Finding a silver lining

Volume 48, No. 22, November 30, 2006

HIDDEN TREASURE: The third serviette ring in an identical set of three presented to employees during their WWII service was found at a collectors’ fair in Melbourne by the RAAF Museum. Photo courtesy of the RAAF Museum

By David Gardner

IN THE pursuit, preservation and presentation of Air Force history and heritage, even seemingly very ordinary items can have an interesting story behind them.

An engraved silver serviette ring recently acquired at a collectors’ fair in Melbourne by the RAAF Museum is a good example.

The ring is one of three identical rings presented by Shell to three of its employees in recognition of their service during World War II.

It is inscribed “FLGOFF C. R. Bulman, SGT K. N. Milner, FLGOFF V. G. Bauer. Shell Company”.

FLTLT Charles Ralph Bulman from No. 112 Air Sea Rescue Flight was involved in perhaps the most extraordinary and deadly sequence of events in Air Force history.

In early April 1945, an Allied submarine reported a Japanese convoy consisting of the cruiser IJS Isuzu and four other ships in the Flores Sea heading for Timor. North-West Area Headquarters immediately organised an air strike using all available RAAF long-range bombers.

A Mosquito aircraft from 87SQN shadowed the convoy as it left Timor on the morning of April 6, laden with troops and equipment it had just evacuated. Eleven B-25 Mitchell bombers from 18SQN bombed the ships, with two bombs hitting Isuzu.

Ten Liberators from 21 and 24SQNs followed, but were engaged by heavy anti-aircraft fire and attacks from escorting Japanese fighter aircraft.

Two of the Liberators were badly damaged by the Japanese fighters and dropped out of formation on fire. Most of the two crews baled out, trusting that the Catalina flying boat, captained by FLTLT Bulman, would be able to locate them.

FLTLT Bulman searched for, found and then landed and recovered three of the Liberator crewmen. Then, sighting another two men in the water, he landed on the sea for a second time to rescue them when his aircraft was attacked and destroyed by enemy fighters.

The Catalina’s crew and the Liberator airmen had to survive in the ocean without dinghies.

After being rescued by another Catalina, FLTLT Bulman directed the crew to where he had last seen the two men he had been trying to rescue. They were then attacked by Japanese fighters with bombs and gunfire. Only skilful manoeuvring on the water and then in the air saved the crew.

FLTLT Bulman was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his outstanding determination to carry out his mission and save lives.

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