Chapter 4 Porcupines; U Boat Hunters; For Valour; Home Town Hero

B RISTLING with guns, and known to the Luftwaffe for this reason as "Flying Porcupines", the Sunderland flying boats with which No. 10 R.A.A.F. squadron with the R.A.F. Coastal Command operates, are seaward patrol aircraft.

Nothing is less spectacular, theoretically, than seaward air patrols, yet it is a remarkable fact that this squadron, by its spectacular achievements and splendid record, has been a

favourite subject for British aviation commentators over a very long period of the war.

The flying boats were originally purchased by the Australian Government for duty in Australian waters, and were to have been flown from England in flights of three by Australians sent abroad for that purpose. The outbreak of war altered that plan, however, and the machines and the men were retained in Britain as a R.A.A.F. section of the R.A.F. Coastal Command. This nucleus was added to from time to time by reinforcements of men from Australia, the squadron being originally under the command of Wing Commander L. V. Lachal.

The squadron soon established a record of unparalleled mileage flown in air operations, and during one three-months' period early in the war, the Sunderlands covered more than 500,000 miles, representing 2,750 hours in the air.

The navigation of the Australians was regarded as exceptional, and the first high standard, set by Australian Permanent Air Force men whose profession it was, has been maintained ever since. The Sunderlands frequently fly many hours on anti-submarine patrol, making as many as 40 or 5o major changes in course, and hundreds of minor changes, yet they have never failed to make landfall with remarkable exactitude.

The squadron has important duties to perform in convoying food, supply, and troop ships arriving in and leaving Britain. On this task, they usually take the air at dawn, and continue the patrol till darkness falls. They watch and search for U-boats, collect the merchantmen coming in in convoy, and bring them in through waters made safer by their vigilance.

Pilots of the Sunderlands have flown high personages on urgent state and military missions to France and to the Middle East, running the gauntlet of enemy fighter and interceptor aircraft; they have succoured derelict sailors and passengers who have been torpedoed and left to drift in lifeboats in mid-Atlantic; they have directed the Navy to suitable marine targets; and last but by no means least, they have sunk or damaged a number of U-boats, and have destroyed a number of enemy aircraft.

One of the most spectacular exploits of the Sunderlands was the rescue of 46 survivors of the ill-fated City of Benares, which was torpedoed while on the way to the United States with refugees. Another pilot, descrying a white dot among the white horses of the Atlantic, went down to investigate, and found 20 men in a lifeboat. He supplied them with provisions and summoned a steamer, which picked up the derelicts and took them to safety.

Although reconnaissance is the main mission of the Sunderlands, they never shun a fight. In spite of the huge size and apparent cumbersomeness of their craft, the Australians soon learned that they have the traditional British toughness built in and can take as well as give punishment.

