Lindner, Augustus Herbert Frederick (Gus) (Flying Officer, b.1923 - d.2013)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of 423793 Flying Officer Augustus Herbert Frederick 'Gus' Lindner, 88 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom and France, 1941-2003.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of three folders of material relating to Flying Officer Lindner’s service as a wireless operator and air gunner with the Royal Australian Air Force.

Folder 1 of 3: Consists of one log book of Flying Officer Lindner, with entries dated between 24 November 1942 and 14 April 1945. The entries record details such as dates and times of flights, aircraft types and numbers, pilots, and purposes of flights. Some of these purposes include gaining air experience, wireless operator training, air gunner training, operational training, aircraft conversion, cross country flights, and operational flights targeting enemy-occupied Europe. This log book also includes certificates for courses completed.

Folder 2 of 3: Consists of documents relating to Flying Officer Lindner’s service and discharge. It contains:
1x Certificate of Enrolment, Bondi, New South Wales, 23 December 1941.
1x Notice to Recruits. Bondi, New South Wales, February 1942.
1x Royal Canadian Air Force identity document, Canada, 19 October 1943, [includes original plastic sleeve].
1x Certificate of Morse Proficiency, Cargary, Alberta, Canada, 12 November 1943.
3x Battle orders for 88 Squadron, United Kingdom, 18-31 March 1945.
1x Continuation Pay Book, October-November 1945.
1x Interim Certificate of Discharge, 14 November 1945.
1x Letter from the Air Commodore, Air Member for Personnel, to Flying Officer Lindner, 24 December 1945.
1x Certificate of Service and Discharge, Melbourne, issued 3 January 1946.
1x Officer’s Certificate of Service, issued 22 January 1946.
1x Certificate from Prince Henry, Governor General of Australia, to Flying Officer Lindner, 23 December 1946.
1x Letter from the Department of Air to Flying Officer Lindner, 24 March 1949.

Folder 3 of 3: Consists of one memoir and one memorial bookmark. In his memoir, titled “The Bumpy Road to an Ongoing Life”, Lindner records his experiences of enlistment in the Army, transfer to the Air Force, training in Canada as a wireless operator and air gunner, travelling to the United Kingdom to join 88 Squadron, serving on operational flights to enemy-occupied Europe, and an incident in which his observation window was broken and he was almost sucked from his aircraft. It also includes brief mentions of other incidents in his time of service, and copies of a newspaper clipping. The memorial bookmark features a photograph of Lindner in his later life and a Bible verse.

Flying Officer Augustus Herbert Frederick "Gus" Lindner enlisted to the Royal Australian Air Force on 18 July 1942, after serving with his local militia unit. He trained as a wireless operator and air gunner in Australia and Canada under the Empire Air Training Scheme. After operational training in the United Kingdom, Flying Officer Lindner joined 88 Squadron and served in many bombing operations targeting enemy communications and transport infrastructure in Europe. He was discharged on 20 November 1945.