Richard Williams interviewed by Mel Pratt in the Mel Pratt collection [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 2257286
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Williams, Richard, Sir, 1890-1980, interviewee
- Online Version:
- National Library of Australia digitised item
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, personal copies and public use.
- Description:
-
- 1973-1974
- 7 tape reels : 1 7/8 ips. mono. ; 5 in.
- Series:
- Mel Pratt collection.
- Summary:
-
Sir Richard Williams, Air Marshal, talks of his early life at Moonta, South Australia; his commission in the Commonwealth military forces; joining the regular army; adjutant of the 73rd infantry; School of Musketry, Sydney; compensation to property owners; Flying Corps training; recruitment during World War I; establishment of the Australian Flying Corps; formation of No. 1 Squadron; Salama; experiences in the Western Desert; attacks on Gaza; reliance of commanders on air protection; Beirut; Damascus; German Intelligence; Surasend; air photography; Ross Smith; Hudson Fysh; Peter Drummond; Alan Murray-Jones; AIF fly-over in London; RAF aeroplanes for Australia; return to Australia; establishment of RAAF; civil aviation; Air Council; pay scale and uniform; legislation; RAAF buildings; recruitment; Richmond; aircraft industry; inspection of South African, Canadian, US and New Zealand air forces; parachutes; trip to Queensland, New Guinea, Samarai, Solomons.
Williams discusses the Salmon Report; flying around Australia; Imperial Defence College, London; German and Italian pilots in the 1930s; training arrangements with the RAF; accident rate; Ellington Report; coastal command; RAAF squadrons sent to Britain in World War II; dominion personnel in the RAF; RAAF in the Middle East in World War II; Japanese raid on Darwin ; Jones' selection as Chief of Staff; Canadian agreements with the RAF; RAAF identity within the RAF; civil aviation conference; San Francisco conference; decorations; Boomerang Club; deferred pay; Trans Australia Airlines; Qantas; safety; British aircraft industry; Australian defence policies; F111; Tang Report.
- Biography/History:
-
Sir Richard Williams, was Chief of Air Staff, R.A.A.F., 1921-38; Air Officer commanding overseas R.A.A.F. headquarters, London, 1941-1942; R.A.A.F. representative Washington 1942-46; and Director-General, Civil Aviation 1946-55.
- Notes:
-
- Recorded at his home in Melbourne, between 12 Nov. 1973 and 20 June 1974.
- Also available online http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-214887741
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Timed summary (23 p.) and uncorrected transcript (typescript, 366 leaves)
- Subject:
- Other authors/contributors:
- Pratt, Mel, -1986, interviewer
- Related Records:
-
This belongs to the Mel Pratt collection.
This collection contains 99 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 2044 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 1974
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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