Ruler : Flight Lieutenant E L Bayly, RAAF

Black painted aluminium ruler for use with aircraft protractor. The ruler is made by 'CHARLES BRUNING CO.' and is marked in inches from 0 to 18 along both edges. There is an 'S' shaped wedge plate fitting screwed to each end which allows the ruler to be attached to the compass dial on the protractor.

This ruler is part of the US Navy aircraft protractor Mk III B (REL23814). This type of protractor was fitted to the navigator's table and used to accurately plot an aircraft's course and bearings. It is associated with the service of 403548 Edward Lang Bayly, born 12 December 1913 in Wellington, NSW. Prior to the Second World War Bayly served in the Militia (home defence force) as a private with the 54th Battalion. Aged 27 he enlisted in the RAAF on 3 February 1941. After several months training in Australia he embarked for service with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) on 13 November. He was discharged from the RCAF on 24 May 1942 upon being granted a commission with the RAAF with the rank of pilot officer. He served with 259 Squadron, Royal Air Force from February 1943 to early 1944. The squadron was based in East Africa and conducted anti-submarine patrols over the Indian Ocean in Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boats. Bayly served as a navigator with 42 Squadron, RAAF from August to November 1945. Based in the Pacific, the squadron operated Catalina flying boats on mine-laying missions and assisted in the repatriation of prisoners of war at the end of hostilities. Bayly later served with 112 Air Sea Rescue Flight until March 1946. He was discharged on 24 April with the rank of temporary flight lieutenant.