Mediterranean Mission A Pictorial Record of No 78 (F) Wing. R.A.A.F. 1952-54
Valetta, Malta: David Waddington Publications, Circa 1955. Octavo, cream cloth, covers embossed with a rectangular border, gilt lettering on front cover, lettering on spine hand-written in black pen, approximately 80 pp. (unpaginated), illustrated throughout with black-and-white photographs, some black-and-white cartoons included. Light foxing throughout, cover thumbed and a little worn, spine ends bumped, second last leaf has a faint imprint of text transferred by the opposite leaf without loss of text clarity; otherwise a very good copy. First edition. This unusual book is one of a private edition printed and published specifically for the members of the Royal Australian Air Force's No. 78 Fighter Wing Squadron. The editing and design are by F/Lt. Jack Cannon, Public Relations Officer at the time for the Squadron, and the photographs by Squadron members Sgt. Gerry Sebastian and L. A. C. Harry Gillett, making this a very personal photographic record of the Squadron's three years stationed in Malta.
Originally No. 78 (F) Wing. was formed during World War Two at Townsville, Queensland in 1943. The Wing was made up of Kittyhawk Squadrons No. 75, 78 and 80, which had already seen action in New Guinea. No. 78 (F) Wing was moved to Cape Gloucester in New Britain, then to Dutch New Guinea before moving to New Guinea and then to Borneo. It was disbanded in 1948 but reformed in Australia the following year. In 1951, it was posted to Malta to perform garrisoning duties thus becoming the first service unit of any kind to leave Australia on a peacetime mission.
In Malta, No. 78 (F) Wing, which at that time flew de Havilland Vampires, were visited by many dignitaries, flew in exercises in Europe, participated in Anzac Day commemorations, and provided a Guard of Honour for Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Valetta, Malta's capital. The Wing returned to Australia in 1955. Item #4457
Loosely inserted in this recorded is a newspaper cutting [circa 1953] attached to a sheet of thin paper. The cutting describes the misadventures of Group Captain William "Bill" Henry Garing following an exercise in Cyprus. Beside the cutting is the following hand-written note: "Bill, is this really true?" leading to the possibility that this copy was once owned by someone who knew Group Captain Garing.
Price (AUD): $390.00