michael rauls
Tech Sergeant
- 1,679
- Jul 15, 2016
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Cool thanks. Ya that was the picture I saw in the forum here that reminded me of the kit I built as a kid. Figured it must have been a pretty notable plane/ pilot to have a model fashioned after it but now I cant seen to find any info on them.Hi Michael, I have no info on the pilot but Thumper was A29-651, 80sqnRAAF.
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Wow, I really apreciate that George.I've been through my 3 RAAF books and no photo or info. I'll go through my P-40 books and Pacific Theatre books in a bit
Verry cool, thank you! As I explained earlier I had a p40 kit when I was a kid that was modeled after his plane. At least I asume so as one of the decals it came with was Thumper with the rabbit just like on his plane. I had forgotten about it over the years but when I saw a picture of him and his p40 on the forum here it jogged my memory and sparked my curiosity about who this guy was. Sounds like he was quite a guy.I had the privilege of working with his son in Brisbane. Not long after his Dad passed away, he brought his Dad's log book and DFC to work. (Surname is Ollivier - two l's and two i's - this makes searching a bit tricky) His old man sounds like an amazing guy. He flew air sea rescue in Otters or Walrus', and also flew agents in and out of France in Lysanders. He told a story of when his dad was in charge of a squadron in Townsville, he got a phone call from the docks that the dock workers were going on strike and as he was the highest ranking officer they could find on the weekend, could he go down there and sort it out. He headed down to the docks and the workers were on the dock and the military police were standing off to the side. He walked up to the dock workers and the union boss then started talking to him. Noel told them to go back to work. They refused. Noel turned to the Military Police and told them to shoot them all. They all went back to work.
My favourite story was when he was flying P-40's out of New Guinea. His wife was back in Wollongong, and had just given birth to their first daughter. Noel asked his CO for leave to go back to Wollongong, but his CO refused. Noel was a not going to take no for an answer, so he climbed into a P-40 and flew from New Guinea down to Townsville. He was refuelled and then flew down to Sydney. In Sydney, the refueller asked for the paperwork, so Noel pulls out his pistol and the refueller decides that no paperwork is needed. He then gets on a train in Sydney and heads to Wollongong, and from there he goes to the hospital. He bursts into his wife's room and gives her the shock of her life. He spends the night with his wife and new baby, and the next morning he heads back to New Guinea. When he gets back, his CO comes over to him to tell him that his leave had been approved.
I can probably get find his son's contact info if you are interested - PM me.