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Rough Tracks The magazine of the AUSTRALIAN EX-MILITARY VEHICLE COLLECTORS SOCIETY INC

Nov 2011

Monthly Meetings are held at Campsie RSL, 25 Anglo Road, Campsie, On the first Tuesday night of each month at 2000 hrs

FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY Jointly between the A.M.V.C.S. & Menangle Steam
26TH AND/ OR 27TH NOVEMBER 2011 Starts 6pm or come earlier for a look around At Menangle Steam Museum Playground For 2 days of family fun with your military vehicles with a sleepover in between, Dinner Saturday Night cost $20 Children's cost (5-14) is $10, Under 5 Free

Payment must be made before 18th November Contact Garry 0417 274 640 or by email shinysidedown2008@hotmail.com
Trophy Presentation will occur after our Christmas Dinner. Members were reminded...For safety please use 1st gear only while at Menangle's Public Areas

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AMVCS Committee 2011/2012 PO Box 221 Gladesville NSW 2111


http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/amvcs_nsw/
President Vice President Secretary/ Editor Treasurer Public Relations John Oldenmenger tel (02) 4572 5672 Ray Kickert (02) 9602 9735 Ken Whyte tel (02) 9625 5748 Mob 0418 260 013 Email:- jeepmad16@optusnet.com.au Mob. 0425 253 253

Neil Cameron-Smith tel (02) 9484 8862 David Goodman 0418 682 082 Lawrie Winney Tel (02) 4578 1531

Mob 0419 230 828.

Club Plate Registrar

CMC Delegate

Gary Beers

ALT/Delegate

First Aid Officers Certified - Jan Thompson tel (02) 9969 7607 Mob 0412 078 096 And Chief Corowa Information lady

For Sale Club banners are 3 x 2 @ $15 each Flags are 3x 2 @ $20 each Orders are being taken

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MINUTES OF THE GENERAL MEETING OF THE A.M.V.C.S. HELD AT CAMPSIE R.S.L. ON TUESDAY 1st NOVEMBER 2011
General Meeting Opened at: - 8.00pm Opening Comments from Neil Cameron Smith - field fairly thin tonight as J.O had broken down before the meeting and was waiting for truck recovery. Ken Whyte went home sick. Thanks to club for use of Wedding room. Note from Ken Whyte. As the meeting was taped in Kens absence. Names proposing, seconding and accepting matters are written up as accepted due to lack of detail on tape. Some sections were inaudible or mumbled Apologies: John O. Ken Whyte, Kevin Burne, Les Bell, Keith Adam, Don Campbell, Tony Playle , Roland Davey, Ian Hall, Ray Kickert Visitors: Brian Healy Minutes from Previous meeting: taken as read - all accepted Correspondence In: Presidents report: - circulated a Thank you from Wings over Illawarra Discussions held regarding our attendance. The trip to Canberra - now organised by Gary N & Keith Adams - all correspondence had was emailed over to Gary N. Christmas party - Gary N was organizing the event too. Costs were $20 per adult and $10 Children - funds were collected. Gary has spoken to caterers and reported sheds had been refurbished. There would be lighting, tables and chairs. Members were advised to be there by 6pm but were welcome to attend earlier for a look around, general meet up etc, etc. Our club was asked what we want out as toys. We were not allowed a swap meet. Vice Presidents report: - none Treasures Report: - Bank figures were $6,075.47 in the main (cheque) account and $6,196.19 in term deposit account. K.W Presented Invoices for payment being for Septembers magazine $470.92 & Octobers magazine $451.62 . Approved & Seconded together with the Treasures report both accepted Gary N & Ken Stacey. Insurance had not come through but would chase up before the trip to Canberra, had sent emails but no original documents had arrive.

Public Relations Report: Memorial service at North Head Museum with NAS was cancelled due to the organsier having other events south in NSW. Wings over Illawarra will now be first Sunday in May each year, 2012 will be 6th May 2012. Request made to go down on the Saturday. Flyer going around re accommodation on the Upper Murray Resort. 26th January was the NRMA Motorfest - registrations have closed. 10-12th February Highlands Steam and Vintage FairOberon vehicle runs, dinner dance, award and displays, Contact Rally Organsier at PO Box 313, Oberon 2787 or on 02 6336 1934 after 6pm or email rpinoz@hotmail.com or www.highlandssteam.org.au Club Plate Registers Report: - 3 new regos - 2 for same member, 3rd was in process for restoration Editor/ Secretary:- Noted that the taped recording and confirmed Christmas party was written up as Family Christmas party. No trip reports or photos received from members in Novembers. Ken advised he would not be at the December meeting as he was going to the 70th anniversary in Oahu. Ken also advised that Australia post had approved and issued a number allocated our publication (ref PP:255003/10161.) C.M.C report: - no meeting this month. General Business: - (1) Jeep Auctions for sale Laughton(?) $7,500 back on EBay at $8,500. Comma Jeep $6,500 only one seat. Jeep near Toms place at $20,000 passed in. Tom also new of other items including a trailer. (2) Phil Rider gave a recollection on his trip to France. (3) Jan still had a couple of Jeep Biscuit tins left. Jan also attended the Clearing Sale at Culgoa. (4) Garry Beers reported on work on Caribou's. (4) Gary N had news of newly found B & W footage from Vietnam together with some Coloured, but no sound. Gary & Faye went to an OH & S meeting re S.M.E. museum and that it was going to be moved, new museum at Singleton. (5) David Goodman was asked if he could arrange a day at the Parramatta barracks. David Goodman asked about the club LandRover - to be investigated. (6) Mention was made of an Armory and it had possibilities for a Military Day event (as mentioned last month) Meeting closed at. 21.48pm Next meeting 6th December 2011

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MANOEUVRES FOR 2011/2012


Month
November

Date
11th 11-13th 20th 20th 26th

Event
Canberra War Memorial trip Memorial service at North Head Museum with NAS All German Show & Shine Day Southern Tablelands Vintage Rally
Club Christmas Party $20 per head (adult)

Notes
Everybody to come !