	Some of the more outstanding combats between these ponderous craft and the enemy have been fought by Australians of No. 10 squadron. The first fight between flying boats of this war was between an Australian Sunderland and a German Dornier. Both were damaged, and the battle was inconclusive. The Australian put his boat into a dive against the Dornier, which rapidly gave way to sea level.
The R.A.A.F. gunner followed it with a rain of bullets to which the enemy replied with an inaccurate fusillade of cannon fire. Although the Dornier was hit, it was able to get away, and the Sunderland went on with its patrol. A second clash with another Dornier occurred during an early morning flight. The German was sighted half a mile away at 2000 feet. The Sunderland dived to sea level, and as the Dornier came into the fray with guns blazing, the Australian gunner hit it an the nose, and the German front gunner ceased firing. As the Dornier turned steeply to port, die Australian rear and port gunners came into action, hitting the enemy in the tail. The German then escaped, and the Sunderland resumed its patrol. Besides these individual battles, the Sunderlands have been frequently at grips with enemy aircraft attacking the food and troop convoys which they have been guarding, and have beaten off as many as five enemy aircraft at a time. In their attacks on U-boats they are no less thorough than in their other duties. The log of No. io squadron is a highly prized treasure of the R.A.A.F. Taken at random from its pages, the following gives an idea of what the Sunderlands are doing: "Air-borne at 5 a.m. on anti-submarine patrol. In the area by 8-15 a.m. At ii a.m. a fully surfaced U-boat was sighted 1,000 yards away on the port bow. At the time of sighting, the aircraft was too close to make direct attack, so a turn was made to starboard and height lost to 50 feet. Aircraft closed and attacked down the line of submerging wash. The blue and green shape of the U-boat's hull was visible as the depth charges were released. The first depth charge was estimated to have made a direct hit between the conning tower and the stern, and the second depth charge is thought to have been a hit forward of the conning tower. The second explosion was much larger than die first. "After the attack, the aircraft climbed to 500 feet and turned to investigate a large brown patch. The observer reports that from the port midships position, he distinctly saw the U-boat stationary under the water, partly in the brown patch. A film of oil appeared on the surface within three minutes of the attack." After two years of operations, the squadron had flown more than 1,000,000 miles over the Atlantic and Mediterranean and had made more than 900 sorties. The members of the squadron, many of them newcomers from Australia, became known to their R.A.F. colleagues as "Oliver Twists", because they came back for more. In March 1942 they averaged 18 hours' flying daily, and then asked for more. In that month the squadron flew more than 550 hours in operations, and the ground staff set up a new record for aircraft serviceability, which some days was 100 per cent. During those operations, several attacks were made on shipping, and Flying Officer G. H. Pockley, of Sydney, sank an armed German naval patrol boat in the Bay of Biscay. The crew of one of the Sunderlands won a brisk battle with two big German Heinkel 115 floatplanes. Captained by Flight Lieutenant A. G. H. Wearne, of Perth, Western Australia, the Sunderland had Flying Officer W. M. Gibson, of Sandringham, as first pilot, and Pilot Officer J. G. Weatherlake, of Toowong, Queensland, as second pilot. While returning from a patrol one of the Heinkels was observed several miles away on the port bow. Later it launched a starboard beam attack and at the same time another Heinkel was seen preparing to attack from below. Skilful maneuvering enabled the Australian gunners to direct their full fire-power in turn on the attacking floatplanes. The first made off in great haste to the north, and the second, after an attempted stern attack, disengaged and streaked, nose down, for its base. Neither was sighted again. The Sunderland gunners saw many of their bullets striking home, and the Sunderland returned to base without damage. Wearne was second pilot with Squadron Leader Birch, D.F.C., when a Junkers 88 was destroyed and another badly damaged, and also during an encounter with a Dornier flying boat. Flight Lieutenant Geoffery Havyatt, 22-year-old Sydney pilot, was second pilot of a Sunderland when it caught a U-boat cruising in the Atlantic at periscope depth and blew her to the surface with four well-placed bombs. The crew scrambled out of the conning tower, and surrendered. The captain of the Sunderland was Squadron Leader Gibson, and this incident was cited in the award of the D.F.C. to him. "The U-boat was spotted while the squadron was on patrol," Havyatt said on his return to Australia. "Roaring down to attack, we dropped four bombs which burst while the submarine was just below the surface. The U-boat then came up, and we scored a direct hit. The U-boat sank, but the crew were all picked up by a naval sloop." In another operation, the Sunderland, in which Havyatt was second pilot, and Flight Lieutenant E. B. Courtney was captain, sighted a lifeboat containing about 20 men, and help was sent out to them. One of Havyatt's proudest possessions is a letter of thanks and commendation which he received, as captain of a Sunderland, through the Air Ministry, from Mr. Anthony Eden, then Foreign Secretary in Britain, and General Sir John Dill, Chief of the Imperial General Staff, whom he flew from England to Gibraltar through the worst hurricane experienced in the Bay of Biscay for 87 years. The Sunderland arrived at the Rock with petrol in its tanks for about io minutes' more flying. Not all the seaward patrols done by Australians in Britain are in Sunderlands. Others are operating in Hudsons, and others again in Beauforts of the Coastal Command. The original pilots of the Sunderland squadron have all since returned to Australia, where their experience is being used to help the R.A.A.F. at home to keep its sea lanes clear.


Desert silhouette. Ground staff preparing a fighter for a dawn attack.

FIRST of the Sunderland pilots to win a decoration was Squadron Leader Charles William Pearce, of Nedlands (Western Australia), who was awarded the D.F.C. for gallantry and continued devotion to duty, thus becoming the first R.A.A.F. officer to receive this honour since the R.A.A.F. was constituted as an autonomous arm of the defence forces in March ig2i.

