Sydhuey
Airman
This has been a pet subject for me for awhile,
Many Australians flew in all crew positions exept aircraft commander with many US Sqns, in particular the 13th and 90th sqns of the 3rd Bomb/Attack group at the time of the Battle of the Bismarck Sea had more than 20% of all aircrew in these 2 Sqns were RAAF,at the start of 1942 suffering a shortage of flight crews since the early days of arrival in Australia the US Groups asked if Australians could be made available to fill slots until the manpower supply could catch up from increased training facilities in the USA, the RAAF responded by posting qualified airmen from all over the country some of these aircrew were battle experianced from more than 2 years combat in Europe and North Africa. The US commanders did not have the authority to place foreign nationals in command of US aircraft (thank god that has changed today) but the Australians were used in every other crew position , Co-Pilot and Radio Operator/Air Gunner the most common. The RAAF supplied men to almost every US Bomber and Transport unit from early 1942 till mid 1943 as the supply of trained US personel court up to supply US Sqn's and aircraft became available for RAAF sqns. There contributions have been largely ignored from official US histories and publications.
A couple of noteable RAAF personnel never mentioned in official publications , the co-pilot of the B-26 that Lyndon Johnson undeservedly won his Silver Star in was RAAF,the B-26 shot down on that mission the one LBJ was supposed to be in also had an RAAF Co-pilot,
Captain Bob Chatt pilot of the B-25 straffer "Chatterbox" which sunk a Japanese Destroyer at the Battle of the Bismack sea had a RAAF co-pilot and radio operator in his crew.
Major Gen John P Henebry who wrote a history of the 3rd Attack Group "The Grim Reapers" despite having almost quarter of his sqn's flight personel in early 1943 comprising Australians and flying with Australian Co-pilots and crew never mentioned Australians being in his sqn in his book.
I believe this all goes back to a directive from Gen MacArthur (to me a self cented egotist) that his press and official releases only refer to US personel and Allies , never Australian or New Zealand or Dutch, just allies, even to the extent were US forces were in the minority it was still US and Allies , some actions with Dutch troops landing in New Guinea (yes the Dutch were there) and Australian troops at Buna and other landings with only very small US partisipation it was still US and Allied forces landed.....etc.
Many Australians flew in all crew positions exept aircraft commander with many US Sqns, in particular the 13th and 90th sqns of the 3rd Bomb/Attack group at the time of the Battle of the Bismarck Sea had more than 20% of all aircrew in these 2 Sqns were RAAF,at the start of 1942 suffering a shortage of flight crews since the early days of arrival in Australia the US Groups asked if Australians could be made available to fill slots until the manpower supply could catch up from increased training facilities in the USA, the RAAF responded by posting qualified airmen from all over the country some of these aircrew were battle experianced from more than 2 years combat in Europe and North Africa. The US commanders did not have the authority to place foreign nationals in command of US aircraft (thank god that has changed today) but the Australians were used in every other crew position , Co-Pilot and Radio Operator/Air Gunner the most common. The RAAF supplied men to almost every US Bomber and Transport unit from early 1942 till mid 1943 as the supply of trained US personel court up to supply US Sqn's and aircraft became available for RAAF sqns. There contributions have been largely ignored from official US histories and publications.
A couple of noteable RAAF personnel never mentioned in official publications , the co-pilot of the B-26 that Lyndon Johnson undeservedly won his Silver Star in was RAAF,the B-26 shot down on that mission the one LBJ was supposed to be in also had an RAAF Co-pilot,
Captain Bob Chatt pilot of the B-25 straffer "Chatterbox" which sunk a Japanese Destroyer at the Battle of the Bismack sea had a RAAF co-pilot and radio operator in his crew.
Major Gen John P Henebry who wrote a history of the 3rd Attack Group "The Grim Reapers" despite having almost quarter of his sqn's flight personel in early 1943 comprising Australians and flying with Australian Co-pilots and crew never mentioned Australians being in his sqn in his book.
I believe this all goes back to a directive from Gen MacArthur (to me a self cented egotist) that his press and official releases only refer to US personel and Allies , never Australian or New Zealand or Dutch, just allies, even to the extent were US forces were in the minority it was still US and Allies , some actions with Dutch troops landing in New Guinea (yes the Dutch were there) and Australian troops at Buna and other landings with only very small US partisipation it was still US and Allied forces landed.....etc.
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