Coordinator
Ken Whyte Appears not to be happening as organizers had other events on

Newcastle Taralga Showground

Www.mbccc.org.au Tim 02 4844 7016 Gary Nisbet 0417 274 640

2012
January 15th

30th Annual All American Day Exclusively for American built vehicles at Castle Towers Shopping Centre, Castle Hill (Entry off Old Castle Hill Road) - register on the day. $10 entry fee for Childrens Hospital Westmead
NRMA Motorfest - registrations have closed Guyra showground - Military Vehicle rallycontact Robert William on 0439 711 701 for information

26th 27-29th

February

10-12th

Highlands Steam and Vintage Fair Oberon vehicle runs, dinner dance, award and displays, Contact Rally Organsier at PO Box 313, Oberon 2787 or on 02 6336 1934 after 6pm or email rpinoz@hotmail.com or www.highlandssteam.org.au
Corowa Swim In Military Heritage Weekend Wings Over Illawarra Trucks on show, Rosehill Gardens Oil, Steam & Kero Field Day National Motoring Heritage Day Campbelltown Steam & Machinery Museum Mitchell Shire Council

March March -April May

12-18th 30th-1st 6th 17-19th 19-20th 20th

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VIETNAM WAR A mate of mine, from WWII Jeeps, Tran Vinh Phuc, has provided the following statistics:3 million of my people died in the war, including 65,000 US and more than 500 Aussies . After the War , there are still a million Vietnamese that are still effected from Agent Orange , Nabam . Vihn was very lucky to survive and have Australia as his second home . He is helping Sister Trish - Nun to help other unlucky Vietnamese and forgotten kids a second chance in life. Christmas is a time for giving.
SEPTEMBER WORDS FROM TRISH As we have just begun the new School Year (2011 2012) just a few words to alert you to the many activities happening within our projects and which are accredited to the outreach and attention of many donors who have given so generously over the months of this year. Your help, interest and encouragement comes at a crucial time when school begins again and the needs of children in our care are critical and vital. The Loreto Team is deeply aware that our bighearted friends are the basis of our activities for poor and disabled kids in Vietnam. When they have an opportunity to improve their (educational) lives, then families benefit too. In fact communities thrive. With these points below, I am merely making brief mention of all that YOU can assume to have positively achieved for the kids in the care of the Loreto Program. I invite you to explore in greater depth the many new articles on our website and know what powerful energy you are giving to thousands of Vietnamese kids

uniforms, scholarships, School Packs for students (over 1,500) in our rural schools thus improving their (prolonged) attendance of school sustaining curriculum areas of Vocational Training, art, music, sport and library to broaden programs of study for intellectually challenged kids

sustaining nutritional support, medical cover and transport to/from school for disabled and poor children in disadvantaged rural areas who would otherwise drop out of school equipping Play-Based Activity Rooms for Sunrise Special School and the School for the Blind to assist with rehabilitation and therapy for children with multiple disabilities constructional revamping of run-down educational areas of many schools to create brighter and more stimulating learning environments desk-tops/furniture for vision-impaired and hearing impaired students: eagerly anticipated for some time and which have now created information technology as a reality sports uniforms for hundreds of poor children (never had them before) swimming program, pool repairs and excursions for disadvantaged kids in our care to broaden their outlook of life construction and equipping of three new kindergartens in severely remote and isolated countryside environs of Vietnam: intolerable poverty will be eliminated and young children will no longer have to wander uselessly but they will now be able to attend Early Educational Centers. As we open many doors of need and try to answer the needs we discover more to do! Dont hesitate to contact the Loreto Team if you need to know more information. Thank you for all that you do on behalf of poor and disabled kids in Vietnam.

If you can help out, even a little, it will surely be appreciated.

Each year the Loreto Vietnam-Australia Program (LVAP) continues to advance the educational empowerment of poor and disabled children in Vietnam. We have seen many lives changed for the better. Each and every child, family and community has reason to hope because great advances have been made in their lives. Thank you to our donors for your gifts of change. Since 1997, you have helped LVAP reach out and transform the lives of more than 10,000 children. These smiles and stories are made because of your generosity
If you can make a tax deductable donation by cheque, please make your cheque payable to Australian Volunteers International Trish Franklin - Vietnam (note to Trish Franklin - Vietnam is essential) and kindly send it to the following address: Australian Volunteers International, PO Box 350, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065. Australia

Remember as they say just a little drop of rain in sufficient quantities makes an ocean .

