History Group Page

Photo: On 26 March 1921, Lieut. Frank Willmott (standing on top of the fuselage) landed his de Havilland (DH-6) aircraft at Granite Island. The Bluff is in view across the harbor. Source: State Library of SA
About the SAAM History Group
The SAAM History Group comprises a small number of Museum members with a shared strong interest in researching and writing South Australian aviation history. The main focus is the research and writing of short profiles on significant South Australian aviators and aviation events for publishing on this site and elsewhere. The History Group also assists visitors to the Museum by researching and providing answers to their questions on aviation history, and assists members who are engaged in the restoration of historic aircraft, by researching such matters as aircraft colours, registrations and liveries to ensure authenticity.
On This Page
Aircraft Profiles
Books Published by History Group Members
Biographies of noted South Australian Aviators
Events
Historical Research
Please Note: © South Australia Aviation Museum 2022.
All content on this website is the property of SAAM and may not be reproduced elswhere without permission.
Books Published by History Group Members
Biographies of noted South Australian Aviators
Events
Historical Research
Please Note: © South Australia Aviation Museum 2022.
All content on this website is the property of SAAM and may not be reproduced elswhere without permission.
Aircraft Profiles (.pdf)
Books Published by History Group Members
![]() |
Sth. Aust. Airmen of the Great War An ANZAC Centenary Commemoration Project Author: Chas Schaedel (with SAAM History Group) Free Download Here |
![]() |
South Australian Eagles A Century of Distinguished Service by South Australians in the Air Force. Author: Greg Weller Free Download Here |
![]() |
Wing Tips The Story of the Royal Aero Club of South Australia Book 1: 1919-1941 & Book 2: 1941-1986 Author: Mike Milln Available from SAAM Shop |
![]() |
Zero Hour in Broome The untold stories of the attacks on northwest Australia in 1942. Authors: Dr. Tom Lewis OAM & Peter Ingman Available from SAAM Shop |
![]() |
Carrier Attack - Darwin 1942 The Complete Guide to Australia's Own Pearl Harbor Authors: Dr. Tom Lewis OAM & Peter Ingman Available from SAAM Shop |
![]() |
The RAAF in South Australia During WW2. Adelaide - Gawler - Mallala - Mount Gambier - Parafield - Port Pirie - Victor Harbor Author: Peter Ingman For purchase information, click here |
![]() |
South Pacific Air War Volume 1: The Fall of Rabaul December 1941-March 1942 Volume 2: The Struggle for Moresby March - April 1942 Volume 3: Coral Sea & Aftermath May-June 1942 Volume 4: Buna & Milne Bay June - September 1942 Authors: Michael Claringbould & Peter Ingman For purchase information, click here |
![]() |
Mosquito Monograph A History of Mosquitoes in Australia & RAAF Operations Published 1982. Author: David Vincent. Out of Print but available secondhand through numerous Aviation Collectable Booksellers. |
![]() |
Catalina Chronicle – A History of RAAF Operations A great account of RAAF Catalina Flying Boat Operations during World War Two. Published 1978 as a Limited edition of 1000 Copies Author: David Vincent. Out of Print but available secondhand through numerous Aviation Collectable Booksellers. |
![]() |
The RAAF Hudson Story - Book 1 The Lockheed Hudson achieved fame as Australia's main modern warplane in the early part of the Pacific War. Book One details the RAAF Hudson experience in Malaya, Australia (not including NT) and the Middle East. Author David Vincent. Available from Avonmore Books |
![]() |
The RAAF Hudson Story - Book 2 The Lockheed Hudson achieved fame as Australia's main modern warplane in the early part of the Pacific War. Book Two covers RAAF Hudson operations from the NT, Ambon, Timor, New Britain and New Guinea. Author David Vincent. Available from Avonmore Books |
Biographies (.pdf)
ANGAS, Dudley & LOFTES, Donald
AYLIFFE, John Colin
BAKER, Thomas Charles Richmond
BAXTER, John Russell (Russ)
BEDFORD, William Rudolf Buddicom (Bill)
BELL, John Napier
BENCE, Leonard Pendrell
BENNETT, Clarence Charles
BETTERIDGE, Allan Rupert
BONYTHON, Hugh Reskymer (Kym)
BRIGGS, Frank
BUCKLEY, Noble Sydney Douglas (Nobby)
BUNGEY, Robert Wilton
BUTLER, Henry John (Harry)
CHADWICK, Alan Edward
CHESTER Brothers (Herbert & Richard)
CHOMLEY, George Alec (Alec)
CLEARY, Helen Agnes
CLISBY, Leslie Redford (Les)
CONSTANTINE, Alexander (Noel)
COWPER, Robert Barson (Bob)
DENNIS, Kevin
DOUDY, John C. (Jack)
DOWNING, John
ELLIS, Reginald Sidney
ESPELAND, Brenton
FREEMAN, John
GOLDSWORTHY, Warwick
GROPLER, Roy W.
