Wilfred Brookes interviewed by Fred Morton for the Fred Morton collection [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 2125697
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Brookes, Wilfred, Sir, 1906-, interviewee
- Online Version:
- National Library of Australia digitised item
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, personal copies and public use.
- Description:
-
- 1981
- 2 sound cassettes (ca. 117 min.)
- Series:
- Fred Morton collection.
- Summary:
-
TAPE 1. Brookes, an Australian figher pilot in WWII discusses the following: the role of the RAAF during WWII; his leadership of the No. 24 Squadron of Wirraways and their task at Rabaul of 1942; the lead up to and the main attack by the Japanese at Rabaul; the retreat from Rabaul in New Guinea; his return to Australia and his various commands; his early interest in flying; his commands such as the 78 fighter wing. -- TAPE 2. The work his squadrons carried out; his work with the American pilots; pilot training; the circumstances leading up to his squadron and going to Moratai and their work there.
- Biography/History:
-
Born in April 1906 and knighted in 1979, Wilfred Brookes is the grandson of Alfred Deakin, Australia's second Prime Minister, was educated at Melbourne Grammar and University of Melbourne. He enlisted as a fighter pilot with the RAAF and flew Wirraways and Kittyhawks finally being involved in epic aerial operation over Rabaul in 1942 when Japanese Zeores and bombers demolished an entire RAAF squadron and most of the town. Later he became a leading manager and businessman in Victoria. He was a director of Alcoa, BH South, Central Norseman Gold and Northern Broken Hill. He is a former chairman of Associated Pulp and Paper Mills, Colonial Mutual Life Society, Electrolytic and Smelting Co. and Perpetual Trustee Co. (Vic.). He was an outspoken chief of the Institute of Public Affairs, regularly criticising Government economic and social policy, warning the public in 1980 that it demanded too many Government services at the expense of private enterprise. In 1990 he retired from the board of the Corps of Commissionaires.
- Notes:
-
- Recorded on Jan. 13, 1981.
- Also available online http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-221911696
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Timed summary available.
- Subject:
-
- Brookes, Wilfred, 1906- -- Interviews
- Australia. Royal Australian Air Force. Squadron, 24
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Aerial operations -- Personal narratives, Australian
- Fighter pilots -- Australia -- Interviews
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- New Guinea -- Rabaul -- Personal narratives, Australian
- Rabaul (Papua New Guinea) -- History -- Bombardment, 1942
- Other authors/contributors:
- Morton, Fred, 1930-1993, interviewer
- Related Records:
-
This belongs to the Fred Morton collection.
This collection contains 101 records. - Copyright:
-
In Copyright
You may copy under some circumstances, for example you may copy a portion for research or study. Order a copy through Copies Direct to the extent allowed under fair dealing. Contact us for further information about copying.
- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2051 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 1981
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply. For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
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