Memories

"As many will know George and I both enlisted in Sydney, took our oath to the Queen and Country and signed on the dotted line. Travelled on the same train from Sydney to Wagga (arriving at about 2-3 am) being bundled into the back of trucks and finally deposited at RAAF Base Forest Hill. Three hours (or so it seemed) we were all out on the parade ground being bossed around by the DIs (nowadays it would be classed as harrassement) and formed into our 6 flights for ITS (Initial Torture Segmant). As it happened both George and I were allocated (?) to 5 Flight and actually the same room in Block 418 lower, with I think Gordon Browne and Phil Hartcher.

As sports started to take over I decided to play Baseball and George decided to come along to the games at the surrounding towns. Not to play but to go to the Pub either before the game, during the game, after the game or all three at the same time. If you open the attached you will see George resplendent in:

(Information for book ‘From The Ground Up’ by Chris Coulthard-Clark on RAAF technical ground staff 1948-93, Air Power Studies Centre, RAAF Base Fairbairn, Canberra 1997)

 THE KIWIS

(by Graham Neal )

 From the early 1960s the Australian Government offered New Zealand up to four or five apprenticeships each year at RAAF Forest Hill in the aircraft trades.  As always New Zealander Governments rarely turned down a good deal, so the offer was taken up to the eternal gratitude of the Kiwis involved.  The RNZAF apprentices wore the distinctive ‘New Zealand Apprentice’ shoulder flash for their two and half years at RAAF Forest Hill.  Then followed six months service in the RAAF, theoretically to get experience on aircraft of the same type as being used in the RNZAF and to repay the RAAF in part for the training, before returning home.  In practice most served their six months in the Aircraft Depots at RAAF Amberley or RAAF Richmond working as Aussies with minimal concessions for training on RNZAF aircraft types.

 RNZAF participation in the Apprenticeship Scheme continued right up until 1977, with the scheme only being terminated due to the RNZAF rationalising its trade structure.  Ironically many years later, in 1990, the RAAF adopted a similar trade structure modelled heavily on that of the RNZAF.  

 The apprenticeships were highly sought after in New Zealand, offering a long overseas experience at a relatively young age.  For most Kiwis Australia held considerable fascination - the ANZAC legend was taught in schools and most had ancestors who had been in the NZ Services and had served with Aussies in the Middle East, Europe or the Pacific.  The laconic Australian character was well known but how true were the stories? 

 The 19th Apprentice Kiwi intake of Graham Neal, Graham Hickman, Wayne Molloy and Steve Rodda recall the first day, laying about in a room yarning with these fascinating Aussies, when Drill Instructor CPL Mark Nott came in looking for them.  Upon him entering room the Kiwis leapt to attention in typical RNZAF style and the Aussies didn’t flinch - Mark appeared bemused noting that he had obviously found the Kiwis he was looking for.  Such disrespect by trainees in the more British styled RNZAF would have earned a weekend whitewashing kerbs.  So it was true that the Aussie services were really laid back - saluting appeared almost optional.  Conversely Aussies were mortified to discover that the RNZAF’s Air Force Act still contained the death penalty for many offences.  

 The Kiwis soon had an inkling that rules were bent much more often in the RAAF.  All apprentices were told that, as in the RNZAF, hitchhiking was forbidden but  ‘if you’re hitching from Wagga back to Forrest Hill please wait opposite the Astor Hotel’.  Even the Base Commander’s wife would pick us up hitchhiking, with absolutely no repercussions - unheard of in the RNZAF!  In addition the greater downward loyalty of RAAF officers and NCOs was a pleasant surprise and made life much easier.

 However, the Kiwis got a jolt when their Aussies compatriots discovered their ignorance of the local wildlife.  Many found large snakes in their beds yet couldn’t understand why Aussies appeared to be scared of the little copper coloured snakes fairly common at Wagga Wagga. 

 During their six months RAAF service some Kiwis tried to get more exciting postings other than the dreaded Aircraft Depots, even putting Vietnam on their RAAF posting preference form but all to no avail - all four 19^th intake ended up in the No. 2 Aircraft Depot at RAAF Richmond.

 Graham Hickman, Steve Rodda and Graham Neal had already served a year in the RNZAF, as trainee mechanics doing recruit and basic engineering training, being offered RAAF apprenticeship due to good performance.  Hence they had a head start academically and were older on average.  Consequently they scored well in apprentice promotions and academically with Graham Neal getting to Flight Sergeant.

 As with all RAAF apprentice courses the RNZAF apprentices contributed to the culture of the courses well beyond their few numbers and many made life long friendships.  Although the distance home for the West Australians apprentices was about the same as that for the Kiwis, the RNZAF was, as always, short of funds, so only provided its apprentices with travel home once a year.  This trip was over the Christmas period and usually in a RNZAF aircraft passing through Australia, thereby often involving lengthy diversions, such as via Amberley. Graham Neal remembers one return trip from New Zealand involving an overnight voyage from Christchurch to Wellington on the ship Wahine (subsequently to sink with 55 lives lost on 10 April 1968, entering Wellington harbour during a gale), an overnight train trip to Auckland, a eight hour RNZAF DC-4 flight to Melbourne and another night train trip on the Spirit of Progress to Wagga.  

 On these trips they often felt schizophrenic, as they were listed on their RNZAF travel orders as RAAF Apprentices.  They were also known as ‘Wagga Wagga Wonder Boys’ by other RNZAF personnel, who envied the stylish RAAF terylene uniforms as RNZAF uniforms were still World War II designs made entirely of cotton or wool. 

 On the other leave periods the Kiwis were invariably invited home by their many friends or hitchhiked around the country by road or air.  Compared to New Zealand hitchhiking was much easier if done in uniform, as most Australians were very patriotic. The only concern being the inevitable intoxicated drivers.  Similarly RAAF Air Movements staff were very helpful in arranging rides on RAAF flights and the RNZAF Apprentices were permitted to stay at any RAAF base. So they flew all over Australia (and New Guinea) on the lowest budget possible.

 As usual for Kiwis two RNZAF 19^th Course Apprentices took cars home as the cost of near new cars in NZ was then far beyond their reach.  The NZ Government had strict regulations on the importation of cars, requiring that they be owned overseas for two years prior yet the apprentices were not permitted to own cars until their last year at RAAF Forest Hill.  So the RAAF graciously let Kiwis buy cars early.  Even more surprisingly many RAAF SNCOs, such as FSGT Reg Chandler, readily agreed to be guarantor for the Kiwis to get loans, as the transfer of funds out of New Zealand was restricted.  So once again the generous spirit of the Australians and especially the RAAF personnel impressed the Kiwis.  Of course initially having the only cars in their intake these vehicles tended to become ‘course taxis’.  Graham Neal even taught Henry Romanowski and Bob McLaren to drive in that time. 

 Some Kiwis, such as the very amiable Maori on 18th Course, Barry Matena, took wives home but 19th Intake Kiwis had no such luck, despite even using the ‘going to church’ ploy in desperation to meet the local lasses.   Nevertheless they seemed to develop a strong liking for Australia - Graham Neal even request a transfer to the RAAF only to be told that there was no poaching agreement and that reluctantly he could not be accepted.  So he went home feeling homesick for Australia!  After eight trips back he eventually shifted back permanently twenty years later, in 1987, on a short service commission as an RAAF engineer but left in 1991 rather than face an uncertain future under the Force Structure Review, when the RAAF reduced by 4200.