By
Andrew Stackpool
Volume
48, No. 5, April 6, 2006
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Former
SQNLDR Dr Murray May pictured last year at the Australian
War Memorial in Canberra.
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Photo
provided by
GPCAPT David Richardson
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SINKING
aircraft, freezing waters and POW time in Germany – just
some of the exciting elements in one of many tales readers can
find in the Air Force Annual.
Former SQNLDR Murray May flew Hudsons in WWII with No. 53SQN,
Coastal Command.
In 1942, he was shot down into the North Sea. He escaped from
the sinking aircraft but returned through the freezing waters
to rescue a fellow aircrew member who couldn’t swim.
Captured, he spent the rest of the war as a prisoner in Germany.
His story may have remained unknown, but for the interest in model
aircraft of GPCAPT David Richardson, Director Personnel Capability
Management.
In 2004, GPCAPT Richardson was asked by SQNLDR May’s grandson
Rob to help him assemble a scale model of a Hudson, which he wanted
to present to his grandfather for his 83rd birthday.
“I am on the committee of a scale model club and he contracted
us via our website,” GPCAPT Richardson said. “As an
Air Force member I was the obvious choice.”
GPCAPT Richardson became involved in the project and suggested
they paint it in the actual aircraft’s colours, squadron
markings and serial number.
His research turned up SQNLDR May’s heroic act.
“He (Dr May) was very pleased that the model and story captured
his actions and the experience perfectly,” GPCAPT Richardson
said.
GPCAPT Richardson wrote an account for the 2005 Air Force Annual
as an example of AF values.
“The theme of the Annual was family values and I thought
the story encapsulated them perfectly.”
Subsequently, SQNLDR May asked GPCAPT Richardson if copies of
the Annual could be forwarded to his three children.
“His children were delighted with the Annual and the story
because it perpetuates his memory, gives them some happy memories
and also provides them an enhanced understanding of what he did
and the context in which he did it,” GPCAPT Richardson said.
“From an Air Force point of view, the story was nice because
it was another aspect of the family theme of the Annual. It provides
a legacy and perpetuates his memory.
“He is getting older and his physical health is failing somewhat,
he says ‘after a few little complications’. He was happy
to have the reminder and the opportunity to pass the copies [of
the Annual] on.”
GPCAPT Richardson said the story reflects the qualities and values
Air Force expects from its members today.
“In his letter [to Dr May], the Chief of Air Force at the
time congratulated Dr May on his ‘brave and selfless action’
and said that it epitomised the traditional values demonstrated
by men and women in the Air Force. It was these same values of
courage, teamwork and devotion to duty that he expected from Air
Force members today.
“The fact that these values are passed down through families
is an important thing and may well shape the reasons some people
choose to join.
“If stories such as these in the Annual help people to understand
these values, then that is good for Air Force and good for Australia.”
This was only one of the outstanding stories published in the
2005 Air Force Annual and AFHQ is now calling for stories for
the 2006 Annual.
To submit stories for the 2006 Annual or for further information,
contact CPL Craig Eager at AFHQ on craig.eager@defence.gov.au
