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380th Bomb Group Association World War II Veterans Group   WE WENT TO WAR PART III:  OUR BROTHERS-AT-ARMS Members of the RAAF Liberator Squadrons of Australia Who Served Directly With the 380th Bombardment Group Compiled by Theodore J. Williams Barbara J. Gotham September 1999 - Updated August 2006

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Contents

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The Royal Australian Air Force during World War II had always had an interest in establishing a heavy bomber arm in order to better carry out their offensive air mission against the Japanese.

The impending move of the Fifth Air Force of the USAAF (including the 380^th Bomb Group based in Darwin, Northern Territory) to the Philippines, following the invasion of these islands, in late 1944-early 1945, made such an acquisition imperative. Accordingly, the RAAF acquired a total of 287 Liberator aircraft including D, J, L, and M models and cooperated with the Crew Replacement and Training Center of the Fifth Air Force to give conversion training in the Liberator to selected RAAF air crews.

Initial combat training was with an active USAAF Heavy Bomb Group. These included the 43^rd and 90^th but particularly the 380^th since the 380^th was serving in the combat area to be later covered by the Australian heavy bomber force. In addition, the 380^th had been serving under the Australian North West Area Command and under Australian operational command.

Accordingly, 52 Australian air crews served with the 380^th (13 each in four successive periods) to acquire 100 combat flying hours on regular 380^th missions of all types. Australians flew both a complete Australian crew and as individuals in mixed crews with American compatriots. At the conclusion of this service, they then formed their own squadrons for later Australian-only operations.

This roster lists all Australian personnel known to have served with the 380^th, in both Flight Crews and Ground Staff position. The first part of the roster presents all personnel in alphabetical order, the second part presents the Flight Crews in alphabetical order of the crew Aircraft Commander.

The authors regret any mistakes that may have crept into this compilation and we take full responsibility for such. We will welcome any comments or corrections from the readers of this book and the other parts of this compilation, and will make every effort to correct them. Therefore, we hope you will let us know of any such errors.

For a list of the errors found to date, please click here.

Every attempt has been made to get permission to use photographs, drawings, information, etc., when the sources were known. If copyrighted material appears here, please let us know so permission can be requested and credit given. If you have any photos, corrections, or other information to add to this history, please send email to Barbara Gotham at 380th.ww2@gmail.com or use our Comment Form.

We will incorporate all corrections and additional data which we receive in this compilation as maintained at this website.