Several Australians had been decorated since the outbreak of war before Pearce gained his distinction, but all had been members of the R.A.F., although some of them had received their flying training with the R.A.A.F.

Pearce's conspicuous service, the citation stated, was rendered principally while on convoy and anti-submarine work. In June 1940, Pearce, who was second in command of the squadron, attacked a U-boat off the coast of Portugal, one bomb bursting adjacent to the bows. His anti-submarine work had been courageously executed and marked by consistent resourcefulness. His example of energy and skill had had a great influence on moulding the squadron into a highly efficient operational unit.

Pearce joined the R.A.A.F. as a cadet in January 193o, and graduated that year. He was promoted flying officer in August 1931, flight lieutenant in July 1935, and left for duty overseas in July 1939. He was promoted squadron leader at the beginning of September 1939, and commanded No. io squadron for about four months in 1940.

Squadron Leader W. Gibson, of Sydney, was awarded the D.F.C. for great zeal in the performance of his duties while engaged on convoy and anti-submarine patrols. On July 21, 194o, he sank the enemy submarine U-26, of which 411 survivors were rescued by a naval sloop. On July 13, he beat off a determined attack by Messerschmitt 110s. He had consistently displayed devotion to duty and had set an excellent example to junior pilots of the squadron, the citation stated. Gibson, who was 25 at the time of the award,. entered Point Cook in July 1934

Flight Lieutenant J. A. Cohen, of Coogee, New South Wales, received his D.F.C. at the same time as Gibson. Cohen had been employed as first pilot of a Sunderland engaged on convoy and anti-submarine work. On June 25 he distinguished himself at Rabat when, by his resourcefulness and ingenuity, he extricated his passengers, Lord Gort and Mr. Duff Cooper, from impending embarrassment caused by excited French officials who were hourly awaiting news that the Bordeaux Government had broken off relations with the British Government. Although repeatedly baulked by the French, he eventually took off from a very rough sea, and completed his mission.

On July 14, while escorting a large and scattered convoy, Cohen engaged and drove off a Heinkel 111, which was attacking the convoy.

Squadron Leader William Henry Garing was awarded the D.F.C. for successfully combating three attacks by enemy aircraft on H.M.S. Mooltan. "His action saved the ship from extensive damage," the citation stated. "As captain of aircraft employed in convoy, anti-submarine, and reconnaissance work, Garing has consistently shown great coolness, gallantry, and devotion to duty."

Garing has had a spectacular career on active service. He commanded the Sunderland which, in September 194o, rescued 46 survivors from die refugee liner City of Benares after they had been adrift in the Atlantic for eight days. After service with the Citizen Air Force in 1928, he went to the Royal Military College, Duntroon, in 1929, and was later transferred to Point Cook, where he underwent flying training. In December 1931 he graduated with a distinguished pass, and subsequently completed a seaplane flying course with equal distinction. He went to England in 1934, completed a specialist navigation course at the Calshot Air Navigation School, and returned to Australia for service at Point Cook where, for a period in 1937, he commanded a seaplane squadron.

Returning to England in July 1939, he was attached to the R.A.F. Coastal Command, and was a member of a Sunderland squadron at the outbreak of war. Garing was chosen to fly the Sunderland which took the then First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. A. V. Alexander) to Bascarrosse to meet the French Naval Staff at the height of the French crisis.

Squadron Leader Hugh Milton Birch, of Melbourne, received the D.F.C. a few days before his 25th birthday. Birch went to England with the first draft of R.A.A.F. pilots to fly back to Australia with the Sunderland flying boats. He has shared in many exciting adventures, and became noted for the large number of distinguished British war political and military leaders he had ferried to the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

Birch also became noted for a typical piece of understatement. After having shot down a Junkers 88 and probably destroyed another during a protracted sea search, Birch concluded his report on the operation by saying, "An uneventful patrol was completed."

It was that exploit which won Birch the D.F.C. The feat was the more remarkable ".S his adversaries were twin-engined bombers with a speed greatly in excess of that of .he Sunderland. The Junkers twice attacked as the Sunderland was searching for the survivors of a torpedoed merchant vessel. Despite a heavy attack, the Sunderland held

fire until the Junkers were at close range. Several heavy bursts into the leading Junkers shot it down into the sea. The other broke away with smoke pouring from an engine and rapidly losing height as it disappeared in a rain storm.