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Pearl Harbor 70th Anniversary


The December 7, 1941, the attack on Pearl Harbor was horrific and crushing. The United States Pacific Fleet was crippled in a matter of two hours. As big as that was, however, it was only the beginning. The Pearl Harbor raid was just one part of the Japanese plan for the day, the centerpiece of a comprehensive assault on the United States and Great Britain. Japan had planned its day of attacks to address several tactical and strategic goals in the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia. Japan was going to war because its supply of oil from the United States had been embargoed; the island nation needed to clear the way to replace American petroleum with oil from the Dutch East Indies (present -day Indonesia). It is now alleged that the American officials had advance knowledge of Japan's December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. How was the United States caught off guard? How much and when did American officials know of Japanese plans for an attack? Former United States Navy Rear Admiral Robert A. Theobald has argued that various parties high in the U.S. and British governments knew of the attack in advance and may even have let it happen or encouraged it in order to force America into war via the "back door."
Assertions that Japanese codes had already been broken

By late 1941, the U.S. had broken several Japanese ciphers, such as J19 and PA-K2, called Tsu and Oite respectively. The highest security diplomatic code, dubbed Purple by the U.S., had been broken. The U.S. was also given decrypted messages by Dutch (NEI) intelligence, who like the others in the British-Dutch-U.S. agreement to share the cryptographic load, shared information with allies.
Detection of Japanese transmissions

There are claims that as the Kido Butai (the Striking Force), steamed toward Hawaii, radio signals were detected that alerted U.S. intelligence to the imminent attack. For instance, the Matson liner SS Lurline, heading from San Francisco to Hawaii on its regular route, is said to have heard and plotted via "relative bearings" unusual radio traffic, in a telegraphic code very different from International Morse which persisted for several days, and came from signal source (s) moving in an easterly direction, not shore stations - presumably the approaching Japanese. Statements by high-ranking officials

Vice Admiral Frank E. Beatty, who was an aide to the Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox and was very close to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's inner circle, made remarks as: "Prior to December 7, it was evident even to me... that we were pushing Japan into a corner. I believed that it was the desire of President Roosevelt, and Prime Minister Churchill that we get into the war, as they felt the Allies could not win without us and all our efforts to cause the Germans to declare war on us failed; the conditions we imposed upon Japan - to get out of China, for example - were so severe that we knew that nation could not accept them. We were forcing her so severely that we could have known that she would react toward the United States. All her preparations in a military way - and we knew their over-all import - pointed that way." Another "eye witness viewpoint" akin to Beatty's is provided by Roosevelt's administrative assistant at the time of Pearl Harbor, Jonathan Daniels; it is the telling comment about FDR's reaction to the attack - "The blow was heavier than he had hoped it would necessarily be. ... But the risks paid off; even the loss was worth the price. ..."
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"Ten days before the attack on Pearl Harbor", Henry L. Stimson, United States Secretary of War at the time "entered in his diary the famous and much-argued statement - that he had met with President Roosevelt to discuss the evidence of impending hostilities with Japan, and the question was 'how we should maneuver the Japanese into the position of firing the first shot without allowing too much danger to ourselves." Robert Stinnett suggests a the memo suggests only a direct attack on U.S. interests would sway the American public (or Congress) to favor direct involvement in the European war, specifically in support of the British. An attack by Japan would not, could not, aid Britain, as history would prove. Role of American carriers None of the three U.S. Pacific Fleet aircraft carriers were in Pearl Harbor when the attack came. Advance knowledge of the attack necessitated that the carriers be moved away so as to save them from attack. Carriers became the Navy's most important ships only following the attack. Saving the carriers demonstrated the unprecedented ability to later attack the enemy at a great distance, with great force and surprise. The U.S. would turn this ability against Japan. Elimination of battleships from the Pacific Fleet forced the Americans to rely on carriers for offensive operations. American response to attack Closer to the moment of the attack, the attacking planes were detected and tracked as they approached by an Army radar. The Opana Point radar station, plotted the approaching force, and also plotted them returning to the carriers. An operator later stated "that the radar return was the largest that I had ever seen". The duty officer told him "Well don't worry about it. Additionally, Japanese submarines were sighted and attacked (by the destroyer Ward) outside the harbor entrance a few hours before the attack commenced, and at least one was sunk- all before the planes came within even radar range. This might have provided enough notice to disperse aircraft and fly off reconnaissance, except, yet again, reactions of the duty officers were tardy. Roosevelt's desire for war with Germany Pearl Harbor was not a surprise. Roosevelt wanted (though did not say so officially) the U.S. to intervene in the war against Germany, but did not expect the United States to be hit as severely as she was in the attack on Pearl Harbor. After the attack, American public anger was directed at Japan, not Germany. The Tripartite Pact (Germany, Italy, Japan) called for each to aid another in defense; Japan could not reasonably claim America had attacked Japan if she struck first On the intelligence available to Roosevelt and Churchill prior to the attack is a Purple message, dated 29 November 1941, from the Japanese Ambassador in Berlin to Tokyo. A closing paragraph reads, " He (Ribbentrop) also said that if Japan were to go to war with America, Germany would, of course, join in immediately, and Hitler's intention was that there should be absolutely no question of Germany making a separate peace with England. ..." Churchill was well aware of this.

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Conclusion Neither Admiral Kimmel nor General Short ever faced court martial. It is alleged this was to avoid disclosing information showing the U.S. had advanced knowledge of the attack. When asked, "Will historians know more later?", Kimmel replied, "' ... I'll tell you what I believe. I think that most of the incriminating records have been destroyed. ... I doubt if the truth will ever emerge.' ...". From Vice Admiral Libby, "I will go to my grave convinced that FDR ordered Pearl Harbor to let happen. He must have known." (believe it or not!)

