Nazi banner : J J Holden, Cambridge University Air Squadron, 1938

Places
Accession Number REL34542
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Flag
Physical description Cotton
Maker Unknown
Place made Germany
Date made c 1938
Conflict Period 1930-1939
Description

Large, vertically aligned red cotton banner, originally suspended from a building in Berlin, bearing a black swastika on a white disc. The upper end has a raw edge where it has been roughly cut from its mounting.

History / Summary

This banner was removed by John James Holden, an Australian studying at Clare College, Cambridge, when he and other engineering students who were members of the Cambridge University Air Squadron made a goodwill visit to Berlin in 1938. The removal caused a minor diplomatic incident and the German borders were briefly closed, but the students reached England safely with their trophy banner. Holden, who was already a qualified pilot, returned to Australia on the outbreak of the Second World War and joined the RAAF. He survived a crash into the sea and dramatic rescue off the Western Australian coast, while flying a Hawker Demon aircraft in January 1940, but did not subsequently return to flying. He became one of the Wing Commanders responsible for aircraft production at the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation.