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#" February 5t! 2"11! "845 $%

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rofiles by -A.o.$enia-

1/+ is t$e .oint of de.arture for t$is counterfactual $istory of t$e reat #out$ern"and2 3$y 1/+? 3ell4 1/+ !as t$e year t$at t$e 5ure(a #toc(ade $a..ened2 6ne ofonly t$ree attem.ts at insurrection a7ainst t$e 8ro!n in t$e s$ort4 7lorious $istory ofAustralia2

or our o&erseas readers4 5ure(a #toc(ade !as basically an u.risin7 by a 7rou. ofmalcontent 7old miners4 resentful at bein7 ta,ed e,cessi&ely by t$e 8olonialo&ernment2 3$ile .resentin7 7rie&ances to t$e aut$orities4 t$ey !ere i7nored and met!it$ increasin7 o..ression by t$e $ea&y$anded use of colonial .olice to collect t$eirlicence fees2 ;n t$e end it seemed to t$em not$in7 s$ort of armed insurrection !ouldsol&e t$eir .roblems2 ; !on<t bore you !it$ t$e details e,ce.t to .oint out $o!4 in ourtrouserle7 of time4 t$e rebellion !as .ut do!n fairly easily and =uic(ly by t$eaut$orities and most of t$e rin7 leaders eit$er (illed or arrested and .laced on trial4later to be ac=uitted !it$ one e&entually e&en becomin7 a lon7 standin7 member of t$ecolonial .arliament and udiciary2

Ho!e&er4 in t$is ot$er trouserle7 of time4 !$ere t$e insurrection !as successful4 t$esettlers of t$e colony of ictoria4 rose u. and t$re! off t$e s$ac(les im.osed u.on t$emby t$eir distant im.erial masters in "ondon2 resident )o$n Basson Humffray declaredt$e Re.ublic of ictoria on + December 1/+4 after t$e defeat of t$e 5n7lis$ forces ledby 8ommissioner Robert Rede4 t$e colonial 7o&ernment<s re.resentati&e on t$e di77in7saround Ballarat2 After a s!ift marc$ to Melbourne4 t$e rebels found t$emsel&es incontrol of t$e entire colony and a &ery lar7e fund of 7old indeed4 in t$e &aults of t$e8olony<s ban(s !$ic$ !as !ort$ t$e e=ui&alent today of se&eral billions of ounds#tirlin72 ;nterestin7ly4 t$ere !as a stron7 American contin7ent of 7old miners in Ballaraton t$at fateful day and t$eir influence continues beyond 1/+ and colours ictoria<soutloo( for some time2

%$e ot$er colonies4 at least initially4 remained loyal to t$e 8ro!n2 Ne! #out$ 3ales4 in.articular !as &e$ement in its condemnation of t$e u.start ictoria for secedin7 fromt$e 5m.ire2 ;t attem.ted to im.ose a bloc(ade u.on t$e ne! nation2 Ho!e&er4 as mosttrade !as by sea and t$e !ealt$ of t$e ne! administration ensured its failure as N#3lac(ed t$e means4 as did t$e Royal Na&y of t$e day @bein7 lar7ely distracted by distante&ents in t$e 8rimea and later ;ndia2

#out$ Australia $o!e&er4 bein7 settled by many non5n7lis$ 5uro.eans too( a far moreliberal attitude to!ards ictoria<s actions2 %$e lar7e erman .o.ulation in .articular4 inand around Adelaide4 $ad muc$ less alle7iance to youn7 ueen ictoria2 3$en t$e freecolony !ent into &irtual ban(ru.tcy in 1/C4 it too bro(e a!ay from t$e 5m.ire anddeclared its inde.endence2 3elcomed by t$e ictorians4 t$e result !as t!o inde.endent

nations on t$e continent2 #out$ Australia also claimed at t$is sta7e and $adadministered !$at !as later to become (no!n as t$e Nort$ %erritory4 !it$ t$e resultt$at it controlled a !ide stri. across t$e continent from Nort$ to #out$2 %$at left3estern Australia4 isolated from t$e ot$er .roim.erial colonies on t$e 5ast coast ofNe! #out$ 3ales @N#3 and ueensland2 %asmania also remained loyal to t$e 8ro!n2

3$ile tension !as $i7$ bet!een ictoria and N#34 it !as in fact t$e east!ardmo&ement of #out$ Australia4 into !$at in our timeline !as to be far!estern N#3 to7rab t$e mineral ric$ Bro(en Hill area !$ic$ .reci.itated t$e first modern conflict inAustralia<s $istory in 1//2 Neit$er colony !as really in a .osition to !a7e lar7e scaleconflict and t$e distance from #ydney .re&ented t$e 7rab from bein7 resisted2 Muc$later4 !$en t$e borders !ere bein7 dra!n u.4 #out$ Australia ceded a muc$ lar7er areain com.ensation bet!een Birds&ille and %anbar2



#o4 as t$e ma. s$o!s4 by t$e time t$at ederation !as bein7 tal(ed about in ourtrouserle7 of time4 in t$e 1/90s in t$is one4 Australia !as &ery muc$ a di&idedcontinent2 ictoria4 bein7 t$e main source of funds and su..lies for %asmania4 infiltratedt$at colony and fomented a desire to be free from t$e s$ac(les of "ondon<s tyrannicalrule and4 !it$ t$e turn of t$e century4 t$ey declared UD;2 @Unilateral Declaration of;nde.endence A7ain4 "ondon !as sim.ly too .reoccu.ied to be able to res.ond @in#out$ern Africa and 8$ina2

3$ile one may ima7ine t$at t$ese s$enani7ans in a far off4 sout$ern land !ould $a&elittle conse=uences beyond t$eir s$ores4 t$e reality is some!$at different2 3$en t$e'nd An7loBoer 3ar occurs in our timeline4 in 1/994 t$e Britis$ find t$emsel&es ust asunable to counter t$e inde.endent minded @and &ery ric$ Boer re.ublics2 Ho!e&er4!$ereas in real life t$ey !ere able to call on a lar7e series of colonial and t$enDominion contin7ents from Australia @it is not !ell (no!n but t$e 'nd Boer 3ar !as amaor im.etus to t$e ederation of Australia in 1901 t$e di&ided continent-s reactionas muc$ different2 %$e result !as t$at t$e 8anadian contin7ent is considerably lar7er4dra!in7 t$at Dominion and "ondon muc$ closer to7et$er2 5&entually4 t$e Boers !ereforced into surrender but not !it$out cost2 A small contin7ent of 8entral Australiansactually fou7$t on t$e Boers< side but not muc$ notice !as ta(en of t$eir .resence e&en!$en t$eir commander Harry -Brea(er- Morant !as e,ecuted for t$e murder of

se&eral Britis$ officers !$om $e ambus$ed under a false fla7 of truce2

;n t$is ne! time line4 t$e Australian colonies4 t$at is N#3 and ueensland do ederate



but se&eral years later4 in 1902 ictoria4 #out$ Australia @renamed -8entralAustralia- and %asmania 7o t$eir o!n !ays as inde.endent nations2 3estern Australiasee(s and 7ains Dominion status in its o!n ri7$t2 %$is $as se&eral interestin7 outcomes2

World War One

3orld 3ar 6ne brea(s out -on time-4 t$at is 191+2 3it$ t$e $ea&y erman influencein 8entral Australia<s society4 its sym.at$ies lie !it$ t$e 8entral o!ers2 raf &on #.ee4instead of sailin7 $is erman 5ast Asiatic #=uadron to its fate off t$e al(land ;slands int$e #out$ Atlantic4 flees to ort Dar!in4 on t$e Nort$ern 8oast of Australia4 !$ere t$enominally neutral 8entral Australian Re.ublic interns t$em2 3it$ t$e Royal Na&y fullyoccu.ied in $ome !aters4 counterin7 t$e Hi7$ #eas leet and t$ere bein7 effecti&ely noRoyal Australian Na&y to .re&ent t$is4 raf &on #.ee and $is s=uadron sit out t$e !ar4enduin7 t$e climate of t$e %o. 5nd2 %$e )a.anese Na&y4 t$en an ally of t$e RN (ee.s&i7ilant !atc$ off s$ore2 ;ts .resence inflames Australian sus.icions about )a.aneseintentions in t$e re7ion2

%$e RAN e,ists only really in name consistin7 only of a fe! colonial na&al relics onlyuseful as a coastal defence force2 ;ndeed4 t$e ocean 7oin7 RAN does not come intobein7 until after 33;4 !$en it is 7ifted se&eral !ell !orn RN cruisers and destroyers2%$e Australian ;m.erial orce on t$e ot$er $and4 is formed $o!e&er4 it is considerablysmaller2 %$e Australian Militia orce4 formed in t$e Australian states of ueensland andNe! #out$ 3ales remains in Australia4 to (ee. a !atc$ful eye on t$e 8entral AustralianRe.ublic<s forces4 t$is in turn robs t$e A; of reinforcements and after alli.oli4 it is notrede.loyed to t$e 3estern ront until 191*4 after t$e Battle of assc$endaele @also(no!n as t$e %$ird Battle of .res2

ictoria4 %asmania and 3estern Australia send t$eir o!n4 inde.endent contin7ents torance2 Because of t$e t$orny .roblems of coo.eration bet!een t$ese forces and t$e

A;4 t$ey are de.loyed !idely across t$e Britis$ sector of t$e front and (e.t !ellse.arated2 Ho!e&er4 t$e e,i7encies of t$e erman 191/ offensi&e force t$em to7et$er!$ere a ne! s.irit of coo.eration is formed out of necessity2 33; dra7s on into 1919but ultimately t$e central .o!ers are ine&itably forced to surrender2 %$e ne!ly formedANEA8 cor.s in rance4 under t$e command of eneral )o$n Monas$4 made u. of t$eA; and t$e ot$er Australian contin7ents s.ear$ead t$e attac( and brea( t$rou7$ t$eHindenbur7 "ine4 follo!in7 t$e erman Army in full retreat2 Hailed as t$e 5m.ire<s-#tormtroo.ers-4 t$e ANEA8 8or.s .ro&ed t$eir mastery o&er t$eir enemies4 $el.in7force t$e erman Army to surrender2

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February 5t! 2"11! "848 $%

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The Interwar Years


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%$rou7$out t$e 19'0s and 19F0s4 successi&e Australian .oliticians4 bot$ in t$eederated states and in t$e inde.endent re.ublics and dominion !arn of t$e dan7ers oft$e 7ro!in7 )a.anese t$reat2 At t$e same time4 amon7st t$eir military forces4 t$e $ardlessons learnt in rance are di7ested2 %$e RAAA8 - t$e Royal Australian Army Air 8or.sis transformed into t$e RAA2 8entral Australia finds itself in .ossession of lar7est and!$ile not necessarily most modern4 na&al force !$en t$e raf $ands $is s=uadron @andmost of its cre!s to t$e Re.ublic<s 7o&ernment at !ar<s end !it$ t$e abdication of t$e

Gaiser to .re&ent t$em fallin7 into t$e $ands of t$e Allies2 %$e A; demobilises4 as dot$e &arious inde.endent forces2 Ho!e&er4 t$e s.irit of coo.eration is not for7otten andre7ular defence tal(s are instituted im.ro&in7 .re.aredness a7ainst any e,ternal t$reatt$at may e&entuate2 %$e An7lo)a.anese Na&al %reaty !as not rene!ed in 19'F2



;n t$e late 19F0s4 eac$ nation found its finances stretc$ed by t$e reat De.ression2Ho!e&er4 a nucleus of t$e &arious military and airforces are (e.t in bein74 a7ainst t$e$o.e t$at !$en matters im.ro&e4 t$ey can be e,.anded2

By 19F/ $o!e&er it is ob&ious to all4 !it$ t$e Munic$ 8risis4 t$e )a.anese in&asion of

8$ina and t$e ;talian attac( on Abyssinia t$at t$e storm clouds of !ar are 7at$erin72Rearmament be7ins2 Because of t$e re7ular defence tal(s $eld bet!een all nations ont$e Australian continent !$ic$ are .roBritis$4 some de7ree of uniformity is .resent but.rimarily amon7st t$e 7round forces2 6nly ictoria4 !it$ its .roAmerican sym.at$iesbuys nonBritis$ aircraft2 All e,ce.t %asmania attem.ted to underta(e licensemanufacture of t$eir selected aircraft2

Lasco Lapwing Trainer: This colour scheme came about because of the purchase of alarge quantity of surplus USAAC paint stocks in 1935. ictoria sa! the bright blue an"chrome yello! as an easy !ay to "istinguish its aircraft from all other Australia air

forces #an" other go$ernment air ser$ices%.

R Tugan Tropicbird Light Transport"



R# Lasco Lascoter Light Transport

8entral Australia4 still .roerman in its sym.at$ies instead buys its e=ui.ment and of

course ta(es its military lead from ermany2 3$ile not o.enly .roNai t$ere are manyof its citiens !$o sym.at$ise !it$ Hitler and $is beliefs2 %$e old ;m.erial ermanAsiatic #=uadron<s s$i.s !ere modernised or re.laced4 $o!e&er t$e need to s.lit itsna&y bet!een t$e nort$ and t$e sout$ coast .laces it in an in&idious .osition !it$ aforce t$at is not able to defend eit$er coast ade=uately2 undamentally its .osition !asto!ards neutrality4 belie&in7 t$at t$is !ill be anot$er 5uro.ean 3ar4 !ell a!ay from itss$ores and borders2

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February 5t! 2"11! "9"9 $%

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War pproaches

World War Two

3$ile tensions remained $i7$ bet!een t$e dominions and re.ublics4 $ostilities !ere notentered into2 Australia and 3estern Australia sent contin7ents to t$e Middle 5ast2ictoria and %asmania dit$ered2 roNai sentiments increased in 8entral Australia !it$t$e successes of t$e Nais Blit(rie7 !arfare in oland4 Nor!ay4 t$en t$e "o! 8ountriesand rance2 Anti#emitism increased and became o.en2 %$is situation e,.loded !it$ anattem.ted .roNai .utsc$ in Adelaide2 ut do!n by t$e alarmed aut$orities4 !$oreacted s!iftly4 se&eral 8entral Australian .rominent Nais !ere (illed4 ca.tured andim.risoned2 A fe! !$o attem.ted to flee to ictoria !ere cau7$t crossin7 t$e borderand e,tradited2 6ne !as e,ecuted by a )e!is$ ictorian border 7uard !$en $e foundout t$at $e $ad murdered se&eral .rominent )e!s in Adelaide2 Most Australians foundt$emsel&es re.ulsed by t$e Nais< o.en anti#emitism2

;ndustrial .roduction of !ar materiale4 .articularly aircraft ste..ed u. across t$econtinent2 %$e 8entral Australian Re.ublic built a..reciably more aircraft t$an t$e ot$ercountries2 ;ts stated .olicy !as t$at in order to defend itself4 its air force must be at













least $alf as lar7e as t$at of t$e lar7est Dominion nei7$bour<s air fleet2 %$is resulted int$e creation of t$e lar7est inde.endent air force in t$e re7ion2 Ho!e&er4 t$is could onlybe accom.lis$ed at t$e e,.ense of its 7round forces because of man.o!er s$orta7es2By mid19+14 t$e 8AR<s airfleet .ossessed nearly 10 sin7le en7ined fi7$ters4 allad&anced He100s4 * t!in en7ined o((er fi7$ters and 10 bombers4 all ad&ancedDo'1s @!it$ t$e e&en more ad&anced Do'1* soon to start lea&in7 t$e .roduction line2

lans !ere in $and to .roduce im.ro&ed &ersions of t$e o((er4 utilisin7 t$e samecommon DBC01 en7ine t$at t$e He100s and Do'1s utilised2

As a side note4 durin7 t$e first ' years of t$e !ar4 because of t$e neutrality of t$e 8AR4it still $ad trade and di.lomatic relations !it$ t$e %$ird Reic$2 %rade !as underta(ent$rou7$ ot$er neutral countries4 suc$ as @initially )a.an and t$e #o&iet Union2 %$isallo!ed t$e 8AR to be (e.t abreast of t$e latest de&elo.ments in ermany4 a factor!$ic$ allo!ed it to de&elo. its DBC00 .roduction line into one manufacturin7 t$e DBC01and start .roducin7 t$e BM3/01 to .o!er t$e ne! Do'1*s2

ictoria<s air force $ad decided to start ree=ui..in7 !it$ ne! fi7$ters4 .lacin7 t$e +0into .roduction4 alon7 !it$ t$e F9 as a sin7leen7ined -$ea&y fi7$ter-2 Bot$ utilised

t$e same Allison 1*10 en7ine but !it$ t$e F9 featurin7 a F*mm cannon firin7t$rou7$ t$e $ub and ' 20in and + 2F0Fin mac$ine 7uns4 !$ile t$e +0 featured + 20cal mac$ine 7uns2 ictoria in turn .assed some of its oldest FCs to %asmania inorder to re.lace t$eir bi.lane fi7$ters2

Tasmanian $%&'" Sporting the "istincti$e re" triangle marking of the &epublic's AirCorps( this e)*ictorian aircraft looks fa"e" an" !orn.

%$e Dominion of Australia ste..ed u. .roduction of its Hurricane fi7$ters4 ado.tin7 t$eM(2;;c !it$ + '0mm cannons2 3$ile it $ad ordered t$e loster Rea.er fi7$ter4 on ad&icefrom t$e RA t$at t$is fi7$ter !as not to be .roduced it $ad been 7i&en a c$oicebet!een t$e 3$irl!ind and t$e Beaufi7$ter2 #ensibly it $ad o.ted for t$e Beaufi7$ter4reco7nisin7 t$e o..ortunity for commonality !it$ t$e Beaufort4 !$ic$ it ordered at t$esame time2 Unable to find a more modern re.lacement =uic(ly enou7$ for itsobsolescent Anson .atrol aircraftI t$e Dominion $ad bro(en !it$ tradition and turned tot$e United #tates for a ne! aircraft4 decidin7 on t$e "oc($eed Hudson on t$e ad&ice oft$e RA a7ain2 Ho!e&er t$ey $ad also o.ted to ada.t t$e Hudson to utilise t$e BristolHercules en7ines already in .roduction for t$e Beaufort and Beaufi7$ter2 %$e firsts=uadron t$ou7$ !as deli&ered !it$ t$e standard %!in 3as. .o!er .lant2

"a!rence 3ac(ett4 t$e leadin7 li7$t of Australia<s aeroindustry $ad been disa..ointed!it$ t$e decision to first .urc$ase t$e Bristol Blen$eim and t$en t$e Beaufort andBeaufi7$ter2 He $ad been s(etc$in7 out .lans for a t!in en7ined li7$t bomber2 As t$e6fficial History .oints out:

uote:8A84 under #ir "a!rence 3ac(ett4 be7an !or( on its o!n desi7n4 $o.in7 to out.erform t$e Beaufort by buildin7 a mac$ine t$at could ser&e as bot$ a tor.edo bomberand di&e bomber2 %o (ee. do!n !ei7$t4 3ac(ett dis.ensed !it$ traditional self sealin7



fuel tan(s and o.ted to ma(e t$e !in7 ca&ities li=uidti7$t4 and t$us ser&e as fuelstora7e2 %$e Australian o&ernment !as initially uninterested in t$e 8A8 desi7n2Ho!e&er4 in mid19+04 !$en at t$e $ei7$t of t$e Battle of Britain4 t$e Dominion !ascut off from t$e su..ly of Britis$made com.onents for its e,.ansion .ro7ramme4 t$eAustralian o&ernment ordered a .rototy.e of t$e 8A8 desi7n4 e&en before t$e RoyalAustralian Air orce $ad e,.ressed a &ie! about t$e mac$ine %$is .rototy.e 8A+ too(

to t$e air on #e.tember 194 19+12

%$e 8A+ !as a lo! !in74 t!inen7ined4 multirole bomber !it$ a cre! of t$ree2 ;t !asarmed !it$ four nosemounted 2F0F calibre mac$ine 7uns and t!o remotecontrolledt!in mac$ine7un barbettes mounted at t$e rear of t$e en7ine nacelles2 ;t could carryeit$er 00 lb @'F0 (7 bombs4 '0 lb @110 (7 bombs or t!o tor.edoes2 ;t !asori7inally .o!ered by t!o ratt J 3$itney %!in 3as. R1/F0#F8F radials2

(ristol (lenheim )k"IIT" +hile a!aiting "eli$ery of the ,eaufort( the &AA- a"apte"some of its ,lenheims as torpe"o bombers( remo$ing the turret in or"er to sa$e !eightan" re"uce "rag( replacing them !ith an open gun position. The a""itional scrap $ie!s

sho!s ho! one aircraft !as mo"ifie" as a trials aircraft to help in the "e$elopment ofthe CA's remote*controlle" turrets.

By t$e time t$e .rototy.e fle!4 Britis$ su..lies $ad resumed and t$e need for t$e 8A+decreased2Unfortunately4 many of t$e no&el systems4 suc$ as remotecontrolled turrets4 -!et-!in7 fuel tan(s !ere ne&er reac$ed a reliable enou7$ le&el to allo! it to enter ser&ice4and in )anuary 19+F t$e 8A+ .rototy.e !as com.letely destroyed in a midaire,.losion4 .robably due to a fuel lea(2

;n t$e 3est4 t$at Dominion<s air ser&ice $ad only a nascent aeroindustry to rely u.onand !as muc$ more de.endent u.on im.orts2 ;t let contracts !it$ t$e 8ommon!ealt$Aircraft 8or.oration in t$e Dominion of Australia for Hurricanes and also re=uested t$atit recei&e some directly from t$e UG2 M(21s !ere dis.atc$ed and t$e RAA let 7o someof its older M(21s as !ell4 retainin7 t$e ne!er M(2;;s for its o!n use2 %$e airey Battle

$ad entered .roduction in ert$2 At t$e same time4 airey $ad allo!ed t$e R3AA tosee .lans for t$e .ro.osed t!in en7ined &ersion4 t$e alcon2 %$e 3RAA $ad decidedt$at t$is !ould ma(e an e,cellent $ea&y fi7$ter4 armed !it$ multi.le cannon2 %$eo&ernment Aircraft actor at Midland $ad .ro.osed t$at .roduction be s!itc$ed to t$ealcon and it .erformed t$e role of fi7$terbomber as !ell2 After t$e disastrous s$o!in7of t$e Battle durin7 t$e fall of rance4 t$e 3RAA $ad seen t$e sense of t$is anda7reed2 %$e result !as only one s=uadron !as e&er e=ui..ed !it$ t$e Battle and t$ealcon =uic(ly re.laced it in 3RAA ser&ice2 o!ered by t!in Merlins and armed !it$ +'0mm cannon and + 2F0F mac$ine 7uns4 it !as a formidable aircraft and second only tot$e o((er 1b until early 19+' !$en t$e first Beaufi7$ters rolled off t$e .roduction linein #ydney2



RW aire* (attle" Sporting the typical bro!n o$er stone camouflage employe" bythe &+AA-( this aircraft is "isplaye" !ith the original roun"els !hich !ere later"iscar"e" to pre$ent confusion !ith /apanese markings.