70 years ago, 353 aircraft launched from 6 aircraft carriers of the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked the Unites States Naval Base in Pearl Harbour, Hawaii. The attack came in two waves and was intended to prevent the US Pacific Fleet from influencing the war that Japan was planning in Southeast Asia against Britain, the Netherlands and against the US in the Philippines. It was Japans intention to have access to the areas natural resources such as oil and rubber. The US lost 2,402 lives in the attack on Pearl Harbour, with 1,282 wounded. Japan suffered 65 killed or wounded.

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Members welcome to send in their written adverts for items for sale.

The Honorable Doctor Lawrie Winney tel 4578 1531, still his latex gloves on and needs to see the following Vehicles, for an Annual Inspection. Please make a booking!
November
Les Bell Mick Jericevich Russell Phelan Mathew Tondl

December
Bill Sjoblom Han Sprangers

January
Ray Kickert Peter Kuntz Michael Rodriguez

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WEAPON OF THE MONTH NAZI BASES IN ANTARCTICA

Nazi UFO's

Beginning in 1938,the Nazi's commenced to send out numerous exploratory missions to the Queen Maud region of Antarctica. A steady stream of expeditions were reportedly sent out from [at the time] white supremacist South Africa. Over 230,000 square miles of the frozen continent were mapped from the air, and the Germans discovered vast regions that were surprisingly free of ice, as well as warm water lakes and cave inlets. One vast ice cave within the glacier was reportedly found to extend 30 miles to a large hot-water geothermal lake deep below. Various scientific teams were moved in to the area, including hunters, trappers, collectors and zoologists, botanists, agriculturists, plant specialists, mycologists, parasitologists, marine biologists, ornithologists, and many others. Numerous divisions of the German government were involved in the top secret project. Deep underground construction teams came pouring into the renamed "Neu-Schwabenland". They came on cargo ships, military transport ships, and submarines. The cargo ships coming from South Africa were protected by a host of killer-submarines and military ships. Any ship that even came close to the shipping routes from South Africa to Antarctica were destroyed by German U-boats to protect the secret. Just before the end of the WWII, two German provision U-boats, U-530 and U-977, were launched from a port on the Baltic Sea. Reportedly they took with them members of the antigravity-disk research and development teams and the last of the most vital disc components [much of this technology and hardware had been transported to the base during the course of the war]. This included the notes and drawings for the latest saucer or aerial disk designs, and designs for the gigantic underground complexes and living accommodations based on the remarkable underground factories of Nordhausen in the Harz Mountains. The two U-boats duly reached the new land of Neu-Schwabenland where they unloaded everything. When they arrived in Argentina several months later, their crews were captured. The crews of these U-Boats were of course interrogated by U.S. Intelligence agents who had suspected the existence of the Antarctic base. Whatever the Nazi soldiers tried to tell them, apparently the Americans were not convinced... especially considering the subsequent and ill-fated U.S. Navy backed military actions against the Nazi's "Last Battalion" in Antarctica in later years under Admiral Richard E. Byrd, who arrived at Antarctica with an entire military armada and provisions to last 6 month. However the the entire expedition lasted only 8 weeks, with only approximately three weeks of actual full-scale Antarctic operations. The major base-city of Antarctica became known as the NEW BERLIN, or by the code-named "Base-211". Following is the chronological collection of the events and their conclusions as far as they are known. They all lead to the establishing of the Antarctic base 211 at the end of war by means of German submarines and flying saucers and to the attempt to destroy it by the US Navy in 1947. 1. Evaluation of the anti-gravity propulsion of a nearly 100% functional flying saucer going down in the 'Schwarzwald' in the summer 1936. 2. Alternative hypothesis: Self-developing this propulsion by experiments of German scientists basing on Viktor Schauberger's antigravity experiments. 3. First unmanned flights with the new [re-]built propulsion. A very special section of the "Reichsluftfahrtbehoumlrde" gets the project under its control with the aim to build up anti-gravital fighters and troop-carriers. The project's name is 'HANEBBU' [some sources also call it the 'VRIL' project]. The prototypes are numbered in ascending order. The project has many setbacks in the first years due to the massive electro-magnetic disturbances and their interaction with conventional

