds and civilian air routes.
In 1924 Wing Commander S.J. Goble and Flying Officer I. McIntyre in a Fairey IIID, aerial circumnavigated Australia. During 1929 and 1930 personnel flew a Gipsy Moth
in the British Australian Antarctic Research Expeditions. And in January 1936 a crew in a Wapiti and Gipsy Moth assisted in the research of Lincoln Ellsworth and his
pilot who were reported missing after attempting to fly across the Antarctic continent.
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