94-743: The Australian Air Corps ( AAC ) was a temporary formation of the Australian military that existed in the period between the disbandment of the Australian Flying Corps (AFC) of World War I and the establishment of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in March 1921. Raised in January 1920, the AAC was commanded by Major William Anderson , a former AFC pilot. Many of the AAC's members were also from
188-406: A Pfalz near Bapaume on 16 May, before achieving his greatest success on 12 June when he shot down four German fighters in a single patrol over Ribécourt . His victims included two Fokker Triplanes, one of which he attacked head-on, an LVG , and a Fokker D.VII flown by Fritz Loerzer, commander of Jasta 26 and an eleven-victory ace, who was captured. The feat also gave Phillipps
282-558: A DH.9A to make the first non-stop flight from Sydney to Melbourne. A few days earlier, Williams and Wackett had flown two DH.9As to the Royal Military College, Duntroon , to investigate the possibility of taking some of the school's graduates into the air corps, a plan that came to fruition after the formation of the RAAF. Between July and November 1920, trials of the Avro 504L took place on
376-508: A branch covering "intelligence, censorship, and aviation" within the Army's Department of Military Operations. Following the outbreak of World War I and the expansion of the Army, aviation became a separate branch commanded by Reynolds. AFC operational units were attached and subordinate to Australian ground forces and/or British ground and air commands. Reynolds' role was mostly administrative rather than one that involved operational command. After
470-431: A casualty rate of 44 percent, which was only marginally lower than most Australian infantry battalions that fought in the trenches, who averaged a casualty rate of around 50 percent. Molkentin attributes the high loss rate in part to the policy of not issuing pilots with parachutes , as well as the fact that the bulk of patrols were conducted over enemy lines, both of which were in keeping with British policy. Pilots from
564-519: A committee examining applications for the AAC. Some of the staffing decisions were controversial. At least three officers at the CFS, including the commanding officer, were not offered appointments in the new service. Roy King , the AFC's second highest-scoring fighter ace after Harry Cobby , refused an appointment in the AAC because it had not yet offered a commission to Victoria Cross recipient Frank McNamara . In
658-530: A further 20 hours solo flying – although some pilots, including the AFC's highest-scoring ace, Harry Cobby, received less – after which a pilot had to prove his ability to undertake aerial bombing, photography, formation flying, signalling, dog-fighting and artillery observation. Elementary training was undertaken on types such as Shorthorns, Avro 504s and Pups, followed by operational training on Scouts, Camels and RE8s. Upon completion, pilots received their commission and their "wings", and were allocated to
752-461: A letter dated 30 January 1920, King wrote, "I feel I must forfeit my place in favor ( sic ) of this very good and gallant officer"; McNamara received a commission in the AAC that April. Other former AFC members who took up appointments in the AAC included Captains Adrian Cole , Henry Wrigley , Frank Lukis , and Lawrence Wackett . Captain Hippolyte "Kanga" De La Rue , an Australian who flew with
846-399: A mixture of aircraft including B.E.2cs , Martinsyde G.100s , B.E.12as and R.E.8s – but later standardising on Bristol Fighters . One of the squadron's pilots, Lieutenant Frank McNamara , received the only Victoria Cross awarded to an Australian airman during the war, receiving the award for rescuing a fellow pilot who had been downed behind Turkish lines in early 1917. No. 1 Squadron
940-637: A purpose-designed seaplane. The AAC performed several tasks in connection with the Prince of Wales ' tour of Australia in 1920. In May, the AAC was required to escort the Prince's ship, HMS Renown , into Port Melbourne , and then to fly over the royal procession along St Kilda Road . The AAC had more aircraft than pilots available, so Williams gained permission from the Minister for Defence to augment AAC aircrew with former AFC pilots seeking to volunteer their services for
1034-561: A search for the schooner Amelia J. , which had disappeared on a voyage from Newcastle to Hobart . Anderson and Sergeant Herbert Chester flew one of the DH.9As, and Captain Billy Stutt and Sergeant Abner Dalzell the other. Anderson's aircraft landed near Hobart in the evening, having failed to locate the lost schooner, but Stutt and Dalzell were missing; their DH.9A was last sighted flying through cloud over Bass Strait . A court of inquiry determined
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#17328453394001128-586: A suggestion by Captain Oswald Watt that a Central Flying School be established in Canberra, near the Royal Military College, Duntroon , because it was too high above sea level. Petre instead recommended several sites in Victoria and one of these was chosen, at Point Cook, Victoria , on 22 October 1912. Two days later, on 24 October 1912, the government authorised the raising of a single squadron. Upon establishment