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electric components. Although the propulsion can be handled and used principally, it seems to be nearly impossible to "drive or fly" these prototypes in sharper angles than 90 degrees, thus not usable as fighters. Additionally normal navigation systems referring somehow to magnetic fields were completely useless and special magnetic independent navigation instrumentation designed, the celestial guidance system: "Meisterkompass" and "Peiltochterkompass". Arctic bases and civilian research stations. In fact at least 20 well documented operations have taken place along the Arctic until 1945 by means of these submarines. Some of these operations, especially the later ones, had to be carried out under extreme conditions and with the permanent threat of contact with the enemy. Besides, on their way to the south pole, researchers discovered somewhat like a straight deep submarine trench fitting pretty well for the necessary transportation's. 4. Further secret German expeditions to 'NEUSCHWABENLAND' 5. Necessary items for the erection of the bases are continuously transported on submarines. Note: German submarine commanders are highly experienced in the Arctic waters due to the need of delivery of material and people to Germany's northern Arctic bases and civilian research stations. In fact at least 20 well documented operations have taken place along the Arctic until 1945 by means of these submarines. Some of these operations, especially the later ones, had to be carried out under extreme conditions and with the permanent threat of contact with the enemy. Besides, on their way to the south pole, researchers discovered somewhat like a straight deep submarine trench fitting pretty well for the necessary transportation's. 6. The 'HANNEBU' series has left the stadium of prototypes and brought up to 19-25 ships in 2 [or even 3] sizes. "HANEBU I" is a small vessel, "HANNEBU II" a more sophisticated, larger one. Some reports even hint at "HANNEBU III", which was designed as a mothership. If this third type has become reality, there existed only one single ship. So, the overall transport capacities are still very limited, due to a quite small diameter of the disks. Additionally production of ships gets more and more difficult, because the Allies managed to cut of Germany's raw materials more and more. Yet 'HANNEBUs' managed to disturb some allied bomber raids over Germany. Note: Every allied bomber pilot in the [latter] years of the war knew the mysterious threat of the so called "foe-fighters" appearing and vanishing with incredible speed and causing bright-orange light phenomenon's and paroxysmal instrumentation failures on all electric and magnetic parts of the bombers. In no source a direct attack by these "foe-fighters" is mentioned, they seem to play a completely defensive role on the late air war over Germany. (Note: see the movie, THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE, which correctly implies that the Germans were on the verge of developing a whole range of incredible new aerial weapons, and needed to prolong the war for a few more months in order to get their new jets, etc., into production, and the Battle of the Bulge was a part of this plan. However just as these new weapons were about to go into mass production the German military failed to fully succeed in their battle plans to buy more time and prolong the war for a few more months, and the Allied invasion of Germany began. That particular victory may have been closer than most of us would dare to believe. 7. The enormous pressure of the Allies force the Germans to give up the big secret underground facilities in Eastern Germany. The Allies themselves seem to be pretty well informed on these facilities and overall eager to capture them. The Germans flee and leave back much material of the 'HANNEBU' project. Their attempt to rebuild the construction zones in the middle of Germany fails. The war is nearly over. "Quotations: "... I have seen enough of their designs and production plans to realize that if they [the Germans] had managed to prolong the war some months longer, we would have been confronted with a set of entirely new and deadly developments in air warfare.

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8. Sir Roy Feddon, chief of the technical mission to Germany for the Ministry for base 211. The overall transport capacities are quite limited.Aircraft Production in 1945. "When WWII ended, the Germans had several radical types of aircraft and guided missiles under development. The majority were in the most preliminary stages, but they were the only known craft that could even approach the performance of objects reported to UFO observers. 9. Captain Edward J. Ruppelt Chief of the US Air Force Project 'Bluebook' on 1956. "Notes: "-- A last convoy of submarine vessels leaves German Harbors with direction to Antarctica and Andes. It is the overall successful attempt to escape the Allies' clutches. Among this last convoy there are the U 530 [Captain Otte Wehrmut] and the U977m [Captain Heinz Schaumlffer]. "-- The last visual contact with U977 was on April 26th at Christiansund. Schaumlffer's crew did not reveal anything about the submarine's destination or load. The vessel vanishes now for nearly 4 months, before the crew delivers a completely empty vessel to Argentinian Officials. "- In the same way, leading NS-Officials and technicals are evacuated from Berlin/Potsdam with the HANEBU fleet heading to the meanwhile COMPLETED (?) base 211. 10.The submarine convoy achieves in the southern Atlantic Sea a sea victory over an Allied unit trying to stop it. 11. Germany's capitulation 12. Until today more than 100 submarines of the German fleet are missing.Among those are many of the highly technological XXII class equipped with the so-called 'Walterschnorchel', a special designed and coated schnorkel enabling submarines in combination with their new developed engines to dive for many thousand miles. A 'trip' to the base without recognition becomes pretty possible with this technology. 13. The US Navy tries to destroy the German base which did not surrender at the end of war. The operation is a disaster. The base remained functional, at least in parts. 14.More than one year after the surrendering of U977 the US NAVY launches the biggest military operation in the Antarctic ice under the command of Admiral Richard E. Byrd. This is the operation 'HIGHJUMP', including 13 ships, 1 aircraft carrier, 2 seaplane tenders, 6 two-engined R4D transports and 4000 men. The only official statement on the purpose of such a task force is the need for testing "new material under the extreme Antarctic conditions.

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OLD STYLE HARD RUBBER BATTERIES MANUFACTURED & REBUILT

STOLEN.

A restored army Jeep. This jeep was restore quite a few years ago so it does look well used. It was stolen from a property in the Dubbo area .Some time in the last week. It was stolen from a couple who are in there 80's who have owned it for many years. Please keep your eyes out as this affects us all. If you have any doubts about any thing you see. report it to the Dubbo police." "Rego number is HVQ 895 Serial number is MB208272 or may be MB800394 family is still a bit shocked as you could imagine so not real sure about which serial number it is. Police have been notified. We all need to catch these thieves"

