No. 7 Service Flying Training School RAAF

RAAF Deniliquin, home of No 7 Service Flying Training School - RAAF Museum photo

A Wirraway as used by the SFTS

Brief History

No. 7 Service Flying Training School (7SFTS) was formed at Deniliquin, New South Wales, on 30 Jun 1941, and the first two CAC Wirraway aircraft arrived on 5 July. On the 28th, the first course of 50 trainees arrived, and Flying instruction commenced on this date, even thought he school was still under construction. The function of the school was to provide intermediate and advanced training for pilots. The normal course was of 16 weeks duration, divided equally between intermediate and advanced training.

By the very nature of this function, several accidents occurred over the years, including various aircraft crashes due to mechanical and pilot error; forced landings due to lack of fuel; collisions with ground structures; and mid-air collisions which resulted in personnel being injured or killed. On 29 Aug 1944, course No. 50 commenced, with the number of pupils having passed out since formation being 2,206. On 16 Dec 1944 the unit was re-named as the Advanced Flying and Refresher Unit, and on 1 May 1946 it was disbanded.

Ground crew

• Edward Arthur Ross 14 Aug - 6 Sep 1942 & 1 Oct 1942 until 8 May 1944

Trainees

• Gordon Kevin Johnson 8 Feb - 18 Jul 1942
• † Thomas Douglas (Dougie) Ellis 5 Apr - 28 May 1942
• Alexander Cumming 19 May - 23 Aug 1943
• Edward Harry Tasker 10 Jul - 31 Dec 1943