1222-512: A taste of flying as a passenger, the twenty-five-year-old applied for pilot training, altering his birthdate from 1892 to 1896. The official age limit for pilots in the AFC was thirty, but the preferred age was under twenty-three. Phillipps' application was accepted in May 1917 and, after qualifying for his wings , his proficiency was considered such that in August he was attached to No. 32 Squadron of
1316-590: A total of eleven victories, making him the equal highest-scoring ace in No. 2 Squadron along with Captain Henry Forrest . Phillipps was recommended for the Distinguished Flying Cross on 16 June, and the award was promulgated on 3 August: Capt. Roy Cecil Phillipps, M.C. (Australian Flying Corps). Whilst on offensive patrol this officer destroyed personally four enemy aeroplanes; he has also shown
1410-459: A variety of flying conditions, and the air service gained greater exposure to the Australian public. On 15 March 1921, the Brisbane Courier reported that the AAC would disband on 30 March, and be succeeded by a new air force. The Australian Air Force was formed on 31 March, inheriting Point Cook and most of its initial personnel and equipment from the AAC. The adjective "Royal"
1504-605: The Amelia J. was found at Flinders Island the following year. The AAC's initial complement of aircraft included twenty Avro 504 K trainers and twelve Sopwith Pup fighters that had been delivered to CFS in 1919, as well as a Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 and F.E.2 , and a Bristol Scout . Seven of the 504Ks and one of the Pups were written off during the AAC's existence, leaving thirteen and eleven on strength, respectively. The B.E.2 had been piloted by Wrigley and Arthur Murphy in 1919 on
1598-583: The Battle of Passchendaele , also in November, during which they were employed largely as artillery spotters. No.4 Squadron entered the fighting last. Equipped with Sopwith Camels , the squadron was dispatched to a quiet sector around Lens initially and did not see combat until January 1918. During the final Allied offensive that eventually brought an end to the war – the Hundred Days Offensive –
1692-578: The Chief of the General Staff , Major General Gordon Legge , in November 1919, the AAC's prime purpose was to ensure existing aviation assets were maintained; Legge later added that it should also perform suitable tasks such as surveying air routes. The Chief of the Naval Staff , Rear Admiral Sir Percy Grant , objected to the AAC's being under Army control, and argued that an air board should be formed to oversee
1786-510: The German spring offensive got under way, Phillipps shot down three German fighters in as many days: a Fokker Triplane on 22 March, an Albatros the next morning, and a two-seater on 24 March; the official history of Australia in the war recorded that the last-mentioned enemy lost its wings to Phillipps' machine-gun fire, and "fell like a stone"; with the Allies holding clear superiority over
1880-701: The Royal Flying Corps to gain operational experience in France. Within three days of arriving he crash-landed his Airco DH.5 after it was hit by anti-aircraft fire near Ypres , but he escaped injury; by the time he completed his attachment in September he was leading combat patrols. Phillipps married Ellen Robinson, daughter of Western Australia's Attorney-General , at St Mary Abbots in Kensington , London, on 8 September 1917. Rejoining No. 2 Squadron within
1974-553: The Western Front . He participated in a raid against the forts of Armentières on the night of 6/7 June, and saw action during the Battle of Pozières in July. On 5 August, he was shot through the thigh, requiring evacuation to England for hospital treatment. He was promoted to captain on 12 August. Phillipps rejoined his unit in October but suffered another gunshot wound to
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#17328453394002068-609: The besieged garrison at Kut , the MHF was disbanded. In January 1916, No. 1 Squadron was raised at Point Cook in response to a British request for Australia to raise a full squadron to serve as part of the RFC. Reynolds served as the squadron's commanding officer, prior to its embarkation for overseas service. The squadron, consisting of 12 aircraft organised into three flights , arrived in Egypt in April and
2162-563: The AAC and the proposed Australian air force. A temporary air board first met on 29 January 1920, the Army being represented by Williams and Brigadier General Thomas Blamey , and the Navy by Captain Wilfred Nunn and Lieutenant Colonel Stanley Goble , a former member of Britain's Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) then seconded to the Navy Office . Williams was given responsibility for administering
2256-469: The AAC on behalf of the board. A permanent Air Board overseen by an Air Council was formed on 9 November 1920; these bodies were made responsible for administering the AAC from 22 November. Most members of the AAC were former AFC personnel. In August 1919, several senior AFC pilots, including Lieutenant Colonel Oswald Watt , Major Anderson, and Captain Roy Phillipps , were appointed to serve on
