SECOND WORLD WAR
BRITISH AND AUSTRALIAN AIRMEN PLAYED A SMALL, BUT IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE DELICATE WARTIME ALLIANCE BETWEEN STALIN AND THE WESTERN ALLIES, AS AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL HISTORIAN DR DAVID SUTTON REVEALS.
HAMPDENS IN RUSSIA
On 2 October 1942, the Handley Page Hampdens of 144 Squadron RAF took off from Leuchars, Scotland, for a short flight to the Shetlands. The aircraft were to make their flight alongside 455 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and, when waiting for the Australians to take off, performed a series of daring aerial acrobatics over the airfield: flying low and taking sharp turns. A flight sergeant of 144 Squadron, who had just finished putting the aircraft into tip-top condition, despaired: “Three weeks of maintenance work and now those risks!”
After observing 144 Squadron’s antics, Wg Cdr Grant Lindeman, commander of 455 Squadron, announced over the radio: “455 will take off like gentlemen.” The Australians took to the sky and together the two squadrons made their way up north.
Aircrew members of No.455 Squadron, Leuchars, Scotland, before the mission.
HAMPDENS IN RUSSIA
The British and Australian airmen were taking off on the first leg of Coastal Command’s Operation Orat…
