{"id":5599,"date":"2022-05-26T22:33:57","date_gmt":"2022-05-26T14:33:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/countryairstrips.com.au\/?p=5599"},"modified":"2023-06-23T16:13:38","modified_gmt":"2023-06-23T08:13:38","slug":"mungalalu-truscott-airbase","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/countryairstrips.com.au\/mungalalu-truscott-airbase\/","title":{"rendered":"Mungalalu-Truscott Airbase and it’s Famous Namesake"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Mungalalu-Truscott Airbase: A Heritage Place<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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 \u201cno legal significance and does not infringe any rights of ownership\u201d. This leaves administration to the joint understanding of the operator and the Wunambal Gaambera Aboriginal Corporation (WGAC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

History of Bluey Truscott<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>. 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Truscott was awarded his Wings after completing flight training in Canada. He graduated 8th from a Class of 52 and passed with Distinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Royal Air Force<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Keith
Keith (Bluey) Truscott<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Truscott joined No. 452 Squadron flying an RAF Supermarine Spitfire<\/a> in England on 5 May 1941. Truscott formed a strong and binding friendship with another fighter ace, Wing Commander Paddy Finucane<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Question of Ethics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The ethics of attacks on parachutists<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Truscott destroyed at least 16 Luftwaffe<\/em> Messerschmitt Bf 109s<\/a>, and was twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross<\/a>. 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<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unusual Cargo for a Famous Aviator<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Douglas