2350-466: The AAC was an interim formation, no unique uniform was designed for its members. Within three weeks of the AAC being raised, a directive came down from CFS that the organisation's former AFC staff should wear out their existing uniforms, and that any personnel requiring new uniforms should acquire " AIF pattern, as worn by the AFC". The AAC suffered two fatalities. On 23 September 1920, two Airco DH.9A bombers recently delivered from Britain undertook
2444-531: The AFC and would go on to join the RAAF. Although part of the Australian Army , for most of its existence the AAC was overseen by a board of senior officers that included members of the Royal Australian Navy . Following the disbandment of the AFC, the AAC was a stop-gap measure intended to remain in place until the formation of a permanent and independent Australian air force. The corps' primary purpose
2538-416: The AFC squadrons flew reconnaissance and observation missions around Amiens in August, as well as launching raids around Ypres , Arras and Lille . Operations continued until the end of the war, some of the fiercest air-to-air fighting occurring on 29 October, when 15 Sopwith Snipes from No. 4 Squadron fought an engagement with a group of Fokkers that outnumbered them four to one. In the ensuing fighting,
2632-610: The AFC was awarded the Victoria Cross and another 40 received the Distinguished Flying Cross , including two who received the awarded three times. The Australian Flying Corps operated a range of aircraft types. These types were mainly of British origin, although French aircraft were also obtained. Over this period aircraft technology progressed rapidly and designs included relatively fragile and rudimentary types to more advanced single-engined biplanes, as well as one twin-engined bomber. The roles performed by these aircraft evolved during
2726-421: The AFC's four operational squadrons claimed 527 enemy aircraft destroyed or driven down, and the corps produced 57 flying aces . The highest-scoring AFC pilot was Harry Cobby , who was credited with 29 victories. Other leading aces included Roy King (26), Edgar McCloughry (21), Francis Smith (16), and Roy Phillipps (15). Robert Little and Roderic (Stan) Dallas , the highest-scoring Australian aces of
2820-399: The AFC's number of operational squadrons from four to fifteen by 1921, but the war came to an end before these could be raised. The corps remained small throughout the war, and opportunities to serve in its ranks were limited. A total of 880 officers and 2,840 other ranks served in the AFC, of whom only 410 served as pilots and 153 served as observers. A further 200 men served as aircrew in
2914-605: The Allies' Hundred Days Offensive , on 12 August, he joined fellow No. 2 Squadron ace Adrian Cole and No. 4 Squadron aces Harry Cobby and Roy King to lead their combined forces in support of the British Fourth Army , Phillipps accounting for a Fokker that broke up in mid-air. He was credited with two other victories in August to bring his tally to fifteen, making him No. 2 Squadron's second most successful ace after Captain Francis Smith , who finished
Australian Air Corps - Misplaced Pages Continue
3008-556: The Australians shot down 10 German aircraft for the loss of just one of their own. During their time along the Western Front, the two fighter squadrons – No. 2 and 4 – accounted for 384 German aircraft, No. 4 taking credit for 199 and No. 2 for 185. The squadron were also credited with 33 enemy balloons destroyed or driven down. No. 3 Squadron, operating in the corps reconnaissance role, accounted for another 51 aircraft. By
3102-520: The British Third Army , suffering heavy losses in dangerous low-level attacks that later received high praise from General Hugh Trenchard , commander of the RFC. The squadron's DH.5s were replaced with superior S.E.5a fighters in December 1917, with which the squadron resumed operations shortly afterwards. Operating R.E.8 reconnaissance aircraft, No. 3 Squadron entered the war during final phase of
3196-652: The British flying services – the RFC or the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) – including men such as Charles Kingsford Smith and Bert Hinkler , both of whom would have a significant impact upon aviation in Australia after the war. Casualties included 175 dead, 111 wounded, 6 gassed and 40 captured. The majority of these casualties were suffered on the Western Front where 78 Australians were killed, 68 were wounded and 33 became prisoners of war. This represented
3290-449: The German fighters, the main danger to the Australians was from ground fire as most combat took place at low level, and "their machines came back full of bullet-holes". On 27 March, Phillipps achieved two more victories, a Triplane that he sent down in flames near Albert and another German fighter over Méaulte . He was recommended for a bar to his Military Cross on 31 March, and
3384-520: The Minister for Defence, through the Air Council. In effect, the AAC was Australia's first independent air force, albeit an interim one." Australian Flying Corps The Australian Flying Corps ( AFC ) was the branch of the Australian Army responsible for operating aircraft during World War I , and the forerunner of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The AFC was established in 1912, though it
