Hannah, Robert Lindsay (Flight Sergeant, b.1916 - d.2004)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of 22868 Flight Sergeant Robert Lindsay Hannah, 78 Air Stores Park and 78 Wing Headquarters, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Australia, New Guinea, and Netherlands East Indies, 1944-1945.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Collection consists of one diary of Flight Sergeant Hannah, with entries dated between 20 May 1944 and 12 August 1945. In his diary, Flight Sergeant Hannah writes of his experiences of service. Some of these experiences include final training, being transported to New Guinea, sightseeing and visiting friends in the Port Moresby area, travelling from Port Moresby to 27 Air Stores Park at Los Negros Island, seeing films, fishing with explosives, visiting nearby islands, transporting the unit to Noemfoor Island, working hard to establish the new camp, transporting the unit to Moratai, air raids by the Japanese, sleepless nights, aircraft explosions, hearing of Japanese reinforcements, the arrival of many RAAF squadrons to the island, supplying equipment, the arrival of the Australian Imperial Force, breaking a small bone in his foot, moving the unit to Tarakan Island and establishing a new base, attempting to repair an airstrip, hearing war news from the surrounding area, hearing of action at Balikpapan, attempting to resuscitate an electrocuted American airman, and waiting for the news that the war was officially over. Additionally, this diary includes a postscript relating to Flight Sergeant Hannah’s journey home from Tarakan, newspaper clippings, and maps of many of the places mentioned.

Robert Lindsay Hannah enlisted to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) on 8 July 1940. He served on RAAF Air Operational Bases in Australia, and later served with 78 Air Stores Park and 78 Wing Headquarters in New Guinea and the Netherlands East Indies. Flight Sergeant Hannah was discharged on 8 January 1946.