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3$ile t$is !as 7oin7 on4 many Australians ne&er lost si7$t of !$o t$e real enemy !as- t$e )a.anese2 3atc$in74 stunned li(e a (an7aroo cau7$t in a s$ooter<s s.otli7$t4 t$eysa! t$e )a.anese ta(e o&er most of t$e coast of 8$ina and t$en ad&ance into ;ndo8$ina2 8entral Australia mo&ed to reinforce its forces on t$e Nort$ 8oast2 ;ts only $ea&y

cruiser4 8AR# @8entral Australian Re.ublic #$i. AD5"A;D5 !as sent to Dar!in2 #e&erals=uadrons of aircraft @.rimarily He1004 21b and Do'1 !ere also .ublicly dis.atc$edNort$2 Ne! defence tal(s !ere $urriedly underta(en bet!een t$e nations on t$eAustralian continent2 ;t seemed t$e racist fears of many Australians4 no matter !$ic$ oft$e continent-s youn7 nations t$ey resided inI of an Asiatic -ello! eril- ad&ancin7sout$!ards and attac(in7 t$e &ulnerable Nort$ !ere comin7 true2

By t$e end of 19+14 t$e force mi, of t$e Dominions and Re.ublics $ad not c$an7edsi7nificantly2

%$en earl Harbor occurred on / December 19+12 #imultaneously4 )a.anese forcesattac(ed Malaya and t$e $ili..ines2 Britis$ and Australian forces found t$emsel&es

in&ol&ed in a ne! !ar2 RAA Blen$eims dro..ed t$e first bombs !$en t$ey attac(ed)a.anese trans.orts off G$ota Baru2 %$e Britis$ forces found t$emsel&es bein7 ra.idly.us$ed bac( do!n t$e Malay eninsula to #in7a.ore2 A$4 #in7a.ore4 t$e 7reat-ibraltar of t$e 5ast-4 a massi&e na&al base defended by 1 inc$ 7uns2 Unfortunatelyfor t$e Britis$4 t$e )a.anese !ere attac(in7 from t$e !ron7 direction and t$e 7uns!eren<t su..lied !it$ H54 only $a&in7 A for use a7ainst s$i.s2 Any!ay4 ust as in ourtimeline t$e )a.anese ra.idly o&ercame resistance in Malaya and on '0 ebruary 19+'4#in7a.ore surrendered2

Most of t$e t!o Dominions< 7round troo.s !ere o&erseas4 ser&in7 in t$e Middle5ast2%$e Dominion of Australia<s rime Minister4 )o$n Burtin demanded t$e return of t$e t!odi&isions of t$e 'nd A; ser&in7 in Nort$ Africa2 %$e Britis$ rime Minister 3inston8$urc$ill4 $ad to abide by t$e a7reement si7ned bet!een t$e Dominion and t$e Britis$o&ernments in 19F94 t$at if re=uired by t$e Dominion4 t$ose troo.s !ould be returnedto Australia4 fort$!it$2 %$ey !ere duly !it$dra!n from t$e t$eatre and sent to ort #aid













for embar(ation !$ere t$ey !ere $urriedly loaded onboard Britis$ and American s$i.s2%$e sole 3estern Australian di&ision4 t$e 9t$ !asn<t demanded $ome by t$eo&ernment in ert$4 yet2

3it$ t$e near simultaneous surrender of #in7a.ore and t$e Net$erlands 5ast ;ndies4nort$ern Australia suddenly found itself on t$e front line2 8entral Australia maintained

its neutralist stance2 No lon7er .articularly .roA,is after t$e attem.ted Nai .utsc$4 itas(ed t$e )a.anese to res.ect its neutrality2 )a.an indicated its .osition on suc$matters !$en it in&aded ortu7uese 5ast %imor on t$e same day as t$e fall of#in7a.ore2 re&iously4 t$e 8AR as a .recaution $ad reinforced t$e Dar!in area4 mo&in7se&eral more s=uadrons of fi7$ters and bombers into and around t$e city in order to.re&ent t$e .ossibility of anot$er earl Harbor at ort Dar!in4 its maor fleet base ont$e nort$ern coast2

3$at !as not (no!n !as t$e location of t$e ;m.erial )a.anese Na&y<s main stri(in7force4 its carriers4 nor t$e intentions of its commanders2 ;n t$e t$ree mont$s since earlHarbor4 t$ey $ad essentially disa..eared2 3e no! (no! t$ey returned to )a.an for a=uic( refit and t$en .roceeded on to!ards t$e ;ndian 6cean to eliminate t$e last4 lar7e4

remainin7 t$reat to )a.anese na&al dominance in t$e re7ion t$e Royal Na&y<s ar5astern leet2 %$eir route too( t$em t$rou7$ t$e N5; and t$rou7$ t$e %imor #eato!ards t$e ;ndian 6cean2 %$ey struc(4 almost in .assin7 at t$e .ort facilities in ortDar!in !$ic$ !as a .otential Allied maor fleet anc$ora7e2 %$e attac(4 fallin7 a !ee(after t$e fall of #in7a.ore and 5ast %imor !as too muc$ for many Australians4 nomatter !$ic$ nation t$ey resided in2

Ho!e&er4 !$ereas in our timeline t$e attac( came as a com.lete sur.rise4 t$e forces oft$e Re.ublic of 8entral Australia !ere better .re.ared2 By c$ance4 t$e 8ARA<s + @R#=uadron !as no! stationed in Dar!in2 3$ile e=ui..ed !it$ t$e t$en standard Do'1for lon7 ran7e reconnaissance it also $ad on stren7t$ t$e sole He'19&12 A se.arate4t!inen7ined de&elo.ment of t$e He119 -Blit-4 it $ad been t$e losin7 com.etitor to

t$e o((er 12b2 Ho!e&er4 its .erformance !as suc$ t$at it !as decided to .lace it inser&ice2 3it$ an a..ro,imately '4000 mile ran7e and a s.eed of F0 m.$4 t$e He'19!as considerably faster and $ad lon7er le7s t$an t$e Do'12 6n 'C ebruary4 t$eHe'19 flyin7 a reconnaissance sortie4 to t$e NN5 of Dar!in4 detected t$e a..roac$in7carrier tas( force and !as able to elude detection itself2 %$is 7a&e sufficient !arnin7 fort$e Dar!in defences to be .laced on alert2

3it$ t$e use of su.erior erman desi7ned radar4 Dar!in<s defenders !ere almost ableto follo! t$e )a.anese force from t$e moment of ta(eoff from its carriers until it struc(at Dar!in2 %$e Re.ublic<s forces !ere !ell .laced to interce.t2 6&er 100 He100s and 'o((ers mi,ed !it$ t$e )a.anese2 A &ast !$irlin74 t!irlin7 do7fi7$t ensured4 !it$ t$eHe100s attem.tin7 to stri(e at t$e als and Gates and t$e Eeros attem.tin7 to .rotectt$em and t$emsel&es2 %$e He100s4 !it$ t$eir $ea&y armament and armour4 do!nedmany2 6f t$e o&er 10 aircraft sent a7ainst Dar!in4 some * !ere s$ot do!n on t$e

)a.anese side2 0 Re.ublican aircraft !ere lost2 %$e resistance came as a sur.rise tot$e )a.anese2 %$e GidK Butai $ad ne&er encountered anyt$in7 li(e it2



Ho!e&er4 an e&en 7reater sur.rise !as to occur2 At t$e same time as t$e stri(e $adbeen inbound to Dar!in4 t$e !ily 8entral Australians $ad sent t$eir o!n counterstri(ea7ainst t$e )a.anese carriers offs$ore2 ' o((er 21bs escorted +/ Do'1s2 %$eo((ers attac(ed t$e defendin7 8A of ' Eeros2 %$e 21bs distracted t$e 8Asufficiently to allo! t$e Do'1s to s!ee. in at medium altitude2 Ham.ered by a lac( of

aerial tor.edos4 t$e Do'1s attem.ted to utilise eit$er le&el or di&e bombin7 a7ainst t$e)a.anese s$i.s2 %$e )a.anese tas( force consistin7 of t$e carriers AGA;4 GAA4 #6RUand H;RU and t$eir escorts4 ra.idly dissol&ed into a mass of s$i.s4 turnin7 as $ard ast$ey could4 firin7 as muc$ as t$ey $ad u. a7ainst t$e di&in7 t!in en7ined bombers2 %$ecarriers !ere cau7$t .re.arin7 a second stri(e a7ainst Dar!in2 %$ey $ad armed alsand Gates on t$e dec( !$ile t$ey !ere frantically attem.ted to fly t$eir remainin7 Eerosoff2 %$e result !as carna7e2 %$e t!o carriers4 AGA; and GAA !ere almost com.lete!rite offs4 dama7ed beyond re.air4 consumed by fire as aircraft e,.loded on t$eirdec(s2 #6RU !as also se&erely dama7ed but re.airable and lim.ed a!ay2 H;RUesca.ed &irtually unscat$ed2 %$e o((ers and Dorniers !it$dre!4 a&oidin7 t$e mauled)a.anese stri(e force as it returned to its carriers2 %$e Australians lost '0 o((ers andF0 Dorniers for t$e loss of '0 Eeroes in t$e air and anot$er 100 aircraft on t$e carriers4

unable to ta(e off2 F0 more )a.anese aircraft $ad to be ditc$ed as t$ere !as sim.ly nodec( s.ace for t$em to land on t$e remainin7 carriers2 ;n t$e s.ace of a fe! $ours4 t$eBattle of t$e %imor #ea $ad c$an7ed t$e balance of .o!er in t$e acific2 No! neit$ert$e ;m.erial )a.anese Na&y nor t$e Allies $ad a clear su.eriority o&er t$e ot$er2

3$ile t$e defeat in t$e %imor #ea $ad ob&iously bou7$t some time for t$e Australiannations4 it !as also ob&ious t$at t$ey !ere ill .re.ared to face t$e .robable )a.anesecounterattac(2 All t$eir industries started in earnest .roducin7 t$e sine!s of !ar2 %$eDominion of Australia ordered into .roduction its o!n fi7$ter4 t$e 8A1F Boomeran74based on t$e 3irra!ay trainer4 in turn based on t$e Nort$ American NA1C trainer23$ile no real matc$ for t$e su.erlati&e Eero4 it !as a tou7$ little .lane and able to 7i&e

a 7ood account of itself in a .inc$2 ;t also ste..ed u. .roduction of t$e Beaufort andBeaufi7$ter2

ictoria ste..ed u. .roduction of t$e 8urtiss Gitty$a!( and introduced t$e BellAeracobra2 6lder Ha!(s !ere 7i&en to %asmania4 to re.lace its bi.lane fi7$ters2 3esternAustralia sou7$t to im.ort more aircraft from t$e UG and increased its .roduction of t$eairey alcon4 de&elo.in7 it to re.lace t$e Battle as a fi7$terbomber as !ell as $ea&yfi7$ter2 5&en more im.ortantly4 in t$e face of t$e im.endin7 t$reat t$e di&isions andenmity bet!een t$e &arious nations !ere .ut aside2 ;t made 7ood sense to coordinatet$eir forces and so a oint command structure !as set u. under t$e o&erall command ofeneral %om Blamey2



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February 5t! 2"11! "942 $%

Ric(s$a!

Member


%$e o&erall effect of t$e )a.anese cam.ai7n to isolate Australia !as to force t$einde.endent nations to reco7nise t$at disunited t$ey !ere muc$ more li(ely to fall2;mmediately orders !ere 7i&en by eac$ 7o&ernment for t$e Australian nations to .oolt$eir resources2 A s.ecial conference !as con&ened !it$ re.resentati&es from all t$einde.endent Australian nations on 1 Au7ust 19+'2 Rationalisation !as t$e first order oft$e day and industries !ere directed to !or( to7et$er2 %$e result !as t$at commonality!as to be establis$ed but !$at a smor7asbord t$ere !as to c$oose from for t$eAeroindustryL

6n t$e airframe side t$ere !ere immediate .roblems2 5ac$ ser&ice !as &ery muc$ infa&our of its .referred mount2 Ho!e&er4 t$e .oor s$o!in7 of t$e Hurricane t$us fara7ainst t$e )a.anese fi7$ters $ad made sensible $eads t$in( about !$at !as re=uired2%$e su.erior .erformance of t$e He1004 bot$ in aeronautical and combat terms durin7t$e Battle of t$e %imor #ea $ad been noted2 ;ts $ea&ier structure and armour !ere seenas ad&anta7eous but its li7$ter armament $o!e&er !as seen as a detriment2 ;t !asdecided t$erefore t$at !$ile t$e He100 !ould continue in .roduction at a lo! le&el4 it!ould be better to loo( around to find anot$er alternati&e !$ic$ utilised t$e Merlin2 %$e

first ob&ious c$oice !as t$e #.itfire but its s$ort ran7e made it less t$an suitable in t$ebroad e,.anses of t$e re7ion2 %$e R3AA re.resentati&e to t$e conference at t$is .oint.i.ed u. and su77ested t$e Mustan72 His ser&ice re.resentati&e in t$e United #tates$ad sent e,cellent re.orts of t$is aircraft and its .otential4 .articularly once a Merlin!as fitted4 as !as .lanned in t$e near future2 ;n t$e meantime4 t$e early &ersionsutilised t$e same Allison 1*10 as t$e +0 and F94 so a local source of en7ines !asa&ailable2 3$ile not &ery 7ood abo&e 14000 ft !it$ t$at en7ine4 its ran7e still remainede,ce.tional com.ared to t$e He1004 #.itfire and ot$er fi7$ters2 #o4 it seemed t$at t$ene! common fi7$ter for all t$e Australian air forces !as to be t$e 1 Mustan72Ne7otiations !ere to be7in immediately and a license !as a7reed u.on4 !it$ .roductionof t$e 1B to start at t$e end of 19+'2 All nations a7reed to ma(e t$e 1 t$eir-standard fi7$ter-2

%$en came t$e =uestion of a $ea&y fi7$terfi7$terbomber2 %$e contest !as bet!een













3estern Australia !as $a..y to 7o alon72 ;t $ad no aero en7ine manufacturin7 abilitiesand relied on im.orts for t$e airframes t$at it .roduced !$ic$ !ere no! almoste,clusi&ely based on t$e Merlin any!ay2

Boffins in bot$ t$e Holdens< aero en7ine factory in Adelaide @!$ere DBC01 and BM3/01

!ere manufactured and "idcombe Aero 5n7ines actory in #ydney @!$ere t$e Merlinand Hercules !ere .roduced immediately reco7nised t$at if researc$ !as .ooled4 it!ould be .ossible to .roduce $ybrid en7ines !$ic$ offered considerably better.erformance t$an t$e ori7inals $ad2 Ho!e&er4 t$at !as a lon7er term .roect2

As furt$er note on domestic aircraft de&elo.ment mention must be made of indi7enousde&elo.ments2 %$e 3irra!ay !as t$e first maor foray into indi7enous desi7n2 Asalready mentioned4 it !as a modification of t$e Nort$ American NA1C trainer @!$ic$ictoria $ad ado.ted in its nati&e form2 3$ilst t$e 3irra!ay $ad been .ressed into useas a fi7$ter it !as totally inade=uate to t$at tas(2 ;t found its combat forte to be as anarmy coo.eration aircraft and li7$t di&ebomber2

%$e ne,t issue !as t$e 8A1' Boomeran72 De&elo.ed from t$e 3irra!ay trainer4 t$eBoomeran7 !as an emer7ency res.onse to feared im.endin7 t$reat of )a.anesein&asion by t$e Dominion of Australia2 As t$e 6fficial History states:

uote:%$e 3irra!ay trainer .ro&ided a startin7 .oint for t$e Boomeran7<s airframe2 8A87eneral mana7er @and former c$ief desi7ner "a!rence 3ac(ett and c$ief desi7nerred Da&id be7an detailed desi7n !or( at t$e 8A8 factory in #idney on '1 December19+12 Da&id !as a )e!is$ refu7ee from Austria4 !$o $ad !or(ed on aircraft desi7nsfor Hein(el in .reNai ermany4 as !ell as for Mitsubis$i and Aic$i in )a.an2 He $adalso !or(ed for Holdens aircraft !or(s in Adelaide in t$e 8entral Australian Re.ublicbefore bein7 lured to t$e 8ommon!ealt$ Aircraft 8or.oration in #ydney2 As a result4

$e $ad an e,cellent understandin7 of ad&anced fi7$ter desi7ns suc$ as t$e Hein(elHe100 and t$e Mitsubis$i ACM @Eero2

%$e RAA ordered 10 8A1' @M( ; Boomeran7s on ' ebruary 19+'4 before t$e.rototy.e first fle! on '9 May 19+'2

%$e Boomeran7 !as a small fi7$ter4 desi7ned !it$ an em.$asis on manoeu&rability2 ;t$ad an o&erall len7t$ of ust *2* metres @'2 ft and an 11 m @FC ft !in7s.an2Alt$ou7$ t$e ori7inal intention $ad been to use as many 3irra!ay com.onents as.ossible4 t$e final desi7n !as =uite different4 !it$ s$orter !in7s4 a s$orter4 !oods$eat$ed4 aluminiumframed fusela7e4 increased stren7t$ for combat stresses and ane! centre section2

%est fli7$ts found t$at t$e 8A1' $andled !ell2 ;t !as &ery !ellarmed4 !it$ t!o '0mm cannon and four 2F0F calibre @*2* mm mac$ine 7uns4 all mounted in t$e s$ort4t$ic( !in7s2 %$e Boomeran7 !as also 7enerously e=ui..ed !it$ armour .latin7 to.rotect t$e .ilot2 Ho!e&er4 7eneral .erformance !as mediocre2 Alt$ou7$ li&ely at lo!le&el4 .erformance fell a!ay ra.idly o&er 14000 ft @+4C00 m4 and at t$e ma,imums.eed of 'C (nots @+90 (m$ !as not sufficient to ma(e it an effecti&e counter tot$e Eero2 ;n addition4 t$e best 5uro.ean fi7$ters !ere reac$in7 almost F0 (nots @C0(m$4 and e&en relati&ely slu77is$ fi7$ters li(e t$e 3ildcat and t$e Gitty$a!( !eremuc$ faster t$an t$e Boomeran72

%$e 8A1' t$ou7$4 did fulfil t$e need for a c$ea. and easily .roduced emer7ency fi7$ter2;n order to address t$e .roblems !it$ .erformance4 red Da&id .ro.osed re.lacin7 its

%!in 3as. en7ine !it$ eit$er a more .o!erful radial or an inline en7ine4 !it$ a bettersu.erc$ar7er or e&en a turboc$ar7er2 %$e 8A1+ .rototy.e !as reen7ined !it$ aHercules2 3$ile t$e en7ine !as $ea&ier4 it de&elo.ed sli7$tly more .o!er at altitude but



!as not sufficient to offset t$e increased !ei7$t so .erformance actually fell2 %$e 8A1!as t$en .ro.osed !it$ t$e BM3/012 %$is a..eared4 at least on .a.er to $a&e more.otential but !ould re=uire considerably more de&elo.ment2

As !e noted4 !$ile t$is &ery im.ortant conference !as 7oin74 t$e )a.anese $ad notbeen idle2 %$e ne!s came of )a.anese forces landin7 on t$e nort$ coast of Ne! uinea

on ' )uly 19+'2 ;nitially a small force at Buna4 it !as soon reinforced to t$e sie ofa..ro,imately a Bri7ade and started to ad&ance alon7 t$e Go(oda %rac( to!ards ortMoresby2 Australian forces !ere rus$ed for!ard to meet t$e )a.anese at t$e &illa7e ofGo(oda4 dee. in t$e 6!en #tanley ran7es one of t$e most remote .laces on 5art$2 Att$e same time4 t$e Dominion 7o&ernment in #ydney a..ealed to t$e ot$er Australiannations and t$e U# and UG for aid2 ictoria immediately dis.atc$ed a bri7ade to ortMoresby but it !ould ta(e time for t$em to arri&e and acclimatise2 %asmania offered aBattalion2 %$e 8AR offered t!o Battalions4 all it felt it could s.are from t$e defence oft$e %o. 5nd2 Ho!e&er4 to com.ensate for t$e small =uantity of 7round forces4 it offeredt!o s=uadrons of )u' Fm trans.orts4 t!o s=uadron of He100 fi7$ters and a s=uadronof Do'1* medium bombers2 %$e U# forces4 under t$e command of eneral Dou7lasMacart$ur decided to rede.loy t$e U# F'nd ;nfantry Di&ision4 a National uard unit

under7oin7 un7le trainin7 in far nort$ ueensland to Ne! uinea2 An inaus.iciousdecision4 t$e F'nd did not .erform !ell initially in t$e Ne! uinea cam.ai7n2

%$e Do'1* !as found to $a&e too li7$t a .rotecti&e armament and !$ile local efforts!ere made to im.ro&e it by mountin7 20cal HMs instead of t$e li7$t!ei7$t *29'mm7uns4 it !as e&entually restricted to ni7$t time raids2 %$e He100 7a&e a 7ood account ofitself and encountered for t$e first time its )a.anese e=ui&alent4 t$e GiC1 ien2 %$esimilarity of sil$ouette !as suc$ t$at t$e He100s recei&ed s.ecial reco7nition mar(in7sto .re&ent t$em bein7 s$ot do!n by t$eir o!n side2 %$ese consisted of !$ite bandsaround t$e !in7s and a solid !$ite tail2 ;n early 19+F t$e He100s !ere modified ande=ui..ed !it$ dro. tan(s !$ic$ increased t$eir ran7es to a..ro,imately *00 miles2roblems !it$ t$eir coolin7 in t$e $eat of t$e tro.ics $ad also necessitated t$e

introduction of an enlar7ed &entral radiator2

%$e )u's sur.risin7ly turned out to be t$e most &aluable contribution2 %$ey allo!edt$e ne!ly establis$ed oint command to resu..ly t$eir forces as t$ey !ere forced do!nt$e trac( by t$e ad&ancin7 )a.anese and t$en4 later after t$e )a.anese in turn !ereforced to retreat because of su..ly .roblems4 t$ey allo!ed t$e ra.id rede.loyment offorces from ot$er A6s2 5&en more &aluably4 t$eir de.loyment allo!ed t$e 8ARA andt$e RAA to !or( under a oint command2

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ie! ublic rofile#end a .ersonal messa7e to Ric(s$a!ind all .osts by Ric(s$a! #(

February 5t! 2"11! "951 $%

)ulius o7el

i&aL

)oin Date: #e.'00/osts: 1000 ormore

8ute timeline and ; can see you .ut a bit of !or( into it2 6ne omission t$ou7$ is NE ;cannot see t$at you $a&e mentioned it at all4 !$ic$ is an odd omission 7i&en $o! close

t$e Australian and NE colonies !ere at t$e time2













NE at t$e start of your timeline $ad ust 7ained res.onsible 7o&ernment but !as stillli7$tly settled by Britis$ settlers e&ery!$ere and still reasonably $ea&ily .o.ulated byMaori2 %$ere may $a&e e&en been a Britis$ re7iment in NE as !ell @i<m not sure aboutt$is .oint2

or economic .ur.oses NE !as still an e,tension of N#3 and t$e !ider Australian

colonies2 Many of t$e same #ettlement 7rou.s or com.anies o.erated in bot$ NE andAustralia4 for e,am.le 3a(efield !as one of t$e .rime mo&ers for t$e settlement ofbot$ Adelaide and 3ellin7ton

#o4 anyt$in7 alon7 t$e lines of !$at you $a&e .ro.osed in AustraliaO !ould $a&e amassi&e im.act in NE and !it$ its early de&elo.ment2 ; can =uite see t$at NE !ould$a&e !anted to $a&e a closer relations$i. !it$ t$e loyal Australian colonies if

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February 5t! 2"11! 1"12 $%

Ric(s$a!

