Air War Europe
Australian War Memorial Conference 2003
Telstra Theatre, Australian War Memorial
Saturday 15 November 2003
Those who took part in the air offensive against Germany in 1943 and 1944 fought in some of the most costly campaigns of the Second World War. To commemorate the battle of Berlin and the air war over Europe, the Australian War Memorial held a one-day conference in Canberra on 15 November 2003. Air War Europe focused on every aspect of the air campaign during the Second World War, including campaigns and strategy, the role of Bomber Command, Fighter Command and the Tactical Air Force, debates over the effectiveness of bombing, and the role Australian air servicemen and women played in the defeat of the Axis powers. Speakers includeD veterans, Memorial staff and historians of the Second World War in the air.
The conference also celebrated the returned display of Australia’s most famous Lancaster, “G for George”, late in 2003. Conference attendees were able to view the final stages of the aircraft’s installation in Anzac Hall.
Conference Papers
- Dr Alan Stephens - First solo: air strategy in the Second World War
- Don Charlwood - The men of Bomber Command
- Prof. Hank Nelson - A different war: Australians in Bomber Command
- Dr Chris Clark - Empire Training Scheme
- Dr Peter Stanley - The roundel: concentric identities among Australian airmen in Bomber Command
- Peter Burness - “G for George”
- Peggy West - Secret Y Service
- Peter Scully - Australians and the Mediterranean air war
- Dr Daniel Oakman - The battle of Berlin
Program
| 8.30–9.00 | Registration |
| 9.00–9.30 | Dr Alan Stephens Keynote address: First solo: air strategy in the Second World War |
| Life and death in Bomber Command | |
| 9.30–10.00 | Don Charlwood The men of Bomber Command |
| 10.00–10.30 | Prof. Hank Nelson A different war: Australians in Bomber Command |
| 10.30–11.00 | Morning tea |
| Life and death in Bomber Command (continued) | |
| 11.00–11.30 | Dr Chris Clark Empire Training Scheme |
| 11.30–12.00 | Dr Peter Stanley The roundel: concentric identities among Australian airmen in Bomber Command |
| 12.00–12.30 | Peter Burness “G for George” |
| 12.30–1.45 | Lunch |
| Special presentation | |
| 1.45 | Garth Pratten Unit Profiles Project – Australian squadrons in the European air war |
| Aspects of Australia’s air war | |
| 2.00–2.30 | Peggy West Secret Y Service |
| 2.30–3.00 | Peter Scully Australians and the Mediterranean air war |
| 3.00–3.30 | Afternoon tea |
| “Ops”: Australians in the air war | |
| 3.30–4.00 | Ian Hodges At the tip of the javelin: the Dam Busters’ raid |
| 4.00–4.30 | Dr Daniel Oakman The battle of Berlin |
| Panel discussion and open forum | |
| 4.30–5.30 | Air War Europe |