3478-399: The Navy's flagship, HMAS Australia , and later aboard the light cruiser HMAS Melbourne . The trials on Melbourne , which operated in the waters off New Guinea and northern Australia, demonstrated that the Avro was not suited to tropical conditions as its engine lacked the necessary power and its skin deteriorated rapidly; Williams recommended that activity cease until Australia acquired
3572-733: The RAAF soon after the outbreak of World War II. At his death he was ranked squadron leader , commanding No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School at Archerfield , Queensland. Phillipps was born on 1 March 1892 in New South Wales ; sources differ on the exact location, which is recorded as either rural Moree , or metropolitan North Sydney . He was the son of William Hargreaves Phillipps, originally of Northumberland , England, and his wife Cecil. After his father died, Phillipps' mother took him to live in Perth , Western Australia. Educated at Hale School , he studied to be an accountant and
3666-462: The RNAS during the war, was granted a commission in the AAC because a specialist seaplane pilot was required for naval cooperation work. The corps' initial establishment was nine officers—commanding officer, adjutant , workshop commander, test pilot, four other pilots, and medical officer—and seventy other ranks . In March 1920, to cope with the imminent arrival of new aircraft and other equipment, approval
3760-445: The aircraft had crashed, and that the DH.9As may not have had adequate preparation time for their task, which it attributed to the low staffing levels at CFS. The court proposed compensation of £550 for Stutt's family and £248 for Dalzell's—the maximum amounts payable under government regulations—as the men had been on duty at the time of their deaths; Federal Cabinet increased these payments three-fold. Wreckage that may have belonged to
3854-412: The award was gazetted on 22 June: Capt. Roy Cecil Phillipps, M.C., Aust. F.C. attd. R.F.C. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When engaged with hostile aircraft during the recent operations, he has destroyed three enemy machines, and has in addition brought down two hostile planes out of control. He has also brought back accurate and valuable information regarding hostile movements under
Australian Air Corps - Misplaced Pages Continue
3948-603: The command of Captain Henry Petre, was called upon to assist the Indian Army in protecting British oil interests in what is now Iraq. Operating a mixture of aircraft including Caudrons , Maurice Farman Shorthorns , Maurice Farman Longhorns and Martinsydes , the MHF initially undertook unarmed reconnaissance operations, before undertaking light bombing operations later in the year after being attached to No. 30 Squadron RFC . Losses were high and by December, after flying supplies to
4042-569: The command of Major Oswald Watt, who had previously served in the French Foreign Legion, was the first AFC unit to see action in Europe. Flying DH.5 fighters , the squadron made its debut around St Quentin , fighting a short action with a German patrol and suffering the loss of one aircraft forced down. The following month the squadron took part in the Battle of Cambrai , flying on combat air patrols, and bombing and strafing missions in support of
4136-441: The different squadrons based on their aptitude during training: the best were usually sent to scout squadrons, and the remainder to two-seaters. Initially, the AFC raised its ground staff from volunteer soldiers and civilians who had previous experience or who were trade trained, and when the first AFC squadron was formed these personnel were provided with very limited training that was focused mainly upon basic military skills. As
4230-462: The end of the war, four squadrons had seen active service, operating alongside and under British Royal Flying Corps (and in 1918 the Royal Air Force ) command. For administrative reasons, and to avoid confusion with similarly numbered RFC units, at one stage each AFC squadron was allocated an RFC number – the Australians themselves never used these numbers, and in the end, to avoid further confusion,
4324-512: The events. In August, the AAC was called upon at the last minute to fly the Prince's mail from Port Augusta , South Australia, to Sydney before he boarded Renown for the voyage back to Britain. During the Second Peace Loan, which commenced in August 1920, the AAC undertook a cross-country program of tours and exhibition flying to promote the sale of government bonds . Again Williams enlisted
4418-539: The fighting against the Japanese in World War II, returned to a ground role. Footnotes Citations Books Websites and newspapers Roy Phillipps Roy Cecil Phillipps , MC & Bar , DFC (1 March 1892 – 21 May 1941) was an Australian fighter ace of World War I . He achieved fifteen victories in aerial combat, four of them in a single action on 12 June 1918. A grazier between