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;n real life4 t$e Gi!is !ere rat$er $ea&ily occu.ied !it$ t$e Maori 3ars @1/+1/*'2%$ey !ere offered and actually are named as Australian states in our 8onstitution4$o!e&er t$ey ne&er too( u. t$e offer2

;n t$is time line4 because of t$e lac( of Australian .artici.ation in t$e Maori 3ars4 t$e!$ite settlers find it $arder and it ta(es lon7er to im.ose t$eir rule on t$e Maoris2

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February 5t! 2"11! 1"14 $%

Ric(s$a! Member


The Tide Turns

%$e tide t$ou7$4 !as no! turnin7 a7ainst t$e )a.anese2 Durin7 19+F t$ey !ere forcedbac( from t$e "oyalty and Ne! Hebrides ;slands2 ;n Ne! uinea t$ey !ere .us$ed bac(to t$eir brid7e$eads on t$e nort$ coast and e&entually defeated2 %$ey !ere t$en.ursued alon7 t$e nort$ coast2 Under t$e o&erall command of eneral Dou7lasMacart$ur4 t$e Allied forces in t$e #out$3est acific %$eatre .ro&ed t$ey $ad 7ainedt$e mastery o&er t$eir ad&ersaries in t$e art of un7le !arfare2

5arly 19+F also sa! t$e de.loyment by t$e RAA of one of t$e first .ractical #uits2De&elo.ed by Dr2 2 #2 8otton4 "ecturer in $ysiolo7y at t$e Uni&ersity of #ydney4 it























consisted4 accordin7 to t$e 6fficial History of

uote:a series of o&erla..in7 rubber sacs incor.orated in t!o se.arate le77in7s and a .air of#$orts2 %$e le77in7s e,tended from t$e soles @or from t$e an(les in somemodifications nearly u. to t$e to. of t$e t$i7$ 2 %$e t$i7$ .ortions of t$e #$orts !erearran7ed to o&erla. t$e le77in7s 2 5ac$ le77in7 contained four rubber sacs I t$e#$orts contained t!o4 t$e lo!er one co&erin7 t$e lo!er .art of t$e abdomen and t$eu..er one e,tendin7 to t$e lo!er borders of t$e ribs 2 5ac$ rubber sac !as soarran7ed t$at !$en inflated an ine,tensible fabric in its outer !all .re&ented it frome,.andin7 out!ards4 !$ile t$e rubber coatin7 on its inner !all allo!ed it to e,.andand .ress smoot$ly a7ainst t$e s(in 2 %$e rubber sacs did not inflate until t$e body!as subected to moderate accelerations4 and t$en t$e .ressure !as so re7ulated t$atit increased in .ro.ortion to t$e acceleration 2 %$is automatic re7ulation of .ressure!as attained by means of a &al&e2 ;n t$e desi7n and fabrication of t$e rubber .ortionsof t$e suit 8otton recei&ed muc$ $el. from Dunlo. Rubber Australia "td2

%$is suit enabled Australian .ilots to better !it$stand t$e stresses of do7fi7$tin7 andso outmanoeu&re t$eir o..onents2 ;t allo!ed t$em to !it$stand u. to four more -s-t$an a normal .ilot leadin7 to muc$ ti7$ter turns and ot$er manoeu&res2 %$e ratio of

(ills started to turn decisi&ely in fa&our of t$e Allies2

19+F also sa! efforts to im.ro&e t$e defences of t$e Do'1*2 Martin turrets4 mountin7t!in 20cal mac$ine7uns !ere substituted for t$e ori7inal one mountin7 a sin7le*29'mm !ea.on2 %!in 20cal .ac(s !ere .laced eit$er side of t$e nose4 firin7 for!ardand t!in 20cals !ere .laced in t$e lo!er dec(4 rear!ard firin7 .osition2 urt$erim.ro&ements !ere .ut in $and to utilise remotely controlled t!in 20cal M turretsbot$ abo&e and belo!2 %$e )a.anese fi7$ters found t$e bombers increasin7ly difficult toattac( successfully2

-o.1/ rmament e0olution

%$e RAA4 8ARA and R3AA all decided t$at $ea&ier4 lon7erran7ed bombers !ould bere=uired if t$e fi7$t !as to be carried to t$e muc$ furt$er flun7 bases of t$e )a.anese2%$e B'+ "iberator !as ordered and .laced into ser&ice2 5=ui..ed !it$ lon7 ran7e tan(s

it !as ca.able of flyin7 to Hon7 Gon74 %ai!an and t$e $ili..ines !it$ a useful !arloadand returnin7 to bases in Nort$ern Australia2

"ate 19+F also sa! t$e Australian air forces combine t$eir forces and formed underRAA command4 1 Australian %actical Air orce @1A%A2 By t$is sta7e of t$e !ar4 t$einitial command .roblems and lo7istics $ad been lar7ely ironed out durin7 t$e Ne!uinea cam.ai7ns !$en t$ey $ad fou7$t to7et$er2 %$is force mo&ed for!ard !it$ t$eAustralian forces and !as in control of all air o.erations durin7 t$e Borneo cam.ai7nand after!ards2

;t !as t$ou7$4 in 19++ t$at t$e final benefits of t$e standardisation and rationalisationconference !$ic$ $ad been $eld in 19+' finally started to a..ear2 ;t $ad been decided

at t$e conclusion of t$e #tandardisation 8onference of 19+'4 to $old re7ular meetin7sto re&ie! and ma(e ne! decisions on t$e Australian aero industry2 %$ese becameannual affairs2 ;n 19++ furt$er decisions !ere made2



;t !as decided t$at a ne! fi7$terbomber$ea&y fi7$ter !ould soon be re=uired2 %$ec$oice came do!n to bet!een t$e Mos=uito4 t$e Beaufi7$ter4 t$e C1 -Blac( 3ido!-or t$e /' -%!in Mustan7-2 %$e Mos=uito $ad t$e ad&anta7e in t$at it utilised t$eno! standard Merlin en7ine2 ;n addition4 it utilised -nonstrate7ic- !ood in itsconstruction2 %$e /' also utilised t$e Merlin @alt$ou7$ in a s.ecial -$anded-

&ersion2 ;t !as also t$e least de&elo.ed of t$e contenders2 %$e C1 utilised differenten7ines and more cre! and !as considerably lar7er and more e,.ensi&e2

6f t$ose .ro.osed4 .er$a.s one of t$e most interestin7 !as a ne! model of t$eBeaufi7$ter2 8alled t$e M(2'' by DA4 it utilised BM3/01 en7ines su..lied fromHoldens< in Adelaide22 Bot$ Hercules and t$e BM3/01 !ere of a..ro,imately t$e samediameter so it !as easy to ada.t t$e en7inebearers of t$e Beaufi7$ter to acce.t t$eBM3/01 %$e c$ief ad&anta7e of usin7 t$e BM3/01 !as t$at it !as considerablyc$ea.er and easier to build t$an t$e Hercules4 as !ell as more .o!erful2 Holdens !it$$el. from t$e 8#;R6 $ad im.ro&ed t$e BM3/014 $a&in7 de&elo.ed a .rocess !$ic$accordin7 to t$e 6fficial History utilised a ne! ty.e of en7ine coolin7 fins:

uote:6rdinarily4 fins of aircooled cylinders !ere mac$ined out of a solid for7in7 of $i7$=uality steel4 and in t$e course of borin7 and turnin7 o.erations about 90 .er cent oft$e metal !as cut a!ay 2 %$is !as not only !aste of a &aluable material al!ays ins$ort su..ly4 but a timeconsumin7 and e,.ensi&e .rocess2 A met$od !as !or(ed out!$ereby fins !ere furnacebraed !it$ co..er on to t$e steel barrel 2 By .lacin7 t$efins muc$ closer to7et$er t$an could be done by mac$inin7 t$em4 and by ma(in7 t$emof a material of $i7$ t$ermal conducti&ity4 a 7reater out.ut could be obtained from t$ecylinder2

%$is $ad si7nificantly decreased t$e !ei7$t and increased t$e .o!er from t$eBM3/01Au @-Au- for -Australia- from 1400$. to nearly '4000$.2 8om.ared to t$eHercules ; !$ic$ !as t$e standard model en7ine on t$e Beaufi7$ter M(2'1 !$ic$

de&elo.ed 14C00$.4 t$is !as a si7nificant im.ro&ement2

DA $ad also4 in t$e .rocess of de&elo.in7 t$e M(2''4 started !or( on anot$er &ersion4t$e M(2'+4 !$ic$ !as referred to as t$e -s.orts model-2 A sin7leseater4 !it$ a cutdo!n fusela7e and a bubble cano.y4 similar to t$at on t$e 8A8 .roduced 1D2 ;t !as$o.ed to be .o!ered by an e&en more .o!erful &ersion of t$e BM3/01Au de&elo.in7'400$.4 usin7 slee&e&al&e tec$nolo7y from t$e Hercules2 6ne e,am.le !as built2 ;t!as later modified !it$ a taller tail to im.ro&e directional control2



%$e ar7uments flo!ed bac( and fort$ but it !as t$e Mos=uito !$ic$ !on2 %$e use of t$eMerlin and nonstrate7ic materials and its e,ce.tional .erformance !ere t$e decidin7factor2 %$e Beaufi7$ter !as not to be de&elo.ed furt$er and t$e t!o .rototy.es !eret$e only ones .roduced2

-$ (eauighter )k".1 de0elopment aircrat2 e3uipped with ()W451au

engines2 Use" by ol"ens an" 4A to "e$elop the 2k.66.

%$e Mustan7 !as no! in .roduction4 in its Merlin .o!ered form as t$e standard fi7$ter22%$e RAA $o!e&er4 brou7$t to t$e table a .ro.osal for a ne!4 indi7enous desi7nedfi7$ter4 t$e 8A12 %$e .ro.osal !as to utilise t$e BM3/01au rated at '4000$. or7reater2 Armed !it$ four '0mm cannon it !as to $a&e a ran7e of '4+0 miles2Alternati&ely4 t$e RollsRoyce riffon4 a de&elo.ment of t$e Merlin could be utilised2 ;t!as decided to build t!o .rototy.es .o!ered !it$ eac$ en7ine and a decision ta(en!$en !$ic$ !as s$o!n to be t$e better2 Most re.resentati&es $o!e&er fa&oured t$eBM3/012

%$e real sur.rise of t$e conference !as !$en t$e re.resentati&es from t$e 8entralAustralian Re.ublic announced t$at t$ey !ere !or(in7 on a re&olutionary ne! .o!er



.lant - t$e turboet2 Ha&in7 recei&ed !ord and t$en dra!in7s of Hein(el<s He#F0turboet en7ine in mid19+14 Holdens $ad started de&elo.ment of t$eir o!n4 referred toas t$e Ho)F02 De&elo.ment $ad been relati&ely slo! but !$en !ord came fromo&erseas of ran( 3$ittle<s !or(4 it $ad s.ed u.2 %$e increasin7ly close associationbet!een Holdens and t$e "idcombe 5n7ine factory4 !$ere RollsRoyce trained en7ineers$el.ed !it$ t$eir (no!led7e of im.eller and inta(e desi7ns for su.erc$ar7ers $ad

meant t$at by t$e end of 19+F it !as runnin7 on test benc$es and de&elo.in7a..ro,imately '4000 lbs t$rust2 3$at !as e&en more im.ortant t$ou7$4 as t$e official$istory noted:

uote:Gey to t$e en7ine<s !or(in7 cycle !as an a,ial com.ressor of t$enuni=ueconstruction2 Most erman en7ines of t$e era $ad t$e stators do all of t$e actualcom.ression4 !it$ t$e rotors s.eedin7 u. t$e air for t$em to com.ress2 ;n t$e Ho) F04t$e rotor and stators s$ared com.ression4 about 004 a desi7n ori7inally .ro&ided byRudol.$ riedric$ of )un(ers2 6&erall t$e en7ine $ad a fi&esta7e com.ressor .ro&idin7air at a F:1 com.ression ratio to ten flame cans4 !$ic$ .o!ered a sin7lesta7eturbine2 %$e turbine !as also uni=ue for t$e era4 usin7 a set of 7uide &anes t$at !ere

adustable for &arious o.eratin7 s.eeds2 "i(e most erman a,ial en7ines4 t$e en7inealso included a &ariable7eometry e,$aust cone to lo!er bac( .ressure !$en startin74and an electric starter motor2

6f all of t$e early en7ines4 t$e Ho) F0 !as by far t$e best desi7n2 ;t .roduced a t$rustof a..ro,imately '4'00 lbs @later &ersions nearly doubled t$at4 about t$e same ascontem.orary desi7ns4 but !ei7$ed only /0 lbs4 .ro&idin7 a muc$ better .o!erto!ei7$t ratio2 %$e en7ine also $ad better s.ecific fuel consum.tion and !as smaller incrosssection as !ell2 ;t $as been said t$at t$e o&erall .erformance !as not matc$eduntil 19+*2

%$e first aircraft to fly !it$ t$e ne! en7ine !as a modified He100 !$ic$ $ad retained itsDBC01 .o!er.lant and $ad t!o Ho)F0 en7ines4 one slun7 under eac$ !in72 %eet$in7

.roblems !ere still .ersistent and it !as a !ise c$oice to (ee. t$e .iston en7ine durin7t$e early fli7$ts2 )ust as !it$ t$e Me'C'4 t$e bicycle undercarria7e 7a&e troubles and it!as soon modified to utilise a fi,ed nose !$eel2 3$en t$e DBC01 !as remo&ed4 t$isbecame a retractable one and a $ea&y armament of four '0mm cannon !as .ut in its.lace2 #tability .roblems also forced t$e !in7 to be mo&ed bac(!ards about 1/ inc$esand t$e coc(.it for!ard for im.ro&ed &isibility2

%$e 8onference !as astounded by t$e films of tests bein7 conducted2 %$ey immediatelysa! t$e .otential but reco7nised it !as early days2 ;t !as decided to 7i&e .riority toHoldens and allocate resources from t$e ot$er aircraft manufacturers2 %$is !ould $a&ere.ercussions on t$e 8A1<s de&elo.ment2 3$ile t$e BM3/01au .o!ered &ersionentered .roduction !it$ a turboc$ar7er and slee&e&al&es from t$e Hercules

incor.orated into its desi7n4 it !as ne&er to reac$ its full .otential4 al!ays bein7ecli.sed by t$e ne! turboet .o!ered fi7$ters2 ;n t$e end4 ust o&er 100 !ere .roducedand t$ey soldiered on until t$e Gorean 3ar2

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Ric(s$a! )oin Date: Dec'00*













Member osts: +11The inal ct

%$rou7$out 19++ t$e )a.anese tide rolled furt$er bac(2 Ne! uinea4 %ara!a4 elleliu4t$e $ili..ines4 Borneo4 uam4 6(ina!a4 ;!o )ima all fell to t$e Allies4 one after t$eot$er2 Durin7 t$e latter battles4 t$e Australians found t$emsel&es increasin7ly sidelinedas America sou7$t to ensure t$at it !ould be t$e main &ictor o&er t$e )a.anese and7ain t$e lion<s s$are of t$e s.oils at t$e .eace conference !$ic$ !as sure to follo!2 %$eAustralian 7o&ernments4 unable to do ot$er!ise4 !ere forced to ac=uiesce2

Domestically4 mo&es $ad started amon7st t$e &arious 7o&ernments to!ards a formalreco7nition of t$e coo.eration t$at $ad occurred in a defacto manner !$en facin7 t$ee,istential t$reat t$at t$e )a.anese $ad .resented2 %entati&e mo&es and soundin7s!ere ta(en and all it seemed !ere in fa&our of creation of some formal structure tocombine t$e .re&iously inde.endent nations into a federation2 Ne! Eealand !asa..roac$ed as !ell4 as t$e ot$er maor 5uro.ean nation in t$e #out$ern acific23ellin7ton !as initially cool to t$e idea but found itself o&er!$elmed by t$e bulldoin7tactics of t$e Dominion of Australia<s ener7etic Minister for 5,ternal Affairs4 Herbert

ere -Doc- 5&att2 %$is resulted in a formal .act (no!n as t$e ANEA8 act4 si7ned inearly 19++ t$at committed all .arties4 includin7 Ne! Eealand to!ards4 as t$e 6fficialHistory .ut it:

uote:establis$ment of a re7ional one of defence for t$e #out$3est and #out$ acific2

%$e A7reement re=uired t$e 7o&ernments to e,c$an7e information and &ie!sconcernin7 all de&elo.ments affectin7 t$e islands of t$e acific2

A #out$ #eas Re7ional 8ommission !as .ro.osed in t$e A7reement 2 %$is became t$e#out$ acific 8ommission !$ic$ still functions today2

%$e A7reement also called for -t$e de&elo.ment of commerce bet!een Australia andNe! Eealand-2by consultation-2and by oint .lannin72-

References in t$e A7reement to ci&il a&iation and .olicin7 in t$e #out$ acific aremirrored by oint acti&ities in t$ese areas t$at are still in e,istence2

%$e final section of t$e A7reement called for .ermanent mac$inery to ensurecontinuin7 collaboration2 A secretariat !as establis$ed immediately !$ic$ functionedformally for at least 1 years2

3$ile t$e !or( of t$e secretariat e,tends beyond t$e end of t$e .eriod under discussionin t$is c$a.ter4 it must be reco7nised t$at it !as t$at !or( !$ic$ led to t$e formation oft$e 8ommon!ealt$ of Australasia in 192 ;n 19++4 it led t$ou7$4 to a muc$ more

asserti&e stance by t$e Australian and Ne! Eealand 7o&ernments4 !$ic$ alarmed"ondon and 3as$in7ton2 %$ey !ere forced to ta(e into consideration t$e &ery realconcerns of t$ose 7o&ernments rat$er t$an i7nore t$em as t$ey $ad2

Ho!e&er4 once t$e time came for 6.erations 6"M;8 J 86R6N5% t$e in&asion of )a.anitself4 t$e sie of t$e underta(in7 !as suc$ t$at t$e martial abilities and t$e sie of t$eAustralian forces could not be i7nored2 eneral Macart$ur4 in one of $is rare 7enerousmoments insisted t$at Australian forces ta(e .art2 A di&ision of 7round troo.s4 se&eralindi&idual s$i.s and a lar7e air contin7ent !ould be utilised2

%$e Australian air forces mo&ed for!ard t$eir best and ne!est e=ui.ment2 1DMustan7s4 B'+ "iberators4 8A1 Gan7aroos4 M(2'1 Beaufi7$ters4 Mos=uitos B M( +04

R M(2+1s and B2M(2+'s2



%$e real sur.rise $o!e&er came !$en 19 @ #=uadron 8ARA44 sta7in7 t$rou7$ t$e$ili..ines on t$eir !ay to 6(ina!a to ta(e .art in 6.eration 86R6N5% landed at aManila air stri. !it$ t$eir brand ne! He110 fi7$ters2 %$ey !ere t$e tal( of t$e U#AA<si7$ter s=uadrons on 6(ina!a4 .articularly !$en it !as disco&ered in moc( do7fi7$tst$ey !ere able to outmanoeu&re t$eir American counter.arts because of t$eir #uits2%$e !ily Australians $ad mana7ed to (ee. t$e e,istence of t$e He110 a secret4 e&enfrom t$eir AlliesL ;n moc( combat !it$ U#AA /0 et fi7$ters4 t$e He110 .ro&ed t$ey!ere at least t$eir e=uals alt$ou7$ as one 8ARA .ilot drily noted4 -if t$ey $ad 7ot infront of our 7uns4 t$ey<d $a&e been !al(in7 $omeL- %$e He110<s + '0mm cannon !as

si7nificantly more .o!erful t$an t$e /0<s C 20 cal mac$ine7uns2

%$eir first action !as a7ainst )a.anese aircraft attem.tin7 to attac( t$e massi&e U#AAbomber base on t$e island !$ere t$ey !ere one of t$e fe! Allied aircraft able tointerce.t t$e &ery fast and &ery $i7$ flyin7 )a.anese Dina$ reconnaissance aircraft!$ic$ o&erfle! t$e island2 #oon4 after t$e landin7s commenced t$ey fle! to )a.an ando.erated from for!ard o.eratin7 stri.s2 lyin7 numerous fi7$terbomber sorties t$eyoccasionally encountered )a.anese fi7$ter aircraft but t$eir su.erior s.eed andmanoeu&rability ensured t$ey rarely lost suc$ do7fi7$ts2 %$en t$e Atomic bombs !eredro..ed in ebruary 19+C on ama7ata and Gaminyama4 !$ere t$e )a.anese $ad

massed most of t$eir forces for one last maor defensi&e effort and so t$e !ar ended2



At t$is .oint4 t$e &arious Australian air arms $ad a combined stren7t$ of a..ro,imately+4000 aircraft of all ty.es4 ma(in7 it one of t$e lar7est air arms in t$e !orld after t$e-Bi7 %$ree-4 t$e RA4 t$e U#AA and t$e Red Airforce2

P%o Be 8ontinuedQ

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February 5t! 2"11! 1121 $%

)ulius o7el

i&aL

)oin Date: #e.'00/osts: 1000 ormore

uote:6ri7inally osted by Rickshaw 7n real life( the 8i!is !ere rather hea$ily occupie" !ith the 2aori +ars #15*1:6%.

They !ere offere" an" actually are name" as Australian states in our Constitution(ho!e$er they ne$er took up the offer.

7n this time line( because of the lack of Australian participation in the 2aori +ars( the!hite settlers fin" it har"er an" it takes longer to impose their rule on the 2aoris.