Birch had three combats with enemy aircraft in his cumbersome Sunderland, and succeeded in repelling all of them. His first battle was with a Dornier flying boat - the first fight of this war between flying boats. Both suffered damage. On another occasion, Birch was set on by five Heinkel ii is off the coast of France. One was damaged and probably destroyed, and the others were driven off. It was encounters like this that earned the - Sunderlands the German sobriquet of "Flying Porcupines"-there was a prick at every point.

While patrolling the Atlantic on one occasion, Birch sighted lifeboats containing survivors from a U-boat attack on a British vessel. He alighted on the sea, gave them provisions, and notified the Navy, and the derelicts were later picked up by British destroyers.

Birch joined the R.A.A.F. as a cadet in January 1937.

Acting Flight Lieutenant Ernest Maynard Pain, serving with the R.A.F., had been continuously engaged as second pilot or captain of flying boats when he was awarded the D.F.C. in September 1941. He had carried out many long and arduous patrols of the Atlantic in all kinds of weather, and on one occasion made a spirited attack on a German Condor flying boat. He had proved a tower of strength to his crew and his cheerfulness and efficiency set an excellent example to all. Pain, who was then 28, was born in Sydney. He left Australia for England in December 1937 to enlist direct in the R.A.F.

Squadron Leader Ivan Stanley Podger was awarded the D.F.C. after he had completed go operational flights as captain of an aircraft operating with the R.A.F. Coastal Command.

"At all times he has shown great zeal," the citation stated. He once brought his aircraft down on the sea and rescued 21 survivors who were drifting in a torpedoed ship's lifeboat. When making a reconnaissance of Casablanca (Morocco), Podger was pursued by enemy fighters. On another occasion he fought a Focke-Wulfe Condor, successfully defending one of our convoys.

Podger joined the Permanent Air Force as a cadet in 1937 and after training at Point Cook arrived in England two months before the war began. He became a captain of Sunderlands on Atlantic patrol. An expert navigator, Podger has taken part in more than i2o operational flights. He was born at Camperdown, Victoria, 26 years ago.

Flying Officer Jack Barnard Jewell, 30, of Parkside, South Australia, gained the D.F.C. while operating with a Sunderland squadron in Britain. He had been largely responsible for the training and efficiency of his squadron in navigation, and his keenness and devotion to duty had contributed largely to the success of his squadron. Jewell had also completed a large number of operational flying hours.

All were careful to point out that the British pilot was a magnificent airman, with unlimited courage and determination. But the Australian pilot seemed to have some indefinable quality which caused him to rank high among Allied airmen.

It was this mysterious unknown quality which, for instance, so animated the famous No. 452 Spitfire squadron in Britain, that it became one of Britain's most famous fighter units almost overnight.

And it must be remembered that it was not the exclusive quality of just a handful of Australians. The famous No. 452 squadron was constantly changing in personnel, but its deeds, whether performed by old or new members, continued to inspire the admiration of stoical, matter of-fact Englishmen hardened to complacency about the skill and dash of their air defenders in beating back constant daily and nightly raids by the Luftwaffe.

The same quality shone out in the men of the other Spitfire and night-fighter squadrons in Britain, in the Manchester and Whitley and other bombers, and even in the less spectacular work of those who built up the unique tradition of No. 10 squadron.

Whatever this heroic quality is, or whatever inspires it, Australians seem to have their full share. It must be a source of pride to Australia that her sons have added so much to the war's tale of chivalry and courage.

First Australian airman to win the V.C. in this war was Wing Commander Hugh Idwal Edwards. Born at Fremantle in 1914, he joined the R.A.A.F. in 1935 and was selected to go to England with others, for further training with the R.A.F. Soon after war broke out, Edwards was employed by the R.A.F. ferrying aircraft in the British Isles. Later, when the R.A.F. raids on Germany began, he was posted to a bomber squadron. He received the V.C. for his part in one such raid, carried out on Bremen in July 1941- The citation states

"Although handicapped by physical disability resulting from a flying accident, Edwards has repeatedly displayed gallantry of the highest order, pressing home bombing attacks from very low heights against strongly defended objectives.

