| Place | Oceania: Australia, Victoria, Melbourne |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | ART27777.001 |
| Collection type | Art |
| Measurement | Overall: 460 cm x 910 cm |
| Object type | Painting |
| Physical description | oil on canvas on hardboard |
| Maker |
Freedman, Harold |
| Place made | Australia: Victoria, Melbourne |
| Date made | 1968-69 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: © Australian War Memorial
This item is licensed under CC BY-NC
|
Mural of Australian military aircraft, 1914-1918 period
Description
Mural of Australian military aircraft, 1914-1918 period.
During the Second World War Freedman enlisted in the RAAF and was appointed as a war artist attached to the RAAF Historical War Records Section and he worked here from 1944 to 1945, in Borneo, Noemfoor and around Australia. In 1968 the Memorial commissioned Freedman to produce a large mural depicting the history of Australian military aviation. The mural took five years to complete and features every aircraft used by the RAAF up until the Vietnam War. On completion of the mural Freedman was appointed to the unique position of Official State Artist for Victoria, which he held from 1972 to 1983. During this appointment he produced more large-scale murals, including the Cavalcade of transport in the main hall of Spencer Street Station and The History of racing at Flemington Racecourse.