Keith Truscott
Keith William Truscott | |
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Second World War
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Awards | Mentioned in Despatches |
Keith William "Bluey" Truscott,
After completing flying training in Canada, Truscott served in Britain flying Spitfire fighters. He returned to Australia in early 1942 and served in New Guinea, where he fought during the climactic Battle of Milne Bay. He was killed in a joint Australian–US training exercise off the coast of Western Australia in March 1943, aged 26.
Early life and sporting career
Truscott was born in
Truscott enlisted at the age of 24, a day after his team Melbourne defeated Richmond and with five rounds of football remaining for the year.[5] Melbourne was a favourite to win the Premiership; Jack Dyer stated that this was "the best side Melbourne ever had. They won three Premierships on end and but for the war years they would have shattered Collingwood's record by winning six on end."[6] Consequently, Truscott joining the war effort created significant publicity.[7]
Truscott played 44 games (and kicked 31 goals) of
Melbourne Coach
After being recalled from Britain and before his deployment to the
War service
Truscott worked as a teacher before becoming a clerk at
In 1940, Truscott undertook his Initial Training Course, passing the two-month course in one month with Distinction before moving on to No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School RAAF.[16] Truscott was instructed by Pilot Officer Roy Goon who instructed over 800 pilots in his career, and also served as Squadron Leader of No. 83 Squadron.[17]
Truscott was awarded his Wings after completing flight training in Canada under the Australia and the Empire Air Training Scheme graduating 8th from a Class of 52 and passing with Distinction.[18]
Royal Air Force
Truscott joined No. 452 Squadron flying a RAF Supermarine Spitfire in England on 5 May 1941.[1] Truscott formed a strong and binding friendship with another fighter ace, Wing Commander Paddy Finucane. They formed, according to Ivan Southall, the toughest, ice-cold fighter partnership in the RAF, contributing to what was the highest scoring unit in Fighter Command.[19] By this stage Truscott was, along with Clive Caldwell, one of the most famous RAAF pilots. While in England, his fame was such that he was used as fundraising icon, with the Marquess of Donegall exhorting his countrymen with red hair to donate money to buy a Spitfire in which Truscott, who was nicknamed "Bluey" because of his red hair, would fly.[20][21]
In 1941, after destroying several Messerschmitts, Truscott's Spitfire had its tail shot off and fuel tanks ruptured. Returning to base, the Spitfire eventually ran out of fuel over the English Channel. Truscott attempted to bale at 4,000 feet but was caught in his cockpit; he broke free only 400 feet above the sea with his chute opening moments before he hit the water.[22]
The ethics of attacks on parachutists was strongly debated during the war.[23] In October 1941, Truscott destroyed two Messerschmitts over occupied France during a series of engagement and one of those pilots managed to bale out. Truscott then shot at the parachutist as he descended. On the squadron's return to RAF Kenley, Truscott's close friend and crew member Clive 'Bardie' Wawn DFC called him "a bastard, [for] shooting at that Jerry". Truscott's reply to Wawn was pragmatic: "He might have gone up tomorrow and shot you down". Truscott had earlier seen a German pilot shooting at a parachuting RAF pilot and vowed to return the favour.[24]
Truscott destroyed at least 16
One of Truscott's more unusual sorties was "Leg Operation", which involved his squadron escorting a Bristol Blenheim to parachute a prosthetic leg into a Saint-Omer hospital where Douglas Bader was being held by the Germans. Bader had lost both legs in 1931 after crashing his plane in an air-show. However, as a fighter ace with some 22 aerial victories, he was well regarded by the Germans, who with the consent of Hermann Göring, agreed to Bader's request to allow the English to parachute in a replacement leg.[29]
Royal Australian Air Force
Truscott was promoted to Commanding Officer in June 1942 before being posted back to the
It was RAAF policy that all pilots returning from campaigns abroad must relinquish their ranks.[30] However, political interference saw Truscott retain his rank (and pay) upon his posting to No. 76 Squadron. That placed Truscott in what his Commanding Officer wrote was "an invidious position", and the matter was formally escalated with Group Command.[31] The loss of Squadron Leader Peter Turnbull inadvertently resolved the matter as Truscott was promoted as Turnbull's replacement in January 1943.[32] However, the Minister for Air was publicly forced to review the policy, resulting in a landmark case that saw all pilots able to retain their original ranks.[33]
Truscott's squadron was posted to Gurney Field in
No. 76 Squadron was later transferred to Darwin, Northern Territory, and the RAAF journal Wings stated that when out-climbed by Japanese Zeros in early night dog-fights, Truscott would turn on the navigation lights of his Kittyhawk to attract Japanese fire, giving him a chance to shoot back.[39] One night in January 1943, Truscott intercepted three bombers head-on over Darwin and, with just one gun operating effectively, shot down a Betty Mitsubishi G4M.[40]
Truscott was killed on 28 March 1943, during a RAAF training exercise with the
Memorials
Truscott's life and service were honoured in a number of ways. The RAAF later named a base on the northern coast of the
The Melbourne Football Club's award for the
At Melbourne High School, a scholarship is awarded in his name to a student displaying all-round achievement in academic, sporting, and extra-curricular activities. For reasons unknown, it was discontinued, apparently in 1948. In 1994, John Miller, winner of the 1946/47 Bluey Truscott Scholarship, Principal Ray Willis, and the MHSOBA re-established the Bluey Truscott Scholarship. Miller provided the Bluey Truscott bronze plaque (hanging in the school foyer) and the "John Miller Distinguished Achievement Medal" to be awarded to all subsequent MHSOBA Bluey Truscott winners.[49]
The Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd invoked the story of Truscott in his Battle for Australia Commemorative Committee Speech 2008.[50]
Truscott Street in
Truscott, as a boy, appears as a character briefly in the film Smithy (1946).[54]
Honours and awards
- 17 October 1941 – Pilot Officer Truscott (400213) was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross:
Truscott joined Squadron in May after period training in Australia and Canada. Has participated in may operational sorties against enemy and has displayed great courage and determination. Has destroyed at least six enemy aircraft.