4512-523: The first examples of Britain's Imperial Gift to arrive in Australia. As well as personnel, the RAAF inherited Point Cook and most of its initial equipment from the AAC. In December 1919, the remnants of the wartime Australian Flying Corps (AFC) were disbanded, and replaced on 1 January 1920 by the Australian Air Corps (AAC), which was, like the AFC, part of the Australian Army . Australia's senior airman, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Williams ,
4606-579: The first flight from Melbourne to Darwin , and was allotted to what became the Australian War Memorial in August 1920; the F.E.2 was sold in November 1920, while the Scout remained on strength and was still being flown by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1923. In February 1920, the Vickers Vimy bomber recently piloted by Ross and Keith Smith on the first flight from England to Australia
4700-425: The first six courses, but final two courses run in 1917 suffered heavily from limited resources and bad weather, resulting in less than half the students graduating. To complement the aviators trained by the CFS, the New South Wales government established its own aviation school at Clarendon , at what later became RAAF Base Richmond , which trained pilots, observers and mechanics. A total of 50 pilots graduated from
4794-515: The general situation were of the greatest value. His leadership is excellent, and he has set a high example to his flight. No. 2 Squadron converted to Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5s in January 1918. The unit generally conducted patrols with flights of six aircraft but found it difficult to lure enemy fighters into combat, so after a lull in fighting early in February it began flying two-plane missions, which yielded better results. The following month, as
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#17328453394004888-508: The government would "accept no liability for accidents". On 3 July 1912, the first "flying machines" were ordered: two Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 two-seat tractor biplanes and two British-built Deperdussin single-seat tractor monoplanes. Soon afterward, two pilots were appointed: Henry Petre (6 August) and Eric Harrison (11 August). On 22 September 1912, the Minister of Defence , Senator George Pearce , officially approved formation of an Australian military air arm. Petre rejected
4982-472: The greatest gallantry during the recent operations in attacking troops and transports on the roads, and dropping bombs from very low altitudes. On 25 July, Phillipps was leading the escort for a raid on the Lille forts east of Armentières when he spotted a patrol of seven Fokkers. Jettisoning his bombs to lighten his load, he attacked one of the German fighters and shot away its wing; the others retreated. During
5076-604: The medical officer, Captain Arthur Lawrence, who subsequently made observations during his own high-altitude flight piloted by Anderson; this activity has been credited as marking the start of aviation medicine in Australia. Later that month, flying an Avro 504L floatplane , De La Rue became the first person to land an aircraft on the Yarra River in Victoria. On 22 July, Williams, accompanied by Warrant Officer Les Carter, used
5170-480: The month as a flight commander , he was initially engaged mainly in low-level strafing and bombing missions in DH.5s as his unit, attached to the British Third Army , took part in the Battle of Passchendaele . During the subsequent Battle of Cambrai , on 22 November he recorded his first aerial victory when he turned the tables on a German fighter that had attacked him from above, forcing it to land. He
5264-492: The more complex trades such as engine fitter required trainees to undertake multiple training courses across several sections. General fitters had the longest training requirements, receiving 32 weeks of instruction. Following the armistice that came into effect on 11 November 1918, the AIF returned to Australia in stages, some elements performing reconstruction and military occupation duties in Europe. No. 4 Squadron AFC took part in
5358-428: The most adverse conditions, particularly on one occasion, when he flew through a heavy barrage at a low altitude behind the enemy's lines. He has shown conspicuous skill and determination when escorting low-flying bombing patrols. During April 1918, No. 2 Squadron began operating in wide-ranging offensive "circus" patrols made up of large formations of fighters, often drawn from several squadrons. Phillipps destroyed
5452-462: The occupation of Germany, the only Australian unit to do so; it operated as part of the British Army of Occupation around Cologne between December 1918 and March 1919 before transferring its aircraft to the British and returning to Australia along with the other three squadrons. Reynolds was succeeded by Colonel Richard Williams in 1919. Most units of the AFC were disbanded during 1919. The AFC
5546-594: The original AFC numbers were reinstated. The four operational squadrons of the AFC were: In the Middle East, No. 1 Squadron was initially assigned to No. 5 Wing after being formed, but was later transferred to No. 40 Wing in late 1917, remaining as part of that formation until the end of the war. In Europe, No. 2 Squadron formed part of No. 51 Wing , but in 1918 it was transferred to No. 80 Wing , joining No. 4 Squadron which had been transferred from No. 11 Wing . No. 3 Squadron trained as part of No. 23 Wing until it
