Contact Info
Tags
76 Fighter Squadron RAAF
"Wings Over the Pacific"
John Furze has been made an Honorary Member of the 76 Fighter Squadron Association (RAAF)
This is for his contribution and his diligent research into the history of the renown 76 (Fighter) Squadron from their formation in March 1942.
It follows those turbulent years during the Theatre of WW11 and then with the British Commonwealth Occuapational Forces in Japan until their dis-bandment in September 1948.
New Guinea, Mid - November 1942
Noemfoor Island, Kamiri Airstrip, WW11
Introduction to ''Wings over the Pacific''
Let us take a trip back in time to the “Great War” of 1914 to 1918, to a time that saw our young boys become men overnight and a Country standing divided over the issue of conscription.
A time when our young men voluntarily enlisted into the A.I.F. and were then sent abroad to face a country and an enemy of whom they knew nothing about.
How could they have known what was ahead? In a very short time they were to experience the horrors of a war that would change their lives forever.
It is now the year 1939, twenty-one years have just past since the “Great War,” and again the same thing is happening all over again. World War Two has just been declared and now the sons/daughters of our WW1 veterans are enlisting to serve their country.
Then why, I ask myself, did the men who fought and returned from the “Great War,” ever have allowed their sons to volunteer for war service?
After seeing the atrocities of WW1, this should have made a father want to prevent rather than allow a son/s to go to war.
Now, I have not seen action or been in any war or enlisted in any of the Armed Services, so how could I dare to pen the above paragraphs, for who am I, to presume the thoughts and actions of our forefathers.
What does the experience of war leave on an individual;- granted that it varies from person to person?
Is there one underlying common element unknown or not able to be comprehended by those unaffected by war?
I am sure that two people living together under the same roof for many years, yet never really meet and two others at first speech are old friends. What does this war hold over the people who were involved? We may never know the answer to this question as it is to be found only within their being.
Is it the mateship that bonds it all together, as there is no doubt that this mateship was the strongest allegiance found to be amongst the Australian Diggers of WW1?
Perhaps we can try to understand, so I hope that the following story will “respectfully” walk their walk.
This story is in chronological order and follows the 76 (Fighter) Squadron from their formation in March, 1942 to their disbandment in Iwakuni, Japan, in September 1948. It will reflect on the life and times of one pilot in particular, Flight Lieutenant Mervyn Milton Furze, who served with No.76 Squadron under the umbrella of the 81 (Fighter) Wing.
This is based on fact, gleamed from official records from the Defence Department in Canberra, personal interviews with 76 Squadron Fighter Pilots, reference material collated from various resources and personal information from Milton Furze.
This will take us on a trip over the turbulent skies of the South West Pacific Islands during the theatre of WW11.
The flight plan has been made and our compass bearings set as we leave Australian shores to engage the enemy.
Forward by Group Captain B.J. Edwards
Commanding Officer 78 Wing
