Warbird Information Exchange

In my flightgear restoration hobbie which has a ever expanding RAAF collection ( im poor cant afford a warbird yet - a certain individual who knows me on the forum can vouch) , my aim is to show off somehow in time what pilots and aircrew have worn in duty and combat while flying.

It turns out rather sadly that anyone in the ADF, reserves forces or Anzac Day organisational committees, doesnt wish to see RAAF historical gear representing past heroes and service personel to be shown. In building up my vast and expensive collection over the years , in my attempt to take to the world to show what happened in the past - I have approached various organisations for Anzac Day and Reserve Forces day, where one would assume it would be appropaite to display stuff and it was a surprise to me!! .

They are all centric of ARMY and if your "lucky" the blue suits and white fluffies MIGHT get a look in for a display of some sort as long as it is green/has tracks and makes a noise.
In my last 20yrs of attending various cermonies with my relatives - ironically from the green side - i have never seen anything major to represent the RAAF and RAN legacies. I do only see renactors dressed in green, green and even more green. All i ever see is army people dressed in uniforms, tanks, jeeps and whatever else that is "green - and to not offend the current landlubbers Auscam too....

It is like the RAAF and RAN doesnt or ever exisited... at all beside some people who march....... what ever happened to the past?

By denying the current generation of people to see what RAAF people did and wore the last 60yrs is like totally fobbing what they did off. That is how i feel strongly towards the issue.

All of the main committiees, declined and said they preferred army stuff "if i had it".

Their reasons for declining anyhting RAAF or RAN is that it could be out of uniform, not well presented and inapprioate. They then yabber on about security and no rooms for it. I counter claim and say and "whats all those pongos displays them eh?... How do they meet your guidelines? " I normally get a hushed silence on emails or phone calls... gota wonder why eh.

These attitudes from higher up people all reinforce to me the disdane towards the sister services. I wonder if service personel found out how their legacy get treated - what they might feel ..

That explains why you never see any aircraft fuselages or cockpits or parts of ships on display at any of these functions and remeberance days.

Shame and disgraceful way to ignore history.

I will and have to keep trying, as only so far organisation to been of use and accommdate me is HARS and i hope to be back next year with a bigger display set if im still alive.

Hi wixlova(hgucsu),

I can only speak for the States but from what I've seen, AF stuff is welcome at flying venues; Army stuff at Army venues; hometown parades like both.

I have approached various associations, squadrons and committees all related to the ADF and RAAF issues.

The problem is no one wants to see the RAAF past be remebered. Its only green and green as said before.

What crap are you saying occurrs? At airshow to be airside you need the special airport cards nowdays ASIC? and without one...no one gets beyond the barriers on a airshow line i see unless specially allowed prearanged or are flying PAX.

So that ruins that comment of yours.

Most pilots wear current issue flying gear suit called Nomex. The RAAF didnt use Nomex until mid 1968 at the earliest i understand and it wasnt fully into use until the mid 1970s.

People at airshows in Australia you say wander around near RAAF like. That is true to a degree because the majority are pilots and have approved access. I have yet to see a waanabe burst this bubble and get charged in a flying suit.

Renactors walk around within crowd areas or static displays and pose and give enthusiasts a insight in what the correct gear is like for the timeframe. People dressed as renactors are VERY welcomed and common at airshows in other countries - ie US Uk and Europe... you may not be aware of this trend and generate massive interest. ????


Unfortunately for anyone trying this in Australia - your against a brick wall - beside safety issues no one wants to know your tributes...

If you have no idea it is quite a experience for some people as they meet many old pilots who are amazed at the length and detail some go to honour their past service.

Myself i focus on RAAF flightgear and USAF flightgear and have complete collections for WW2, Korea and Vietnam worth a $$ bob or so.

RAAF dont control airshows that are local ie HARS and TAM last time i read........can you show me how they do this?.

To renact you dont need RAAF approval, you dont see army approval of every lil green man and machine do you now.. no and i have asked and they dont get or need approval to wear display gear.

If it was a RAAF airshow - maybe you might be smart to ask and see what access could be arranged. Unfortunately the RAAF dont own much warbirds so it useless to approach them.

Private owners like Bob Eastgate with a Korean vintage CAC Mustang set up own the kind of Korean plane which deserves a good period era shot. You may care to check TAM webpage for some of their own pilots dressing in ww2 era flightgear for their own photos...

Randal McFarlane also has a B-26 to be soon flying in USAF marking of Korean war. I have approached him to show im interested in setting up if ever possible a photo shoot to renact a B26 crew scene one day in future if it happens.

About that idea about a crew shoot for the B-26...let's see.

Wixlova: Pilot
Wxlova: Navigator/Bombadier
Sabredriver: Rear gunner
HGUCSU: cameraman

I think you can pull it off!

You make almost no sense. I think they were probably just terrified by you and wanted to end any possibility of conversation as soon as possible. Man, get a grip on yourself. And go find that escape key.

ANZAC Day is to remember the fallen, and to honour those who served, their human sacrifice, the ANZAC Day marches and services are for that purpose, not to display military hardware of any of the services.

During the March and Service, ex-servicemen and women are entitled, perhaps encouraged to wear their full uniforms and medals, and relatives are permitted to wear their ancestors medals but on the opposite side of the chest to identify that they themselves did not earn them.

Current Serving members of the armed forces are also present in full uniform to pay their respects.


It may be appropriate for museum's to hold special displays on ANZAC Day, and many do so, for the public to learn more about the machines used by those men and women, but that would be of secondary importance to the commemoration services for the fallen.

It may be appropriate for warbirds to do a flyover as a mark of respect, it may also be appropriate for Military Vehicle clubs to exhibit their historic vehicles in public parks etc a discreete and respectful distance away from the formal services, and some apparantly do so?


It would be totally in-appropriate for re-enactors (who had not served in the war or in the uniforms they own) to be prancing about the ANZAC day march and service in uniform or flight suits regardless of them re-enacting army, navy or airforce service.

The RSL do permit the use of period military vehicles in the ANZAC March, to carry elderly or dis-abled veterans who cannot March themselves, I am not aware of the military vehicle owners wearing "re-enactor suits".

Avalon Airshow, Temora Fly-ins, HARS open days all seem to be very suitable opportunities to display Flying Suits, or to present an "aircrew" re-enactment.

The day might come when there are no Returned Servicemen to march in ANZAC Day, and it will only consist of existing servicemen and women, family, friends and citizen's wishing to commemorate their sacrifices and honour their memories, but it will always be a March for the fallen, not a Parade of Military hardware, equipment and uniforms, thats not what its about.

regards

Mark Pilkington

_________________
20th Century - The Age of Manned Flight
"from Wrights to Armstrong in 66 years -WOW!"