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PERSONALITY OF THE MONTH


Charles Upham
Captain Charles Hazlitt Upham VC and Bar (21 September 1908 22 November 1994) was a New Zealand soldier who earned the Victoria Cross twice during the Second World War: in Crete in May 1941, and at Ruweisat Ridge, Egypt, in July 1942. He was only the third person to receive the VC twice, the only person to receive two VCs during the Second World War and the only combat soldier to receive the award twice.[5] As a result, Upham is often described as the most highly decorated Commonwealth soldier of that war, as the VC is the Commonwealth's highest award for extreme gallantry in the face of the enemy. First VC In March 1941 Upham's battalion left for Greece and then withdrew to Crete, and it was here that he was wounded in the action, from 22 to 30 May 1941, that gained him his first VC. When informed of the award, his first response was: "It's meant for the men. During the operations in Crete this officer performed a series of remarkable exploits, showing outstanding leadership, tactical skill and utter indifference to danger. He commanded a forward platoon in the attack on MALEME on 22nd May and fought his way forward for over 3,000 yards unsupported by any other arms and against a defence strongly organised in depth. During this operation his platoon destroyed numerous enemy posts but on three occasions sections were temporarily held up. In the first case, under a heavy fire from a machine gun nest he advanced to close quarters with pistol and grenades, so demoralizing the occupants that his section was able to "mop up" with ease. Another of his sections was then held up by two machine guns in a house. He went in and placed a grenade through a window, destroying the crew of one machine gun and several others, the other machine gun being silenced by the fire of his sections. In the third case he crawled to within 15 yards of an M.G. post and killed the gunners with a grenade.When his Company withdrew from MALEME he helped to carry a wounded man out under fire, and together with another officer rallied more men together to carry other wounded men out. He was then sent to bring in a company which had become isolated. With a Corporal he went through enemy territory over 600 yards, killing two Germans on the way, found the company, and brought it back to the Battalion's new position. But for this action it would have been completely cut off. During the following two days his platoon occupied an exposed position on forward slopes and was continuously under fire. Second Lieutenant Upham was blown over by one mortar shell, and painfully wounded by a piece of shrapnel behind the left shoulder, by another. He disregarded this wound and remained on duty. He also received a bullet in the foot which he later removed in Egypt. At GALATAS on 25th May his platoon was heavily engaged and came under severe mortar and machine-gun fire. While his platoon stopped under cover of a ridge Second-Lieutenant Upham went forward, observed the enemy and brought the platoon forward when the Germans advanced. They killed over 40 with fire and grenades and forced the remainder to fall back. When his platoon was ordered to retire he sent it back under the platoon Serjeant and he went back to warn other troops that they were being cut off. When he came out himself he was fired on by two Germans. He fell and shammed dead, then crawled into a position and having the use of only one arm rested his rifle in the fork of a tree and as the Germans came forward he killed them both. The second to fall actually hit the muzzle as he fell. On 30th May at SPHAKIA his platoon was ordered to deal with a party of the enemy which had advanced down a ravine to near Force Headquarters. Though in an exhausted condition he climbed the steep hill to the west of the ravine, placed his men in positions on the slope overlooking the ravine and himself went to the top with a Bren Gun and two riflemen. By clever tactics he induced the enemy party to expose itself and then at a range of 500 yards shot 22 and caused the remainder to disperse in panic. During the whole of the operations he suffered from dysentery and was able to eat very little, in addition to being wounded and bruised. Bar to VC Upham was evacuated to Egypt, now promoted to captain. He received a Bar to his VC for his actions on 1415 July 1942, during the First Battle of El Alamein. Captain C. H. Upham, V.C., was commanding a Company of New Zealand troops in the Western Desert during the operations which culminated in the attack on El Ruweisat Ridge on the night of 14th-15th July, 1942. In spite of being twice wounded, once when crossing open ground swept by enemy fire to inspect his forward sections guarding our mine-fields and again when he completely destroyed an entire truck load of German soldiers with hand grenades, Captain Upham insisted on remaining with his men to take part in the final assault. During the opening stages of the attack on the ridge Captain Upham's Company formed part of the reserve battalion, but, when communications with the forward troops broke down and he was instructed to send up an officer to report on the progress of the attack, he went out himself armed with a Spandau gun and, after several sharp encounters with enemy machine gun posts, succeeded in bringing back the required information. Just before dawn the reserve battalion was ordered forward, but, when it had almost reached its objective, very heavy fire was encountered from a strongly defended enemy locality, consisting of four machine gun posts and a number of tanks. Captain Upham, without hesitation, at once led his Company in a determined attack on the two nearest strongpoints on the left flank of the sector. His voice could be heard above the din of battle cheering on his men and, in spite of the fierce resistance of the enemy and the heavy casualties on both sides, the objective was captured. Page 15

Captain Upham, during the engagement, himself destroyed a German tank and several guns and vehicles with grenades and although he was shot through the elbow by a machine gun bullet and had his arm broken, he went on again to a forward position and brought back some of his men who had become isolated. He continued to dominate the situation until his men had beaten off a violent enemy counter-attack and consolidated the vital position which they had won under his inspiring leadership. Exhausted by pain from his wound and weak from loss of blood Captain Upham was then removed to the Regimental Aid Post but immediately his wound had been dressed he returned to his men, remaining with them all day long under heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire, until he was again severely wounded and being now unable to move fell into the hands of the enemy when, his gallant Company having been reduced to only six survivors, his position was finally over-run by superior enemy forces, in spite of the outstanding gallantry and magnificent leadership shown by Captain Upham. The Victoria Cross was conferred on Captain Upham for conspicuous bravery during the operations in Crete in May, 1941 POW in Colditz Castle One attempt to escape occurred when a group of POWs were being transported in open trucks through Italy. Upham jumped from the truck at a bend and managed to get 400 yards (370 m) away before being recaptured. He had broken an ankle in jumping from the moving truck. Another attempt occurred when he was being moved between prison camps on a civilian train while guarded by two Germans. Upham was only allowed to visit the toilet when the train was travelling at high speed, to prevent him from jumping through a window. Nevertheless, Upham prised open the toilet window and jumped onto the tracks, knocking himself unconsious. On a third occasion, he tried to escape a camp by climbing its fences in broad daylight. He became entangled in barbed wire when he fell down between the two fences. When a prison guard pointed a pistol at his head and threatened to shoot, Upham calmly ignored him and lit a cigarette. This scene was photographed by the Germans as "evidence" and later reprinted in his biography (Mark of the Lion, by Kenneth Sandford). After this incident, Upham was considered extremely dangerous and was placed in solitary confinement. He was only allowed to exercise alone, while accompanied by two armed guards and while covered by a machinegun in a tower. Despite these precautions, Upham bolted from his little courtyard, straight through the German barracks and out through the front gate of the camp. The guard in the machinegun-tower later told other prisoners that he refrained from shooting Upham out of sheer respect. Upham was soon captured and sent to the infamous Oflag IV-C (Colditz) on 14 October 1944. Aftermath When Colditz Castle was liberated by American forces, most of the inmates made their own way home immediately. Upham broke into a German armoury, helped himself to weaponry, and went out hunting Germans. Upham was keen to see action again, but was instead sent to Britain where he was reunited with Molly McTamney, who was then serving as a nurse. They were married at New Milton, Hampshire, on 20 June 1945. He returned to NZ in early September, and Molly followed him in December. King George VI had invested Upham with his first Victoria Cross at Buckingham Palace on 11 May 1945. When the recommendation was made for a second VC, the King remarked to Major-General Howard Kippenberger that a bar to the cross would be "very unusual indeed" and enquired firmly, "Does he deserve it?" Kippenberger replied, "In my respectful opinion, sir, Upham won the VC several times over