HAY, Robert Claude DFC & Bar
HERAPATH, Sydney David (David)
HERBERT, Michael Patrick John (Herbie)
HILL, Clive
HORN Brothers
HUSSEY, Herbert Bindley (Bert)
HUXLEY, Frederick George
KENNY, William David (Dave)
KLEINIG, Theodore Victor Benno (Ted)
AYLIFFE, John Colin
BAKER, Thomas Charles Richmond
BAXTER, John Russell (Russ)
BEDFORD, William Rudolf Buddicom (Bill)
BELL, John Napier
BENCE, Leonard Pendrell
BENNETT, Clarence Charles
BETTERIDGE, Allan Rupert
BONYTHON, Hugh Reskymer (Kym)
BRIGGS, Frank
BUCKLEY, Noble Sydney Douglas (Nobby)
BUNGEY, Robert Wilton
BUTLER, Henry John (Harry)
CHADWICK, Alan Edward
CHESTER Brothers (Herbert & Richard)
CHOMLEY, George Alec (Alec)
CLEARY, Helen Agnes
CLISBY, Leslie Redford (Les)
CONSTANTINE, Alexander (Noel)
COWPER, Robert Barson (Bob)
DENNIS, Kevin
DOUDY, John C. (Jack)
DOWNING, John
ELLIS, Reginald Sidney
ESPELAND, Brenton
FREEMAN, John
GOLDSWORTHY, Warwick
GROPLER, Roy W.
HAY, Robert Claude DFC & Bar
HERAPATH, Sydney David (David)
HERBERT, Michael Patrick John (Herbie)
HILL, Clive
HORN Brothers
HUSSEY, Herbert Bindley (Bert)
HUXLEY, Frederick George
KENNY, William David (Dave)
KLEINIG, Theodore Victor Benno (Ted)
LARKIN Brothers
LEICESTER, David Lewis (Lewis)
MACINTOSH, Robert Andrew (Bob)
MATULICH Brothers
MATULICH, Lawrence Claude
McALONEY, William Simpson (Bill)
McCLOUGHRY Brothers
McINTYRE, Ivor Ewing
McROSTIE, Arthur George
MELROSE, Charles James (Jimmy)
MESSERSCHMITT, Wilhelm Emil (Willy) & Bf109-E
MILLER, Horatio Clive (Horrie)
MILLINGTON, William (Bill)
O'CONNOR, Leigh Thomas
PASCOE, Rena June
PINK, Sydney James (Jimmy)
RECHNER, Reginald Max (Reg)
REYNELL, Richard Carew (Dickie)
RILEY, Frederick Cecil (Fred)
SCHNEIDER, Harry
SHANNON, David John
SHEARN, Hartley Vivian (Viv)
SHIERS, Walter Henry (Wally)
SMITH Brothers (Ross & Keith)
SMITH, Ross & the Vimy Crew (updated Feb 2023)
SMITH, W.F.E. (Bill)
SUTHERLAND, Alan D'Arcy
TINDALE, Norman Barnett
TONGERIE, George
WARREN, Dr. David Ronald DeMey
WATT, Colin
WILKINS, George Hubert
WILLIAMS, Graham Robert
WILLIAMS, Sir Richard
LEICESTER, David Lewis (Lewis)
MACINTOSH, Robert Andrew (Bob)
MATULICH Brothers
MATULICH, Lawrence Claude
McALONEY, William Simpson (Bill)
McCLOUGHRY Brothers
McINTYRE, Ivor Ewing
McROSTIE, Arthur George
MELROSE, Charles James (Jimmy)
MESSERSCHMITT, Wilhelm Emil (Willy) & Bf109-E
MILLER, Horatio Clive (Horrie)
MILLINGTON, William (Bill)
O'CONNOR, Leigh Thomas
PASCOE, Rena June
PINK, Sydney James (Jimmy)
RECHNER, Reginald Max (Reg)
REYNELL, Richard Carew (Dickie)
