would describe the town as a small country town whose main appeal is its lake. Now, this observation presents the town as quiet and tranquil to strangers, however those who know of the towns history are proud that the lake is the main feature of their small country town. In the Second World War Lake Boga was a key instrument in the towns contribution to the war effort as it allowed access to the Lake Boga Flying Boat
Base, where damaged planes were repaired
and sent back out into the warzone. This article aims to highlight how the Lake Boga Flying Boat Base and the people involved, contributed to the war effort and what adversities they had to overcome along the way. [Above] A USN Black Cat 08465, #9 taking off from Lake Boga as part of a demonstration. (Source: Brett Freeman 1995, p. 187)
Gemma Symons Making History 2015
STRONG AND UNITED: LAKE BOGAS CONTRIBUTION TO WWII
BROOMES DAY OF DARKNESS Prior to the establishment of the base at Lake Boga, an event occurred that became one of the main contributing factors towards the necessity of the base. On the third of March 1942, the Japanese made their first air attack on Broomei, an attack that would leave behind unrepairable devastation. Moments before the attack sixteen flying boats packed with evacuees from Java, laid at their moorings in Roebuck Bayii waiting to leave for their next destinations. Suddenly, uncamouflaged Japanese Zero fightersiii swept in and began open firing on the flying boats and their exhausted passengers. Due to the devastation that this attack caused it was decided that a reserve flying boat baseiv, a secret base, was needed to prevent attacks like the one on Broome did not occur again. WHY LAKE BOGA? Since 1938 Lake Boga had been considered as a possible site for the establishment of a base that would specialise in the servicing and repairing of flying boats. However, it was not until the attack on Broome that it really hit home that an inland flying boat base would be a safer option as well as a smart choice. Initially, both Lake Boga and Kangaroo Lakev were inspected as possible sites for the base,
View of the Lake Boga Flying Boat Base in 1945.
(Source: Brett Freeman 1995, p.242)
but it was Lake Boga that was successfully chosen
due to its excellent location and the state of the lake. The decision in favour of Lake Boga was made due to the site being closely aligned to the railway line, the highway and within close proximity to Swan Hill. Also, the lake itself was free of obstacles allowing a clear space for flying boats to take off and land around the lake. Once it was established that Lake Boga was the best choice for the flying boat base, construction began almost immediately. THE SECRET SAFE HAVEN In April 1942 construction of the flying boat base began and the first RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force) personnel arrived alongside their commander Flight Lieutenant G.S. Moffattvi. The twelfth of July that year saw the base welcome its first Catalina flying boatvii, arriving to be repaired at the base which would later be referred to more commonly as the No.1 Flying Boat Repair and Service Depot. As the base grew and more personnel arrived to contribute to the war effort the base grew to be the largest inland flying-boat establishment in the worldviii, it is therefore remarkable that such a large base was capable of staying a secret from the rest of Australia for two years. This secret was eventually revealed to the world by the media on the eighth of August 1944 as the base was removed from secret classificationix, as it was believed that the base was no longer under threat from an attack by the Japanese. Furthermore, the flying boat base since its development in 1942 right up until it was finally vacatedx on the twelfth of November 1947, dedicated its time and energy to repairing various flying boats which contributed significantly to the war effort.
Gemma Symons Making History 2015
THE PROCESS OF SUCCESS
The flying boat base serviced and repaired numerous types of flying boats throughout the time that it was in operation. These flying boats included; Catalinas, Sunderlands, Dorniers, Walrus, Martin Mariners and Kingfishers. Often when a flying boat arrived at the base it was obvious that the workers would be changing [the] engines and replacing damaged panelsxi, however there was also a more extensive list of repairs and checks that would need to be completed. Once the flying boats were admitted to the base it often took around about a month to complete the necessary servicing and repairing. The process of repair often involved the engines being stripped from the planes, the instruments being checked and reset, servicing of the propellers and if needed the replacement of them, the wiring and controls were checked and then finally a test flight was performedxii. The test flights were an essential part of the process as they determined whether the aircraft was ready to leave the base, they also provided the personnel at the base the opportunity to have a little bit of fun in the process. After, the official test flight the pilots often liked to fly at a very low level above the main street of Swan Hill, which gained mixed responses from people within the town, some saw the fun side of the test hopsxiii others of course did not. However, no harm ever came of the pilots adventurous antics and the aircrafts passed their final tests, and were flown to the Rathmines base to collect personnel on their way back out to the warzones. Therefore, the various personnel who came from different walks of life and possessed numerous skills came together as
A Catalina performing a test hop over the main street
of Swan Hill. (Source: Brett Freeman 1995, p. 78)
a team, and consequently played a major role in the
success of the base. RAAF PERSONNELS HARD WORK When the RAAF personnel first began work at the base they enlisted the help of civilian workers as well, thus providing more employment opportunities for local people. The RAAF, civilian workers and later the WAAAF (Womens Auxiliary Australian Air Force) filled various occupations throughout the base. These occupations included; carpenters, welders, electricians, painters, instrument makers, aeroplane fabric workers, plumbers, cipher experts, wireless assistants, radio mechanics, clerks, armorers, boat repairers and various types of mechanic expertsxiv. All of these occupations even though they differed played a major role in ensuring that the flying boats were serviced and repaired efficiently and as quickly as possible, so that Gemma Symons Making History 2015
Australia was not left unprotected for any
length of time. It was often necessary to fill occupations that would have normally been filled with RAAF personnel with WAAAF members, as the RAAF personnel were in high demand in various warzones.
