HP52
- Born in Victoria - Australia - my brother was born just pre-war before Dad went to UK for the duration. My first flight was in a Miles Messenger in 1952. Went to 9 schools under 3 different Aust State systems. Scraped through Leaving Certificate and went to work at Hawker de Havilland Aust. Joined the Company subsidised Flying school - couldn't afford the Freight - Uni graduates were earning less than I was. I was trusted to the extent of having the key to the aircraft compound and fly before going back to work at Bankstown.
Became lost in the Marine Industry, then as an accountant and occasionally the chopper gun or rolling out GRB on hot days.
- Toured overland - Katmandu/London via Iran in the early days of the Ayatollah. Very favourable rate buying Rials with US$ (1969)!
Back in Oz my Dad had bought an Ultralight A/C and built up a Volkswagen engine for it.
Taking up a single seater for the first time is like soloing again.
Retiring from full time work, I became a volunteer Flying Club instructor with now well over 1,000 hours.
I have written two books - now both out of print - One on owning. maintaining and sailing a small yacht - less than 30ft.
The other is the history of 455 Squadron RAAF and their deployment to Soviet Russia in Sept 1942 to discourage the Tirpitz attacking Convoy PQ18. PQ18 got through and delivered food, guns, aircraft, boots - enough to prevent a Russian collapse in the 1942 Fighting season, before Winter took over. With training finished, Dad got his ground party out on the destroyer HMS Intrepid, which had come in to land injured crew at the hospital at Severomorsk. that was "The RAAF in Russia"
It was well received and I did an extra print run which gave the opportunity use some different photos, remove some not so relevant text. That sold out long ago.
I rewrote it again and offered it to Pen & Sword who accepted it 3 years ago. I believe the Principal I was dealing with may have died suddenly and Sink the Tirpitz fell onto the back burner. I believe from the Aust agent that printing is imminent. It is quite a story, better still I have been able to include German photos of Jimmy Catanach's aircraft. landed Wheels Down near Varanger Fjiord in Norway. Also there are photos of the crew being put in the prison van.
Quite a find.
I am also on the Committee of the Bomber Command in Australia organisation.
Geoff Raebel
Became lost in the Marine Industry, then as an accountant and occasionally the chopper gun or rolling out GRB on hot days.
- Toured overland - Katmandu/London via Iran in the early days of the Ayatollah. Very favourable rate buying Rials with US$ (1969)!
Back in Oz my Dad had bought an Ultralight A/C and built up a Volkswagen engine for it.
Taking up a single seater for the first time is like soloing again.
Retiring from full time work, I became a volunteer Flying Club instructor with now well over 1,000 hours.
I have written two books - now both out of print - One on owning. maintaining and sailing a small yacht - less than 30ft.
The other is the history of 455 Squadron RAAF and their deployment to Soviet Russia in Sept 1942 to discourage the Tirpitz attacking Convoy PQ18. PQ18 got through and delivered food, guns, aircraft, boots - enough to prevent a Russian collapse in the 1942 Fighting season, before Winter took over. With training finished, Dad got his ground party out on the destroyer HMS Intrepid, which had come in to land injured crew at the hospital at Severomorsk. that was "The RAAF in Russia"
It was well received and I did an extra print run which gave the opportunity use some different photos, remove some not so relevant text. That sold out long ago.
I rewrote it again and offered it to Pen & Sword who accepted it 3 years ago. I believe the Principal I was dealing with may have died suddenly and Sink the Tirpitz fell onto the back burner. I believe from the Aust agent that printing is imminent. It is quite a story, better still I have been able to include German photos of Jimmy Catanach's aircraft. landed Wheels Down near Varanger Fjiord in Norway. Also there are photos of the crew being put in the prison van.
Quite a find.
I am also on the Committee of the Bomber Command in Australia organisation.
Geoff Raebel
- Location
- Sydney - Australia
- Interests
- Flight Instructor - Author of Marine and air Force subjects
- Gender
- Male
- Occupation
- Senior Flight Instructor - Recreational Aircraft