"On July 4, 11941, he made an important attack on the port of Bremen, one of the most heavily defended towns in Germany. The attack 6-d to be made in daylight, and there were no clouds to afford concealment. During the approach to the German coast, several enemy ships were sighted, and Edwards knew that his aircraft would be reported, and that the defences would be in a state of readiness.

"Undaunted by this misfortune, he brought his formation 50 miles overland to the target, flying at a height of little more than 50 feet, passing under high tension cables, carrying away telegraph lines, and finally passing through a formidable balloon barrage.

"On reaching Bremen, he was met with a hail of fire, all the aircraft of his formation being hit, and four of them destroyed. Nevertheless, he made a most successful attack, and with the greatest skill and coolness, withdrew the surviving aircraft without further loss.

"Throughout the execution of this operation, which he planned himself, with full knowledge of the risks entailed, Edwards displayed the highest possible standard of gallantry and determination."

A year later than Edwards set out on his mission, almost to the day, Squadron Leader Nettleton received the second V.C. to be won by an Australian. This award was won for Nettleton's part in one of the now famous raids on Augsburg, home of U-boat engine works and other vital targets. Nettleton carried out his mission with the utmost gallantry in the face. of fierce enemy opposition, and returned safely to his base.

Most Australians will recall the Augsburg raids, when giant R.A.F. bombers hedgehopped half-way across Germany, penetrating more deeply than ever before, and unloaded their high explosive cargoes on the U-boat yards and other vital war works. The raids were made in daylight and in an endeavour to avoid fighter interception, the bombers skimmed chimneys and houses to prevent the fighters from diving on them, and to minimize the chances of ground defence coming accurately into action. Many of the bombers were lost - flying so low it meant almost certain destruction to be shot down - but those who did reach the target, did tremendous damage.

Another Australian - Pilot Officer D. 0. Sands - formerly an architect, of Perth, Western Australia, was decorated for his part in the Augsburg show. Sands, who gained the D.F.C., was a navigator who guided his bomber safely to the target and back again. Sands was able to check his position by the great rivers of Europe and the Bavarian Alps. He found the target with such accuracy that it was possible to drop the bombs plumb on the T-shaped sheds which were the target.

Relating his experiences afterwards, Sands said that "Tail-end Charlie" (the rear gunner), who had a box seat for the show, could hardly speak for excitement as the delayed action bombs went off "right on the dot".

T0 Pilot Officer Charles Richardson Digges, of Dubbo, New South Wales, fell the honour of gaining the first decoration bestowed on an Australian Empire Air training Scheme officer serving in the United Kingdom.

With Sergeant Cown, Digges, who was serving with a R.A.A.F. squadron, in September 1941 carried out a successful attack on a 5ooo-ton enemy tanker off Blankenberghe. They were not deterred by intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire from a formidable force of escorting craft, comprising six armed ships and four E-boats, but pressed home the attack from mast height. Both obtained direct hits on the tanker, which they left enveloped in smoke and flames. Within half an hour of the attack, the tanker was seen in flames from end to end and in a sinking condition.

Pilot Officer J. W. Purcivall, an Australian serving in a New Zealand squadron, gained the D.F.C. because of his record of continuous good work as the pilot of a bomber aircraft. Hits scored on his aircraft by enemy anti-aircraft fire or machine-gun fire from attacking enemy aircraft only increased his determination to press home his attacks. Purcivall's enthusiasm for flying and his devotion to duty were of the highest order. He discharged his duties both in the air and on the ground in a calm, efficient manner.

Pilot Officer Eric Henry Dawson was reported missing, believed killed, soon after he was awarded the D.F.C. Dawson was born at Melbourne in 1917. He enlisted in the Air Force from Sydney, and left Australia for England in 1938 for service with the R.A.F.

The official citation of Dawson's award states that he carried out a successful bombing raid on Calais Harbour in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire. On the return flight to England his bomber was attacked by 12 Messerschmitt 109s, one of which his rear gunner destroyed. Shortly afterwards Dawson bombed Texel aerodrome from 200 feet. In these operations he displayed great determination and zeal.

