- FAMILY HISTORY -
Tips for Researching RAAF Personnel and Operational Records

Watercolour by Henry Fulwood - "Death of the Red Baron" [AWM ART02495]
(Except that the scene wasn't really like this...!)

 Many useful Internet resources are now available for researching:
1) Individuals who served in No.3 Squadron
2) The daily history and pictures of the Squadron  
Follow our Step-by-Step Guide below:

 Finding References in the No.3 Squadron Association Website

 Finding Personnel Details

Internet searches are much more productive if you know the full name of your research subject, and their service number. 

"World War Two Nominal Roll"
To trace men who served in WW2, your first stop should be the Department of Veterans Affairs website:
https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/ww2#Search.   It is usually fairly simple to track down all of the key identification details for any individual, even if starting with just a surname. 
- For example, the record for Bobby GIBBES can be seen by clicking here.  

"World War One Airmen Database"
An invaluable resource from the Australian Society of WW1 Aero Historians. 
 Database of Australian Airmen in the Great War.

 Finding Official Records

National Archives of Australia
The National Archives of Australia can then be used to track down a wealth of personnel details.  Go to the NAA Website and type in the surname or service number that you are seeking in the box at top [‘Search: Collection’].   
The information in these files can be quite fascinating.  While it may be necessary to pay around $70 if a digital image is not yet available, many files are already available online - for free - as glorious colour scans. 
- For example, the Personnel file of a 3 Squadron veteran from World War One , Alfred Boxall-Chapman (who helped recover the wreck of the Red Baron’s plane in 1918!), can be seen here. 

The NAA also has many dozens of RAAF files that mention 3 Squadron.  The most important of these documents, the “Operations Record Books”,  can be viewed online (see box below).  There is impressive detail regarding every mission flown by each pilot in 3 Squadron, and other administrative records such as the movement of Squadron personnel and also the incidence of non-operational flying missions.

Further useful examples of WW2 Files digitised in the National Archives (there are many more):

3 Squadron WW2 Narrative Combat Reports, 1940-45.

Forms submitted by 3SQN pilots after significant combat incidents.  Often containing more detail than was transferred to the Squadron Operations Record Book.  The number of reports tapered off markedly in the latter years of the war, as the skies were swept of Axis aircraft! 
- Sorted in date order: 1940 (p7); 1941 (p45); 1942 (p700); 1943 (p1200); 1944 (p1264); 1945 (p1292).

No 3 Squadron - Aircraft Flying Control. 

Contains various interesting reports of operations of the Squadron, 1940-45; including first-hand reports of pilots who evaded capture after being shot down in 1945 (Williamson p5, Redenbach p8, Clark p13, McInerheney p15, Tennent p17, Davies p19); WW2 squadron summary history up until mid-1944 (p21); Desert Air Force African campaign summary (p26);  Pilot report extracts (p42); Gibbes Tribute (p43);  Description of the work of Specialised ground-maintenance personnel p47;   Ken McRae Kittyhawk Armament, bombs, parachutes (p50); Operational procedures, organisation, navigation aids (p55); and the 239 Wing report on "Operation Bowler", the spectacular 1945 Wing attack on Venice Harbour (p79).

 Worldwide Internet Sources

Once you have the full identification details of a 3 Squadron member, it is worth trying some general Internet searches to see what else may be available.  For example, try searching just the service number, or the exact phrase of their name (indicated by using "quote marks" in the search), such as:

"Bobby Gibbes" RAAF
"R. H. Gibbes"
 Gibbes "3 Squadron"
 Gibbes 260714

  Other Significant Internet Sources are:

 Websites Catalogued on the 3SQN 'Links' Page 

We've already done the searching for you!  To see lots of 'background' information for each era of the Squadron's History!   Click here.

 Australian Newspaper Search ("TROVE" - National Library of Australia)

A fantastic resource - search the text of newspapers from many Australian States across nearly 200 years of Australian history. 
Click: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/

 Online Picture Search ("TROVE" - National Library of Australia)

A great system for quickly finding images from the best online collections in Australia (including Australian War Memorial, National Library of Australia and State Libraries). 
Click: here.

 Commonwealth War Graves Commission

For each death in WW1 or WW2, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Website provides extensive personal commemorative information, plus detailed cemetery history and visitor access directions.  Large colour photographs of the beautifully-maintained war cemeteries are also available.  Gravestone inscriptions from family are often noted and an attractive memorial certificate for each casualty can be printed.  

 Finding 3 Squadron Memorabilia On-Line  
in the Australian War Memorial Collection

 The Australian War Memorial has a lavish collection of items related to 3 Squadron.  Below are suggestions on how to access this material via the Internet using the AWM's website:

Old RE8 "S", Struck Off Strength after 10 Months' Service
- Depicts an RE8 aircraft on the No.3 Squadron airfield at Poulainville, France, stripped of engine cowling and wings.  
Watercolour by Arthur Streeton.   [AWM Copyright ART03508]

AWM Historical Images

There are more than 800 photographs and another 30 artworks depicting 3 Squadron in the AWM collection.  Some of these images were created by now legendary Australians such as:

·        Frank Hurley (Photographer).  Who made his name with his magnificent coverage of the 1915 Shackleton Antarctic expedition, and who photographed No.3 Squadron in both world wars!

·        Damien Parer (Photographer).  Who later won an Oscar for the iconic documentary Kokoda Frontline.

·        Arthur Streeton (Artist).  The impressionist master who was an official War Artist in France in WW1. 