5640-650: The outbreak of war in 1914, the Australian Flying Corps sent one aircraft, a B.E.2 , to assist in capturing the German colonies in northern New Guinea and the Solomon Islands . German forces in the Pacific surrendered quickly, before the aircraft was even unpacked from its shipping crate. The first operational flights did not occur until 27 May 1915, when the Mesopotamian Half Flight (MHF), under
5734-578: The rank of cadet and undertook a six-week foundation course at the two Schools of Military Aeronautics in Reading or Oxford . After this, those who passed graduated to flight training at one of the four AFC training squadrons: Nos. 5, 6, 7 and 8, which were based at Minchinhampton and Leighterton in Gloucestershire. Flight training in the UK consisted of a total of three hours dual instruction followed by up to
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#17328453394005828-457: The school, the majority of its graduates went on to serve in the British flying services, although some served in the AFC. In early 1917, the AFC began training pilots, observers and mechanics in the United Kingdom. Aircrew were selected from volunteers from other arms such as the infantry, light horse, engineers or artillery, many of whom had previously served at the front, who reverted to
5922-533: The services of former AFC personnel to make up for a shortfall in the number of AAC pilots and mechanics available to prepare and fly the nineteen aircraft allotted to the program. Activities included flyovers at sporting events, leaflet drops over Melbourne, and what may have been Australia's first aerial derby —at Serpentine , Victoria, on 27 August. Poor weather hindered some of the program, and four aircraft were lost in accidents, though no aircrew were killed. The Second Peace Loan gave AAC personnel experience in
6016-495: The site of a flying school was chosen and the first squadron was officially raised. On 7 March 1913, the government officially announced formation of the Central Flying School (CFS) and an "Australian Aviation Corps", although that name was never widely used. AFC units were formed for service overseas with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) during World War I. They operated initially in the Mesopotamian Campaign . The AFC later saw action in Palestine and France. A training wing
6110-508: The squadron would be equipped with four aircraft and manned by "...four officers, seven warrant officers and sergeants, and 32 mechanics", drawn from volunteers already serving in the Citizen Forces . On 7 March 1913, the government officially announced formation of the Central Flying School (CFS) and the "Australian Aviation Corps". According to the Australian War Memorial , the name "Australian Flying Corps does not appear to have been promulgated officially but seems to have been derived from
6204-455: The term Australian Aviation Corps. The first mention of an Australian Flying Corps appears in Military Orders of 1914." Flying training did not begin immediately; it was not until 1914 that the first class of pilots were accepted. No. 1 Flight of the Australian Flying Corps was raised in the 3rd Military District on 14 July 1914. In March 1914, a staff officer, Major Edgar Reynolds , was officially appointed General Staff Officer in charge of
6298-401: The thigh the following month, near Gueudecourt . He returned to England once more to recover, and remained in hospital until 2 March 1917. Unable to take any further part in the war as an infantryman, Phillipps would normally have been repatriated to Australia, but instead engineered a transfer to the Australian Flying Corps (AFC) as adjutant of No. 2 Squadron . After getting
6392-404: The transport Ivernia on 4 September. He was promoted to lieutenant on 25 October. The 28th Battalion, which had been sent to Gallipoli late in the campaign as reinforcements, was not heavily engaged on the peninsula, and suffered relatively few casualties before the withdrawal in December 1915. In March 1916, Phillipps was deployed to France with the 28th Battalion for service on
6486-428: The troopship Kaiser-i-Hind , and was discharged from the Australian Flying Corps on 15 August. That month he was one of several veteran pilots, including Lieutenant Colonel Oswald Watt and Major Bill Anderson , appointed to serve on a committee examining applications for a proposed Australian air service to replace the AFC; the Australian Air Corps , immediate precursor to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF),
6580-406: The war and included reconnaissance, observation for artillery, aerial bombing and ground attack, patrolling, and the resupply of ground troops on the battlefield by airdrop. The AFC conducted both pilot and mechanic training in Australia at the Central Flying School, which was established at Point Cook, but this was limited in duration due to embarkation schedules, which meant that further training
6674-420: The war progressed, a comprehensive training program was established in which mechanics were trained in nine different trades: welders, blacksmiths, coppersmiths, engine fitters, general fitters, riggers, electricians, magneto-repairers, and machinists. Training was delivered by eight technical sections at Halton Camp . The length of training within each section varied, but was generally between eight and 12 weeks;
