Page 31 - May 2019

Historical
night fighter Beau had flame arresters grounded from driving his Holden
fitted to the exhaust, while one small ute.
THE BEAUFIGHTER TEAM
hooded lamp each were the only visual I’m sure, however, that if
aids for the crew. The matte-black he climbed into the cockpit of
exterior camouflage colouring assisted a restored Beau and pulled on FUELLING AUSTRALIA
in the aircraft being almost invisible until his leather helmet, he could still
For almost three-and-a-half years, A
perform a few aerobatics and loop-
armament firing flashes gave away its RIGHT: routine WWII night fighter
the-loops. Well done Alan – your
presence. and Navigator mission suddenly found
Pilot Officer
Alan Brown
21-year-old Pilot Officer
family, friends, ex-servicemen and
Alan Brown and 23-year-
Vic “Possum”
Alan flew a variety of aircraft in both Whitfield. old Navigator Vic “Possum” Whitfield
this particular nephew are truly
committed to a deadly duel as their
training and aerial combat at locations Alan and his matte-black Beaufighter engaged a
proud of you.
BELOW:
around the world. Now, it was time to wife Edna. German flak train they spotted.
With their night fighter’s limited
get married, settle down and enjoy a POSTSCRIPT
WE’RE ON THE
ammunition loading, only short
Sadly, Vic “Possum” Whitfield wasn’t
bursts of .303 rounds from its six
well-earned rest. able to enjoy much post-war life.
Browning machine guns were possible,
But this was not to be the case. In He passed away from appendicitis
GROUND HELPING
interspersed with 20mm cannon
fire from the quad Hispano Mk 3s.
1946, after the family farm as old, the complications just a few weeks after
Meanwhile, the Germans fired heavy
Browns moved to the Sunshine Coast, returning home via America, and only
YOU GET BACK IN THE
streams of colourful 20mm tracered
projectiles from their more generous
where Alan’s love for being aloft soon two days after a fond reunion visit from
reserves in response.
found him heavily involved in regional Alan. the damaged “Beau” beat a hasty
Reeling from multiple strikes,
AIR, FASTER.
gliding clubs over several decades. On another sad note, Alan’s wife
withdrawal, hoping its twin Hercules
He flew, mentored trainees and Edna passed away in November 2017
engines were still capable of powering
it back to base. After a long, anxious
piloted the towing planes on hundreds of following a brief illness, not long after
flight they finally landed safely.
she had proof-read and approved this
occasions, hauling gliders into the wide article. The ever-reliable ground crew had
to patch over 20 sizeable holes, check
blue yonder, before casting them adrift This article first appeared in Edition
for serious structural damage and have
the aircraft back to operational status
to soar independently. At the age of 5, 2018 of Queensland RSL News and Pilot Officer Alan Brown and Navigator
as soon as possible. Both German and
Vic “Possum” Whitfield.
95, he only recently became medically is republished with permission.
Japanese foes dubbed the Beaufighter
“Whispering Death” for its ability to
suddenly arrive on the scene, apples on the family orchard near Having completed 100 missions,
creating havoc. Bapaume in South East Queensland. he was offered two choices – do
Dodging enemy flak and cannon fire The nine-year-old first became another 100 or go home. Say no
was a very different scenario to Alan interested in planes and flying as he more! It took two weeks to get from
Aviation. climbed a tall tree to prolong the Athens to Bombay, via stopovers at El
Brown’s pre-war vocation – picking
magical sight of a buzzing Tiger Moth
Adem, Cairo, Callia (the Dead Sea),
as it barnstormed in the district.
Habbinyah, Basrah, Bahrein, Dubai,
On the ground helping you get back in the air, faster.
When Alan’s father, “Pop” Brown
Jiwan and Karachi.
FUELLING AUSTRALIA
Just missing the Liberty ship from
purchased an Astor radio for 10 pounds,
with part of the deal including a five- Bombay, Alan was seconded into the
minute joy flight in a Tiger Moth, Alan military postal system for six weeks
As an Australian owned and operated fuels and handles them with the utmost until the next sailing. After two
really became hooked on flying!
business for over 35 years in the fuelling care. The aviation tanker fleet is fitted weeks at sea, he arrived in Melbourne
But when Alan finished school, aged
and jumped on a northbound train,
12, the fruit block needed attention,
industry, IOR knows a thing or two about with specialised filtration systems alighting at Stanthorpe in Queensland.
as did his relationship with life-
long partner, Edna Chappell. Still
fuel. ensuring that we have no contamination He was finally home after a three-and-
inseparable at 95, they met as country
a-half-year hiatus.
WE’RE ON THE and our customers can get back in the Signing up in 1941, 19-year-old
The business’ origins are rooted
neighbours living only 12 miles from
deep in the Australian outback, in a air, faster. each other. Alan trained first in long-admired
GROUND HELPING
Alan’s service during WWII was the
Tiger Moths at Narromine in New
town known as Eromanga where IOR Like the diesel stop network, IOR South Wales. Following this, he
only time they were apart. Within a
YOU GET BACK IN THE
week of returning home they were
flew Ansons in Alberta, Canada,
constructed a small refinery. It was operates an aviation network at 16 then back to Moths and Ansons at
married, with Alan in full
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AIR, FASTER.
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AUSTRALIAN AVIATION INDUSTRY.
32 EDITION 05 2018 RSLQLD.ORG
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value through:
JET A-1 AND AVGAS FUELS TO THE
AUSTRALIAN AVIATION INDUSTRY. • Extensive on-airport fuel network.
• Bulk deliveries of aviation fuels. 31
IOR are Australian owned and operated,
®
celebrating 35 years fuelling Australia. We are • AeroShell aviation lubricants.
proud to meet the needs of all aviation sectors. • Aviation self-bunded tanks.
Our fuels are sourced from Australia’s leading • Aviation fuel monitoring and stock
refiners and importers of aviation grade fuels, management solutions.
which ensures that we only provide aviation
• Aviation-specific compliance training.
products that meet the highest standard of
quality and cleanliness.
Contact us today to
discuss your aviation needs.
1300 457 467 | ior.com.au