WAAAF TO THE RESCUE
The Womens Auxiliary Australian Air Force was not a very strong presence at the beginning of operations at the base, this was because there was enough RAAF personnel to fulfil duties throughout the first few months. However as the war heated up and more servicemen were distributed to warzones, it became necessary for women to fulfil these duties on a temporary basisxv whilst the men were away. Also as the WAAAF was the first of the womens defence Services established in Australiaxvi it meant that there was a large amount of women waiting to be dispatched to bases in need of extra hands. The women were capable of fulfilling various duties such as the ones that were listed previously. However, it is interesting to discover that some womens occupations before the war differed from the ones they were employed in at the base. Audrey Lorraine was a window designer and decoratorxvii prior to the war, once she arrived at the base she worked as a fabric workers assistant, and Billy Anderson who was a singer became an equipment assistant. For all of the women just like Audrey and Billy taking on new occupations it was their ability to adapt to new situations and duties that allowed them
A Black Cat being repaired by depot personnel at the base (Source:
Brett Freeman 1995, p. 184)
to be successful contributors to the war effort. Also,
for those adapting to a new environment and set of responsibilities it was their Commanding Officers leadership skills that helped guide all personnel in the right direction.
Gemma Symons Making History 2015
INFLUENTIAL LEADERS
OVERCOMING ADVERSITY
Within the flying boat base it was the role of the
Commanding Officer to ensure that the repairs and servicing was getting done properly and efficiently, whilst at the same time looking out for the wellbeing of the staff. The first Commanding Officer Wing Commander Geoffrey Marshall set the standard for how the base was going to run for the following years. Even though W/Cdr Marshall was influential in setting the standard for high quality results and efficiency, there was another Commanding Officer who was held in high regard by the personnel at the base. Wing Commander George Urquhart (Scotty) Allan became the Commanding Officer of the base in September 1943, and was held in high regard for his all round abilities[and] cautious skilled tutelagexviii by the personnel present at the base. Therefore it was not just the personnels hard labour that made the base successful, the guidance the Commanding Officers gave their workers allowed the base to run smoothly, efficiently and kept their morale up which improved their quality of work.
The flying boat base ran smoothly most of the time,
however the times that it did not in fact run smoothly it was due to elements outside of the Commanding Officers or personnels control. Particular adversities that arose that were out of the COs control involved the event of a fire, this event happened to occur twice within the duration of the base, both of these fires happened within ten days of each other. Brett Freeman refers to the second fire in his book, this fire occurred in the Sergeants Mess and when asked about the incident a Sergeant who was witness claimed that he saved the beerxix from the fire. This piece of information gives an insight into the fact that the personnel at the base were just regular, down to earth people. Another struggle that the workers endured was putting up with the unbearable heat at Lake Boga in the summer which caused great discomfort [to those] working within the confines of intolerably hot aircraft fuselagesxx and led to reduced morale throughout the base. Finally, the greatest dilemma the base faced throughout its five years was the occurrence of frequent dust stormsxxi which could at times black out the whole town. Due to these black out stages the dust storms decreased operational efficiency and moralexxii, in an attempt to combat these issues a plan to provide irrigation to the troublesome areas of land was put in place. Therefore even though the flying boat base faced adversities that attempted to thwart their reputation as the No.1 Flying Boat Repair and Service Depot, it still managed to persevere with its commitment to successfully aiding the war effort.
CO W/Cdr G.U. (Scotty) Allan socialising with personnel at the
Lake Boga Flying Boat Base (Source: Australian War Memorial)
Gemma Symons Making History 2015
The Lake Boga Flying Boat
Museum erected on the former site of the base. (Source: authors own)
MONUMENT TO AUSTRALIAS NO.1
REPAIR DEPOT In order to honour the dedication given from all those involved with the Lake Boga Flying Boat Base, a museum has been built on a portion of the former base site. The Lake Boga Flying Boat Museum tells the story of the base and has even incorporated a restored PBY5 Catalina A24-30 as a solid reminder of what the personnel at the base could achieve. Many have praised the achievements of the base highlighting that Lake Boga was an
integral part of allied defence duringxxiii the war and
provided a much needed safe havenxxiv for Australias valued resources; the flying boats. Therefore it is clear to anyone who has visited the museum that the museum itself acts as a monument to everyone that was involved in the development of the flying boat base and what they did for Australia, by ensuring the flying boats got back to defending the country as quickly as possible. Furthermore, the Lake Boga Flying Boat Base and the personnel present there were successful in overcoming uncontrollable events in order to serve Australia efficiently. Also, the base brought a small country town to life and gave them a sense of pride in their towns contribution to winning the war for Australia.
