Mungalalu-Truscott Airbase: A Heritage Place
Mungalalu-Truscott airbase has been classified and entered into the Council of the National Trust of Australia (WA). This is a list of Heritage Places due to their significance during World War II and the remaining artefacts. The Trust may in future nominate the Base for inclusion by the Australian Heritage Commission in the Register of the National Estate. The Trust has communicated that the classification has “no legal significance and does not infringe any rights of ownership”. This leaves administration to the joint understanding of the operator and the Wunambal Gaambera Aboriginal Corporation (WGAC).
History of Bluey Truscott
Truscott worked as a teacher before becoming a clerk at Vestey Group business W. Angliss & Co. There he had also secured a job for his old friend from Melbourne High School, Stan Bisset. Bisset and Truscott both agreed to enlist while sharing a beer after work one Friday night. Bisset later recalled that he and Truscott were thinking deeply about the war and that people were giving up everything. They had an intense patriotic feeling towards Britain and decided not to wait for the enemy to come. Rather, to fight where they had a better chance of winning, “and so that’s what we did”.
In 1940, Truscott undertook his Initial Training Course, passing the two-month course in one month with Distinction. He then moved on to No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School RAAF. Truscott was instructed by Pilot Officer Roy Goon who instructed over 800 pilots in his career. He had also served as Squadron Leader of No. 83 Squadron.
Truscott was awarded his Wings after completing flight training in Canada. He graduated 8th from a Class of 52 and passed with Distinction.
Royal Air Force
Truscott joined No. 452 Squadron flying an RAF Supermarine Spitfire in England on 5 May 1941. Truscott formed a strong and binding friendship with another fighter ace, Wing Commander Paddy Finucane. They formed the toughest, ice-cold fighter partnership in the RAF, contributing to what was the highest-scoring unit in Fighter Command. By this stage, Truscott was, along with Clive Caldwell, one of the most famous RAAF pilots. While in England, his fame was such that he was used as a fundraising icon. The Marquess of Donegall exhorted his countrymen with red hair to donate money to buy a Spitfire. Truscott, who was nicknamed “Bluey” because of his red hair, would then fly it.
In 1941, after destroying several Messerschmitts, Truscott’s Spitfire had its tail shot off and fuel tanks ruptured. Returning to base, the Spitfire eventually ran out of fuel over the English Channel. Truscott attempted to bale at 4,000 feet but was caught in his cockpit; he broke free only 400 feet above the sea with his chute opening moments before he hit the water.
A Question of Ethics
The ethics of attacks on parachutists was strongly debated during the war. In October 1941, Truscott destroyed two Messerschmitts over occupied France. During a series of engagements, one of those pilots managed to bale out. Truscott then shot at the parachutist as he descended. On the squadron’s return to RAF Kenley, Truscott’s close friend and crew member Clive ‘Bardie’ Wawn DFC called him “a bastard, [for] shooting at that Jerry”. Truscott’s reply to Wawn was pragmatic: “He might have gone up tomorrow and shot you down”. Truscott had earlier seen a German pilot shooting at a parachuting RAF pilot and vowed to return the favour.
Truscott destroyed at least 16 Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Bf 109s, and was twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was promoted to Acting Squadron Leader in January 1942. Citations for Truscott’s DFCs refer to “great courage and determination” and that he had shown “fine fighting spirit. He destroyed 11, probable destroyed 3, damaged 2 hostile aircraft, attacked and damaged a Destroyer. Truscott also attacked a destroyer, most likely the Z7 Hermann Schoemann. This was the only destroyer that reported being strafed by 20mm aerial cannon fire on the day of Truscott’s attack. It is believed that this sortie was the first time a fighter squadron had attacked and damaged a warship without assistance.
Unusual Cargo for a Famous Aviator
One of Truscott’s more unusual sorties was “Leg Operation”. This involved his Squadron escorting a Bristol Blenheim to parachute a prosthetic leg into a Saint-Omer hospital. where the captured Douglas Bader was being held by the Germans. Bader lost both legs in 1931 after crashing his plane in an air show. However, as a fighter ace with some 22 aerial victories, he was well regarded by the Germans. And hence they agreed to Bader’s request to allow the English to parachute in a replacement leg.