- 27 March 1942 – Squadron Leader Truscott (400213) was awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross:
Skillful courageous fighter pilot since May 1941 participated large number sorties and convoy escorts. Throughout shown fine fighting spirit. Destroyed eleven, probably destroyed three, damaged two hostile aircraft. In February 1942 Truscott participated in attack on destroyer which left damaged condition black smoke issuing behind bridge. Next day assisted destruction German floatplane.
- 26 March 1943 – Commanding Officer Truscott (400213) was Mentioned in Dispatches
I commend No.76 Squadron for its excellent work in the Milne Bay operations. The 110 sorties carried out by your Squadron in a period of eight days were carried out under very difficult conditions. Even though you were forced to operate from unfinished landing strips and during adverse weather conditions, the organisation successfully carried out these fighter attacks on enemy forces. I am also cognisant of the fact that these operations were completed in the face of the enemy, who had penetrated as far as one of your landing strips and to within a short distance of the other. The courage and determination displayed by the members of your Squadron contributed materially to the defeat and to the eventual withdrawal of the Japanese from this area. 16 October 1942, George Kenney, Major General, Commander
NB: Squadron records from Milne Bay indicate 220 sorties were flown comprising 340 flying hours, of which Truscott flew 60 hours.
Truscott's war service was acknowledged by the following medals:[32]
- Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar (DFC*)
- 1939–1945 Star
- Air Crew Europe Star
- Pacific Star
- Defence Medal
- Mention in Despatches)
- Australia Service Medal 1939–45
- Mentioned in Despatches[41]
See also
- List of World War II aces from Australia
- List of Victorian Football League players who died on active service
Citations
- ^ a b c d e f Dennis et al (2008), p. 535.
- ^ Gregory AM, Alan (17 May 2016). "Bluey Truscott remembered". Melbourne High School Old Boys Association. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
- ^ Australian Government, Department of Veterans' Affairs (16 September 2003). "Interview with Alan Righetti". Australians at War Film Archive. Retrieved 16 September 2003.
- ^ "Truscott's exploits inspire Schoolmate to Enlist". The Weekly Times. 6 December 1941.
- ^ "1940 Season Scores and Results". AFL Tables. 3 April 2019.
- ^ Hansen, Brian (1965). "Captain Blood: Jack Dyer as told to Brian Hansen". Retrieved 2 April 2019.
- ^ Taylor, Percy, "Melbourne are Proud of their Great War Record", The Australasian, (Saturday, 24 June 1944), p.23.
- ^ "Commemorating Truscott: 75 years on". Melbourne Football Club.
- ^ Collins, Ben (2008). The Red Fox: The Biography of Norm Smith: Legendary Melbourne Coach. The Slattery Media Group. p. 97.
- ^ "How Melbourne did the Hat-trick". The Argus. 16 September 1950.
- ^ "Demons Respond to Burst". The Sporting Globe. 14 September 1940.
- ^ "Truscott at Football, to lead Melbourne". Trove. 15 May 1942. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
- ^ "Gift of £500 for "Bluey" Truscott". The Herald. 16 May 1942.
- ^ "Airmen cannot accept gift of £1000". The Argus. 19 May 1942.
- ^ Stanley, Bisset. "Australians at War Film Archive". Australians at War Film Archive. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
- ISBN 0850527864.
- ^ "Celebrating the First 100 Years of our Club" (PDF). PlaneTalk: The Magazine of the Royal Victorian Aero Club: 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 March 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ^ Australian Government (1939–1948). "Truscott, Keith William: Service Number – 400213: Date of birth – 17 May 1916: Place of birth – Melbourne VIC: Place of enlistment – Melbourne: Next of Kin – Truscott, William". National Archives of Australia. Series A9300, Barcode 520643: 17.
- ^ "The RAAF in Europe and North Africa, 1939 – 1945" (PDF). The Proceedings of the L994 RAAF History Conference: 98. 20 October 1994.
- ^ Shores and Williams 2008.
- ^ Stephens 2002.