; am a!are of t$e early colonial $istory of NE @; am from t$ere after allL4 but ; do t$in(you discount it2 %$e $istory of t$e Britis$ colonies in t$e area are too intert!ined in t$e

1/0s to un.ic( as sim.ly as you do2 Besides of !$ic$4 t$e main "and 3ars did notreally start in earnest till t$e later 1/0s t$en rumbled ri7$t t$rou7$ t$e 1/C0s to t$eearly 1/*0s4 !it$ .lenty of ;m.erial in&ol&ement as !ell2 ;f t$e 5m.ire !as !illin7 tode&ote t$ose troo.s to NE4 a muc$ less &aluable area t$an Australia4 t$en ; sus.ectt$ey !ould $a&e not so easily 7i&en u. in Australia

%$e lac( of interest in federation !as in .art due to t$e fact t$at by t$e time it becamea serious .olitical force in t$e Australian colonies NE $ad been settled4 .acified4 unifiedand stable for se&eral decades2 ;n your %" t$at all 7ets t$ro!n out2 #ettler NE is nolon7er =uite so able to deal !it$ t$e Maori4 it $as .otential enemies @your re.ublics etcnearby !$ic$ it ne&er $ad ;6%" @Russian scares do not really count4 but it does s$o!$o! .aranoid !e !ere2 All of !$ic$ fundamentally c$an7es t$e case for federation orti7$ter relations !it$ t$e loyal Australian colonies2

)ulius *ogel

ie! ublic rofile#end a .ersonal messa7e to )ulius o7elind all .osts by )ulius o7el #""

February 5t! 2"11! 1245 P%

Ric(s$a!

Member

)oin Date: Dec'00*

osts: +11uote:























6ri7inally osted by 6ulius #ogel 7 am a!are of the early colonial history of 0; #7 am from there after all<%( but 7 "othink you "iscount it. The history of the ,ritish colonies in the area are too intert!ine"in the 15=s to unpick as simply as you "o. ,esi"es of !hich( the main >an" +ars "i"not really start in earnest till the later 15=s then rumble" right through the 1?=s tothe early 1:=s( !ith plenty of 7mperial in$ol$ement as !ell. 7f the @mpire !as !illing

to "e$ote those troops to 0;( a much less $aluable area than Australia( then 7 suspectthey !oul" ha$e not so easily gi$en up in Australia

%$ey de&oted relati&ely minor forces to t$e "and 3ars in NE2 At t$e time t$e maore&ents occur in t$is time line4 t$e 5m.ire is $ea&ily en7a7ed else!$ere4 fi7$tin7 maorconflicts !$ic$ .re&ent it from really .ay muc$ attention to e&ents on t$e ot$er side oft$e !orld2 irst t$e ;ndian Mutiny4 t$en t$e 8rimean 3ar and t$en t$e 'nd Boer 3ar@and it must be mentioned4 t$e Bo,er Rebellion4 !$ic$ because of t$e lac( of Australiancolonial in&ol&ement actually becomes muc$ !orse2

urt$er4 because t$ere is a muc$ smaller contribution to t$e "and 3ars from t$eAustralian colonies4 t$ey are .rolon7ed and of 7reater intensity2 ; su..ose ; could $a&e$ad t$e Maoris !in as a conse=uence2 %$at<d $a&e fi,ed t$e .roblem4 no! !ouldn<t it?

uote:%$e lac( of interest in federation !as in .art due to t$e fact t$at by t$e time it becamea serious .olitical force in t$e Australian colonies NE $ad been settled4 .acified4 unifiedand stable for se&eral decades2 ;n your %" t$at all 7ets t$ro!n out2 #ettler NE is nolon7er =uite so able to deal !it$ t$e Maori4 it $as .otential enemies @your re.ublicsetc nearby !$ic$ it ne&er $ad ;6%" @Russian scares do not really count4 but it doess$o! $o! .aranoid !e !ere2 All of !$ic$ fundamentally c$an7es t$e case forfederation or ti7$ter relations !it$ t$e loyal Australian colonies2

%$e Re.ublics re.resent no t$reat4 afterall4 t$ey are .reoccu.ied !it$ e&ents on t$eiro!n continent and t$ere Dominions of Australia and 3estern Australia do remain loyal

to t$e 8ro!n and are able to deter any e,.ansionist tendencies t$at mi7$t de&elo.2

Ricksha#

ie! ublic rofile#end a .ersonal messa7e to Ric(s$a!ind all .osts by Ric(s$a! #"$

February 6t! 2"11! "338 $%

Ric(s$a!

Member

)oin Date: Dec

'00*osts: +11

Late addenda to $art I"

rou. 8a.tain 8li&e Robertson 8ald!ell D#64 D8 J Bar @'/ )uly 1910 - Au7ust199+ !as t$e leadin7 Australian air ace of 3orld 3ar ;;2 He is officially credited !it$s$ootin7 do!n '/2 enemy aircraft in o&er F00 o.erational sorties2 ;n addition to $isofficial score4 $e $as been ascribed si, .robables and 1 dama7ed2 8ald!ell fle! 8urtiss+0 %oma$a!(s and Gitty$a!(s in t$e Nort$ African 8am.ai7n and Hurricanes andNort$ American Mustan7s in t$e #out$ 3est and acific %$eatres2 He !as t$e $i7$estscorin7 +0 .ilot from any air force and t$e $i7$estscorin7 Allied .ilot in Nort$ Africa2Nic(named -Giller-4 a name $e disli(ed4 8ald!ell !as rut$less and s(ilful in air

combat2













8ald!ell !as born in "e!is$am4 #ydney and educated at Albion ar( #c$ool4 #ydneyrammar #c$ool and %rinity rammar #c$ool2 He learned to fly in 19F/ !it$ t$e Aero8lub of Ne! #out$ 3ales2 3$en 3orld 3ar ;; bro(e out4 $e oined t$e Royal AustralianAir orce @RAA4 !it$ t$e intention of becomin7 a fi7$ter .ilot2 As $e !as o&er t$e a7elimit for fi7$ter trainin74 8ald!ell .ersuaded a .$armacist friend to alter t$e details on$is birt$ certificate2 He !as acce.ted by t$e RAA as a li7$t "ieutenant4 risin7 by !ar<s

end to t$e ran( of rou. 8a.tain4 commandin7 /0 i7$ter 3in74 .art of 1 Australian%actical Air orce durin7 t$e in&asion of )a.an2

%$e .rofile belo!4 .ortrays 8ald!ell<s Mustan7 in 19+ on 6(ina!a4 bearin7 as !as $iscustom4 $is .ersonal initials as its code letters2 ;t features t$e record of $is (ills and $is. 8a.t .ennant4 as !ell as t$e .ersonal reco7nition dar( bands on s.inner andfusela7e2

Ricksha#

ie! ublic rofile#end a .ersonal messa7e to Ric(s$a!

ind all .osts by Ric(s$a! #"%

February 6t! 2"11! "4"5 $%

Ric(s$a!

Member


ircrat $ro7ectsby a.o.$enia

Two 8nbuilt Lasco Trainer $ro7ects

"asco<s "a.!in7 emer7ed as &irtually a mono.lane &ersion of t$e "ar( ;; bi.lane trainer2But t$at !as not t$e ori7inal intention2 As .lanned4 t$e "a.!in7 !as to be a leadintrainer for .lanned RA 'C eas$ooter fi7$ters2 %$e ori7inal "a.!in7 conce.t s$aredt$e eas$ooter<s s.ats and bracin7 !ires2 o!er !as to be a '00 $. Ccylinder MenascoBC# Buccaneer2

5conomic conditions force t$e delay and ultimately t$e cancellation of t$e 'C contract2;n t$e end4 "a.!in7s !ere deli&ered !it$ t$e "ar( ;;<s 1+ $. Menasco 8+ irate +cylinder2 %$e .roduction "a.!in7 .ro&ed too slo! to be a leadin trainer for t$e ne!8urtiss *A fi7$ters2

%$e "asco "ar( ;;; !as intended to be a follo!on re.lacement for RA "ar( ;; trainers2

%$e "ar( ;;; essentially .laced "ar( ;; flyin7 surfaces on t$e more refined "a.!in7fusela7e2 A su.erc$ar7ed Menasco 8+ irate +cylinder !as to be t$e .o!er.lant2













%$e RA intended to re.lace all ab initio trainers !it$ t$e "ar( ;;;2 5arlier model "ar(s!ere to be .assed on to t$e ictorian flyin7 sc$ools !$ic$ fed recruits to t$e RA2 As!it$ t$e "a.!in74 economic conditions disru.ted .lans2 %$e RA .assed its "ar( ;s to%asmania4 retained its "ar( ;;s as trainers4 and cancelled furt$er de&elo.ment of t$e"ar( ;;;2

8nbuilt Lasco ighter $ro7ect % Lares I

%$e "asco "ares !as desi7ned to com.ete in a contest to re.lace t$e RA<s a7in7Boein7 bi.lane fi7$ters4 t$e Model '1s @or 1'52 6rders for Boein7<s 'C $adalready been cancelled bot$ for reasons of e,.ense and conce.tual obsolescence2 "ascobelie&ed t$at a sim.le mono.lane fi7$ter built in ictoria could be &ery com.etiti&e int$is contest2

As ori7inally concei&ed4 t$e "asco "ares !as to be a fi,ed7ear o((er D2; .o!eredby a /*$. 3ri7$t R1/'0F 8yclone radial en7ine2 Armament !as to be t!o 20calibre Bro!nin7s sync$onied to fire t$rou7$ t$e .ro.eller and t!o !in7mounted 2F0calibre 7uns2

%$e ori7inal "ares conce.t !as reected by t$e RA !$en a retractable undercarria7e!as made a mandatory feature in an addenda to t$e Defence De.artment<s fi7$ters.ecification2

"asco .roceeded to u.date and modernie its "ares conce.t2 %$e result featured aMessier retractable undercarria7e and a ne! rear fusela7e @t$e !ooden monoco=uesection boltin7 to t$e ori7inal tubular frame aft of t$e coc(.it2 #ome elements !it$ t$eselection committee reacted !ell to t$e re&ised "ares but t$e increased de&elo.mentris(s ti..ed t$e scales in fa&our of t$e .ro&en 8urtiss *A Ha!(2

Bot$ &ersions of t$e "ares !ere also offered to t$e GM% 7o&ernment of 8$ina2 %$eR68A !as interested in a locallybuilt &ersion of t$e ori7inal conce.t but suitablefactory s.ace !as ne&er found2 %$e re&ised "ares !as also !ell recei&ed but its Messierundercarria7e !as seen as unneccessarily com.le, and .otentially &ulnerable on 8$ina<srou7$er landin7 fields2



8nbuilt Lasco ighter $ro7ect % Lares II

%$e "asco "ares ;; !as a com.letely ne! li7$t!ei7$t fi7$ter .roect2 %$e conce.t s.ran7from an allmetal fi7$ter bein7 desi7ned by ictoria Aircraft arts2O As a small su..lier4A !as not ca.able of com.letin7 t$is .roect and desi7n staff !ere loaned to "asco2

At "asco4 t$e A fi7$ter under!ent a com.lete redesi7n2 %$e allaluminum structure!as abandoned in fa&our of t$e more familiar steeltube and moulded .ly!ood2 %$e.o!er.lant !as also c$an7ed from a Ran7er #**081to a similar desi7n from "asco<s U# 3est 8oast en7ine su..lier4 Menasco2 %$is decision!ould later be t$e cause of muc$ re7ret2

As a fi7$ter leadin trainer4 t$e "ares ;; !ould $a&e a fi,ed and s.atted undercarria7e2%$e .o!er.lant !as to be t$e ne! Menasco D1'# ri&ateer @or ;9/012 6ri7inally(no!n as a <%!in Buccanneer<4 t$is in&erted 1' en7ine !as to 7enerate '0 $. butt$e .rototy.e could only .roduce +C0 $. on t$e benc$2

Des.ite a some!$at disa..ointin74 t$e ori7inal "ares ;; conce.t !as un&eiled to t$eRA as a .ri&ate &enture2 Ho!e&er4 t$e RA decided t$at suc$ trainers !eren<tneeded !it$ NA1Cs on t$e !ay to ictoria2

Rat$er t$an abandon t$e "ares ;;4 elected to clean u. t$e desi7n as a li7$t fi7$ter fort$e e,.ort mar(et2 A Messier retracable undercarria7e !as ado.ted and t$e !ooden!in7s 7i&en more di$edral to im.ro&e $andlin72

"asco !as bettin7 t$at Menasco<s <#u.er ri&ateer< !ould e&entually deli&er its .romised'0 $.2 ;t ne&er did and Menasco abandoned t$e D1'#4 mo&in7 on to focus on its ne!;'0+0 <$y.er< en7ine conce.t for t$e U#AA82



+entral ustralian de0elopments

%$e 8ARA<s He1Bau1 Butc$erbird differed sli7$tly from "uft!affe Hein(el fi7$ters2#im.le e,$aust eectors !ere c$osen4 coolant and oil radiators enlar7ed4 desert sur&i&al(its !ere standard4 but no radio !as installed2 5,ce.t for aerial dis.lay teams4Butc$erbirds al!ays carried t$e 1*0 litre belly fuel tan(2

By t$e outbrea( of 33;;4 8ARA frontline fi7$ter s=uadrons $ad con&erted to Hein(elHe100D ere7rine mono.lane fi7$ters2 Ho!e&er4 He1s continued to ser&e as fi7$tertrainers as !ell as s=uadron $ac(s2

%$e only Butc$erbird &ariant !as t$e He1Bau1N4 a fi7$terbomber con&ersionde&ised as a !artime e,.edient2 %$e N<s !ere fitted !it$ e,$aust flame dam.ers4 areinforced bomb rac( @dis.lacin7 t$e belly tan(4 armoured $ead rests4 and radio R%sets2

%$ese a7ed bi.lanes !ere e,.ected to continue t$e fi7$t at ni7$t s$ould t$e )a.aneseland troo.s near Dar!in2 6nce t$e in&asion t$reat subsided4 t$e He1Bau1Ns

returned to trainin7 fi7$ter .ilots !$ile t$eir nocturnal roles !ere ta(en on by t$e t!inboomed o((er 1s2

%$e 8ARA used BM3 1F'G.o!ered Hein(el He1*0au1 arlequins as t$eir li7$tbomber and reconnaissance aircraft2 A 19+' emer7ency u.7rade !as reen7inin7 t$isfleet !it$ BM3 /01 radials @resultin7 in He1*0Ms2

3$en t$e Dornier Do'1* too( o&er t$e reconnaissance role4 Hein(el Adelaide !asan,ious to re7ain its .roducts< earlier dominance !it$in t$e 8ARA2 #e&eral attem.ts!ere made to .roduce a modernied &ersion of t$e He1*0 t$at !ould tem.t t$e8ARA2

Hein(el Adelaide<s first submission !as t$e He1*0M# float.lane as a .otentialre.lacement for t$e HeC0 bi.lane2 %$e He1*0M# !as to be a strai7$tfor!ard floatada.tationrebuild of inser&ice He1*0M airframes2 ;nstead4 t$e 8ARA elected to reen7ine its HeC0 fleet as BM3 1F'G.o!ered He1C0Au A$ocet 77 s2

Hein(el Adelaide t$en submitted an unsolicited bid to re.lace He1*0s !it$ DBC01.o!ered He'*0Au arlequin 77 2 Based on t$e erman He'*0&1 .rototy.e4 t$is aircraft

differed in minor detail to .ermit He1*0 rebuilds as a .ossible alternati&e to ne!construction2



3$en t$e arlequin 77 e&inced no interest4 Hein(el Adelaide re&ised t$eir bid4submittin7 t$e He'*0Au# !it$ .ur.osedesi7ned floats as a .ossible He1C0Au

A$ocet 77 re.lacement2

Two ailed proposals to replace the +R9s einkel e%155 ighter

%$e .ro.osal t$at t$e Merlin s$ould become a standard en7ine for all Australian airforces sent a s$oc( t$rou7$ t$e a&iation industry in t$e 8entral Australian Re.ublic2



usual .ursuit by duc(in7 bac( o&er t$e border2 He 7lanced around4 ma(in7 sure $is!in7men !ere in formation and t$at t$ere !ere no enemy fi7$ters nearby2 His 7lancetoo( in t$e ot$er Mis2 )ust as $e finis$ed $is loo( around and $e turned $is $ead bac(to t$e front $is mind suddenly re7istered t$at t$ere !ere t!ice t$e number of Mis t$att$ere s$ould $a&e beenL Realisin7 $is mista(e4 $e screamed a !arnin7 into $is radioand .us$ed t$e stic( $ard for!ard and (ic(ed $is rudder to .ort as cannon s$ells

flas$ed .ast t$e !in7 of $is fi7$ter2 6ne of $is !in7men e,.loded into flames and t$es(y !as suddenly filled !it$ turnin74 slas$in7 sil&er s$a.es2 3an7 Hai esca.ed butse&eral of $is !in7men !eren<t so luc(y2

#o t$e 8ARA<s Ho10 ,uuli @Abori7inal for 3$irl!ind $ad its first introduction tocombat2 Armed !it$ + '0mm cannon !it$ a sin7le HA)0 turboet4 t$e ,uuli !asa..ro,imately t$e same sie and s$a.e as t$e Mi12 ;ndeed4 it !as easy to confuset$e t!o sil$ouettes2 Bot$ $ad a s$ort4 circular fusela7e4 nose inta(e4 $i7$ set s!e.t!in7s and tail surfaces2 3$ereas t$e Mi1 mounted t$ose .art!ay u. t$e tail4 t$e,uuli's !ere in t$e s$a.e of a % tail2 Bot$ .ossessed similar .erformance4 alt$ou7$t$e ,uuli !as a better 7un .latform2 %$e ,uuli in Gorea !ore s.ecial identificationmar(in7s in t$e form of blac( and !$ite stri.es4 similar to t$e DDay in&asion stri.es of

33;; around its fusela7e in order to .re&ent confusion2 ;t often didn<t !or( t$ou7$4 andoccasionally t$e U# .ilots !ould ta(e .ots$ots at !$at t$ey belie&ed !ere Mi1s but!$ic$ !ere in reality 8ARA aircraft2

%$e ,uuli !as t$e result of t$e !or( by t$e famous aeronautical en7ineer Gurt %an(2%an(4 at a loss at !ar<s end $ad offered $is s(ills to t$e &ictors of 33;;2 He tried t$eBritis$4 t$e Americans4 e&en t$e #o&iets but all seemed disinterested or untrustin7 oft$e former member of t$e Nai arty !it$ $is close connections to t$e de.osed re7ime2"oo(in7 around for t$e o..ortunity of a !ay to restart $is aeronautical career4 one of $isen7ineers su77ested t$e 8entral Australian Re.ublic !$ic$ !as ad&ertisin7 for ne!immi7rants and already $ad a lar7e erman emi7re .o.ulation2 ;ntri7ued4 $e a..lied tot$e 8AR o&ernment2 3$en it !as realised !$o $e !as4 $is a..lication !as ra.idly

a..ro&ed4 alon7 !it$ F0 of $is former oc(e3ulf em.loyees and t$eir families2 He !asimmediately .ut to !or( in t$e desi7n office at Holdens in Adelaide after $is arri&al inearly 19+*2

Ha&in7 brou7$t !it$ $im t$e .lans for t$e !1/F4 $e set to !or( ada.tin7 t$em to t$ere=uirements of t$e 8ARA2 Holdens4 $a&in7 found t$at t$e He110 !$ile an e,cellentinitial introduction to t$e .roblems of et .o!ered fli7$t !as essentially a de&elo.mentaldead end !as deli7$ted2 3or(ed started immediately on !$at !as to e&entually becomet$e ,uuli 2 )et en7ine de&elo.ment !as also continuin7 a.ace4 !it$ t$e Ho)0 bein7de&elo.ed4 .roducin7 some 4000 lb t$rust to .o!er it2 3it$ t$e first .roductione,am.le flyin7 on t$e day t$at t$e Gorean 3ar bro(e out4 t$e ,uuli recei&ed s.ecialim.etus2 Ho!e&er it too( anot$er ' years before it actually entered ser&ice2 5&en t$en4

t$e first s=uadron to recei&e it4 recei&ed only brief trainin7 before bein7 t$ro!n into t$efray4 essentially learnin7 on t$e ob2 ;nitially only able to carry dro. tan(s4 t$e ,uuli !as utilised .urely as an airsu.eriority fi7$ter2 After t$eir e,.eriences encounterin7 t$ead&anced Mi1 in t$eir by no! rat$er outdated loo(in7 8A14 t$e 8ARA .ilots !eredeli7$ted !it$ $o! !ell t$eir ,uuli $andled2 Attrition !as $i7$ t$ou7$4 as t$e .ilots $adto learn t$e $ard !ay ust $o! $ot t$eir ne! aircraft really !as !it$ its s!e.t !in7s2



concluded t$e ANEU# treaty in 1912

** #=uadron RAA4 F9 and +0 @ #=uadrons 8ARA fou7$t !ell to7et$er2 Ho!e&er4 t$eRAA and 8ARA found t$emsel&es increasin7ly $a&in7 to call on t$e U#A for su..ortfor t$eir Mustan7s as s.ares and re.lacements became difficult to source from $ome2 ;nearly 1914 t$e first RAA /+s arri&ed and ** #=uadron !as !it$dra!n to )a.an to

ree=ui.2 %$e 8ARA too( t$e decision to ree=ui. F9 @ #=uadron !it$ 8A1s at t$esame time2 %$e RAA<s e,.erience !it$ t$e /+ .aralleled t$at of t$e U#A2 3$ile ane,cellent first 7eneration et4 it !as lar7ely outclassed by its o..onents t$e Mi1 andt$e "a12 "ac(in7 .o!er and ran7e4 ** #=uadron found t$emsel&es bein7 increasin7lyused as 8A# @8lose Air #u..ort fi7$terbombers4 ust as t$e 8ARA<s 8A1s !ere2 ;nt$eir fe! encounters !it$ Mi1s4 t$e /+s suffered dis.ro.ortionate losses4 to t$e.oint t$at ** #=uadron<s .ilots coined t$e son74 All ; !ant for 8$ristmas are my !in7ss!e.t bac(4 to t$e tune of t$e son74 All ; !ant for 8$ristmas are my t!o front teet$23$en it !as announced t$at F9 @ #=uadron !as to be ree=ui..ed !it$ t$e ,uuli se&eral ** #=uadron .ilots t$reatened resi7nation and t$at t$ey !ould t$en reenlist!it$ t$e 8ARAL

%$e 8ARA e,.erience !it$ t$e 8A1 in Gorea !as t$at !$ile an e,cellent fi7$terbomber4 its day !as lar7ely done in t$e face of t$e o..osition<s use of Mi1 and "a1

et fi7$ters2 3$en t$ey occasionally encountered t$e NGA @Nort$ Gorean eo.le<s Airorce .ro.eller .o!ered fi7$ters or 7round attac( aircraft t$ey in&ariably made s$ort!or( of t$em2 %$is $o!e&er did not sto. at least t!o et fi7$ter (ills !$en t$eyencountered Mi1s on fa&ourable terms2

