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Yasmin McDonald
22 February 23
Douglas Brenkley
Archives
Attribution-NonCommercial CC BY-NC
Council Minutes and Papers
Book is titled: 2022 RAAF Historical Record of No 4 Service Flying Training School Geraldton W.A. by Douglas J. Brenkley. The book is house in Memorial hall Reading room, part of our antiquarian book collection - war time history editions.
Douglas Brenkely donated a book he authored titled ‘RAAF Historical Record of No 4 Service Flying Training School Geraldton’ published in 2022; a welcomed addition to the schools’ antiquarian book collection specializing largely in war-time historical editions. Douglas researched the book after the realisation that many generations may not be aware of the intense activity that took part at Geraldton airport during WWII relating to Australia’s commitment to the Empire Air Training Scheme.
During the years prior to WWII the Royal Air Force was becoming concerned that the RAF may not be able to sustain many losses of air of air crews envisaged on any likely conflict with Germany. This fact was brought home in no uncertain terms as RAF bomber losses mounted during the first two years of WWII and continued for considerable time after.
Australia agreed to supply 36% of the total 28,000 aircrew drawn from the Dominions over the three years, this meant when the scheme was fuly operational Australia would supply 432 pilots, 226 observers, 392 wireless operator-air gunners every four weeks for service with RAF. This became the Empire Training Scheme.
Douglas was born in Geraldton in 1930 and was brought up on a farm Northwest of Tenidewa. He was sent to Boarding school in Geraldton in 1936; on leaving school he worked on the farm from 1946.
In 1963 he became a Councillor for the Shire of Mullewa serving the last 13 years as president; retiring in 1990. During this period he became interested in local history, realising many later generations may not be aware of the intense active/activity that took place at the Geraldton Airport during WWII. After some early inquiry he decided to visit Canberra. The War Museum and contact RAAF Historical, this led him to commence collecting information about the activities at No 4 Service Flying Training School Geraldton.
In the book many readers will come across the names of servicemen who may jog their memory. After the war many served with distinction in Public and Business life after delicate service for their country.