Difference between revisions of "No. 5 Volunteer Air Observers Corps RAAF"

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Brief History

The Volunteer Air Observers Corps was devised by the RAAF during the latter months of 1941, with the purpose of sighting and reporting enemy aircraft over Australian territory. On 22 Dec 1941, the Volunteer A1r Observers Corps was organised and the first observation station became operational at Bainsdale, Victoria, on 25 Dec 1941.

The organisation covered a 150-mile (250 km) band inland from Port Douglas, Queensland. to Port Lincoln, South Australia, and from Albany to Northampton, Western Australia. Tasmania was covered by a ring of observation posts around their industrial centres.

Observation posts were manned by volunteers, under the control of a Chief observer, and linked to control posts under a civilian commandant. Control posts used existing Civil Defence and Volunteer Defence Force facilities wherever possible. Volunteer Air Observer Corps personnel were controlled by the RAAF and recruited from local areas. They came under RAAF control on 28 Mar 1942.

From October 1943 The volunteers were to be supervised by experienced RAAF personnel. The Corps peaked in manpower in 1944, with approximately 24,000 members manning 2,656 observation posts and 39 control posts. 14,310 volunteers manned. Between January 1943 and August 1945, the organisation had definately saved 78 aircraft, substantialy aided another 710 and assisted a further 1098. On 11 Dec 1945 the organisation was placed on hold and on 10 Apr 194 it was formally wound up.

Unit personnel

Beryl Marian Francis 6 Feb - 10 Nov 1943

Notes

Content has come from Units of the Royal Australian Air Force - A Concise History - Volume 1 Bases, Supporting Organisations - Australian Government Publishing Service - 1995 pages 208 - 211.

External Links

BetWl't'll january 19~3 and Augu~l l'l'-15, till' ur!i.mi,atlon had 'deflnitt'ly' s.wccl 78 .oircraft, '>ub::.tantially' .:~idt•cl 7111 .md ',Jssish:d' a further 10'1!1. A

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 ==Brief History==
-TI1c Volunteer Air Observers Corp> was devised by th~ RAAF
+The Volunteer Air Observers Corps was devised by the RAAF during the latter months of 1941, with the purpose of sighting and reporting enemy aircraft over Australian territory. On 22 Dec 1941, the Volunteer A1r Observers Corps was organised and the first observation station became operational at Bainsdale, Victoria, on 25 Dec 1941.
-Directorate of hllcllij;cncc during the latter months of 1941, with the
-purpose of sighting and reporting ~nem)' aircraft over Australian
-territory. On 22 December 1941, the Air Board ordl'rt>d tha t the Volunteer
-A1r Observers Corps be organised and the first observation station
-bt.•c.1me npcraticmal at Baintsdale, Victoria, on 25 December 9~1.
-th~ Or)lanisatlon
+The organisation covered a 150-mile (250 km) band inland from Port Douglas, Queensland. to Port Lincoln, South Australia, and from Albany to Northampton, Western Australia. Tasmania was covered by a ring of observation posts around their industrial centres.
-covet(.'\] a 150-mile band inland from Pori Dougl.1s, Quccnsl.md. to Pori
-Lincoln, South Au>lralia, and from Albany to Northampton, Weslent
-\ustr .. llia. Tasmnnia was cov~rcd by the l'St~,bhshment of tlbscrvahon
-p<>Sis in .1 50-100 mj](' radius annmd industrial cenlrt•s. T
-Observation post;. were manned by nbl>Crvcrs, under till' .:<mtrolof a
-chief observer, and linked to control posts under a cwilian commandant
-Con trol posts ust>d existing Civil Defence ~nd Volunteer Defence Force
-f,m lilil!'> wherever possible. TI1c>c fed Jat" diwct to the n1.1in contml
-po>ts in the State capital cities.
-Vnluntl-er Air Observer Corps per-;onnd were controlled by th1•
+Observation posts were manned by volunteers, under the control of a Chief observer, and linked to control posts under a civilian commandant.
-RAAF and rccruated from lc>eal arc.ts-
+Control posts used existing Civil Defence and Volunteer Defence Force facilities wherever possible. Volunteer Air Observer Corps personnel were controlled by the RAAF and recruited from local areas. They came under RAAF control on 28 Mar 1942.
-For SIX"Uritv •• md ,,, r.l('lllt.tll' hJISIIO wllh hghter S.oclur Stations and
-Main Conlrol Post, tlw Air 1.\o.ud appn>~ ,.._, lht• wnlrul plhls commg
-under direct RAAI wntrnl on 2/1 :-1arrh 1'1·12.
-From October 1943 The volunteer.; were to be supervised by
+From October 1943 The volunteers were to be supervised by experienced RAAF personnel. The Corps peaked in manpower in 1944, with approximately 24,000 members manning 2,656 observation posts and 39 control posts. 14,310 volunteers manned. Between January 1943 and August 1945, the organisation had definately saved 78 aircraft, substantialy aided another 710 and assisted a further 1098. On 11 Dec 1945 the organisation was placed on hold and on 10 Apr 194 it was formally wound up.
-t•xpericnced RAAF personnel. Tile Corps peaked on manpower on 19-14, wiUl approxnnatcly 24 000
-members manning 2656 observa lion posts and 39 control posts
-310 vuluoHe...rs n•maoncd acti••e.
-BetWl't'll january 19~3 and Augu~l l'l'-15, till' ur!i.mi,atlon had
-'deflnitt'ly' s.wccl 78 .oircraft, '>ub::.tantially' .:~idt•cl 7111 .md ',Jssish:d' a
-further 10'1!1. A
-On II O..'C\'mber 19~5, the S.ocrct~ry, LX•p.~rlm••nt of Aor (Mr
-\II.C. l~1ngslnw) r,..;omm~ndl'<l that th<' org;mi.,lhlln ~ plolH-..1 on a
-nuci<'U' b.'"' ollld "" 10 April 1946 il '"' ' r,..;ommcndt'\1 that th~
-Vulunltw Atr Ob-.•rw" Corps be di<b,lndi'd lorlhwilh
 ===Unit personnel===
+* [[Beryl Marian Francis]] 6 Feb  - 10 Nov 1943
 ====Notes====
+Content has come from ''Units of the Royal Australian Air Force - A Concise History - Volume 1 Bases, Supporting Organisations'' - Australian Government Publishing Service - 1995 pages 208 - 211.
 <references />
@@ Line 70: / Line 41: @@
-TI1c Volunteer Air Observers Corp> was devised by th~ RAAF
-Directorate of hllcllij;cncc during the latter months of 1941, with the
-purpose of sighting and reporting ~nem)' aircraft over Australian
-territory. On 22 December 1941, the Air Board ordl'rt>d tha t the Volunteer
-A1r Observers Corps be organised and the first observation station
-bt.•c.1me npcraticmal at Baintsdale, Victoria, on 25 December 9~1.