Restored PBY5 Catalina A24-30 inside the Lake
Boga Flying Boat Museum (Source: authors own)
Gemma Symons Making History 2015
NOTES i
Brett Freeman, Lake Boga at War: The Inside Story of the
Secret RAAF Inland Flying Boat Unit WWII (Swan Hill: Catalina Publications, 1995) 32. ii Ibid. iii John Gunn, Challenging Horizons: Qantas 1939-1954 (Queensland: University of Queensland Press, 1987) 57. iv John Gunn, Challenging Horizons: Qantas 1939-1954 (Queensland: University of Queensland Press, 1987) 62. v Brett Freeman, Lake Boga at War: The Inside Story of the Secret RAAF Inland Flying Boat Unit WWII (Swan Hill: Catalina Publications, 1995) 35. vi Lake Boga Flying Boat Museum, History, Lake Boga Flying Boat Museum [website], (2015) < http://www.flyingboat.org.au/index.php/about/history>, accessed 12 Sept. 2015. vii Brett Freeman, Lake Boga at War: The Inside Story of the Secret RAAF Inland Flying Boat Unit WWII (Swan Hill: Catalina Publications, 1995) 49. viii Big Flying Boat Base on Lake, News, 16 Aug. 1944, 8, in Trove [online database], accessed 9 Oct. 2015. ix Brett Freeman, Lake Boga at War: The Inside Story of the Secret RAAF Inland Flying Boat Unit WWII (Swan Hill: Catalina Publications, 1995) 188. x Graham Gardner, Murray-Mallee Country: Swan Hill and District 1836-1986 (Swan Hill: Swan Hill and District 150th Anniversary Committee, 1986) 120. xi Kathryn Wells, Flying boats of Australia, Australian Government, (30 Oct. 2013), para. 21, <http://www.australia. gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/flying-boats-ofaustralia>, accessed 11 Oct. 2015. xii Jean Coote, David Mark: Lake Boga Flying Boat Museum an amazing glimpse into a past era, The Legacy Hour [podcast], (Radio Adelaide, 28 Sep. 2015) < https://radio. adelaide.edu.au/david-mark-lake-boga-flying-boat-museuman-amazing-glimpse-into-a-past-era/>, accessed 10 Oct. 2015. xiii Brett Freeman, Lake Boga at War: The Inside Story of the Secret RAAF Inland Flying Boat Unit WWII (Swan Hill: Catalina Publications, 1995) 78. xiv Australias Great War Effort, The Australian Worker, 23 Aug. 1944, 6, in Trove [online database], accessed 1 Oct. 2015. xv Brett Freeman, Lake Boga at War: The Inside Story of the Secret RAAF Inland Flying Boat Unit WWII (Swan Hill: Catalina Publications, 1995) 82. xvi D. Collett Wadge, (ed.), Women in Uniform (London: Imperial War Museum, 2003) 224. xvii Elizabeth Auld, S.A. Girls Unusual Job on Catalinas, The Mail, 20 Jan. 1945, 3, in Trove [online database], accessed 10 Oct. 2015. xviii Brett Freeman, Lake Boga at War: The Inside Story of the Secret RAAF Inland Flying Boat Unit WWII (Swan Hill: Catalina Publications, 1995) 132.
xix
Brett Freeman, Lake Boga at War: The Inside Story of the
Secret RAAF Inland Flying Boat Unit WWII (Swan Hill: Catalina Publications, 1995) 97. xx Brett Freeman, Lake Boga at War: The Inside Story of the Secret RAAF Inland Flying Boat Unit WWII (Swan Hill: Catalina Publications, 1995) 90. xxi Ibid. xxii Brett Freeman, Lake Boga at War: The Inside Story of the Secret RAAF Inland Flying Boat Unit WWII (Swan Hill: Catalina Publications, 1995) 189. xxiii Ross recalls his Catalina flying boat days, Times, 6 Nov. 1997, 12, in Trove [online database], accessed 10 Oct. 2015. xxiv Brown, Emma, Second World War flying boat base in Victorian Mallee welcomes veteran back, ABC Rural, (18 Sept. 2015) < http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-18/lakebogas-black-cats-remembered-70-years-on/6785594>, para. 2, accessed 12 Oct. 2015.
