17 April 2008 by Andrew Pearce.
1 Comment
Aircraft 1914 - 1918, Collection, Aircraft Conservation
Upon removal of the fabric from the upper mainplane it was discovered that an extensive number of the ribs were damaged.
Shattered ribs in upper mainplane. Note timber reinforcing panels nailed to rib faces.
Work has been underway to repair this damage and give the wing much of its original strength.
11 April 2008 by Andrew Pearce.
4 Comments
Aircraft 1914 - 1918, Collection, Aircraft Conservation
The Memorial has been able to gain access to substantial amounts of the original fabric, which was removed from the Albatros during the 1960’s restoration with the exception of the rudder and the ailerons. Significant analysis of this material has been carried out in order to determine the correct details for fabric colours, panel widths and orientations, seam widths, rib stitching and the dimensions of rib tapes. read on
03 April 2008 by Andrew Pearce.
No comments
Aircraft 1914 - 1918, Collection, Aircraft Conservation
Work is underway to clean and repair the fuselage of the Albatros.
During the course of the last nine decades, a significant amount of grease, dust and general grime has built up inside the fuselage of the Albatros, particularly in the engine bay. read on
03 April 2008 by Andrew Pearce.
1 Comment
Aircraft 1914 - 1918, Collection, Aircraft Conservation
The Large Technology Conservation Section are currently working on five aircraft for the upcoming First World War exhibition “Over The Front” due to open in November 2008.
The Albatros D.Va was last restored in the mid 1960s and there are a number of areas which need attention.
17 March 2008 by Amanda Rebbeck.
No comments
Aircraft 1914 - 1918, First World War, Heraldry, Personal Stories, Private Records, Training
Crashes and fires were everyday hazards for the First World War flier. Second Lieutenant Frederick Gulley suffered both when trying to land his aircraft in England on 17 October 1918. Gulley was on a cross country flight and struck a post whilst attempting to land in a field close to Tidworth Barracks, Wiltshire. In the resulting fire Gulley’s clothes, harness, face and hands were burnt. He was taken to Tidworth Hospital with superficial burns to his face, neck and both hands, including all fingers.
A piece of Second Lieutenant Gulley’s seat harness after his aircraft crashed in England on 17 October 1918. NB the burn marks from the fire are still visible. REL/15078
28 February 2008 by Leigh Harris.
2 Comments
Aircraft 1914 - 1918, News, Aircraft Conservation
First World War ‘war birds’ will have their covers restored ready for display at the Australian War Memorial tomorrow.
A special team of French vintage aircraft experts will tomorrow make the ‘last stitch’ of their conservation work on rare First World War aircraft, or ’war birds’ as the aircraft are affectionately known. The war birds are progressively being ‘clothed’ as part of the restoration process, in preparation for the upcoming exhibition, Over the Front.
The most complex work is fitting new camouflage fabric to the German Albatros and Pfalz war birds, which are both over 90 years old. The specialist French conservators are teaching Australian War Memorial staff the use of original techniques and materials to recreate the original design faithfully over the coming months.
Opening at the Memorial in late 2008, Over the front will include five original First World War aircraft:
19 February 2008 by Peter Burness.
1 Comment
Aircraft 1914 - 1918, Development of RAAF and Australian Civil Aviation
Just a year after the end of the First World War, and only a decade after the short first powered flight in Australia, a twin-engine Vickers Vimy, with a crew of 4, flew from England to Australia. This 1919 exploit exemplified the progress in world aviation. During the First World War there were men who had never before seen an aeroplane or driven a motor car, who had learned how to fly.
Learning to fly at Point Cook, Melbourne, Victoria. c. March 1916. DAAV00006A read on
13 February 2008 by Peter Burness.
2 Comments
Aircraft 1914 - 1918, The England to Australia Air Race
In March 1919, four months after the war was over, the Australian government announced that it would give a £10,000 prize for the first successful flight from England to Australia. Despite the obvious dangers, this appealed to some airmen, not yet discharged, who were awaiting repatriation home. There were plenty of war surplus aircraft available and six crews eventually took part. However only two crews finished. The winning team was the brothers Ross and Keith Smith and their mechanics James Bennett and Wally Shiers, flying a Vickers Vimy two-engine former bomber. They embarked from England on 12 November 1919 and reached Darwin on 10 December - a journey of 28 days. Both Ross and Keith were immediately knighted while Sergeants W. H. Shiers and J. M. Bennett, the mechanics, were commissioned and awarded Bars to their Air Force Medals. The £10,000 prize money was divided into four equal shares. read on
11 February 2008 by Amanda Rebbeck.
7 Comments
Aircraft 1914 - 1918, From the collection, Heraldry
It is not unusual for servicemen and women to carry with them good luck charms while on overseas service. However one particularly superstitious serviceman was Aircraft Mechanic 2nd Class Henry James Marston, of No. 3 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps (AFC). Marston wore a wrist chain with an identity tag and three lucky charms – a boomerang, a black cat and a doll.
2AM Henry J Marston’s aluminium identity disc and three good luck charms affixed to a brass wrist chain. REL33983
The boomerang entitled ‘I Go To Return’ is an obvious choice, and may have been bought by or given to Marston before leaving Australia. The choice of the “lucky” black cat is similarly obvious. The silver FUMSUP charm (a play on “thumb’s up”), was a popular motif in Britain during the First World War and also appeared on souvenir china and postcards. The head appears to be made of wood “touch wood” and has a four leaf clover impressed into it. The tiny glass eyes often seen in other examples are missing. Marston’s mother’s details and address are engraved on the reverse of the identity disc.
06 February 2008 by Peter Burness.
No comments
Aircraft 1914 - 1918, The Role of Aircraft
In war there has always been the need to see the enemy behind the hill; reconnaissance became a role of cavalry. Eventually observation balloons played a part as well. By the First World War, it was apparent that aircraft, being able to get above and well behind the enemy’s lines, could do it so much better. This work was further enhanced by the development of aerial photography. Observers in aircraft could also direct artillery fire onto targets. Soon armed single-seat fighters were hunting the reconnaissance planes and it became necessary to arm them and to protect them with escorts.
A Williamson aerial reconaissance camera attached to the side of an aircraft c.1917. P02163.014
From 1915 nations were racing to produce the best aircraft and weapons to dominate the skies. In one early break-through, mechanical synchronisation of machine-guns’ fire with the revolutions of the engine enabled pilots to fire through the propeller arc. By 1917 fighters were operating in teams or large formations. Some heavier planes including the twin-engined Handley Page 0/400, were also developed to drop bombs; civilians in Paris, London, and several German cities and towns were amongst those to experience this emerging form of warfare.
A Handley-Page 0/400 aircraft with some Bristol Fighter machines at the aerodrome of the Australian Flying Corps. B02114
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