Dobson, Ronald Joseph (Flying Officer, b.1922 - d.2013)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of 422540 Flying Officer Ronald Joseph Dobson, 51 Squadron and 35 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, Canada, England and Australia, 1941-1946.

Wallet 1 of 2 - Contains two folders of material relating to Flying Officer Ronald Joseph Dobson.

Wallet 1 of 2, Folder 1 of 2 consists of one log book of Flying Officer Ronald Joseph Dobson. This log book contains entries dated between 27 February 1943 and 9 May 1945. It covers the period of Flying Officer Dobson’s training in Canada and service as a wireless operator with 51 Squadron and 35 Squadron in England. The entries in this log book record information such as dates and times of flights, aircraft types and numbers, pilots, and purposes of flights. Some of the recorded purposes of flights include wireless operator training, air gunnery training, operational training, advanced flying training, aircraft conversion, cross country flights, bombing raids on strategic targets in France and Germany, pathfinding, supply drops, and transportation of prisoners of war.

Wallet 1 of 2, Folder 2 of 2 contains one Identity Card and two Pay Books of Flying Officer Ronald Joseph Dobson. The Identity Card was issued to Flying Officer Dobson on 21 June 1944, while he was serving with 51 Squadron in England. The Pay Books were issued in August 1942 and October 1945, and contain information such as rates of pay, payments, next of kin details, and medical history.

Wallet 2 of 2 – Contains two folders of material relating to Flying Officer Ronald Joseph Dobson.

Wallet 2 of 2, Folder 1 of 2 consists of various documents and items of correspondence relating to Flying Officer Dobson. It contains:
1x Notice from the Chief of Air Staff to Air Force officers, January 1941. This notice reminds officers to be discreet when discussing service matters.
1x Humorous document titled “Subpoena and Summons Extraordinary”, USS Mount Vernon, 27 August 1942. This document was used at the time of a ‘Crossing the Line Ceremony’ during Flying Officer Dobson’s voyage from Australia to Canada.
1x Letter from the Air Vice Marshall Commanding Path Finder Force to Flying Officer Dobson, 5 April 1945. This letter originally accompanied Flying Officer Dobson’s Path Finder Force badge.
1x Citation for the award of Flying Officer Dobson’s Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), c September 1945.
1x Letter from Air Vice Marshall Henry Neilson Wrigley to Flying Officer Dobson, London, England, 21 September 1945. In this letter, Air Vice Marshall Wrigley offers his congratulations to Flying Officer Dobson on the award of his DFC. He also sends a small piece of DFC ribbon [included with letter].
1x Certificate of Service and Discharge, issued 15 November 1945.
1x Certificate of Service, issued 10 December 1945.
1x Letter from Wing Commander Allan Runcisman Brown to Flying Officer Dobson, Bradfield Park, New South Wales, 30 January 1946. This letter was sent with a small piece of DFC ribbon [included with letter].
1x Envelope addressed to Flying Officer Dobson, postmarked London, England, 3 May 1946.
1x Letter from the Department of Air to Flying Officer Dobson, Melbourne, Victoria, 5 January 1946. This letter includes a list of the decorations and medals awarded to Flying Officer Dobson for his service during the Second World War.
1x Envelope addressed to Flying Officer Dobson, postmarked London, England, 3 May 1946.

Wallet 2 of 2, Folder 2 of 2 consists of one notebook of Flying Officer Dobson and one prayer book. The notebook, written in an incomplete 1938 diary, contains unit conversion information and mathematical notes. It is thought to have been used by Flying Officer Dobson during his training in 1942. The prayer book is titled “The Key of Heaven containing Devotions to the Sacred Heart”, [unknown date].

Oversize Item 1 of 1 consists of one commissioning certificate of Flying Officer Dobson, issued 17 October 1946.