SALVAGING AEROPLANES IN NEW GUINEA. LITTLE IS HEARD OF THE GROUND STAFF OF THE RAAF - THE MEN WHO ...

SALVAGING AEROPLANES IN NEW GUINEA. LITTLE IS HEARD OF THE GROUND STAFF OF THE RAAF - THE MEN WHO WORK ALL HOURS AND UNDER ALL CONDITIONS, KEEPING OUR PLANES IN THE AIR, AND STILL LESS IS KNOWN OF THE MEN OF THE RAAF WHO SALVAGE MACHINES FORCED DOWN THROUGH A VARIETY OF CAUSES. TRAVELLING AS FAR AS 650 MILES, THESE MEN USING MAKESHIFT HOISTS, AND ASSISTED BY NATIVES, HAVE SAVED MANY PLANES WHICH OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE BEEN WRITTEN OFF AS LOST. THIS SERIES OF PHOTOS SHOWS HOW THEY SALVAGED TWO OF THE MANY MACHINES WHICH THEY PUT INTO COMMISSION AGAIN. THE REPAIR AND SALVAGE UNIT READY TO LEAVE. THOSE ON BOARD ARE: SGT. R.S. COOPER, IN CHARGE OF THIS PARTICULAR UNIT, LAC. P. CALDWELL A RADIO OPERATOR, CPL. J. JOHNSON (MECHANIC) LAC. L.R. O'SHEA (SKIPPER OF THE LAUNCH). GEORGE KERO, A NEW GUINEA NATIVE PILOT WHOSE KNOWLEDGE OF THE REEFS AND SHOALS WAS INVALUABLE. LAC. C. ELLIOTT (COOK FOR THE UNIT) CPL. W. PHILLIPSON (MECHANIC) SGT. T. PEAREY AND RIPPER LAC. R.J. BROWN. NATIVES WATCHING THE OFFICIAL WAR ARTIST, WILL DARGIE, SKETCHING THE SCENE. THE NATIVE HOLDING THE UMBRELLA OVER DARGIE WAS REWARDED BY A PACKET OF ARMY BISCUITS. NATIVE BOYS ARE VERY FOND OF ARMY BISCUITS; WHY? MOST AUSTRALIAN TROOPS CANNOT UNDERSTAND. (NEGATIVE BY BOTTOMLEY).