The Victoria Cross of which Upham received TWO

Born

21 September 1908 (190809-21) Christchurch, New Zealand

Died

22 November 1994 (199411-23) (aged 86) Christchurch, New Zealand

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VEHICLE OF THE MONTH - "SPOOFS


In World War II, both the Allies and the Axis used dummy tanks. The British, who designed them, called them "spoofs." The Americans used them as well. Before the war began, the Wehrmacht utilized mock tanks to practice tactics and train their troops. One of the first uses of dummy tanks during the Second World War was in the North African Campaign. The Royal Engineers stationed there constructed two per day; between April and June 1941, they were able to build three dummy Royal Tank Regiments, and another in November that same year. These were foldable, and thus portable, however, the Royal Engineers improved them further. Jeeps were used to make the "spoofs" more realistic: a steel frame covered with canvas was placed on them, making a self-propelled dummy tank. The Jeep did not realistically simulate the noise or movement of a tank, but allowed the dummy to be deployed quickly. Meanwhile, the reverse was also done, to make tanks look like trucks. A further deWorld War I, Australian troops carrying a vice was put into use that both created simulated tank tracks, and erased real ones. dummy, Mark IV tank (1917) Inflatable dummys consisted of a fabric covering, supported by a network of pressurized, rubber tubes that formed a kind of "pneumatic skeleton". These were generally preferred in the field, despite their tendency to rapidly deflate if punctured by accident or shellfire. In one operation in September 1944, the British deployed 148 inflatable tanks close to the front line and around half were "destroyed" by fragments from German mortar and artillery fire, and by Allied bombs falling short. Dummy tanks were used extensively in Operation Fortitude, prior to the landings at the Normandy Beaches. During this operation, they were used to confuse German intelligence in two ways: first, by making it seem that the Allies had more tanks than they did; and second, they were used to hide and downplay the importance of the location of their real tanks, in order to make it seem that the invasion would occur at the Pas-de-Calais rather than at Normandy. Similarly, during Operation Shingle at Anzio, Italy, inflatable Sherman tanks were deployed when the real tanks were elsewhere. In the Pacific Theater of Operations, the Japanese also utilized decoys; one recorded instance was during the Battle of Iwo Jima. A "tank" was surrounded by American infantry, which had been under artillery bombardment: they found it was not real, but merely a sculpture, carved out of volcanic ash. The Red Army also employed dummy tanks to increase their apparent numbers, and mask their true movements The Allies went to wonderfully creative lengths to hood-wink the Nazis, as shown here. Operation Fortitude was aimed at weakening the Germans' Normandy defences by forcing them to prepare for possible landings in Norway and, more likely, the Pas de Calais. Dover's harbours were crammed with dummy landing craft, while plywood guns and inflatable tanks were stationed in nearby fields. At night trucks were driven in circles around the county to deceive German reconnaisance craft into thinking that troops were being deployed ahead of an imminent invasion. Hitler remained convinced that main Allied thrust would come through the Pas de Calais, even after D-Day.