RILEY, Frederick Cecil (Fred)
SCHNEIDER, Harry
SHANNON, David John
SHEARN, Hartley Vivian (Viv)
SHIERS, Walter Henry (Wally)
SMITH Brothers (Ross & Keith)
SMITH, Ross & the Vimy Crew (updated Feb 2023)
SMITH, W.F.E. (Bill)
SUTHERLAND, Alan D'Arcy
TINDALE, Norman Barnett
TONGERIE, George
WARREN, Dr. David Ronald DeMey
WATT, Colin
WILKINS, George Hubert
WILLIAMS, Graham Robert
WILLIAMS, Sir Richard
Events (.pdf)
1936 SA Centenary Race
1954 REDeX Reliability Trial
1966 National Air Show
1969 UK-AUSTRALIA Air Race
The Centenary of Civil Aviation
Centenary of the first Aircraft built in Australia AVRO 504K
First Deck Landing in a Supermarine Seafire
HEINKEL 114A-2 Flight over South Australia 1940
Jim Mollison & Amy Johnson in SA
Recovery of Spitfire UP-O
Re-enactment flights to Gawler
Re-enactment flights to Minlaton
1954 REDeX Reliability Trial
1966 National Air Show
1969 UK-AUSTRALIA Air Race
The Centenary of Civil Aviation
Centenary of the first Aircraft built in Australia AVRO 504K
First Deck Landing in a Supermarine Seafire
HEINKEL 114A-2 Flight over South Australia 1940
Jim Mollison & Amy Johnson in SA
Recovery of Spitfire UP-O
Re-enactment flights to Gawler
Re-enactment flights to Minlaton
Historical Research (.pdf)
Aerial Photography - Part 1 - Early History
Aerial Photography - Part 2 - WWI
Aerial Photography - Part 3 - WWII
Dambusters - 80 years on - The anniversary of Operation Chastise
Development of Adelaide West Beach Airport
From Air Hostess to Flight Attendant
History of RAAF Gawler 1941-1946
History of the St. John Air Ambulance Service
Manufacture of Beaufort Components in S.A.
Martin Baker Ejector Seats
No 1 EFTS Parafield
No 6 SFTS Mallala
No.10 Sqn RAAF in WWII
RAAF at Mt Gambier 1937-1947
RAAF at Port Pirie History
SAAM History Pt1 1984-1990
SAAM History Pt2 1991-2005
SA WWI Airmen Omitted from War Memorial
The Parafield Messerschmitt
WWII Radar Units in S.A.
Aerial Photography - Part 2 - WWI
Aerial Photography - Part 3 - WWII
Dambusters - 80 years on - The anniversary of Operation Chastise
Development of Adelaide West Beach Airport
From Air Hostess to Flight Attendant
History of RAAF Gawler 1941-1946
History of the St. John Air Ambulance Service
Manufacture of Beaufort Components in S.A.
Martin Baker Ejector Seats
No 1 EFTS Parafield
No 6 SFTS Mallala
No.10 Sqn RAAF in WWII
RAAF at Mt Gambier 1937-1947
RAAF at Port Pirie History
SAAM History Pt1 1984-1990
SAAM History Pt2 1991-2005
SA WWI Airmen Omitted from War Memorial
The Parafield Messerschmitt
WWII Radar Units in S.A.