- ^ "Australian Airman's Eventful Patrol". The Advertiser, Adelaide. 12 November 1941.
- ^ Dowding, Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh C. T., G.C.B., G.C.V.O., C.M.G., A.D.Cs (10 September 1946). "The Battle of Britain" (PDF). Supplement to the London Gazette: 4553.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ISBN 0850527864.
- ^ Southall, Ivan (1958). Bluey Truscott. Australia: Angus and Robertson. p. 137.
- ^ "Truscott Keith William: Service Number – 400213, National Archives of Australia, p.64 & p.88". National Archives of Australia.
- ^ "Z7 Hermann Schneemann". German Armed Forces Research 1918–1945. 4 August 2020.
- ^ Southall, Ivan (1958). Bluey Truscott. Australia: Angus and Robertson. p. 129.
- ISBN 978-0-7524-5534-1.
- ^ "Minister evasive on ace's demotion". The Daily Telegraph. 20 June 1943.
- ^ "Truscott Keith William: Service Number – 400213, National Archives of Australia, p.35". National Archives of Australia.
- ^ a b "Squadron Leader Keith William 'Bluey' Truscott". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ^ "Returned R.A.A.F. Officers to retain Rank". Townsville Daily Bulletin. 1 June 1942.
- ISBN 978-1107189713.
- ^ Johnston, Mark (2011). Whispering Death. Allen & Unwin. p. 221.
- ^ "Truscott Keith William: Service Number – 400213, National Archives of Australia, p.38". National Archives of Australia.
- ^ "Supplement to the London Gazette". The Gazette, Official Public Record. 23 March 1943.
- ^ Johnston, Mark (2011). Whispering Death. Allen & Unwin. p. 205.
- ^ ""Bluey" Truscott attracted Zeros' Fire". "Wings" RAAF Journal. April 1945.
- ^ Johnston, Mark (2011). Whispering Death. Allen & Unwin. p. 252.
- ^ a b c Dennis et al (2008), p. 536.
- ^ "Commanding Officer's Report on Fatal Accident – Aircraft A29/150". National Archives of Australia. Series No. A705, Control Symbol 166/40/19, Item Barcode: 1082026: 42, 43. 2 April 1943.
- ^ "Squadron Leader Ian Sandford Loudon". Australian War Memorial.
- ^ "Kittyhawk A29-150 – Court of Inquiry re accident on 28.3.43 (Late Squadron Leader K W Truscott)". National Archives of Australia.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Truscott's funeral". The Daily News (Perth, WA: 1882–1950). 5 April 1943.
- ^ "Truscott Airfield". Pacific Wrecks. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
- ^ "Supermarine Spitfire Mk IIa Fighter Aircraft : RAAF". Australian War Memorial. 1945. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
- ^ "Squadron Leader Keith William Truscott, DFC (and Bar) (1916–1943)". Fifty Australians. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ^ "Bluey Truscott Scholarship". Melbourne High School Foundation. 3 April 2019.
- ^ Rudd, Kevin (3 September 2008). "Battle for Australia Commemorative National Committee Speech 2008". Australian War Memorial.
- ^ "Streets Steeped in History" (PDF). Wirraway Thornton. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 March 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
- ^ "Origins of the Street Names of the City of Ryde" (PDF). The Ryde District Historical Society.
- ^ "Whittington: Street Names". Bellarine Historical Society Inc.
- ^ "A GREAT AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTION". National Advocate. New South Wales, Australia. 3 October 1946. p. 7. Retrieved 7 January 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
References
- Dennis, Peter; ISBN 978-0-19-551784-2.
- Shores, Christopher; Williams, Clive (2008). Aces High: A Tribute to the Most Notable Fighter Pilots of the British and Commonwealth Forces of WWII, Volume One. Grubb Street Publisher. ISBN 9781909808423.
- Stephens, Alan (2002). "Truscott, Keith William (Bluey) (1916–1943)". Australian Dictionary of Biography Online. Vol. 16. Melbourne University Press.
Further reading
- Main, J.; Allen, D. (2002). "Truscott, Keith DFC and Bar". In Main, J.; Allen, D. (eds.). Fallen – The Ultimate Heroes: Footballers Who Never Returned From War. Melbourne: Crown Content. pp. 342–348. ISBN 1-74095-010-0.
- Richmond, Keith. "The Concept of Courage and Elite Fighter Pilots". Sabretache. 48 (4, (December 2007)): 27–41.
- Southall, I. (1958). Bluey Truscott: Squadron Leader Keith William Truscott, R.A.A.F., D.F.C. and Bar. Sydney: Angus and Robertson.
External links
- Keith Truscott's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Chomiak, Elizabeth, Keith 'Bluey' Truscott — Legend of the VAFA, (unpublished manuscript: entry in 2006 VAFA History Essay Competition), 2006.
- Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour: Keith William Truscott DFC & BAR (400213)
- Australian War Memorial biography
- Details of his aircraft
- National Archives of Australia[permanent dead link] Casualty report file
- National Archives of Australia[permanent dead link] Service Record – Keith William Truscott, Service Number 400213