By 19'4 t$e !ar $ad settled do!n lar7ely to a stalemate2 Bot$ sides in t$e Gorean 3ar!ere tired of t$e costs and t$e effort t$at t$e 3ar re=uired and ne7otiations4 !$ic$ $adstarted in late 19' dra77ed on until an armistice !as si7ned in late 19F2 %$is did notofficially end t$e !ar4 merely ended t$e fi7$tin7 and bot$ sides sat do!n to an uneasytruce !$ic$ continues to t$is day4 facin7 eac$ ot$er across t$e sinisterly named DME

@DeMilitarised Eone2 %$e R6G and t$e DRG $ad essentially returned to t$e sameborder as t$ey $ad started !it$ in 190 and bot$ no! $ad 7uarantees from t$eir#u.er.o!er s.onsors of t$eir continued e,istence2

Bac( in Australia4 Holdens Aircraft "imited<s main com.etitors4 t$e 8ommon!ealt$Aircraft 8or.oration under "a!rence 3ac(ett $adn<t been idle !$ile Holdens $ad beende&elo.in7 t$e ,uuli 2 3$ile t$e Dominion o&ernment<s decision to acce.t MA aid fromt$e United #tates and ado.t t$e /+ as t$e RAA<s first et fi7$ter $ad been seenlar7ely as a mista(e after t$e initial e,.eriences !it$ it in Gorea4 3ac(ett $ad decidedto ne7otiate a license !it$ Nort$ American4 !$om $e $ad collaborated closely !it$durin7 !ar time to build t$e Mustan7 and RollsRoyce !$ose en7ines it $ad used tobuild a licensed co.y of t$e /C !$ic$ $ad .ro&ed t$e s$inin7 star of t$e air combat

o&er t$e eninsular2 %$e result !as t$e 8A'* A&on#abre4 e=ui..ed !it$ ' F0mm AD5Ncannons it !as .er$a.s t$e fastest &ariant of t$e /C2 %$e RAA and R3AA !ere=uic( to ado.t t$e ne! aircraft4 .lacin7 t$em in ser&ice in 19+4 too late to see t$eGorean 3ar4 t$ey !ere to soldier on until t$e end of t$e 19C0s2



At t$e same time as ne! et fi7$ters !ere bein7 ado.ted4 ne! et bombers !ere felt tobe needed2 At !ar<s end t$e RAA and R3A $ad been e=ui..ed !it$ a mi, of



Mos=uitos and B'+ "iberators2 %$e RAA and R3AA4 c$ose t$e 8anberra2 3$ile t$efirst dedicated et bomber !$ic$ !as .roduced .ost !ar4 t$e real c$oice !as made ont$e basis of secret ;m.erial Atomic !ar fi7$tin7 .lans !$ic$ su77ested t$at it !as$i7$ly li(ely in any future Atomic !ar4 t$at t$e UG !ould be obliterated and t$e 5m.ireand 8ommon!ealt$ !ould need to fi7$t on from t$e .eri.$ery2 %$ese .lans4 once$i7$ly secret $a&e since become a footnote of $istory2 %$e Australians< role !as to be

t$e main ;m.erial stri(eforce in t$e Asian re7ion4 utilisin7 Britis$ atomic !ea.ons2RAAR3AA 8anberras based in Malaya !as to .ro&ide t$at force4 .rimarily for usea7ainst 8$ina and t$e U##R<s ar 5astern bases2 %$e result !as t$at t$e RAA andR3AA !ere allocated one s=uadron eac$ of t$e first .roduction batc$es of B2's2 ;naddition4 t$e A @o&ernment Aircraft actory !as 7ranted licenses to .roduce t$e8anberra B2'0 and its trainer deri&ati&es and it entered ser&ice in 19'2

%$e B'+ "iberators ac=uired durin7 t$e !ar !ere to soldier on for some time4 initiallyin t$e Hea&y Bomber role t$ey !ere desi7ned for but increasin7ly as MaritimeReconnaissance aircraft2 ;n 1904 A .ro.osed t$at t$ey be remanufactured into a.ur.ose desi7ned aircraft and so t$e B'+) became t$e B'+)@A !it$ all turretsremo&ed4 a len7t$ened nose4 to allo! t!o ne! obser&er .ositions be$ind t$e bomb

aimer<s4 t!o fi,ed '0mm cannon4 a .ur.ose desi7ned "ei7$ "i7$t installation andsurface searc$ radar2 + #=uadrons4 Nos2 '14 'F J '+ #=uadrons @RAA and No2' @8ityof ert$ R3AA !ere e=ui..ed2 ;n 19+4 t$e R3A "iberators !ere re.laced by#$ac(leton MR2's4 !$ile t$e RAA<s !ere to be re.laced after ederation andAmal7amation !it$ ' Ne.tunes !$ic$ also later re.laced t$e #$ac(letons2

%$e 8AR !as forced to continue !it$ its Mos=uitos for se&eral more years beforec$oosin7 t$e 8anberra as !ell2 Ho!e&er4 its c$oice !as t$e t$e bomberinterdictor&ersion4 t$e B@; M(2C !it$ '/ bein7 .urc$ased and enterin7 ser&ice in early 192

%$e t!o smaller airforces from ictoria and %asmania $ad found it increasin7ly difficultto fund t$eir .rocurement of ne! aircraft and !ere forced to continue on for a..reciably

lon7er !it$ t$e e=ui.ment t$at t$ey $ad finis$ed 33;; !it$2 %$e result !as t$at t$eRA did not recei&e its first et aircraft until 194 ust before ederation andamal7amation !$en it .urc$ased a s=uadron of 8A'* #abres2 Before t$at4 its stren7t$$ad slum.ed considerably to basically t!o s=uadrons of fi7$ters @1D4 one ofbombers @Mos=uitos4 one of flyin7 boats @Bs and anot$er of trans.orts @8+*2%asmania<s lyin7 8or.s !as in an e&en !orse state by 194 !it$ only one s=uadron offi7$ters @1D and one of trans.orts.atrol aircraft @8+* and Bs2



Ricksha#

ie! ublic rofile#end a .ersonal messa7e to Ric(s$a!ind all .osts by Ric(s$a! #"

February 6t! 2"11! "4"9 $%

Ric(s$a!

Member


?a0al 0iation -e0elopments

%$e c$an7in7 nature of !arfare meant ne! ca.abilities !ere sou7$t by t$e AustralianNations2 %$e UG4 des.erate itself to 7enerate forei7n currency reser&es decided t$at t$ese&eral MA)5#%;8 class "i7$t leet 8arriers it $ad laid u. in &arious sta7es ofconstruction at !ar<s end4 !ould be sold2 %$ey offered t$em first to t$e &arious8ommon!ealt$ 8ountries2 %$e RAN !as interested and .urc$ased HM# %5RR;B"54commissionin7 $er as HMA# #ydney in 19+/2 MA)5#%;8 !as .urc$ased at t$e sametime but needed considerably more !or(2 #$e !as to be commissioned muc$ later asHMA# M5"B6URN5 after bein7 u.7raded !it$ ne! tec$nolo7ies and e=ui.ment suc$ ast$e an7led fli7$t dec( and mirror landin7 system2 8anada .urc$ased t!o carriers4MAN;;8AN% and 635RU" @commissioned as HM8# B6NA5N%UR52 ;ndia.urc$ased H5R8U"5#4 commissionin7 $er as ;N# i(rant2 3$en no ta(ers !ere found

for t$e last in t$e class4 "5;A%HAN4 s$e !as offered for 7eneral sale2 %$e 8AR4 &eryinterested in ac=uirin7 a carrier after obser&in7 t$e lessons of t$e acific 3ar sna..ed













$er u. in 19F2 #$e also !as u.7raded !it$ an An7led li7$t Dec( and ot$erim.ro&ements bein7 commissioned as 8AR# "5;A%HAN in early 192

3it$ t$eir .urc$ases of carriers4 bot$ t$e Dominion and t$e 8AR also essentiallyestablis$ed t$eir leet Air Arms2 or t$e RAN4 t$e RAN AA !as initially e=ui..ed !it$Ha!(er #ea uries and airey ireflies2 #DN5 sa! action off Gorea4 earnin7 distinction

for t$e number of sorties flo!n and t$e time on station and one #ea ury e&en do!nedan "a1 @t$e only recorded (ill of t$e ty.e2 %$e #ea uries continued in ser&ice untilt$e late 190s !$en #DN5 !as .aid off before bein7 modernised2 3it$ t$e arri&al ofM5"B6URN5 and t$en "5;A%HAN in 194 t$e et a7e !as us$ered in2 Ho!e&er4 t$ec$oices made by t$e t!o AAs could not $a&e been more different2

%$e An7lo.$ile RAN continued !it$ Britis$ aircraft4 c$oosin7 Ha!(er #ea Ha!(s asfi7$terbombers4 De Ha&illand #ea enoms as all!eat$er fi7$ters and airey annetsfor A#3 !or( and later A53 duties2 %$e 8ARN @8entral Australian Re.ublic Na&y

$o!e&er decided not to .urc$ase Britis$ aircraft but rat$er !$at t$ey .ercei&ed asmuc$ more ca.able U# Na&y aircraft2 ;t c$ose t$e 'H Bans$ee for its fi7$terbomberand t$e AD1 #(yraider as its A#3 and A53 aircraft2 or an all!eat$er fi7$ter4 it o.tedfor t$e FD #(y(ni7$t2



+.< @ea -ingo

3ac(ett4 also mindful of t$e use of t$e /C #abre4 by t$e U# Na&y as t$e )' ury

offered t$e 8A'* and 8A'/ to t$e ne!ly formed 8AN @8ommon!ealt$ of AustralasiaNa&y in 19C to re.lace t$eir first 7eneration4 strai7$t !in7ed ets2 3$ile t$e 8A'* !asseen as not a substantial enou7$ de&elo.ment o&er t$e e,istin7 aircraft in ser&ice4 t$eneed for ne! all!eat$er ca.able fi7$ters !as understood and so it !as decided toado.t t$e 8A'/2 6ffered as a lo!ris( de&elo.ment4 utilisin7 )F !in7s and t$e 8A'/fusela7e4 stressed for carrier arrested landin7s4 t$e de&elo.ment of t$e ne! subty.e!ent =uite smoot$ly and so t$e 8A'9 Sea 4ingo !as created2 5nterin7 ser&ice in 1994on M5"B6URN5 it re.laced t$e #ea enom4 on "5;A%HAN it re.laced t$e #(y(ni7$t2

Ricksha#

ie! ublic rofile#end a .ersonal messa7e to Ric(s$a!ind all .osts by Ric(s$a! #"(

February 6t! 2"11! "415 $%

Ric(s$a!

Member


$olitical de0elopments post war until 1<AA and ederation

19+C $ad brou7$t about t$e end of 33;;2 5arlier t$ou7$4 in late 19+4 t$e !orld $ad













seen t$e formation of t$e United Nations 6r7anisation in a $istorical conference at #anrancisco2 %$e Australian nations4 as ori7inal belli7erents $ad been automaticallyaccorded members$i.2 %$e oint dele7ation from Australia $ad been ener7etic in ta(in7.art in t$e ne7otiations and t$e Dominion<s Minister for 5,ternal Affairs4 H2 2 -Doc-5&att !as instrumental in formulatin7 se&eral .ro.osals !$ic$ bro(e deadloc(s t$at $adoccurred durin7 t$e ne7otiations bet!een t$e lar7e and medium .o!ers2 He !as later

to 7o onto be t$e first resident of t$e UN6<s eneral Assembly2 A stron7 belie&er in t$e udiciary @$e s.ent se&eral terms on t$e N#3 #u.reme 8ourt and t$e Australian Hi7$8ourt<s benc$ and t$e rule of la!4 $e !as a stron7 ad&ocate for t$e conce.ts ofinternational la!2

He !as also not .arado,ically4 an ad&ocate after t$e end of t$e acific 3ar of a stron7lydefended Australia and .ro.osed a rin7 of bases .us$in7 t$e Australian defensi&e.erimeter nort$!ards4 into t$e ;slands around Australia2 %$e (ey .iece !as to be Manus;sland2 Described as t$e -#ca.a lo! of t$e acific- t$e $arbour !as t!ice t$e sie of#ca.a lo! and surrounded by a rin7 of islands in a similar manner it .ro&idedanc$ora7e for t$e entire Britis$ ar 5ast fleet in 19+C2

%$e &ie!s !ere not incom.atible2 Ho!e&er4 !$ile $is efforts in t$e UN met !it$considerable success4 culminatin7 as already mentioned in $is election to t$e residencyof t$e eneral Assembly4 t$e .lan for t$e rin7 of bases !ere $o!e&er to founder on t$eeconomic realities besettin7 t$e &arious Australian nations in t$e .ost!ar !ind do!n2

ost !ar4 !$ile t$e Australian economies !ere in a far better .osition t$an t$e 5uro.eanor Asian ones4 t$ey !ere still beset !it$ .roblems associated !it$ balance of .aymentsdifficulties and a lac( of forei7n e,c$an7e2 ;n addition4 most industrial .lant andmac$inery !as sorely in need of re.lacement because of t$e o&ere,tension t$at $adoccurred durin7 t$e !ar !$ere it !as !or(ed e,cessi&ely to meed !ar needs2

%$is $urt t$e smaller nations muc$ !orse t$an t$e lar7er ones2 All t$ou7$4 !ere

.rimarily A7ricultural based2 %$e 7o&ernments of t$e day sou7$t to ca.italise on t$eindustrial de&elo.ment t$at $ad occurred durin7 t$e !ar2 %$e Dominion4 in .articularsou7$t to increase it<s industrial out.ut and started to out .roduce bot$ t$e 8AR and3estern Australia2 6nly t$e Dominion $o!e&er !as successful in its efforts to di&ersify2ossessin7 e,cellent iron and coal de.osits4 it $ad establis$ed foundries at Ne!castleand 3ollon7on74 e&en before t$e turn of t$e '0t$ century2 ;n t$e late 19+0s4 as .art oft$e aforementioned secret ;m.erial Atomic 3ar .lans4 it $ad also be7un buildin7 t$e#no!y Mountains 5lectrical #c$eme !$ic$ !as to .ro&ide it !it$ massi&e amounts ofelectricity re=uired for Atomic !ea.ons .roduction2 3$ile t$is !as ne&er to come [email protected] because of Britis$ desire to instead buy into American nuclear secrets4 it !asto .ro&ide an e,cellent s.rin7board for industry alon7 t$e 5astern seaboard of t$econtinent2

5ac$ of t$e ot$er nations found t$emsel&es s.ecialisin72 ;n .articular4 t$e 8AR undert$e careful ste!ards$i. of its lon7runnin7 rime Minister4 %om layford found t$at it!as able to attract business for !$ite 7oods manufacture and t$e car industry @notsur.risin7 really4 as Holdens $ad be7un life .rimarily as a car manufacturer at ortAdelaide at t$e turn of t$e '0t$ century based on t$e e,cellent iron ore and coalde.osits near #.encer ulf2 ictoria mana7ed to attract t$e car industry in t$e form oford motor com.any4 buildin7 a lar7e factory alt$ou7$ it $ad to im.ort steel to do itfrom t$e ot$er nations on t$e continent2 3estern Australia<s economy !as mainly.rimary industry based @!$eat4 !ool and minin74 .rimarily 7old2 #lo!ly t$e s.iders ofcommerce be7an to dra! t$e Australian nations closer in a !eb of trade2

Because of trans.ort .roblems of differin7 rail 7au7es4 t$is !as more des.ite4 t$anbecause of bein7 situated on t$e one continent2 %$e Dominion $ad t!o 7au7es narro!@F<C in ueensland and standard @+</ in Ne! #out$ 3ales2 ictoria luc(ily !as broad



7au7e @<F-2 %$e 8AR $ad t!o 7au7es narro! @F<C and broad @<F2 3esternAustralia !as .rimarily narro! @F<C 7au7ed !it$ a &ery small amount of standard@+</ 7au7e and %asmania !as all narro! @F<C-2 %$ere !as no lin(4 eit$er bet!eent$e 3est and t$e 5ast4 nor t$e #out$ and t$e Nort$ @t$e 8AR<s narro! 7au7e line onlyreac$ed as far nort$ as Alice #.rin7s !$ile anot$er line stretc$ed from Dar!in4sout$!ards to Adelaide Ri&er2 %$is brea( of 7au7e .roblem re=uired all 7oods to

eit$er be unloaded and reloaded at national borders or s.ecial lines to be laid @suc$ ast$e broad 7au7e lin( bet!een t$e 8AR and ictoria2 3$ile t$ere !ere e,tensi&e roads4most !ere unsealed and in t$e case of t$e 8AR<s lin( to Dar!in $ad until 33;; beenlar7ely none,istent as far as $ea&y traffic !as concernedL %$e result !as an increasin7reliance on coastal s$i..in72 Durin7 t$e !ar4 t$e dan7ers and difficulties t$at t$is.resented $ad not 7one unremar(ed u.on by t$e Australians< Allies and eneralMacart$ur in .articular $ad been most dis.ara7in7 about it in discussions !it$ t$eo&ernments< re.resentati&es on more t$an one occasion2 #ome of t$e earliestinternational a7reements bet!een t$e nations $ad concerned t$e rail 7au7e .roblem2;ndeed4 it still bede&ils t$em to some de7ree e&en in t$e '1st century but t$at isbeyond t$e sco.e of t$is article2

#lo!ly t$e 5conomies im.ro&ed2 %$e Gorean 3ar in .articular $ad .ro&ed a boon4causin7 a massi&e sur7e in !ool .rices2 As all of t$e Australian economies rode on t$es$ee.<s bac(4 as it !as once .ut4 all benefited but t$ere !as anot$er slum. !$en t$eGorean 3ar ended2 3$at t$is meant !as t$at t$ere !as little money and e&en lessforei7n e,c$an7e to fritter on !$at !ere .ercei&ed as unnecessary frills2 3$en ne!military e=ui.ment !as .urc$ase .rimarily aircraft license manufacture !ere sou7$t2

%$e mo&e to!ards some form of .olitical amal7amation started durin7 t$e 3arcontinued4 alt$ou7$ !it$out t$e immediate t$reat t$at t$e )a.anese $ad .resented4 it!as lar7ely a bac(7round issue2 %$e #ecretariat4 establis$ed under t$e ANEA8 .act of19++ did muc$4 7ood !or(4 be$ind t$e scenes2 5fforts !ere made to 7ain a7reement

!it$out ma(in7 t$e issue an o&ert one2 ;n t$e case of ra.idly risin7 8old 3ar tensions4t$is !as .er$a.s t$e best strate7y2 A conference of all nations !as $eld first in 19+/2 ;t!as inclusi&e but t$ere !as sufficient 7ood !ill for t$e effort to continue2 Anot$er !as$eld in 1904 ust before t$e outbrea( of t$e Gorean 3ar2

5ac$ of t$e Nations in t$e meantime .ursued4 as already mentioned4 t$eir o!n a7endas.articularly !it$ re7ard to forei7n .olicies2 %$e Dominion4 7ras.in7 t$at t$e UG !as nolon7er able or interested in .ro&idin7 a defence 7uarantee to its far flun7 formercolonies in t$e #out$ acific2 %$is resulted in t$e Dominion<s 7o&ernment turnin7 to t$eUnited #tates2 %$e United #tates4 sa! t$at in order to 7ain ac=uiescence to a soft.eace !it$ )a.an4 !$ic$ !as ra.idly s$a.in7 u. as t$e U#<s main Nort$ern Asianbul!ar( a7ainst t$e a77ressi&e #o&iet Union4 it !ould need to 7rant Australian and Ne!

Eealand<s desires for a defence .act as a =uid .ro =uo2 ;t also sa! to its ad&anta7e toinclude %$e Re.ublic of ictoria in t$ese ne7otiations4 as a counter!ei7$t to t$e t!oDominions !it$ its .roAmerican &ie!.oint2 3$en )o$n oster Dulles4 U# #ecretary of#tate &isited #ydney to ne7otiate t$e #ecurity act it !as said after!ards4 ; !ouldn<tcall !$at !ent on as ne7otiation2 5ssentially Dulles laid do!n t$e la! and told t$eot$er .artici.ants !$at t$e U# !as !illin7 to acce.t in suc$ a treaty2

%$e Dominion<s Minister for 5,ternal Affairs4 ercy #.ender $ad !anted a NA%6li(e7uarantee t$at an attac( on one si7natory !ould constitute an attac( on all si7natories2%$e Ne! Eealand Minister rederic( Doi7e .referred t$at suc$ a clause not be included4for fear of $is nation bein7 dra77ed into !ars !$ic$ did not concern it directly2 ictoria!as $a..y merely to be t$ere2 Dulles .referred t$at no suc$ clause be included4 mindfulof t$e criticisms le&elled at t$e Administration .re&iously about t$e NA%6 treaty by8on7ress !$ic$ $ad .ercei&ed it as ne7atin7 its !ar ma(in7 .o!ers2



;n t$e end4 as it !as t$e United #tates !$ic$ !as 7i&in7 t$is 7uarantee4 it !as t$eAmerican formula !$ic$ !as ado.ted2 Ho!e&er4 eac$ 7o&ernment left4 belie&in7 t$at all!ere in a7reement as to t$e inter.retation of t$e all im.ortant clause4 Article ;;;:

uote:%$e arties !ill consult to7et$er !$ene&er in t$e o.inion of any of t$em t$e territorialinte7rity4 .olitical inde.endence or security of any of t$e arties is t$reatened in t$eacific2

;n reality4 eac$ too( &ery different ideas of !$at t$at meant a!ay !it$ t$em2 er$a.st$e 7reatest difference !as bet!een t$at of t$e Dominion and t$e United #tates2#.ender belie&ed it meant t$at Australia $ad an ironclad 7uarantee of defence2 Dulles(ne! t$ere !as none2 %$is difference !as to bede&il AustralianU# relations for decadesto come2

3estern Australia $ad failed to 7ras. t$e UG<s inability to come to its aid2 %$e fe! &isitsby t$e ar 5astern leet of t$e RN durin7 t$e !ar $ad reassured 3estern Australians2%$ey belie&ed it<s .resence in t$e ;ndian 6cean $ad deterred t$e )a.anese fromfollo!in7 u. t$e ad&anta7e t$ey $ad 7ained !$en t$ey $ad raided ert$ in Au7ust

19+'2 %$ey t$erefore encoura7ed t$e RN to base s$i.s in ert$ and constructed ane,tensi&e anc$ora7e at arden ;sland4 ust sout$ of remantle2 3estern Australia alsoestablis$ed a roc(et ran7e and nuclear testin7 7round dee. in its interior at "a&erton4nort$ of Gal7oorlie2 %$e UG4 ta(in7 ad&anta7e of t$is conducted many e,.eriments andse&eral nuclear tests bot$ t$ere and offs$ore in t$e Monte Bello ;slands2 At one .oint4 it!as .ro.osed t$at a s=uadron of ulcan bombers be stationed in 3estern Australia toenable U##R ar 5astern and 8$inese mainland tar7ets to be attac(ed but it didn<te&entuate2

%$e 8entral Australian Re.ublic4 on t$e ot$er$and4 .ursued its .olicy of armedneutrality2 ;t $ad no desire to be dra!n into t$e 8old 3ar on eit$er side and (e.t bot$at arm<s len7t$2 ;t became a (een member of t$e United Nations and su..orted its aims

and efforts as muc$ as it could2 ;t also became in&ol&ed in &arious liberationmo&ements in Asia most notably t$at of ;ndonesia durin7 its brief !ar of inde.endencefrom t$e Dutc$2 ;t refused to load s$i.s and its union mo&ement con&inced t$e-3$arfies- @#te&edores not to load s$i.s bound for t$e N5; in ot$er Australian.orts2 3$en resident #u(arno subse=uently defeated t$e Dutc$4 $e loo(ed &eryfa&ourably on t$e 8AR in a..reciation of its $el. in freein7 $is country2 Ho!e&er4 as !e!ill see t$is still did not .re&ent conflict from occurrin7 bet!een Australia and t$eRe.ublic of ;ndonesia2

ictoria continued to loo( to!ards t$e United #tates2 ;t de&elo.ed e,tensi&e trade and.olitical ties to 3as$in7ton2 #eein7 it as bein7 a lar7er &ersion of itself and fre=uently!elcomed U# Na&al s$i.s to Melbourne on e,tensi&e fleet &isits2 %$e United #tates !as

flattered4 findin7 its ser&icemen !elcomed and fre=uent su..ort for its forei7n .olicy in!$at !as soon nic(named -"ittle U#A- by many American .oliticians and bureaucrats2

"ittle %asmania4 isolated became insular and isolationist4 lar7ely !it$dra!in7 from any.olitical contact e,ce.t !it$ ictoria and its e,tensi&e a7ricultural trade !it$ 5uro.e2;ndeed it !as t$e only Australian nation to not see a substantial increase in its.o.ulation t$rou7$out t$e .ost!ar .eriod2

%$is no! brin7s us to t$e issue of ;mmi7ration2 Most Australians reco7nised t$ey !ere asmall .o.ulation on a lar7e4 lar7ely em.ty continent2 Mindful of $o! t$e indi7enousin$abitants $ad been dis.ossessed of t$eir in$eritance because of t$eir small .o.ulationand lo! le&el of tec$nolo7ical de&elo.ment4 t$e 3$ite colonists decided u.on a .olicy of

en$anced4 assisted mi7ration after 33;;2 3e $a&e already discussed one famousmi7rant4 Gurt %an( and $is contributions2 Durin7 t$e 1 years after 33;;4 t$ere !as amassi&e immi7ration .ro7ramme entered into by all of t$e Australian nations4 e,ce.t



ind all .osts by Ric(s$a! #"+

February 6t! 2"11! "416 $%

Ric(s$a!