Catalinas, The Mail, 20 Jan. 1945, 3, in Trove [online database], accessed 10 Oct. 2015.
The Cats go Inland, The Australasian, 26 Aug.
1944, 12, in Trove [online database], accessed 9 Oct. 2015.
Australias Great War Effort, The Australian
Worker, 23 Aug. 1944, 6, in Trove [online database], accessed 1 Oct. 2015.
Secondary Sources
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Base for Repairs to Flying Boats, The Argus, 16
Aug. 1944, 7, in Trove [online database], accessed 1 Oct. 2015. Big Flying Boat Base on Lake, News, 16 Aug. 1944, 8, in Trove [online database], accessed 9 Oct. 2015. Contact, On the Beam: Aero Club and World Flying, Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners Advocate, 29 Nov. 1947, 5, in Trove [online database], accessed 2 Oct. 2015. District and General News, The Riverina Recorder, 28 March 1942, 2, in Trove [online database], accessed 9 Oct. 2015. Flying Boat Base, Geraldton Guardian and Express, 27 Sept. 1944, 3, in Trove [online database], accessed 11 Oct. 2015. Flying Boat Depot Miles from the Sea, The Advertiser, 17 Aug. 1944, 8, in Trove [online database], accessed 5 Oct. 2015. Herald Newspaper, 141565 [image], (15 Aug. 1944) <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/ 141565/>, accessed 5 Sept. 2015. Huge Flying Base In Lake, The Courier-Mail, 17 Aug. 1944, 2, in Trove [online database], accessed 8 Oct. 2015.
Brown, Emma, Second World War flying boat base
in Victorian Mallee welcomes veteran back, ABC Rural, (18 Sept. 2015) < http://www.abc.net.au/ news/2015-09-18/lake-bogas-black-cats remembered-70-years-on/6785594>, accessed 12 Oct. 2015. Coote, Jean, David Mark: Lake Boga Flying Boat Museum an amazing glimpse into a past era, The Legacy Hour [podcast], (Radio Adelaide, 28 Sep. 2015) < https://radio.adelaide.edu .au/david-mark-lake-boga-flying-boat-museum-anamazing-glimpse-into-a-past-era/>, accessed 10 Oct. 2015. Department of Planning and Community Development, The Drying Lake Lake Boga's experience of change and uncertainty (2010), < http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Fiona_ Mckenzie3/publication/262677044_The_Drying_La ke_Lake_Boga's_experience_of_change_and_uncert ainty/links/0a85e5386b48121086000000.pdf>, accessed 7 Oct. 2015. Freeman, Brett, Lake Boga at War: The Inside Story of the Secret RAAF Inland Flying Boat Unit WWII (Swan Hill: Catalina Publications, 1995). Gardner, Graham, Murray-Mallee Country: Swan Hill and District 1836-1986 (Swan Hill: Swan Hill and District 150th Anniversary Committee, 1986). Gunn, John, Challenging Horizons: Qantas 19391954 (Queensland: University of Queensland Press, 1987). Gemma Symons Making History 2015
Lake Boga Flying Boat Museum, About the
Museum, Lake Boga Flying Boat Museum [website], (2015) < http://www.flyingboat.org.au /index.php/about/about-us>, accessed 12 Sept. 2015. Lake Boga Flying Boat Museum, History, Lake Boga Flying Boat Museum [website], (2015) <http://www.flyingboat.org.au/index.php/about/hist ory>, accessed 12 Sept. 2015. Ross recalls his Catalina flying boat days, Times, 6 Nov. 1997, 12, in Trove [online database], accessed 10 Oct. 2015. Wadge, D. Collett (ed.), Women in Uniform (London: Imperial War Museum, 2003). Wells, Kathryn, Flying boats in the Second World War, 193945, Australian Government, (30 Oct. 2013) < http://www.australia.gov.au/aboutaustralia/australian-story/flying-boats-in-ww2>, accessed 11 Oct. 2015. Wells, Kathryn, Flying boats of Australia, Australian Government, (30 Oct. 2013) < http: //www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australianstory/flying-boats-of-australia>, accessed 11 Oct. 2015. Van Raay, Lara & King, Charlotte, Catalina returns to make a splash, ABC Mildura - Swan Hill, (11 March 2011) < http://www.abc.net.au/local/videos /2011/03/11/3161185.htm>, accessed 10 Oct. 2015. Images The Images of the Lake Boga Flying Boat Museum and the Restored PBY5 Catalina A24-30 were taken by Gemma Symons on the 26th of September 2015.
London Gazette 38190 Despatch On Operations in Hong Kong 1941 Dec.8-25, by Major-General C. M. Maltby, General Officer Commanding British Troops in China PDF