The Royal Australian Air Force in South Australia

during WWII

Adelaide - Gawler - Mallala - Mount Gambier - Parafield - Port Pirie - Victor Harbor

 

Peter Ingham

Avonmore Books, 2021

Paperback    96pp     RRP $30.00

 

Reviewer: Neville Taylor, July 2022

 

Once again, those with an interest in RAAF and local South Australian history, have been presented with a most comprehensive and thorough account for the duration of the Second World War.

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Adelaide and each of the rural centres have had described the physical construction of the bases, their role in training RAAF personnel, the (often delayed) arrival of the aircraft used for training, the base commanders, the number of trainees and the throughput of course graduates. Most of the locations have been described early in the War as they were established, and then revisited during the closing years. Special mention is made of No. 4 Initial Training Unit (Adelaide), No. 4 School of Technical Training (Adelaide), No. 7 and No. 10 Radar Stations (at Wedge Island and Cape Jervis respectively) and other smaller units.

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The imbedded historic photographs, which have been extremely widely sourced, bring to life the conditions of the bases, aircraft and key personnel described in the text. Tables of fatal flying accidents occurring in South Australia and Victoria involving RAAF (SA) aircraft are very detailed appendices. A third appendix is an Honour Roll from 1939 to 1947. Sources and an Index (of Names) round out this well-written and compact volume of a most important era in South Australia’s history.

 

 

 

The RUSI – Vic Library thanks the author/publisher for making this work available for review.