Royal Australian Air Force
Truscott, Squadron Leader No. 76 Squadron RAAF at Milne Bay, New Guinea in September 1942.
Truscott was promoted to Commanding Officer in June 1942 before being posted back to the RAAF in Australia. After the Bombing of Darwin, he joined No. 76 Squadron, flying Kittyhawks.
It was RAAF policy that all pilots returning from campaigns abroad must relinquish their ranks. However, political interference saw Truscott retain his rank (and pay) upon his posting to No.76 Squadron. That placed Truscott in “an invidious position”, and the matter was formally escalated with Group Command. The loss of Squadron Leader Peter Turnbull inadvertently resolved the matter as Truscott was promoted as Turnbull’s replacement. However, the Minister for Air was publicly forced to review the policy. The review resulted in a landmark case that saw all pilots able to retain their original ranks.
The Battle of Milne Bay
Truscott’s squadron was posted to Gurney Field in Milne Bay, Papua. They played what was described as “the decisive factor” in winning the Battle of Milne Bay. During the battle, Nos. 75 and 76 Squadrons fired 196,000 rounds and wore out 300 gun barrels against ground targets. They were also adept at raking the palm trees at low levels for snipers. With Japanese troops less than five kilometres from the airstrip, Truscott’s pilots were ordered to evacuate to Port Moresby to protect their assets.
Truscott refused his orders, mindful of how his Ground Crew would feel being left behind after all officers had evacuated. Truscott was subsequently Mentioned in Dispatches for his distinguished service in the battle. An official report notes that Truscott was “literally adored by the Pilots and Ground Crew. His devil-may-care swagger, fiery red mop of hair, and infectious smile just couldn’t fail to inspire confidence in others.”
No. 76 Squadron was later transferred to Darwin, Northern Territory, and the RAAF journal Wings stated that when out-climbed by Japanese Zeros in early night dog fights, Truscott would turn on the navigation lights of his Kittyhawk to attract Japanese fire, giving him a chance to shoot back. One night in January 1943, Truscott intercepted three bombers head-on over Darwin. With just one gun operating effectively, shot down a Betty Mitsubishi G4M.
The Last Flight
Truscott was killed on 28 March 1943, during a RAAF training exercise with the US Navy off Exmouth, Western Australia. It had been agreed that the RAAF would launch surprise attacks on any US Catalinas they saw along the coast. At Truscott’s request, the US agreed to keep their Catalinas well off the water during the exercise. Two days later, Truscott and his wingman, Pilot Officer Ian Loudon sighted PBY Catalina 101-P-1 from Fleet Air Wing 10 in the distance. The conditions of the day were highly unusual: the water was mirror-like creating a false horizon.
The Tragic Accident
The Australian echelon prepared for a beam attack at what Loudon thought was a height well over 200 feet. Due to the weather conditions and distance from the Catalina, Loudon and Truscott were not able to discern that the Catalina was actually in a slow descent preparing to land on the water. With the sun shining in their eyes, it was not until 800 yards prior to contact that Loudon realised their true altitude. Loudon radioed Truscott but it was too late. Truscott’s P40E Kittyhawk clipped the water at a flat angle, he immediately pulled up the aircraft but it stalled at 200 feet (60 m) and fell into the sea, killing Truscott instantly. His body was recovered and he was buried with military honours at Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth.
Mungalalu-Truscott Airbase: To honour a War Hero
In 1944, 9 months after Bluey passed away, construction began on a new secret airbase named Truscott in honour of the wartime hero. Construction and operation of the base were done in complete secrecy. It wasn’t until after the war that the Australian government acknowledged the existence of the base.
After the war ended, there was little cause for armed forces to remain stationed at Truscott. Some 7 months after arms were laid down came the last diary entry for the 58 Operation Base Unit.
In 1959 the Truscott base was handed back to the Western Australian Government.
On 29/10/1999, 56 years after the airbase was forged, Mungalalu Truscott began operations on the historic site. Keeping in mind the history of Truscott, Mungalalu-Truscott has made a conscious effort to preserve relics of an era that shaped the nation we live in today.
Reference: Truscott: The diary of Australia’s secret wartime Kimberley airbase by John and Carol Beasy