Flight Lieutenant Arthur Leonard George Hubbard, formerly of Echuca, Victoria, and Morrisset, New South Wales, was one of those responsible, oil a bomb raid in 1940, for putting the Krupp works out of action for io days. This earned him the D.F.C. Hubbard, at the time his award was announced (in October 1940) had been engaged in operational flights since the previous April. He was captain of one of three

aircraft which carried out the prolonged and damaging raid on Essen. Air Ministry reports revealed that he had consistently shown himself to be an exceptionally capable captain of aircraft. His keenness, uniform high standard of courage, and reliability, had set an excellent example to all associated with him. Entering Point Cook on July 15, 1936, Hubbard gained his wings and embarked for the United Kingdom a year later.

Squadron Leader Alan McDonald Bowman, of Tasmania, was awarded the D.F.C. at the age Of 29. He had proved himself a courageous and determined leader with sound judgment who, by leading his squadron by day and night on bombing raids over Germany, had set a fine example and a high standard. He had led i i most successful raids on enemy territory, and had once beaten off an attack on one of the bombers in his formation and thus enabled it to return to British territory. In conjunction with fighter aircraft, he had organized and carried out an attack which had destroyed three enemy petrol dumps and an ammunition dump.

"The influence of his untiring efforts and of his example is reflected in the many successes of his squadron, the citation stated.

Squadron Leader Harold Gibson Lee gained his D.F.C. for outstanding zeal. He was one of the first pilots to undertake long operational flights at night. Later, during intensive day and night operations, he made a number of outstanding raids against difficult targets.

Because of engine failure on one of his night operations, he had to abandon his aircraft and, landing heavily, broke his leg. "He has shown outstanding zeal and deserves great credit for accepting more than his share of the more difficult night raids," the citation states.

Squadron Leader Lee was born in Melbourne in February 1912. After qualifying as a pilot at Point Cook, he entered the Royal Air Force in 1933 and was later granted a permanent commission in the R.A.F.

Flying Officer James Robert Hyde, a Perth-born member of the R.A.F., gained the D.F.C. for a series of determined attacks against the enemy. Hyde on one occasion was captain of an aircraft detailed to raid the formidably defended Heligoland Bight.

Because of bad weather, he lost touch with the other raiding aircraft, but set a course for Den Helder alone, and attacked two armed ships.

He then flew to Denrok seaplane base, which he also attacked in the face of stern opposition. On the return journey he was set upon by a Messerschmitt fighter, but by skilful maneuvering he enabled his rear gunner to beat off the attack.

Wing Commander Wallace Hart Kyle, a Western Australian serving with the R.A.F., was awarded the D.F.C. for determined and successful bombing operations over Germany and enemy-occupied territory.

Early in April 1941, Kyle led a heavy attack against German iron and steel works. Despite intense ground fire and an attack by a patrol of Messerschmitt 109s, Kyle persisted in the operation, flew directly over the target, and dropped a heavy load of bombs from 5o feet. The Nazi fighters attacked Kyle continually as he made across the English Channel, where, by skilful flying, he obliged the enemy to break off the attacks.

Kyle had thus added another to his list of successful missions. His resolute leadership had been largely responsible for the high standard of efficiency of his squadron. A native of Kalgoorlie, where he was born in 1910, he enlisted direct into the R.A.F. He returned to Australia in 1937 on exchange duty, and was posted to Point Cook as a flying instructor. He then served in a senior capacity with the first R.A.A.F. squadron to be located at Perth and returned to the United Kingdom in May 1938.

Flying Officer Jack Matthew Bousfield, formerly of Waratah, New South Wales, was 29 when he gained the D.F.C. for outstanding gunnery work with the R.A.F. Bousfield had taken part in numerous operations against the enemy and had shown the greatest courage and keenness.

Pilot Officer Philip Bennett Moore, of Pyramid Hill, Victoria, who had taken part in raids on Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Cologne, Kiel, Berlin, Bremen, and Hanover, was awarded the D.F.C. in August ig4i. Moore, the citation stated, had a war record of outstanding consistency. As captain of an aircraft, he could always be relied on to reach his target and press home his attack with the greatest determination. His calmness, courage, and devotion to duty throughout the seven months in which he had served in his unit had been an inspiration to his crew. Born in July 1914, Moore left Melbourne in 1939 to undergo a course of training with the R.A.F.