William Anderson (RAAF officer)

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William Anderson
Air Vice-Marshal
UnitNo. 1 Squadron AFC (1916)
Commands held
Battles/warsWorld War I
World War II
Awards

Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1934, and promoted to air commodore
in 1938.

At the

RAAF Staff School
from July to November 1943, after which he was appointed Air Member for Personnel. He again served as Staff School commandant from October 1944 until his retirement in April 1946. Known to his colleagues as "Andy" or "Mucker", Anderson died on his birthday in 1975.

Early life and World War I

Born on 30 December 1891 in

Victorian. Anderson was educated at Melbourne Church of England Grammar School, where he joined the cadet corps. In December 1910 he began his professional military career as a Royal Australian (Garrison) Artillery officer, based in Sydney. He transferred to the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force as a battery commander at Rabaul, in Australian-occupied German New Guinea, in March 1915.[1] The following January, Anderson joined the Australian Flying Corps (AFC) as a captain, sailing to Egypt with No. 1 Squadron.[1] During April and May 1916 he was attached to No. 17 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC).[2] He then undertook flying training in Britain, where he saw further service with the RFC. In August 1917 he was posted to No. 3 Squadron (designated No. 69 Squadron RFC by the British), operating Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 two-seat reconnaissance aircraft on the Western Front.[1][3]

Single-engined military biplane with two men in the cockpit, parked in front of a large tent
R.E.8 of No. 3 Squadron in Belgium, 1919

From October 1917, No. 3 Squadron was heavily involved in artillery spotting, activity that left the slow R.E.8s vulnerable to attack by enemy fighters. Twice that month Anderson's plane was dived upon by several German aircraft. He was, in his own words, "too scared to think" on the first occasion, but both times managed to manoeuvre his plane so that his observer could hold off their opponents with Lewis gun fire until other R.E.8s came to their aid.[4][5] Anderson was spotting for artillery near the Messines Ridge on 6 December when he engaged a German two-seat DFW that observer John Bell was able to shoot down; it was No. 3 Squadron's first confirmed aerial victory.[6][7]

In January 1918, Anderson was given the

London Gazette on 3 June, becoming the first Australian to receive the newly created decoration.[9][10] He was also awarded the Belgian Croix de guerre, gazetted on 9 July.[11] Anderson returned to France in October 1918 as commanding officer of No. 3 Squadron.[1][12] The unit converted to Bristol Fighters the same month, and flew its last operation the morning of 11 November; it was subsequently employed in transporting mail for Australian forces in Europe.[13]

Inter-war years

Portrait of five men, three seated wearing dark military uniforms with peaked caps, and two standing behind wearing formal suits with top hats
Wing Commander Anderson (seated, right) with the RAAF Air Board in November 1930, including Group Captain Goble (seated, left) and Air Commodore Williams (seated, centre)

Anderson relinquished command of No. 3 Squadron in January 1919 and returned to Australia two months later.

mentioned in despatches on 11 July.[15] In December the AFC was disbanded, to be replaced on 1 January 1920 by the short-lived Australian Air Corps (AAC), which was, like the AFC, a branch of the Army. The AFC's senior officer, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Williams, was still in England, and Anderson was appointed commander of the AAC, a position that also put him in charge of the Central Flying School (CFS) at Point Cook, Victoria.[16][17] As Anderson was on sick leave at the time of the appointment, Major Rolf Brown temporarily assumed command; Anderson took over on 19 February.[18] The AAC was an interim organisation intended to exist until the establishment of a permanent Australian air service.[19] In September 1920, Anderson piloted one of two Airco DH.9A bombers detailed to search for the schooner Amelia J., which had disappeared on a voyage from Newcastle to Hobart. Anderson safely completed his search without locating the lost schooner but the other DH.9A disappeared with its two-man crew, the only fatalities suffered by the AAC.[20]

On 31 March 1921, Anderson joined the newly formed Australian Air Force ("Royal" being added in August) as a

wing commanders.[12][21] During 1921, Anderson commanded the RAAF's Point Cook base and Point Cook's two major units, No. 1 Flying Training School (No. 1 FTS)—the successor to CFS—and No. 1 Aircraft Depot (No. 1 AD).[1][22] Over the next four years he served as Director of Personnel and Training and as Chief of the Administrative Staff (Second Air Member) on the RAAF's controlling body, the Air Board, usually when Goble was away on overseas postings.[23][24] In April 1922, Anderson took part in the new service's first army co-operation exercise, piloting a DH.9 with Flight Lieutenant Adrian Cole, who spotted for artillery firing from an emplacement at Queenscliff, Victoria.[25] A year later, Anderson proposed a dedicated workshop for research and development, which was established as the RAAF Experimental Section at Point Cook in January 1924.[26]

