Athletics patch : Warrant Officer R W Luker, RAAF

Small, red rectangular patch which reads 'TRACK AND FIELD" in white synthetic pile surrounded by a white border.

This patch belonged to Warrant Officer 8769 Richard Woodward Luker, of Cleveland, Queensland. Luker enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force on 5 February 1940. Luker was sent to Canada as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS), a cooperative effort between Australia, New Zealand, Britain and Canada to train pilots for the air war in Europe. He completed some of his advanced training at Royal Canadian Air Force Station Summerside, on the southern coast of Prince Edward Island. Luker was in Summerside during July 1944 when he won a trophy in the No 1 General Reconnaissance School athletics meet. His brother, Sergeant 6756 Henry Whitfield Luker, also flew with the RAAF during the Second World War as part of 83 Squadron. He was killed in a flying accident on 18 June 1943.