Roundel a link to Antarctic history

By David Gardner

Antarctic veteran Bill Storer presents the roundel of Auster A11-201 to the director of the RAAF Museum, David Gardner.

Auster A11-201 in Antarctica.

A LINK to Air Force involvement in the opening up of Australia’s Antarctic territories has been presented to the museum at Point Cook recently.

The relic, which has been in private hands for half a century, is the Air Force roundel that was removed from Auster A11-201 after it was badly damaged during an Antarctic storm.

On January 4, 1954, an Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition sailed from Melbourne aboard the motor vessel Kista Dan. The 10-man expedition was to establish Australia’s first permanent base there.

Support to the expedition included two Auster aircraft, A11-200 and A11-201, and four Air Force personnel. They were Flight Lieutenant Doug Leckie, Flight Sergeant Ray Seaver and Sergeants Ken Duffel and Frank Morgan.

The ship arrived near the selected site on February 1 and flying operations began the next day. Flight Lieutenant Leckie flew expedition leader Philip Law on a reconnaissance of the area and Mr Law confirmed the site’s suitability for the first permanent base. Twelve days later the Australian Flag was raised and the new facility passed into history as Mawson Base, as it has remained since.

On February 12, near disaster struck. Auster A11-201, the aircraft used for the historic flight, was badly damaged during a blizzard and A11-200 was also damaged. It was essential that one of the aircraft be restored to serviceable condition to ensure the success of the expedition.

With exceptional skill, the four Air Force men achieved this near-impossible feat in the face of extreme weather conditions and an almost complete lack of engineering facilities. They cannibalised A11-201 and had A11-200 operational and flying in just five days. A11-201 was completely unserviceable and the roundel was cut from it.

Eminent geologist Bruce Stinear, a member of the team, saved the roundel. Recognising the significance of the aircraft in the establishment of the base, he had the roundel signed by all the team members. They were Bob Dingle, Bob Dovers, Jeff Gleadell, Bill Harvey, Lem Macey, John Russell, George Schwartz, Bruce Stinear, Bill Storer and Bob Summers.

He framed it after returning to Australia and it remains in remarkably good condition.

Mr Storer presented the roundel to the RAAF Museum on behalf of Bruce Stinear’s widow, May Stinear. It will be mounted on permanent display there shortly.

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