By
CAPT Kate Noble
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86WG
Detachment and French personnel unload stores at Lifou Airport.
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Photo
by FLTLT Andrew Hoffman
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A
RARE graviscope used on Liberator models B23J, L and M was among
memorabilia an inaugural member of No. 25 (City of Perth) Squadron
has handed over to current personnel.
Warrant Officer Keith Weston (ret’d) was posted to the Squadron
when he was 19. Now 86, he recently returned to RAAF Base Pearce
with a collection of photos of the base’s early days, aircraft
operating out of the base and some novel visiting RAF aircraft.
He acquired the graviscope during WWII. Liberator crews used the
instrument to calculate gross weight and centre of gravity, as
well as to examine the effect of the centre of gravity of crew
movement, fuel consumption and release of bomb loads.
On May 3, 1937, WOFF Weston and 56 other airmen began the first
day at the Squadron – then named No. 23 (City of Perth) Squadron
– in an empty hangar.
By March 6, 1938, the Squadron was ready for its move to occupy
RAAF Base Pearce. WOFF Weston and the majority of the Squadron
travelled across Australia by train to arrive at the Bullsbrook
train station, to the west of the base, on March 10.
The aircraft arrived shortly afterwards to begin operating from
a base which was still under construction. The Squadron was renamed
25SQN on January 1, 1939.
WOFF Weston spent time in many States and Territories, including
Western Australia, Victoria, Queensland and the Northern Territory.
He served 21 years and one week in the Permanent Air Force.
For his service to the Air Force and the Air Training Corps, he
was awarded the War Medal 1939-1945, Australian Service Medal,
Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, Cadet Forces Medal (13 years
long service) and the General Services Badge.