 
Mustang Dawn

AWM 3SQN Themes:

To break the huge AWM collection down into more manageable photo-sets, the following eight themes are recommended for  browsing (in roughly chronological order):

NB:  AWM pictures can also be searched through "TROVE", which also covers other Australian Library collections, but TROVE has less fine-control than the AWM's own Search Engine.

a) 3 Squadron  in World War One. 

b) The Last Fighting Biplanes. 

c) Hurricanes Against the Storm. 

d) New Planes, New Challenges.

e) Kittyhawk Operations 1942. 

f) Kittyhawk Operations 1943  /1944.

The 'friendly fire' incident at Cutella (below) features in the 1944 Kittyhawk images:
3SQN KITTYHAWK 1944

Kittyhawk burning after a mistaken "friendly fire" attack by USAAF fighters at Cutella, April 1944.

g) Shiny New Planes and Winning Smiles. 

h) Later Conflicts. 

 Local Colour

There are many other excellent paintings in the AWM collection showing the areas that 3 Squadron travelled through.  These artworks convey the colours and atmosphere of each theatre in a way that monochrome photographs cannot.  It is recommended that you search the following artists and click "Art" to see the collection of their images:

Harold Herbert 1941

Dargie North Africa

Dennis Adams Italy

Many other searches are of course possible, for instance based on specific dates, individual personnel or place names, etc.

 AWM Taped Interview Transcripts

The AWM has an extensive collection of taped interviews with 3 Squadron WW2 veterans (mostly recorded in 1990).  The transcripts are each up to 30 pages long and contain a wealth of information.

Click on a name highlighted below (year-of-service order).  - Reading all of these transcripts would be something of a long-term project, but it is very interesting to hear the story of 3 Squadron in the veterans' own words.  (Beware - these interviews are quite addictive!)  

The interviews cover a wide diversity of subjects, including family history and operational anecdotes:  

AVM Henry Wrigley, who flew with 3 Squadron AFC in WW1 and later visited 3 Squadron in WW2 as the most senior RAAF officer in the European Theatre.

Peter Jeffrey.  Pilot 1937/ Signals Officer / Squadron Leader 1940-42.  DSO, DFC MiD(2).

Marcus 'Mac' MacInnis.  Supply Officer 1939-42.

Rod Butler.  Lysander Wireless Op/ Gunner 1940-41.

Ted Medhurst.   Radio Operator / Radio Mechanic 1940-42.  "Siege of Tobruk"

Bert Pearson.  Radio Operator / Mechanic  1940-42.

Jock Thom.  Airframe Fitter 1940-41.  Wounded.

Wilfred 'Woof' Arthur.  Pilot 1940-42.  DSO, DFC, MiD.  (Moratai Mutiny Instigator!)

Dick Hickson.  Equipment Officer 1940-42.

Wally Bottin.  Transport Driver 1940-42.

Harry Silk.  Admin. Clerk 1940-42.

Fred Eggleston.  Pilot 1941 / POW / "Home Run" Escaper. 

Wal Mailey.  Pilot 1941-42.  Desert rescue.  DFM.

Jack Donald.   Pilot 1942 / POW.

Nicky Barr.  Pilot - Squadron Leader 1941-42 / POW / Escaper.  OBE, MC, DFC and Bar.

Ken McRae.  Engineering Officer 1942-45.  Awarded MBE.

Bobby Gibbes.  Pilot – Squadron Leader 1941-43.  DSO, DFC and Bar.  (1st Interview 1990, plus 2nd Interview 1993.)

Reg 'Slim' Moore.   Engine Fitter 1942-45. 
Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) for Bravery.

Brian Eaton.  Pilot - Squadron Leader & 239 Wing Commander.  1942-45.  CB, CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC, AMERICAN SILVER STAR.

Tom Russell.  Pilot 1942-43.

Leon Henry.  Airframe Fitter 1942-45.

Bill Shoesmith.  General Hand / Canteen Sergeant 1942-45.

Reg Stevens.  Pilot / Squadron Leader 1942-43.  DFC and Bar.

Allen Wand.  Airframe Fitter Sergeant 1942-45.

Jack Doyle.  Pilot 1943-44 / Forward Air Controller.  Led 450 Sqn.  DSO, DFC and Bar.

Bob Smith.  Radio Mechanic 1943-45.

Fred McKay - Padre.  1943-45.

Bob Davies - Padre 1943-45.  Includes the story of "Stinky Miller DFC".

Clarence Wilson.  Post-war Mustang Airframe Fitter in Canberra.  Suddenly posted-out at the start of the Korean War.

[NB.  Further interview transcripts, collected one decade later during the "Australians at War" project, are shown in the separate listing above.]

 Medals and Awards

The AWM has an 'Honours and Awards Database' showing most of the 3 Squadron members who received medals for exceptional service:    

 WW1:

For a full  alphabetic list and summary statistics, click here.  Sub-categories such as "Distinguished Flying Cross" can be selected, and individual names can be searched.  Don't miss the "Digitised PDF Record" of their award citation (which is usually included).

[A few WW1 3AFC aircrew also received French and Belgian decorations.  These are not listed by the AWM.]

 WW2:

For the alphabetic list and summary statistics, click here.  The "Recommendation" records tend to have a Citation PDF attached, but not necessarily, so it is also a good idea to check the "Award" record too. 
- Unfortunately, in several cases there is no citation attached, and some of 3 Squadron's award recipients are not yet linked to the Squadron (for example Ken McRae, MBE MiD, and Slim Moore MiD). 

For further detail, try searching for a press article about the award in the National Library ‘Trove’ database. 
eg. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/result?q=chinchen%20dfc 
Or the London Gazette (searchable by date-range and citations are sometimes listed, but it often shows just a surname) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/ - see the "Historians" Search.

(Text by James Oglethorpe)