An inflatable dummy tank, modeled after the M4 Sherman. Page 17

The Poppy is for Sacrifice


November is poppy month, the time of the year when by the wearing of a simple emblem, a red poppy, we salute the memory of those who sacrificed their health, their strength, even their lives, that we might live in a free country. Long known as the corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas) because it flourishes as a weed in grain fields, the Flanders poppy as it is now usually called, grew profusely in the trenches and craters of the war zone. Artillery shells and shrapnel stirred up the earth and exposed the seeds to the light they needed to germinate. This same poppy also flowers in Turkey in early spring - as it did in April 1915 when the ANZACs landed at Gallipoli. According to Australias official war historian C.E.W.Bean, a valley south of ANZAC beach got its name Poppy Valley from the field of brilliant red poppies near its mouth. Whilst the red poppy is a symbol of modern times, legend has it that the poppy goes back to the time of the Mogul leader, Genghis Khan, as the flower associated with human sacrifice. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the Mogul Emperor led his warrior hordes on campaigns south to India, and west to envelop Russia as far as the shores of the Black Sea. The policy adopted by the armies of Genghis Khan was simple and effective. They would isolate their enemies, surround and completely annihilate them. The legend states that on the battlefields that were literally drenched with blood, white poppies grew in vast profusion. The modern story of the poppy is, of course, no legend. In the years immediately following World War 1, governments and the whole of society, had not accepted the responsibility for those incapacitated and bereft as a result of war. In Britain, unemployment accentuated the problem. Earl Haig, the British Commander-in-Chief, undertook the task of organising the British Legion as a means of coping with the problems of hundreds and thousands of men who had served under him in battle. In 1921, a group of widows of French ex-servicemen called on him at the British Legion Headquarters. They brought with them from France some poppies they had made, and suggested that they might be sold as a means of raising money to aid the distressed among those who were incapacitated as a result of the war. The first red poppies to come to Australia, in 1921, were made in France. In Australia, single poppies are not usually worn on ANZAC Day - the poppy belongs to Remembrance Day, 11 November. However, wreaths of poppies are traditionally placed at memorials and honour boards on ANZAC Day. The red Flanders poppy was first described as a flower of remembrance by Colonel John McCrae, who was Professor of Medicine at McGill University of Canada before World War One. Colonel McCrae had served as a gunner in the Boer War, but went to France in World War One as a medical Officer with the first Canadian Contingent. At the second battle of Ypres in 1915, when in charge of a small first-aid post, he wrote in pencil on a page torn from his dispatch book: In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row That mark our place, and in the sky The larks still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the dead, short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow. Loved, and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe, To you from failing hands we throw The Torch: be yours to hold it high! If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

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And a few more snaps from Beltring. UK

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Last Chance....Going... Going...Gone !


The Clearing Sale at Culgoa, Victoria on Saturday 22nd October. The Estate of James Swan.

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The Clearing Sale at Culgoa, Victoria - Prices for the vehicles were:DUKW part restored imitation: $40,000 Desert Chev Teanau 2 replica Truck 270 GM motor 5SPD: $21,500 , bought by John Belfield from Victoria Commer 4 x 4 Army Truck Q4: $4,900 Bren Gun Carrier: $25,750 Coles crane: $2,400 M816 wrecker and I just happened to have a Wrecker body that needed a truck. Kaiser: $7,000 bought by Colin Jones from SA. Jeep trailer: $600 1926 Rolls Royce chassis and motor under restoration: $17,000 Clectrac: $3400 Other recorded prices: 4x UK type carrier wheels $200 2x Aus type carrier wheels $50 75mm gun mantlet off Grant tank $1500 2x NOS Cent tank wheels $40 Matilda or possibly Stuart tank turret ring $160 There were over 220 bidders from throughout Australia and overseas. 3 military vehicle collectors came from New Zealand and there were Corowa attendees also from Darwin and Perth. I knew a few of the people who purchased vehicles but there were a few surprises. The person who purchased the DUKW yelled out when he was the winning bidder "I am going Fishing!". To those who collect military vehicles they were even stunned to hear him mentioning about taking it into the salt water. Another interesting story was regarding the Kaiser Wrecker. Colin Jones just happened at home to have a Wrecker body that needed a truck. After a phone discussion with his wife Simone they were able to determine that this was the ideal vehicle. Colin's comments on the MLU Forum were "Simone wanted the wrecker and I wanted a new dining room suite, but hey who am I to argue. She finished work early today so she could get home to adjust the clutch while I was getting dinner and bathing the kids". Jan Thompson

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THE BACK PAGE


Aussie Slag continues with

If you have a humorous picture that you would like to share then send in to the editor at jeepmad16@optusnet.com.au Come on, I need your help to make this magazine interesting

F for Foxtrot

Face ripping - A one-way discussion, usually between a soldier and a subordinate, where the "face ripper" gets so close that the "face rippee" can see the pores on his forehead. This usually occurs on the drill square or in the CSM's office. Fake - Referring to a civilian contractor usually working on a RAAF Base. 'That guy's fake.....' Fang - Food. To eat or in reference to food. For example "Go and get a fang" or to "Fang out". Fang Farrier - An Army dentist. Fang Bosun - An RAN dentist. Farter - Bed or sleeping bag. Normally refers to going to bed, for example "Hit the Farter". Also Fart Sack Fatcans or Fat shop - Describes Australian Defence Force Canteens, for example "I'm going to get some food from Fatcans". Fat-truck - Vehicle used to supply hot food and cold drinks to soldiers in the lines. Driven by the "Fat-sl-t". Also known as the "Gut-truck" and "gut-slut" respectively or "pie-slut". Fat, dumb and happy To be complacent or less than vigilant. Fat pills Chocolate and lollies (sweets/candy). Ferret - Beret F.I.G.J.A.M. - F--k I'm Good Just Ask Me. F.I.N.C.L.E - A F--king Idiot No C--t Likes. (See Also PTE Fry) Fish head - Maritime patrol aircrew. Fitter and turner - An Army cook. It means "to fit good food into a pot and turn it into sh-t". Flight Lewie - Nickname for Flight Lieutenant, Air Force Junior Officer rank. Flogg Off - Spoken abbreviation for Flying Officer (FLGOFF), Air Force Junior Officer rank. Also used in the Army to describe the act of onaism. At least it was in the 90s. Foreigners - RAAF term for a job done for a mate as a favour or himself, by a specialist in that area such as a RADTECH fixing a mate's stereo or an MTFITT tuning a car. Usually in work time using RAAF facilities and tools. "Hey Dave, could you do a foreigners on my car tomorrow?" See also Rabbit (q.v.).

Jeep fitted with an Inventive Mobile BBQ plate


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