6768-575: The war with sixteen. Later that month, Phillipps rotated back to England in accordance with Royal Air Force policy, which required pilots to be rested and serve as instructors after nine to twelve months in combat. In October, he was promoted to major and posted to command No. 6 (Training) Squadron at Minchinhampton ; the unit was primarily responsible for training new pilots for service with No. 2 Squadron. Phillipps relinquished command of No. 6 Squadron upon its disbandment in March 1919. He returned to Australia on 16 June aboard
6862-432: The war, credited with 47 and 39 victories respectively, served with the RNAS. Other Australian aces who served in British units included Jerry Pentland (23), Richard Minifie (21), Edgar Johnston (20), Andrew Cowper (19), Cedric Howell (19), Fred Holliday (17), and Allan Hepburn (16). Several officers gained appointment in senior command roles, two commanding wings and nine commanding squadrons . One member of
6956-487: The war, the final course commencing in June 1917. The first six courses consisted only of officers, but the last two, both conducted in early and mid-1917 included non-commissioned officers. These courses ranged in size from four on the first course, to eight on the next three, 16 on the fifth, 24 on the sixth, 31 on the seventh and 17 on the last one. There was limited wastage on the early courses, all trainees successfully completing
7050-530: The wars, he joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1940 and was killed in a plane crash the following year. Born in New South Wales but raised in Western Australia , Phillipps joined the Australian Imperial Force as an infantryman in April 1915, seeing action at Gallipoli and on the Western Front . Wounded twice in 1916, he transferred to the Australian Flying Corps (AFC) and
7144-428: The yet-to-be formed RAAF, but several of each type were assembled and employed by the AAC. One of the DH.9As was lost with the disappearance of Stutt and Dalzell in September 1920. On 17 June 1920, Cole, accompanied by De La Rue, flew a DH.9A to an altitude of 27,000 feet (8,200 m), setting an Australian record that stood for more than ten years. The effects of hypoxia exhibited by Cole and De La Rue intrigued
7238-464: Was accepted for pilot training in May 1917. As a member of No. 2 Squadron in France, Phillipps flew mainly S.E.5 fighters, and was awarded two Military Crosses and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions. He finished the war a major , commanding No. 6 (Training) Squadron in England. Returning to Australia in 1919, he left the AFC and was managing a rural property when he enlisted in
7332-479: Was added to "Australian Air Force" that August. Several officers associated with the AAC, including Williams, Anderson, Wrigley and McNamara, went on to achieve high rank in the Air Force. According to the RAAF's Pathfinder bulletin, the AAC "kept valuable aviation skills alive" until a permanent air force could be established. The corps was, further, "technically separate from the Army and Navy; its director answered to
7426-458: Was an interim organisation intended to exist until the establishment of a permanent Australian air service. The decision to create such a service had been made in January 1919, amid competing proposals by the Army and the Royal Australian Navy for separate forces under their respective jurisdictions. Budgetary constraints and arguments over administration and control led to ongoing delays in the formation of an independent air force. By direction of
7520-474: Was committed to the Western Front in August 1917, when it became a "corps squadron", tasked with supporting the British XIII and Canadian Corps . As well as the operational squadrons, a training wing was established in the United Kingdom. Designated as the 1st Training Wing , it was made up of four squadrons. The four training squadrons of the AFC were: As the war progressed, there were plans to increase
7614-411: Was credited with the destruction of 29 enemy aircraft. Three other squadrons – No. 2 , No. 3 and No. 4 – were raised in 1917 in Egypt or Australia, and were sent to France. Arriving there between August and December, these squadrons subsequently undertook operations under the operational command of British Royal Flying Corps (RFC) wings along the Western Front . No. 2 Squadron, under
7708-613: Was duly formed on 1 January 1920 under Anderson's command. After leaving the military, Phillipps became a grazier in New South Wales. He purchased Courallie station at Moree in 1926, and was managing the property when Australia declared war in September 1939. In February 1940, he enlisted in the RAAF as a flying officer . Raised to flight lieutenant , he was posted as assistant chief ground instructor to No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School (No. 2 EFTS) at Archerfield , Queensland, on 27 March. No. 2 EFTS