Member

)oin Date: Dec'00*

osts: +11The @econd al o the 1<A5s ; $ost%ederation

+ommonwealth o ustralasia ir orce B+C

malgamation

After ederation4 t$e ne! 8AA !as faced !it$ t$e .roblems .resented of a lar7e4$etero7eneous fleet of aircraft2 Rationalisation !as t$e first order of t$e day in order toreduce costs and im.ro&e ser&iceability2 ;t !as decided to standardise on t$e 8A'* and8A'/ for fi7$ters2 %$e ob&ious c$oice for t$e bomber role !as t$e 8anberra in its&arious 7uises2 or ot$er roles a series of rationalisation and re.lacement .roects !ere

announced2

Anot$er issue !as t$e matter of ne! mar(in7s2 %$e 8$ief of t$e Air #taff4 Air Mars$al#ir )o$n atric( )ose.$ Mc8auley4 too( t$e radical ste. of callin7 u.on t$e 8AA<sser&in7 members for t$eir ideas of $o! t$e ne! aircraft s$ould be mar(ed2 Acom.etition !as $eld and desi7ns submitted2 %$e !inner !as decided by ballot amon7stt$e ser&in7 members2 %$e !inner c$osen !as by li7$t #er7eant Harold %$omas4 one oft$e fe! ;ndi7enous Australians in t$e ne! nation<s armed ser&ices2 ;t incor.oratedse&eral iconic features of Anti.odean life - a yello! oc$re Gan7aroo boundin7 across anred oc$re landsca.e4 !it$ t$e #out$ern 8ross constellation in t$e blac( ni7$t s(y2Unusually4 a s=uare s$a.e !as c$osen2 His ne.$e!4 Harold )ose.$ %$omas !as to usesimilar colours and elements !$en $e later desi7ned t$e Abori7inal la7 in 19*12

+ompeting Entries or a new )arking or the +"

The Winning Entr*

6r7anisationally and doctrinally4 t$e 8AA became &ery muc$ under t$e influence of t$ecadre of senior RAA officers !$o manoeu&red t$emsel&es into .ositions t$at allo!edt$em to essentially sta7e a -ta(e o&er-2 %$is bred a 7reat deal of resentment amon7stt$e ot$er airforces !$ic$ made u. t$e bul( of t$e ne! 8AA2 Morale suffered anddissension !as a real .roblem for t$e first fe! years4 !it$ se&eral officers and #N86sneedin7 to be .ublicly made e,am.les of2 3$ile t$is $ad lar7ely died do!n by 1994 t$e.roblems of t$e 19C0 3est Ne! uinea dis.ute and its raised tensions in t$e re7ion

finally sol&ed it2









+%=/ replacement

3$ile t$e 8AA $ad more t$an sufficient 8+*s after amal7amation for its needs4 t$eir

a7e and t$e increasin7 demands of lon7 ran7e o&erseas de.loyments to Ne! uineaand Malaya4 as !ell as .otential future needs sa! t$e idea de&elo. t$at t$e role s$ould



be s.lit in t!o a lar7e4 strate7ic trans.ort and a smaller4 tactical one2 An Air #taffRe=uirement @?? !as issued in 19/ for a Hea&y %rans.ort and a %actical %rans.ortaircraft2

#e&eral manufacturers tendered t$eir .roducts for selection2 "oc($eed t$e 81F0Hercules4 #$orts t$e Belfast4 Dou7las bot$ t$e 81F' 8ar7o$auler and t$e 81FF

8ar7omaster4 Blac(burn t$e Be&erley and a Be&erley follo! on e=ui..ed !it$turbo.ro.s4 rat$er t$an .iston en7ines4 Armstron7 3$it!ort$ t$e Ar7osy and Nord t$eirNoratlas2 After careful consideration t$e 8AA decided t$at t$e 81F0 !ould be ideal fort$e lar7er aircraft4 offerin7 a lar7er ca.acity t$an t$e 8+* !it$ t$e ease of loadin7 t$erear ram. offered and t$e ability to o.erate from s$ort4 rou7$ airstri.s2 %$e ot$ers !ereeliminated as unsuitable because of bein7 too lar7e or lac(in7 rou7$ field .erformance@81F'4 81FF4 Belfast or unsuitable en7ines4 .erformance or desi7n @Noratlas4 Ar7osy4Be&erley2 %$is did not .re&ent Dou7las t$ou7$4 attem.tin7 to clinc$ t$e deal bysendin7 t$e sole 81F' .rototy.e do!nunder in RAA colours in late 19/2 %$at t$ey!ere t$e !ron7 mar(in7s did not endear t$e com.any to anybody2 %$e 81F0A !asinitially ado.ted4 later com.limented by 5 and H &ersions2

or t$e tactical aircraft4 se&eral manufacturers tendered t$eir aircraft for selection2 DeHa&illand 8anada offered t$e DH8+ 8aribou2 A&ro t$eir *+/ desi7n modified for militaryuse !it$ initially a side car7o door and later a M(2' redesi7ned !it$ a rear ram. and(neelin7 undercarria7e2 o((er offered t$eir '* desi7n !it$ a lar7e side car7o door2Handley a7e t$e Dart &ersion of t$eir Herald modified !it$ a rear loadin7 ram.2 %$e!inner !as t$e DH8+ 8aribou2 %$e ot$ers !ere reected as $a&in7 eit$er insufficient.erformance in #%6" o.erations @A&ro *+/4 '* or also re=uirin7 considerably furt$erde&elo.ment @A&ro *+/4 Dart Herald to matc$ t$e DH8+<s car7o loadin7 ability2 %$eDH8+ 8aribou !as to soldier on !it$ t$e 8AA for 0 years4 s$o!in7 $o! !ise a c$oice

it $ad been2

The ?eed or @peed % the search or new trainers

%$e 8AA $ad in$erited from t$e Australian Airforces a $od7e.od7e of trainer aircraftran7in7 from bi.lanes t$rou7$ to t!oseat &ariants of fi7$ter aircraft2 %$is fleet !asob&iously difficult to maintain and failed to offer !$at !as belie&ed to be re=uired in amodern airforce2 %$e 3irra!ays !$ic$ $ad soldiered on since t$e !ar !ere failin7 to.roduce .ilots of t$e calibre re=uired for t$e $i7$ .erformance et aircraft !$ic$ t$e8AA fle!2 "oo(in7 o&erseas t$e 8AA obser&ed t$at most air forces !ere ado.tin7 alo!.erformance initial trainer4 usually .iston .o!ered and a muc$ $i7$er.erformancead&anced trainer in&ariable et .o!ered2 %$e RA $o!e&er !as tal(in7 about ado.tin7

t$e radical idea of an all et syllabus for its trainee .ilots2 %$e 8AA felt t$at !ould betoo e,.ensi&e and decided to s.lit t$e trainin7 syllabus alon7 t$e lines t$at most ot$er



air forces $ad2 ;t created an Air #taff Re=uirement for t$e t!o trainers in 19C02

or t$e .ro.eller .o!ered initial trainer4 t$e 8A8 3ineel @Abori7inal for oun7 5a7le!as c$osen2 ;t conformed4 !it$ its t$ree .lace coc(.it @instructor and t!o trainees tot$e 8AA<s ideas on .ilot trainin7 t$an any ot$er t!o seat trainer !$ic$ !as a&ailable2

or t$e ad&anced )et %rainer4 t$e com.etition !as bet!een t$e )et ro&ost4 t$e )etBalliol4 t$e ou7a Ma7ister4 8essna %F* and Aermacc$i !it$ t$eir MBF'C2 %$e 8essna %F* !on t$e tender4 .rimarily because it !as c$ea. to o.erate and maintain and itfeatured sidebyside seatin74 similar to t$e 3ineel2 A !as 7ranted t$e license and.roduced 110 of t$em4 !it$ t$em enterin7 ser&ice in 19C12 %$e 8AA named t$eir %F*<s iDirrigaa @Abori7inal for -Bud7eri7ar-2 ;t !as .roduced under license by 8A82

;n 19C4 in li7$t of increasin7 re7ional tensions4 a furt$er ' !ere built by 8A8 asad&anced !ea.ons trainers and li7$t stri(e aircraft2 %$e !in7s !ere stren7t$ened andfour $ard .oints !ere added eac$ stressed to 00 lbs2 %$e outer t!o !ere !ired for#ide!inder AAM and t!o *2C'mm mac$ine7uns !ere added4 $oused in t$e fusela7enose !it$ 4000 rounds !$ile t$e en7ines !ere re.laced !it$ more .o!erful ones4 )/s

to co.e !it$ t$e e,tra !ei7$ts2 %$e 8AA named t$e ne! &ersion t$e %AF*+umur"alyn @Abori7inal for -Dra7onfly-2 %$e U#A4 startin7 to become in&ol&ed int$e ietnam 3ar ordered a similar aircraft for 86;N !arfare as t$e AF* Dra7onfly4 after8essna usin7 t$e (no!led7e 7ained in t$e 8A8 modifications offered it to t$em2

3it$ t$ese .urc$ases it !as t$en .ossible to create a unified and co$erent syllabus4leadin7 trainees t$rou7$ from initial to ad&anced flyin72

Ricksha#

ie! ublic rofile

#end a .ersonal messa7e to Ric(s$a!ind all .osts by Ric(s$a! #",

February 6t! 2"11! "418 $%

Ric(s$a!

Member


ddenda o%1A5 Buuli -e0elopment

%$e first .rototy.e Holden Ho10&1 ,uuli fle! in No&ember 19+94 follo!ed by t!oadditional <s$ortbodied< .rototy.es @&' and &F in as many mont$s2 5arly trials s$o!ed7ood $andlin7 and .erformance but t$e desi7n !as criticised for .oor directionalsteerin74 tendin7 to -$unt- or -sna(e- at s.eed and it<s lac( of endurance2 lumbin7t$e !in7s for dro. tan(s !as .lanned from t$e outset but a more radical fi, !as













Unfortunately a mature AAM did not emer7e2 Most .romisin7 !as t$e 9 @an e&olutionof t$e !artime RGF+++ de&elo.ed by Dr2 Ma, Gramer at Hein(el Australia2 %ests!ere successful but t$e !ire7uided 9 re=uired a tail .ursuit and t$e missile !as littlefaster t$an t$e ,uuli fi7$ter !$ic$ !as to carry it2

%rut$ be told4 !it$ t$e outbrea( of !ar in Gorea4 t$e 8ARA lost interest in a $i7$s.eedbomber interce.tors and !is$ed t$e ,uuli de&elo.ed as a 7unarmed do7fi7$ter2 Airtoair missile de&elo.ment !as 7i&en a lo! .riority in t$e 8AR as !ere roc(et motors @t$eroc(et intended for t$e Ho10D1 .ro7ressed only as far as a trial installation in acon&erted Hein(el HA110% trainer2

%$e blister belly tan( also .ro&ed a disa..ointment2 %$e smaller &ersion @as !ould beused on t$e Ho10D1 !as trialfitted to t$e fourt$ Ho10A02 Unfortunately t$isde&elo.ment aircraft $ad a $istory of $ydraulic .roblems2 %$e blister tan( !as fitted tot$is Ho10A0 durin7 t$e t$ird 7earu. landin7 of its s$ort life2 6nce it !as clear t$att$e internal structure of t$e belly tan( !ould brea( a ,uuli <s bac( in t$e e&ent of anemer7ency landin74 t$e blister tan( conce.t !as abandoned2

Ricksha#

ie! ublic rofile#end a .ersonal messa7e to Ric(s$a!ind all .osts by Ric(s$a! #"-

February 9t! 2"11! "2"" P%

Ric(s$a!

Member

)oin Date: Dec'00*

osts: +11Remember Eureka! % $art & ; 1<'5 to 1</5

The 1<'5s ; )iniskirts2 ,uerrillas and Operation ))ER

;nternationally4 t$e !orld !as 7ri..ed in t$e 8old 3ar4 t$e lon7 stand off bet!een t$eUnited #tates and its allies and t$e #o&iet Union and its allies2 Most of t$e e&ents in t$at!ar !ere remote from t$e ne! 8ommon!ealt$ of Australasia2 Ho!e&er4 t$ey !ere alsoreflected in t$e stru77le bet!een t$e sub&ersi&e forces of 8ommunism and t$eattem.ts by t$e ne! o&ernment to su..ress t$em2 ;nternationally4 Australasia founditself increasin7ly becomin7 in&ol&ed in crises in its immediate re7ion2

The West ?ew ,uinea -ispute and +onrontation

%o t$e immediate Nort$4 ;ndonesia $ad4 $ad its o!n .roblems t$rou7$ t$e early 190s!it$ se&eral secessionist mo&ements attem.tin7 to brea( a!ay2 ercei&ed by many int$e 3est as eit$er an outri7$t 8ommunist or a 8ommunist ello!%ra&eller4 #u(arnoslo!ly brou7$t most of t$e ;ndonesia arc$i.ela7o under t$e firm control of )a(arta2 6ne.art4 !$ic$ $e considered an inte7ral .art of ;ndonesia !$ic$ $ad not been included att$e time of inde.endence !as 3est Ne! uinea2 %$e Net$erlands $ad lon7administered it as a se.arate colony and et$nolo7ically4 en&ironmentally and culturally it!as &ery different2 %$e Dominion of Australia $ad controlled t$e 5astern $alf of t$e;sland basically since 33; !$en it $ad added t$e Nort$ern coast to its #out$ern coastcolony of a.ua after seiin7 it from ermany in t$e o.enin7 !ee(s of t$at !ar2

#u(arno t$rou7$out 19/ $ad become more strident in $is demands t$at 3est Ne!uinea be added to $is nation2 %$e 8ommon!ealt$4 alarmed at t$e idea of s$arin7 a













common land border !it$ !$at it .ercei&ed as a 8ommunist nation !it$ its .otential forfomentin7 misc$ief in t$e adacent Australian territory2 %$e Net$erlands !as initiallyun!illin7 to $and o&er 3est Ne! uinea to #u(arno4 ta(in7 its colonial res.onsibilitiesseriously2 Australia encoura7ed t$is4 as did 3as$in7ton4 bein7 $ostile to #u(arno<s leftistcredentials2

%$e scene !as set for a confrontation2 %$e Dutc$ sailed a na&al tas( force to deter any.otential a77ression from #u(arno2 %$e 8arrier GAR5" D66RMAN and se&eraldestroyers arri&ed in Ne! uinea !aters in Marc$ 1992 Australia<s le&el of belli7erencerose4 !it$ M5"B6URN5 AND "5;A%HAN and ot$er units bot$ of t$e 8AA and 8ANta(in7 .art in oint e,ercises4 in and around t$e island of Ne! uinea2 %$e Net$erlands.romoted t$e idea of amal7amatin7 t$e t$ree se.arate colonies on t$e island a.ua4Ne! uinea and Dutc$ Ne! uinea2 %$ey renamed t$e colony 3est Ne! uinea inorder to attract Australian su..ort for t$e .lan2 Bro(en Hill !as4 at least initially4 (eenon t$e idea2

3as$in7ton $o!e&er a..eared to be reconsiderin7 its .osition2 3$at !as not (no!n inBro(en Hill or %$e Ha7ue !as t$at t$e U# Na&y !as de&elo.in7 and .lannin7 to de.loy

t$e olaris submarine launc$ed missile2 %$e U# Na&y4 !$o<s main acific fleetsubmarine base !as in uam (ne! t$at in order to attac( #o&iet central Asian tar7ets it!ould need to sail its submarines t$rou7$ t$e c$o(e .oint t$at t$e ;ndonesianarc$i.ela7o re.resented to launc$ t$em from t$e ;ndian 6cean2 urt$er4 t$e lon7 termeconomic .lans for )a.an<s rede&elo.ment sa! ;ndonesia as an ob&ious source for ra!materials2 3as$in7ton be7an to bac(.eddle2 %$e Dutc$4 alarmed at t$e sudden lac( ofsu..ort and t$e increasin7 costs of t$e e,tended de.loyment of most of its main fleetunits to t$e #out$3est acific !it$dre! t$e GAR5" D66RMAN and its escorts bac( tot$e Net$erlands in Marc$ 19C02 %$e Australians4 feelin7 increasin7ly isolated as(ed3as$in7ton for a clarification on t$e ANEU# treaty on 1 Au7ust 19C0 about a .ossibleattac( on Australian forces in t$e Ne! uinea area Australia unsure if t$e treatyconsidered Ne! uinea a .art of t$e acific2 3as$in7ton delayed until December4

a!aitin7 t$e outcome of t$e residential elections of t$at year2 3it$ t$e election of )o$n2 Gennedy4 t$e incomin7 resident on t$e ad&ice of t$e U# De.artment of #tatedeclared t$at it did not consider Ne! uinea to be .art of t$e acific for t$e .ur.osesof t$e ANEU# %reaty2

Bro(en Hill4 !orried at t$e .ossibility t$at it mi7$t be facin7 ;ndonesia alone4 !it$outt$e bac(in7 of its main security 7uarantor or an ally suc$ as t$e Dutc$ $ad to do anembarrassin7 bac( fli.2 %$e bitter lessons learnt !ere t$reefold2 %$e first and .er$a.st$e most im.ortant !as t$at di.lomatic .osturin7 !it$out t$e means to bac( it is.ointless2 %$e second !as t$at !it$out t$e bac(in7 of t$e U#A4 Australian forces !eretotally inade=uate to !a7e an a77ressi&e !ar in its re7ion2 inally4 it also a..eared t$at3as$in7ton !as losin7 interest in t$e Asiaacific re7ion2 5&ents in 5uro.e4 its

increasin7ly direct conflict !it$ t$e #o&iet Union t$ere4 a..eared to be distractin7 itfrom Australia<s interests2 All of t$ese factors !ere to colour Australia<s forei7n .olicy fort$e ne,t +0 years2

Australasia t$ou7$4 !as still faced !it$ !$at a..eared to be an increasin7ly a77ressi&e#u(arno4 strident in $is calls for amal7amation of 3est Ne! uinea into ;ndonesia2 %$eDutc$ !ere des.erately searc$in7 for !$at is no! (no!n as an e,it strate7y2 Bro(enHill basically sto..ed ma(in7 .ronouncements on t$e issue in t$e $o.e t$at it !ould befor7otten in Australia2 ;t !asn<t in )a(arta2

;n 19C14 ;ndia marc$ed into oa and anne,ed it and ot$er remainin7 ortu7uesecolonies on t$e subcontinent2 #u(arno4 ta(in7 $is lead from t$at decided to act a7ainstt$e remainin7 im.erial .ossession on $is border2 ;n December 19C14 #u(arno launc$edan effort to in&ade Dutc$ Ne! uinea2 ;n )anuary 19C'4 t$ree 8+*s attem.t to land *0.aratroo.ers !$o intended to act as 7uerrillas2 All !ere eit$er arrested or (illed !it$in a



t$e mission to start only on 'C Au7ust2 Ne&ert$eless4 t$e UN e,.ected t$e referendumre.ort to be .ublis$ed by 1+ #e.tember 19CF2P+Q

Ho!e&er4 Nort$ Borneo and #ara!a(4 antici.atin7 a .roMalaysia result4 declaredinde.endence on t$e si,t$ anni&ersary of Merde(a Day4 F1 Au7ust 19CF4 before t$eresults of t$e &ote !ere re.orted2P+Q 6n 1+ #e.tember4 t$e result enabled t$e creation

of Malaysia !$ic$ $ad been a7reed u.on by all member states on 1C #e.tember 19CF2%$e ;ndonesian 7o&ernment sa! t$is as a bro(en .romise and as e&idence of Britis$im.erialism2

resident #u(arno $ad stated in at least four .ublic s.eec$es in 19CFC+ t$at;ndonesia $ad no territorial ambitions o&er Nort$ Galimantan4 and t$at ;ndonesia<sterritorial .ursuit !as com.leted !it$ t$e return of 3est ;rian in )anuary 19CF2Ne&ert$eless t$e ;ndonesian name for t$e territory Galimantan Utara $ad t$e sameform as t$e names of ;ndonesia<s Galimantan .ro&inces2 urt$ermore4 later e&ents in5ast %imor demonstrated t$at influential elements in ;ndonesia did as.ire to t$ee,tension of ;ndonesian territory2

Ho!e&er4 !$ile #u(arno made no direct claims to incor.orate nort$ern Borneo into;ndonesian Galimantan $e sa! t$e formation of Malaysia as an obstacle to $is dreamsof Ma.$ilindo4 a Malay em.ire co&erin7 Malaya4 $ili..ines and ;ndonesia2PQ %$e$ili..ine .resident !as not initially o..osed to t$is idea but4 !$ile t$e $ili..ines didnot en7a7e in $ostilities4 t$ey did brea( off di.lomatic relations !it$ Malaysia2

Bot$ t$e UG and Australia !ere becomin7 increasin7ly alarmed at t$ese de&elo.ments2%$e UG4 mindful of !$at $ad $a..ened bot$ in #ue and to t$e Dutc$ in 3est Ne!uinea decided to act decisi&ely2 ;t called u.on t$e 8ommon!ealt$ of Australasia forcontributions to a force intended to .rotect Malaysia and deter furt$er ;ndonesiana77ression2 %$e 8A offered a battalion of troo.s and a s=uadron eac$ of fi7$terbombers and maritime .atrol aircraft4 as !ell as t$e 8AN carrier M5"B6URN5 insu..ort2 %$ese forces !ere acce.ted and de.loyed to initially Butter!ort$ in late 19C+2

%$ey !ere t$en sent on!ards to Nort$ern Borneo in early 19C as t$e situationdeteriorated in t$e face of furt$er efforts of ;ndonesia to destabilise t$e Nort$ Borneostates by t$e continued infiltration of 7uerrillas2

1 #=uadron @i7$ters and ' #=uadron @MR immediately be7an .atrols2 ' #=uadron!as in&ol&ed on its first .atrol in interce.tin7 an attem.t by t$e ;ndonesians to infiltratetroo.s by boat into t$e Nort$ern Borneo states2 %$ey &ectored a RN .atrol boat tointerce.t !$ic$ after a brief 7un battle destroyed t$e boat and a..re$ended t$einfiltrators2 After t$is4 t$ey !ent from success4 to success2 1 #=uadron on t$e ot$er$andfound t$eir Mira7es unsuitable for t$e tas( assi7ned to t$em of .atrollin7 andsu..ortin7 t$e Australian bri7ade en7a7ed in .atrollin7 t$e border and .re&entin7;ndonesian infiltrators from 7ettin7 across it2 %$ey !ere too fast and found it difficult to

follo! t$e t!istin74 turnin7 border4 $i7$ in t$e mountainous terrain2 ;n mid19C t$edecision !as ta(en to !it$dra! t$em and re.lace t$eir aircraft !it$ 8A'*s !$ic$ !erestill a!aitin7 dis.osal2 A $urried effort mana7ed to 7et 1/ 8A'*s bac( into ser&ice2 %$ey.ro&ed more suitable once t$ey !ere rede.loyed to Borneo in late 19C2



CAAF Mirage, Borneo early 1965

PiQPbQ8AA 8A'* A&on #abre4 Borneo late 19C

%$e UG o&ernment in No&ember 19C+ $ad decided t$at t$e ad&ice .ro&ided by itsser&ice c$iefs of $o! best to deal !it$ ;ndonesia s$ould be follo!ed2 ;t desired to end$is a77ression once and for all2 "ondon discussed t$e matter !it$ Bro(en Hill and bot$a7reed t$at a sled7e$ammer li(e blo!4 destroyin7 most of t$e ;ndonesian militaryforces in one $it4 !ould sto. #u(arno in $is trac(s2 After consultation !it$ 3as$in7ton4it !as a7reed t$at t$is !ould be com.letely a 8ommon!ealt$ of Nations s$o!4 !it$3as$in7ton (ee.in7 it as muc$ as .ossible at arms distance because of its o!n needs

to court ;ndonesia2 %$e .lans $o!e&er did re=uire t$e United #tates to allo! t$e RA too&erfly its territory and land in Ha!aii en route to Australia2 %$is !as 7i&en2 ;n return4t$e U# .romised to de.loy more troo.s and aircraft to 5uro.e to co&er t$e UG<s NA%6commitments2

6rders !ere 7i&en2 6n F )anuary4 DDay !as set for 1 December 19C for 6.erationHAMM5R2 re.arations be7an2 %$e 8AA started by announcin7 t$at e,ercises !ould be$eld in Nort$ern Australia2 atently aimed at ;ndonesia4 t$ey !ere to consist of t$emo&ement of aircraft4 s$i.s and troo.s in and around t$e %o. 5nd of Australia2 ;nreality t$ey !ere actually to .ro&ide a co&er for t$e .re.arations for DDay2 art of t$at!as t$e secret reacti&ation of %ruscott Airstri.4 situated in t$e Gimberly t$at $ad been asecret aerodrome from !$ic$ attac(s $ad been mounted a7ainst t$e )a.anese

occu.ation of t$e Net$erlands 5ast ;ndies2 %!o 8AA Airfield 8onstruction #=uadronsand an Army 8onstruction #=uadron !or(ed frantically to 7et t$e Airstri. ready2 %$e



run!ay !as e,tended and surfaced2 Dis.ersal .ens .re.ared and fuel and bomb storeseit$er re$abilitated and e,tended or constructed ane! and e&eryt$in7 camoufla7ed2A..roac$ roads !ere re.aired and stren7t$ened2 %$e result !as !$at !as to become(no!n as a barebones base2

Pictures of CAAF Airfield Construction Squadron personnel rejuenating!ruscott Airstrip "Source A#M$

%$e base commander too( t$e un.recedented ste. of callin7 .ersonally on eac$ of t$e8attle #tations and $amlets !$ic$ lay around t$e base2 %$e locals !ere a!are t$atsomet$in7 !as 7oin7 on2 He $ad decided to ta(e t$em into $is confidence2 He told t$emt$e base !as bein7 re$abilitated in case of !ar !it$ ;ndonesia2 3ell a!are of $o!

remote and &ulnerable t$ey !ere4 t$e locals !ere 7lad of t$e Armed #er&ices< .resence2%$ey !ere also flattered t$at t$ey !ere bein7 ta(en into t$e secret2 %$ey (e.t it2 5&en



today4 nearly 0 years later4 many older locals !ill refuse to tal( about %ruscott and!$at !ent on t$ere2

8on&oys soon started arri&in74 laden do!n !it$ e&eryt$in7 t$e base re=uired for t$ecomin7 cam.ai7n2 ;ncluded !ere massi&e crates !$ic$ $ad arri&ed in Dar!in a fortni7$tbefore from t$e UG by sea2 %raffic !as fre=uent and $ea&y on t$e roads from Dar!in

and do!n #out$2

%$e RA4 RN and Britis$ Army be7an its bi77est rede.loyment of forces since #ue inearly No&ember2 %o Australia4 10 s=uadrons of bombers ' of aliant tan(ers @+9490#=ns and + of ictors @104144* #=ns and + of ulcans @941'4'*4F #=ns fle!secretly &ia 8anada4 Ha!aii and Ne! Eealand4 timin7 t$eir landin7s and ta(eoffs todus( and da!n4 so as to ma(e it difficult to monitor t$eir mo&ements2 3$en =uestions!ere as(ed by in=uisiti&e members of t$e .ublic or media4 t$e e,.lanation !as t$at it!as all .art of an e,ercise2 %$e aliants !$ic$ !ere about to be retired because offati7ue .roblems !ere literally snatc$ed from t$e (nac(ers< and $urriedly .ut bac( intoser&ice4 t$e ones !it$ t$e least .roblems bein7 used2

%$e airfield at "a&erton 3ea.ons Researc$ and %est Ran7e soon became cro!ded !it$t$e massi&e number of $ea&y bombers2 As t$e most secure base in Australia4 it and t$eassociated to!n and &illa7e !ere used to security clam. do!ns !$ene&er a secret test!as bein7 underta(en so it !as t$e natural .lace to act as t$e formin7 u. .oint for t$estri(e force2 %$e .eo.le of "a&erton $o!e&er (ne! somet$in7 s.ecial !as afoot4 sim.lybecause of t$e massi&e numbers of aircraft .resent on t$e airfield outside of to!n4$o!e&er t$e $ea&y .resence of 8ommon!ealt$ olice4 A#;6 and Military olice madesure t$at t$e ne!s of t$eir .resence did not 7et out2

;n addition4 se&eral bri7ades of Britis$ troo.s fle! a mont$ before DDay secretly intoButter!ort$ &ia t$e same route4 arri&in7 after dar(2 rom t$ere4 t$ey !ere de.loyedaround Malaya and #in7a.ore4 in case t$e ;ndonesians attem.ted retaliation2 %$e 8AA

de.loyed se&eral s=uadrons of 8anberras and Mira7es to Dar!in and t$e rebuilt %ruscottairstri.2 %$e Australian Army4 already o&ercommitted to Borneo and #out$ ietnamsta7ed e,ercises for its 8M @8itiens< Military orce - rou7$ly e=ui&alent to t$e UG<s%erritorials units in and around t$e airbase to .ro&ide increased security4 in t$e unli(elye&entuality t$at t$e ;ndonesians disco&ered and attem.ted to eliminate it !it$ 7roundtroo.s2 A lar7e RA contin7ent arri&ed by air from t$e UG and immediately set to !or(assemblin7 t$e s=uadron of "i7$tnin7 fi7$ters !$ic$ $ad been s$i..ed out in t$e lar7ecrates from t$e UG2

6ne Britis$ carrier4 ARG R6A" and t$e t!o Australasian li7$t carriers M5"B6URN5 and"5;A%HAN and t$eir escortin7 s$i.s sailed into .osition near 8$ristmas ;sland in t$e;ndian 6cean2 #trict radio silence !as obser&ed by all units2



%MAS M&'B()*+& and %MS A* *(-A' stea.ing in line

6n '/ No&ember at 1'00 $ours @)a(arta %ime4 t$e Ambassadors for t$e Re.ublic of;ndonesia in "ondon and Bro(en Hill !ere $anded simultaneously an ultimatum2 ;fborder incursions a7ainst Malaysia did not cease immediately and all ;ndonesian forces.resent !it$in t$e borders of Malaysia eit$er $ad not surrendered or been !it$dra!n!it$in t$e ne,t '+ $ours4 a state of !ar !ould e,ist bet!een t$e coalition force of t$eUnited Gin7dom of reat Britain and t$e 8ommon!ealt$ of Australasia !it$ t$e Re.ublicof ;ndonesia2 %$e Ambassador to t$e UG !as s$oc(ed by t$e ultimatum2 %$eAmbassador to t$e 8ommon!ealt$ !as belli7erent2 %$e ultimatum !as also deli&ereddirectly to t$e Re.ublic<s 7o&ernment in )a(arta by t$e UG and Australasian

Ambassadors2 ;n )a(arta it !as 7reeted !it$ derision2 #u(arno made a .articularlyinflammatory s.eec$4 deridin7 t$e UG as a toot$less %i7er and t$e 8ommon!ealt$ ofAustralasia as it<s im.erial lac(eys2

At 0C00 $ours4 1 December4 air raid sirens sounded around )a(arta2 5,.losions !ere$eard at )a(arta air.ort and #uryadama Air Base near t$e ca.ital2 AntiAircraft 7uns!ere $eard firin7 !ildly into t$e air2 #oon bombs !ere $eard and seen fallin7 in andaround )a(arta itself as 7o&ernment buildin7s !ere destroyed2 As t$e day 7re! li7$ter4$i7$ o&er$ead &a.our trails could be seen crisscrossin7 t$e s(y2 Re.orts soon came int$at e&ery one of t$e ;ndonesian Air orce4 t$e %N;AU bases $ad been attac(ed4alon7 !it$ numerous Army and Na&al installations and bases suc$ as at #urabaya!$ere se&eral s$i.s $ad been destroyed2

#u(arno4 under intense .ressure from $is military c$iefs !as forced to acce.t t$eUG8A demands2 3it$out any si7nificant military .o!er to retaliate4 t$e ;ndonesians!ere at t$e mercy of t$e UG and 8A air.o!er2 %$e ;ndonesian o&ernment announcedt$eir surrender to t$e UG and 8AA Ambassadors in )a(arta early t$e ne,t mornin7 aftera ni7$t of furt$er attac(s and !ild firin7 into t$e air by fri7$tened ;ndonesian forces2

%$e UG and 8AA came in for condemnation in t$e UN #ecurity 8ouncil4 !$ic$ $addemanded an immediate ceasefire2 Ho!e&er4 t$ey !ere se&eral $ours too late4 !it$ t$eceasefire already $a&in7 come into effect2

;t !as later re&ealed t$at t$e Bombers4 flyin7 from "a&erton $ad been t$e main

attac(in7 force4 !it$ subsidiary 8anberras from Butter!ort$4 #in7a.ore4 Dar!in and%ruscott attac(in7 secondary tar7ets2 %$ey $ad been escorted to t$eir tar7ets by RA)a&elins and Hunters from Malaysia and Mira7es and "i7$tnin7s from Australia2 %$e



Na&al forces $ad concentrated on na&al tar7ets2 %$e 8AA $ad also re&ealed a ne!!ea.on4 !$en t!o obsolescent 81F0A Hercules trans.orts $ad eac$ launc$ed +modified )indi&i( @Abori7inal for -%$e Hunted 6ne- drone aircraft a7ainst tar7ets in;ndonesia2 5=ui..ed !it$ 5#M @5lectronic #u..ort Measures e=ui.ment t$ey $ad flo!nin front of t$e first !a&e of attac(ers and distracted and ammed t$e ;ndonesian radarsand communications systems2 Anot$er ne! &ersion of t$e )indi&i( $ad also been used

to conduct .oststri(e reconnaissance2

Ho!e&er4 t$e UG and 8A forces did not =uite $a&e it all t$eir o!n !ay2 %!o 8anberras!ere lost to Mi1*s and a ulcan !as se&erely dama7ed after an encounter !it$ aMi'12 Most ;ndonesian aircraft $o!e&er !ere eit$er destroyed insitu on t$e 7roundor !ere unable to ta(e off because of t$e dama7e to t$e run!ays by t$e RA8AAattac(s2

%$e Na&al tas( force $o!e&er sa! action a7ainst t$e %N;AU !$en se&eral %u1Cs firstdetected and t$en attem.ted to attac( t$e carriers2 %$e RN scored t$e first (ill !$en an;ndonesian %u1C !as destroyed by a RN #ea i,en fi7$ter !$en it a..roac$ed tooclose to t$e fleet ust as $ostilities o.ened2 %$e RAN scored t$e second !$en t!o #ea

Din7os4 armed !it$ #ide!inders !ere &ectored into .osition by a RAN annet A53!$ic$ $ad detected anot$er %u1C a..roac$in7 t$e tas( force2 )ust as t$ey be7an t$eirattac(4 an A#1 missile !as seen to be launc$ed by t$e %u1C2 %$e fli7$t leader48ommander Art$ur )ones instructed $is No2'4 "ieutenant atric( #mit$ to c$ase t$emissile !$ile $e dealt !it$ t$e bomber2 #mit$ .eeled off and o.ened $is t$rottle to t$ema,4 oomin7 after t$e missile !$ic$ loo(ed stron7ly reminiscent of a Mi1 fi7$ter4!it$out a coc(.it2 )ones =uic(ly dealt !it$ t$e %u1C4 destroyin7 it before it couldlaunc$ its second missile4 firin7 t!o #ide!inders at it and scorin7 !it$ bot$2 #mit$found $imself in a lon7 stern c$ase before $e could 7et in ran7e of t$e A#1 missile andfinally see one of $is #ide!inders e,.lode close to its tail.i.e2

All ;ndonesian forces in Malaysia !ere ordered to re.ort to s.ecific military .osts and

surrender2 After a !ee(4 o&er 14000 $ad a..eared out of t$e un7les4 to t$e sur.rise oft$e Malaysian aut$orities !$o<d e,.ected $alf t$at number2 6n 1 )anuary4 suddenlyre.orts filtered in t$at a cou. $ad been attem.ted in )a(arta2 %$e G; t$e ;ndonesian8ommunist arty !$om $ad been allies of #u(arno attem.ted in t$e aftermat$ of t$e.re8$ristmas bombin7 confusion to o&ert$ro! $im2 Ho!e&er !it$in $ours4 t$e;ndonesian Army under eneral #u$arto $ad sta7ed t$eir o!n 8ounter8ou.2 #u$arto.roclaimed $imself resident and unleas$ed a massi&e attac( on t$e G; members$i.and infrastructure !it$ o&er 12 million deat$s no! bein7 (no!n to $a&e occurred2 ;t isalso no! (no!n t$at t$e 8;A !as com.licit su..lyin7 members$i. lists !$ic$ it $adbeen su..lied !it$ by its a7ents2

%$e 8AA in res.onse to t$e .roblems of 1 #=uadron in Borneo decided t$at a smaller4

slo!er and c$ea.er aircraft !as re=uired2 ;n mid19C t$ey ordered an u.rated &ersionof t$e %F* from 8A82 5=ui..ed !it$ a stren7t$ened !in7 and more .o!erful en7ines4 itentered ser&ice as t$e %AF* +umur"alyn in late 19CC2 3$ile too late for use in Borneo4it .ro&ided e,cellent ser&ice durin7 Australia<s commitment to #out$ ietnam2

Ricksha#

ie! ublic rofile#end a .ersonal messa7e to Ric(s$a!ind all .osts by Ric(s$a! #$

February 9t! 2"11! "2"1 P%Ric(s$a! )oin Date: Dec













Member'00*osts: +11

#ietnam

#imultaneous to e&ents in ;ndonesia4 t$e situation in #out$ ietnam !as !orsenin72

%$e 8ommunist Nort$ !as increasin7 its efforts to liberate t$e #out$2 Attac(s byinsur7ents !ere escalatin7 and t$e #out$<s o&ernment !as still embroiled in crisisafter t$e military cou. and assassination of its resident4 N7ao Diem2 %$e United #tates!$ic$ $ad ta(en on t$e role of .atron of t$e #out$ after t$e renc$ $ad !it$dra!n from;ndo8$ina after t$eir defeat at Dien Bien $u4 !as 7ro!in7 increasin7ly !orried2

#ince t$e renc$ $ad left t$e U# $ad committed increasin7 numbers of ad&isors to tryand $el. t$e ARN @Army of t$e Re.ublic of #out$ ietnam to or7anise itself to fi7$ta7ainst 8ommunist insur7ents and rebellious elements around t$e country2 ;n 19C0 acrisis $ad s.run7 u. in nei7$bourin7 "aos !it$ fears of a 8ommunist ta(e o&er about tooccur as a 8ou. $ad .lun7ed t$at small4 remote nation into c$aos2 %$e result !as at$ree!ay conflict as Ri7$tist4 Neutralist and 8ommunist forces &ied for control of t$eRoyal ca.ital4 ientiane2 %$e U# o&ernment4 fearful of t$e .ossibility of a 8ommunistta(eo&er !is$ed to inter&ene but !ere ad&ised not to because of t$e lac( of U# forcesable to used to do so and t$e inability to su..ly t$em in suc$ a remote country2rustrated4 resident Gennedy4 $ad to !atc$ as t$e #o&iet Union fle! su..ly fli7$ts tot$e at$et "ao t$rou7$ 8$ina and Nort$ ietnam2 3$ile in reality t$ose fe! fli7$tscontributed little of real substance to t$e at$et "ao t$ey $ardened attitudes in3as$in7ton about ;ndo8$ina2

Under Gennedy4 t$e U# o&ernment attem.ted to 7ra..le !it$ t$e com.le,ities andtroubles of ;ndo8$ina4 concentratin7 .rimarily on t$e Re.ublic of #out$ ietnam4 !$ic$!ere .ercei&ed bot$ as .i&otal and more accessible to t$at of t$e ot$er countries of t$ere7ion2 Beset by 8ommunists from !it$in and !it$out4 N7o Diem4 its first .resident !asalso troubled by &arious !arlords4 factions and criminal or reli7ious elements4 all

see(in7 to 7ain control of t$e country2 Diem4 increasin7ly seen as erratic and dictatorial4as !ell as un.o.ular !as de.osed in a cou. !it$ t$e a7reement of Gennedy alt$ou7$ itis said t$at Gennedy !as $orrified !$en Diem !as murdered in t$e bac( of an A82

After resident )o$n 2 Gennedy<s o!n assassination4 resident )o$nson sent asuccession of factfindin7 missions to #ai7on to ascertain t$e situation on t$e 7round2%$ey re.orted disarray4 internecine infi7$tin74 lac( of !ill and c$aos !it$in t$e ran(s oft$e #out$<s corru.t .olitical and military elite as a succession of s$ortli&ed )untas andDictators ra.idly assumed and lost 7o&ernment2 ;n 19C4 on t$e $ea&y ur7in7 by t$eAustralasian o&ernment and its o!n #tate De.artment4 3as$in7ton decided tointer&ene in #out$ ietnam2 ;t sou7$t contributions from its Allies2 %$e UG refusedoutri7$t4 (no!in7 it $ad its $ands more t$an full enou7$ !it$ 8onfrontation2

Australasia4 already a!are of e&ents in and t$e ra.idly a..roac$in7 6.eration HAMM5R!as initially reluctant but amidst fears of increasin7 American disinterest in t$e defenceof Australasia4 Bro(en Hill a7reed to commit a battalion of infantry to #out$ ietnam to$el. defend it a7ainst t$e increasin7 8ommunist a77ression t$ere2 %$e 1st Battalion4Australasian Re7iment arri&ed incountry in Marc$ 19C2

%$e U# committed 7round troo.s2 ;nitially t$e 1*Frd Airborne Bri7ade 8ombat %eamand t$en ot$er units as t$ey flooded into t$e country2 %$e Australian battalion !asattac$ed to t$e 1*Frd4 o.eratin7 around Bien Hoa airbase initially2 Ho!e&er t$eAustralian battalion commander !as s$ar.ly critical of t$e American style of doin7 !ar4seein7 it as ina..ro.riate to fi7$tin7 an elusi&e uerrilla enemy and !asteful ofcasualties2 He ur7ed $is su.eriors t$at a full Bri7ade !ould be more suitable4 !it$

su..ortin7 elements4 as t$e minimum commitment2 %$is !ould allo! t$e Australians too.erate alone !it$out bein7 .art of a su.erior American or7anisation2