7802-637: Was established in the United Kingdom. The corps remained part of the Australian Army until it was disbanded in 1919, after which it was temporarily replaced by the Australian Air Corps . In 1921, that formation was re-established as the independent RAAF. On 30 December 1911, the Commonwealth Gazette announced that the Australian military would seek the "...appointment of two competent Mechanists [ sic ] and Aviators", adding that
7896-421: Was flown to Point Cook, where it joined the strength of the AAC. In March 1920, Australia began receiving 128 aircraft with associated spares and other equipment as part of Britain's Imperial Gift to Dominions seeking to establish their own post-war air services. The aircraft included Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 fighters, Airco DH.9 and DH.9A bombers, and Avro 504s. Most remained crated for eventual use by
7990-497: Was given to increase this complement by a further seven officers and thirty-six other ranks. The following month the establishment was increased by fifty-four to make a total of 160 other ranks. An advertising campaign was employed to garner applicants. According to The Age , applicants needed to be aged between eighteen and forty-five, and returned soldiers were preferred; all positions were "temporary" and salaries, including uniform allowance and rations, ranged from £ 194 to £450. As
8084-639: Was not until 1914 that it began flight training. In 1911, at the Imperial Conference held in London, it was decided that aviation should be developed by the national armed forces of the British Empire . Australia became the first member of the Empire to follow this policy. By the end of 1911, the Army was advertising for pilots and mechanics. During 1912, pilots and mechanics were appointed, aircraft were ordered,
8178-533: Was one of twelve basic flying schools established by the RAAF as part of Australia's contribution to the Empire Air Training Scheme . Phillipps was appointed chief ground instructor on 17 June. Having been promoted to squadron leader , he assumed command of No. 2 EFTS on 20 October 1940. Phillipps died on 21 May 1941, following an accident in a private plane. The aircraft, piloted by its owner, Flight Lieutenant J. W. F. Collins,
8272-472: Was overseas, and Major William Anderson was appointed commander of the AAC, a position that also put him in charge of the Central Flying School (CFS) at Point Cook , Victoria. As Anderson was on sick leave at the time of the appointment, Major Rolf Brown temporarily assumed command; Anderson took over on 19 February. CFS remained the AAC's sole unit , and Point Cook its only air base. The AAC
8366-525: Was practising on a pastoral property in the Kimberley when war broke out in 1914. Phillipps enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in April 1915 and was assigned to the 28th Battalion , an infantry unit raised the same month at Blackboy Camp, Western Australia. He successfully applied for a commission and left for Egypt aboard HMAT Ascanius on 9 June as a second lieutenant . After training in Egypt, he departed with his unit for Gallipoli aboard
8460-659: Was recommended for the Military Cross on 3 December, the award being promulgated in The London Gazette on 4 February 1918, and the full citation appearing on 5 July: Capt. Roy Cecil Phillipps, F.C. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has performed continuous gallant work at very low altitudes in almost impossible weather. Whilst flying alone in a mist he forced an enemy aeroplane to land. On two occasions, flying at an altitude of 200 feet, he made very valuable reconnaissances, and his reports on
8554-485: Was required overseas before aircrew were posted to operational squadrons. The first course began on 17 August 1914 and lasted three months; two instructors, Henry Petre and Eric Harrison, who had been recruited from the United Kingdom in 1912 to establish the corps, trained the first batch of Australian aircrew. In the end, a total of eight flying training courses were completed at the Central Flying School during
8648-485: Was subsequently assigned to the RFC's 5th Wing . In mid-June it began operations against Ottoman Empire (Turkish) and Senussi Arab forces in Egypt and Palestine . It would remain in the Middle East until the end of the war, being reassigned to No. 40 Wing in October 1917, undertaking reconnaissance, ground liaison and close air support operations as the British Empire forces advanced into Syria, initially flying
8742-481: Was succeeded by the Australian Air Corps , which was itself succeeded by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1921. Many former members of the AFC such as Cobby, McNamara, Williams, Lawrence Wackett , and Henry Wrigley , went on to play founding roles in the fledgling RAAF. Others, such as John Wright, who served with No. 4 Squadron on the Western Front before commanding the 2/15th Field Regiment in Malaya during
8836-443: Was to maintain assets of the Central Flying School at Point Cook , Victoria, but several pioneering activities also took place under its auspices: AAC personnel set an Australian altitude record that stood for a decade, made the first non-stop flight between Sydney and Melbourne , and undertook the country's initial steps in the field of aviation medicine . The AAC operated fighters, bombers and training aircraft, including some of
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