8onscri.tion $ad been a di&isi&e issue in Australia<s .ast !it$ t$e Dominion $a&in7attem.ted to introduce it t!ice in 191C and 191* and on bot$ occasions seen t$ereferendum underta(en defeated at t$e .olls2 Durin7 33;; it $ad been introduced int$e face of t$e )a.anese onslau7$t in all t$e Australasian nations and been acce.ted2ost !ar4 it $ad been reintroduced but only for ser&ice at $ome and t$en been

abandoned for for economic reasons in t$e late 190s2 %$e Army $ad also4 li(e t$earmed forces been 7oin7 t$rou7$ a difficult .eriod of amal7amation and $ad not feltt$at t$e need to train conscri.ts !$o did little e,ce.t mo! la!ns and .aint roc(s @or soit seemed and $ad ad&ocated an end to t$e selecti&e ser&ice sc$eme in 19/2 ;n 19C+4in t$e face of t$e a..arently !orsenin7 situation in t$e re7ion and multi.lecommitments of man.o!er to t$e defence of Malaysia and Borneo and because of fullem.loyment in t$e Australasian economy4 t$e o&ernment in Bro(en Hill decided toreintroduce 8onscri.tion for -national ser&ice-2 As t$e 6fficial History .ut it:

uote:;n 19C+ com.ulsory National #er&ice for '0yearold males !as introduced under t$eNational #er&ice Act @19C+2 %$e selection of conscri.ts !as based on date of birt$4

and conscri.ts !ere obli7ated to 7i&e t!o years- continuous fulltime ser&ice4follo!ed by a furt$er t$ree years on t$e acti&e reser&e list2 %$e fulltime ser&icere=uirement !as reduced to ei7$teen mont$s in 19*12

%$e Defence Act !as amended in May 19C to .ro&ide t$at National #er&icemen couldbe obli7ed to ser&e o&erseas4 a .ro&ision t$at $ad been a..lied only once before durin7 3orld 3ar ;;2 ;n Marc$ 19CC4 t$e o&ernment announced t$at National#er&icemen !ould be sent to ietnam to fi7$t in units of t$e Australian Re7ular Armyand for secondment to American forces2

3it$ t$e success of 6.eration HAMM5R4 t$e Australian o&ernment feelin7 more securea7reed to t$e re=uest from Army and in order to facilitate t$is made t$e &erycontro&ersial decision t$at 8onscri.ts !ould be sent o&erseas2 ;n 19CC t$e Australians

re=uested t$eir o!n A6 @Area of 6.erations and after e,aminin7 t$eir re=uirements4decided on Hue ro&ince4 in ; 8or.s4 near t$e DME2 ;t $ad t$e ad&anta7e of bein7 acoastal .ro&ince !it$ its o!n .ort @Hue and a maor U# base nearby @Da Nan72 ;t $adalso been one of t$e least rebellious .ro&inces before t$e di&ision of ietnam in 19+but !ould be on t$e main a&enue of an con&entional sout$!ards by t$e Nort$<s forces2#ince t$en it $ad been relati&ely =uiet2 %$e U# 8ommander4 eneral 3estmoreland !asinitially reluctant4 .referrin7 t$e Australians to ta(e a .ro&ince near t$e "aotian borderbut !as forced to a7ree !$en Bro(en Hill made it clear it !anted to be able to limit itsin&ol&ement in t$e !ar2 ;n reality t$e Australian Army a..reciated t$e .ossible dan7ersof close in&ol&ement and t$at it may if necessary need to e&acuate its forces =uic(ly ifanot$er Gorea occurred2

"ate 19CC sa! t$e ra.id build u. of Australian forces in un7 %au2 A Bri7ade %as( orce!as establis$ed at on7 8an$ Hill4outside t$e city2 ;n addition4 t$e 8AA contributed ali7$t trans.ort s=uadron and in 19C* a %AF* li7$t 7round attac( s=uadron4 a 8anberrabomber s=uadron4 a $elico.ter s=uadron and t$e 8AN a $elico.ter fli7$t2 %$e Australian%as( orce set to !or( to .acify Hue4 usin7 t$e e,.eriences of 33;;4 t$e 5mer7encyand 8onfrontation as an e,am.le2 ;t $o!e&er found &ery =uic(ly t$at t$e intensity andsco.e of o.erations !ere muc$ 7reater t$an e,.ected2 ;ndeed4 t$e first Australasian%as( orce commander remar(ed later t$at at t$e time $e feared t$at t$e Australasians$ad4 -bitten off more t$an t$ey could c$e!- in c$oosin7 a .ro&ince containin7 a maorurban area li(e t$e old ;m.erial 8a.ital of Hue4 .articularly !it$ its numerous canalsand narro! streets2

%$e Army res.onded and increased force le&els4 includin7 dis.atc$in7 a #=uadron ofA8s and anot$er of 8enturion tan(s4 as !ell as ot$er su..ortin7 units2 By 19C/4 t$e%as( orce reac$ed a ma,imum of o&er /000 .ersonnel on t$e 7round2 Durin7 19C/4



t$e -%et 6ffensi&e- resulted in a massi&e battle in and around Hue2 %$e Australasian%as( orce found itself intensi&ely en7a7ed for t$e first time in its $istory in streetfi7$tin7 and t$e tan(s of B #=uadron 1 Armd Re7t2 .ro&ed in&aluable in destroyin7stron7 .oints !it$ t$eir direct fire ca.abilities2 Ho!e&er4 t$e Re7iment suffereda..reciably 7reater casualties as t$e AN and N" fire in&ariably concentrated on t$emin t$e close confines of t$e streets of Hue2 3or(in7 closely !it$ ARN and U# units4

.articularly Marines4 t$e battalions of t$e %as( orce dro&e t$rou7$ t$e city a7ainststron7 o..osition from t$e AN and N" forces o..osin7 t$em until t$ey reac$ed t$eold ;m.erial alace2 olitical considerations forced t$e Australians to t$en ta(e u. asu..ortin7 role !$ile t$e ARN units actually assaulted and too( t$e alace citadel2 %$is!as t$e $i7$ .oint of t$e Australian in&ol&ement2 %$e intensity of t$e fi7$tin7 !as so7reat and t$e 8A o&ernment<s sensiti&ity to casualties so $i7$ t$at it became alarmedand o.erations be7an to !ind do!n after t$e end of 19C/2

3$ile .rimarily an infantryman<s !ar t$e 8AA and 8AN made &aluable contributions2Gno!n as 3allaby Airlines4 F #=uadron<s 8aribou trans.ort aircraft in .articular !ereused e,tensi&ely and suffered a sin7le loss4 bot$ to 7round fire2 ' #=uadron<s 8anberrasalso suffered a loss4 to a #AM fired from Nort$ ietnam4 o&er Nort$ern #out$ ietnam

in 19C/2 + #=uadron4 because of its mission of 7round attac( $o!e&er suffered t$e7reatest losses4 losin7 t$ree %AF*s4 all to 7round fire2 + #=uadron<s %AF*s !ere.articularly a..reciated by t$e Australian 7round troo.s !$ic$ found its attac(s !erein&ariably more accurate and better .laced t$an most American ones2

Ho!e&er4 t$e %et 6ffensi&e of 19C/ $ad been a !a(e u. call to all concerned t$at a.urely military solution !as not 7oin7 to sol&e t$e situation2 %$e United #tates4 underits ne! resident Ni,on4 sou7$t to brea( t$e deadloc( by reac$in7 out to 8$ina in t$ebelief t$at by s.linterin7 t$e 8ommunist Bloc< t$e !ar in ietnam !ould be s$ortened4failin7 to understand t$at it !as t$e #o&iet Union4 not 8$ina !$ic$ !as t$e .rinci.le.atron of Nort$ ietnam2 His efforts at in7on7 Di.lomacy sa! t$e $istoric &isit byt$e first U# resident to Beiin7 on '1'/ ebruary 19*'2 3$ile t$is decreased t$e

amount of su..lies !$ic$ !ere reac$in7 Nort$ ietnam to a certain e,tent4 t$e U##Rste..ed u. efforts to re.lace it by sendin7 increasin7 numbers of s$i.s2

Bro(en Hill4 cau7$t on t$e $o. suddenly found itself in t$e in&idious .osition of $a&in7muc$ more a77ressi&e r$etoric still directed to!ards Beiin7 t$an its .atron did2 6ncea7ain it !as forced to suffer an embarrassin7 situation and bac( do!n2 Ho!e&er it !asob&ious t$at t$e !ritin7 !as on t$e !all2 3$ile t$e U# usin7 t$e e,am.le of 6.erationHAMM5R mounted o&er 8$ristmas 19*' a massi&e air cam.ai7n a7ainst Nort$ ietnam4!$ic$ included t$e minin7 of Nort$ ietnamese $arbours4 in an effort to force it bac( tot$e ne7otiatin7 table !$en tal(s stalled in aris2 %$e .lan !or(ed and resident Ni,on!as able to declare eace !it$ $onourL u.on t$e si7nin7 of a ceasefire in 19*F2 3$ent$e U# announced .lans for troo. reductions in #out$ ietnam in 19C94 Bro(en Hill

=uic(ly follo!ed suit2 By 19*'4 all Australian combat troo.s and aircraft !ere!it$dra!n2 6nly some ad&isors remained2

19*' sa! t$e Nort$ mount an attem.t to force t$e #out$ to surrender !it$ a massi&e4con&entional 7round attac( across t$e DME2 %$e U#A $o!e&er inter&ened and sto..edit in its trac(s2 6b&iously t$e Nort$ern command $ad o&erreac$ed itself and .aid t$e.enalty2 By 19* t$ou7$4 Americans $ad lost interest in ietnam and t$e Nort$ a7ainmade an attem.t to 7rab #ai7on !$ic$ succeeded beyond t$eir !ildest dreams and isno! considered one of t$e modern classics of o.erational manoeu&re !arfare2 #ai7onfell on F0 A.ril 19*2 American ad&isors4 8;A a7ents4 .ri&ate military contractors4 andanybody else !$o feared a 8ommunist success !ere seen bein7 bundled i7nominiouslyonto $elico.ters and .lanes and fleein7 #out$ ietnam2 %$e 8ommunist bloc< !asen$eartened by t$e s.ectacular !ay in !$ic$ #out$ ietnam finally fell and t$e 19*0sended !it$ se&eral notable encroac$ments by t$e 8ommunists around t$e !orld2



At $ome4 t$e !ar $ad been a .eriod of tumult2 Australian society $ad reacted badly tot$e decision in 19CC to commit conscri.ts to t$e !ar2 8onscri.tion<s .ast $istory ofdi&ision $ad reasserted itself2 %$e result !as increasin7 reaction a7ainst t$e !ar itself as!ell2 By 19*04 massi&e street demonstrations forced t$e Australian 7o&ernment toreconsider its in&ol&ement in t$e !ar and !ere .artly to contribute to t$e decision to!it$dra!2 ;n t$e end4 Australasia !as to suffer o&er 00 dead and about t$ree times

t$at number in casualties2 #i, !ere M;A @Missin7 in Action but all !ere .resumed deadbecause of t$e circumstances under !$ic$ t$ey $ad disa..eared2 %$eir remains !eree&entually all reco&ered by '0102

As a result of t$is .eriod !it$ its commitments to Asia4 t$e Australasian Armed orcesde&elo.ed a strate7y !$ic$ became (no!n as -or!ard Defence-2 %$e ustification!as t$at it !as better to fi7$t t$e ram.a7in7 8ommunist @Asian $ordes -o&er t$ere-rat$er t$an -$ere-2 As t$e 7o&ernment became more inter&entionary and !it$ eac$crises and conflict4 t$e strate7y !as reinforced2 8ou.led !it$ a a77ressi&e4 .rimarilyanti8ommunist focused r$etoric4 a succession of "iberal8ountry arty coalition7o&ernments sou7$t to maintain American interest in t$e re7ion2 ;t belie&ed t$at by.ayin7 an -insurance .remium- in blood4 it could ensure t$at t$e American defence

7uarantee !ould be maintained2

;t !as a7ainst t$is bac(7round of instability t$at t$e 8AA<s armed forces undertoo( t$efollo!in7 rearmament .ro7rammes in t$e 19C0s:

+ommonwealth o ustralasia ir orce

+./ D +.4 0on%@abre Replacement $rogramme

As t$e 190s dre! to a close t$e ne,t .roect !as findin7 a re.lacement fi7$ter for t$e8AA2 %$e !orld of aeronautics $ad mo&ed on a..reciably in t$e s$ort time since t$e8A'* and 8A'/2 Aircraft !ere no! e,.ected to be ca.able of su.ersonic fli7$t4 often at

t!ice t$e s.eed of sound4 armed !it$ 7uided missiles and be able to find and destroyt$eir o..onents in all !eat$ers2

3$en t$e ne!s came in 19C1 t$at t$e 8A'* !as to be re.laced by a Mac$ ' ca.ablefi7$ter4 t$e com.etitors !ere announced to be t$e American "oc($eed 10+#tarfi7$ter2 t$e Britis$ 5n7lis$ 5lectric "i7$tnin74 t$e renc$ Dassault Mira7e ;;; and t$e8AR<s Ho'00 /o!ok @Abori7inal for #tormbird2 %$e Ho'004 anot$er desi7n fromGurt %an( and $is team of e,oc(e 3ulf en7ineers !as a lar7e4 t!inen7ined s!e.t!in7 su.ersonic fi7$ter4 armed !it$ + F0mm AD5N cannons and ;R airtoair missiles2%$e .rototy.e4 .o!ered by ' Bristol#iddeley 6r.$eus M( *0F afterburnin7 turboets4eac$ de&elo.in7 C4'* lb dry and 104/' lb !it$ re$eat4 t$e Ho'00 !as able to ustreac$ Mac$ 12 Ho!e&er4 better .erformance !as .romised once more .o!erful en7ines4

suc$ as t$e RollsRoyce A&on C* en7ine !it$ t$rust of 1C4000 lb !it$ re$eat !ereinstalled2

%$e 10+ !as 7enerally considered t$e fa&ourite because of American aid .olicies @andas !e (no! no!4 outri7$t bribery by "oc($eed in many of t$e deals done to ado.t ito&erseas2 Ho!e&er4 3ac(ett a7ain inter&ened2 He .ro.osed a &ariant of t$e DassaultMira7e4 utilisin7 t$e RollsRoyce A&on en7ine2 6fferin7 better t$rust and fuel economy2After some debate4 t$e !inner of t$e com.etition !as announced as t$e A&on en7inedMira7e ;;;62 Built lar7ely by 8A84 t$e Mira7e ;;;6 .ro&ided sterlin7 ser&ice to t$e 8AAuntil t$e early 19/0s2 %$e /o!ok !as abandoned2 %an(4 in disa..ointment too( u. a.osition in ;ndia !it$ Hindustani Aeronautics4 ta(in7 t$e desi7n !it$ $im2 %$ere4 it !as.roduced as t$e H'+ Murat2 Ho!e&er4 it ne&er recei&ed t$e more .o!erful en7inesand so ne&er fully realised its full .otential2

Holdens at t$is .oint decided to abandon aircraft and et en7ine manufacture2 %$is fitted



!ell !it$ t$e t$en 8ommon!ealt$ o&ernment<s .lans about industrial rationalisation23$ereas t$ere $ad been fi&e maor and se&eral smaller aircraft manufacturers at t$estart of 33;;4 .ost !ar t$ere !as really only t$ree maor ones - A4 8A8 andHoldens2 No! t$ere ust t!o2

+anberra replacement

;n 19CF t$e 8AA created an Air #taff Re=uirement for a stri(e aircraft to su.ersede t$e8anberra4 !$ic$ in t$e li7$t of aerodynamic and airdefence de&elo.ments !as startin7to loo( decidedly .ast its usebydate2 Manufacturers !ere in&ited to tender and t$ecom.etition is bet!een t$e A i7ilante4 %#R2'4 Mira7e ; and 1112 Unfortunately4because of doubts about cost4 %#R2' !as cancelled by t$e UG o&ernment and 111Gado.ted instead2 U# armed ser&ices in an or7y of bac(stabbin7 and internecine strifedecided t$at t$e common 111 !as im.ossible and so it !as cancelled4 lea&in7 t$eRA and ot$er .otential customers in t$e lurc$2 %$e A i7ilante !as considered unableto fulfill t$e re=uirements as far as .erformance and !as too $ea&ily o.timised as ana&al and a nuclear deli&ery aircraft2 ;t !as any!ay4 out of .roduction2 Dassault offeredt$e Mira7e ;2 Blac(burn offered t$e Buccaneer !$ic$ t$e RA $ad been forced to ado.t

to re.lace bot$ t$e %#R2' and t$e 111G2 Bot$ Mira7e ; and Buccaneer did not meetre=uirements4 bot$ lac(in7 ade=uate .erformance and !arload2 %$e 8AA dit$ered forse&eral years4 loo(in7 for alternati&es2 Dassault in 19C* offered t$e Mira7e 4 t$ene!est aircraft on t$eir boo(s2 Blac(burn4 no! Ha!(er#iddely countered !it$ t$e 210Buccaneer de&elo.ment2 %$e Mira7e !as .ercei&ed as t$e lo!er ris(4 because ofrenc$ Airforce interest in t$e .roect !$ereas t$e UG<s forces t$e RA and RN AA$ad little in t$e 2102 ;n #e.tember 19C/4 RAA #=uadron "eader is$er made anot$erfourfli7$t e&aluation of t$e Mira7e 2 His first fli7$t !as t$e aircraft<s '00t$ fli7$t2#=uadron "eader is$er re.orted &ery fa&ourably on t$e aircraft and its .otential2

%$e renc$ 7o&ernment2 under t$e ur7in7 of Dassault !$o scented t$e .ossibility of asale cancelled its order for t$e Mira7e in No&ember 19C/ in fa&our of t$e Mira7e +

stri(e &ariant more tailored to 8AA re=uirements2

Accordin7 to t$e official Dassault broc$ure:

uote:%$e Mira7e + is a t!inen7ined &ariable 7eometry aircraft4 !it$ ca.ability for $ilo$i4s$ort ta(eoff and landin72 #!ee. an7les t$at &aries bet!een 'FS and *0S li(e t$eMira7e from !$ic$ it is deri&ed4 ma,imum s.eed is set to be $i7$er t$an Mac$ '2Ran7e is o&er F4000 (m2 Armament consists of t!o ;R AA missiles and t!o [email protected] and se&en $ard .oints @t!o .er !in7 and t$ree under t$e central fusela7efor airtosurface bombs or missiles2 %$e aircraft is also e=ui..ed !it$ a &ertical.anoramic camera and a radar in t$e nose2 %$e en7ines are t$e #N58MA 9(04 rated

eac$ at *4'00 (7 of t$rust4 mounted sidebyside and fed from inte7ral fuel tan(s int$e fusela7e2

%$e Mira7e + is a t!o seat aircraft4 of entirely metallic monoco=ue construction4 !it$$i7$ lift de&ices suc$ as leadin7 and trailin7 ed7e fla.s2 ;t $ad a s!e.t rudder andbot$ $oriontal stabilisers !ere differentially controlled2 %$e side air inta(es !ere fitted!it$ mo&in7 s$oc( cones enablin7 $i7$ s.eed fli7$t2

8AA deli7$ted !it$ t$e .ossibility of 7ainin7 an aircraft tailored more closely to t$eir#taff Re=uirements bou7$t '+ + and follo!ed !it$ an order for 1' of t$e / &ersion asa $ea&y fi7$ter to escort t$e stri(e &ersion to t$e tar7et and bac(2

%$e combination !as to .ro&e .articularly .o.ular and =uite ca.able2 Bot$ aircraft !ere

u.7raded durin7 t$eir ser&ice li&es $a&in7 additional systems and !ea.ons inte7ratedinto t$em2



+ommonwealth o ustralasia ?a0* B+?C



%= @k*hawk

%$e 8AN also found itself !it$ t!o &ery different fi7$terbombers on its carriers4 t$eHa!(er #ea$a!( and t$e McDonnellDou7las Bans$ee2 Bot$ !ere ra.idly becomin7obsolescent2 Bot$ carriers !ere too small to o.erate t$e ne! Mac$ 1T fi7$ters enterin7ser&ice o&erseas2 6ne aircraft $o!e&er stood out for its small sie and its $i7$

.erformance - t$e McdonnellDou7las A+D #(y$a!(2 ;t a..eared ideal for t$e 8AN<sneeds so t$e decision !as made to standardise on t$e A+D #(y$a!( in 19C'2

+.4 @ea -ingo replacement

%$e 8AN started loo(in7 for a re.lacement for t$e 8A'/ #ea Din7o in mid 19CC !$ic$ int$e face of im.ro&in7 aerodynamic ad&ances it !as already startin7 to loo( =uite datedin its .erformance only si, years after bein7 ado.ted2 ;ts t$ree carriers4 #DN54M5"B6URN5 and "5;A%HAN !ere all too small to o.erate t$e latest Mac$ 'T ca.ablefi7$ters2 3$en an in&itation to tender !as issued by t$e 8AN in 19C/4 only #558A%4"% and McDonnellDou7las offered aircraft2 #558A% !it$ t$e )a7uar M6 @Marine6stralien a &ariant of t$e standard )a7uar M !it$ a radar and !it$ u.rated en7ines4

limited airtoair ca.abilities4 "% offered a sim.lied / 8rusader &ariant4 t$e A*8orsair ;; !it$ u.7rades to .ro&ide airtoair ca.abilities4 McDonnellDou7las offeredt!o desi7ns4 an u.7raded A+ #(y$a!( !it$ radar and limited airtoair ca.ability4usin7 an American turboet and an im.ro&ed &ersion !$ic$ utilised a RollsRoyce #.eyturbofan !$ic$ !$ile of a similar confi7uration !as sli7$tly lar7er and in t$is &ariantfeatured full radar and airtoair ca.abilities !it$ BR missiles2

After consideration4 t$e A*5@A 8orsair ;; !as c$osen4 !$ic$ $ad a blo!n !in7 and asli7$tly lon7er nose !it$ a lar7er4 more .o!erful radar4 as !ell as bein7 able to carryt!o #.arro! BR missiles on t$e fusela7e lo!er corners2 %$is desi7n brou7$t t$e A*almost full circle bac( to its / roots and in turn !as ado.ted also by t$e renc$Aerona&ale as !ell !$en t$ey !ere see(in7 a ne! carrier based fi7$ter2 %$e McDonnell

Dou7las desi7ns and t$e )a7uar !ere reected on t$e 7rounds of bein7 eit$er tooe,.ensi&e and unde&elo.ed or of insufficient im.ro&ement o&er t$e e,istin7 A+#(y$a!(s already in ser&ice2 %$e A*5@A entered ser&ice in 19C92

+arrier )atters

;n t$e late 190s4 it !as ob&ious t$at #DN5 !as enterin7 obsolescence2 %$e first oft$e MA)5#%;8 class commissioned by an Anti.odean na&y4 s$e $ad been com.letedbefore sale !it$ a strai7$t dec( and it !as found to be difficult to o.erate ets from $er4



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