Formal portrait of man in dark-coloured dress uniform and headgear with braid and medals
Air Commodore Anderson in RAAF dress uniform, c. 1938–39

The young Air Force staged many public displays in its early years; on one such occasion over the Melbourne suburb of

de Havilland Hound light day bomber, then being strongly considered for the RAAF, that led to the Westland Wapiti being ordered instead.[29]

Returning to Australia in mid-1929, Anderson was for a short time in charge of No. 1 AD, now based at

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1933 King's Birthday Honours,[35] he was promoted Commander in the same order (CBE) in the 1934 New Year Honours.[36]

World War II

Anderson was still serving as Air Member for Supply when

Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Central Area, with responsibility for air defence, protection of adjacent sea lanes, and aerial reconnaissance for most of New South Wales; he remained at this post until it was disbanded in August the following year.[42][43]

Formal portrait of Anderson seated with staff, students and bulldog mascot of the RAAF Staff School
Air Vice-Marshal Anderson (seated, centre) as commandant of the RAAF Staff School in 1945

Promoted acting air vice-marshal in September 1941, Anderson resumed his position on the Air Board by replacing Air Marshal Williams as Air Member for Organisation and Equipment.[44] In May 1942, he was appointed AOC of the newly established Eastern Area, which was headquartered in Sydney and controlled seven squadrons in New South Wales and southern Queensland.[45][46] One of the area's main roles was anti-submarine warfare; its squadrons also included fighters and army co-operation aircraft.[47] Japanese submarine activity off the east coast peaked during April and May 1943.[48] RAAF Bristol Beauforts were credited with damaging a Japanese submarine on 19 June, but neither the Air Force nor the Navy was able to destroy any enemy submarines in coastal waters during 1943.[49] The efforts of the two services within the region Eastern Area covered were hampered by poor liaison and command arrangements, as well as the RAAF placing a relatively low priority on protecting merchant shipping.[50]

Anderson handed over command of Eastern Area to Air Commodore John Summers in July 1943.

substantive rank of air commodore.[56]

Retirement

Following his discharge from the RAAF as an honorary air vice-marshal, Anderson lived in

Golden Jubilee; his fellow guests included Air Marshal Williams, Air Vice-Marshal Wrigley, Air Commodore Hippolyte De La Rue, and Wing Commander Sir Lawrence Wackett.[57] Anderson died at his residence on his 84th birthday in 1975, and was buried in Boroondara General Cemetery, Kew.[1]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Coulthard-Clark, "Anderson, William Hopton", pp. 53–54
  2. ^ Cutlack, The Australian Flying Corps, p. 35
  3. ^ Stephens, The Royal Australian Air Force, p. 9
  4. ^ Cutlack, The Australian Flying Corps, p. 181
  5. ^ Molkentin, Fire in the Sky, pp. 201–202
  6. ^ Newton, Clash of Eagles, p. 16
  7. ^ Molkentin, Fire in the Sky, pp. 224–225
  8. ^ "Recommendation: Military Cross" (PDF). Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  9. ^ "No. 30722". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 June 1918. p. 6519.
  10. ^ Sewell, Flying the Southern Skies, pp. 12–13
  11. ^ "No. 30792". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 July 1918. pp. 8169, 8189.
  12. ^ a b Gillison, Royal Australian Air Force, pp. 1, 16
  13. ^ RAAF Historical Section, Units of the Royal Australian Air Force, p. 2
  14. ^ "Air Vice-Marshal William Hopton Anderson". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  15. ^ "No. 31448". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 July 1919. pp. 8813, 8839.
  16. ^ Sutherland, Command and Leadership, pp. 32–33
  17. ^ Coulthard-Clark, The Third Brother, pp. 17–21
  18. ^ Coulthard-Clark, The Third Brother, pp. 18, 20
  19. ^ Coulthard-Clark, The Third Brother, pp. 17–18
  20. ^ Coulthard-Clark, The Third Brother, pp. 25–26
  21. ^ Stephens, The Royal Australian Air Force, pp. 31, 332
  22. ^ Coulthard-Clark, The Third Brother, p. 41
  23. ^ a b c "Honorary Air Vice-Marshals". Air Marshals of the RAAF. Royal Australian Air Force. Archived from the original on 6 July 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  24. ^ Coulthard-Clark, The Third Brother, pp. 359, 466–468
  25. ^ Coulthard-Clark, The Third Brother, p. 210
  26. ^ Coulthard-Clark, The Third Brother, p. 258
  27. ^ Coulthard-Clark, The Third Brother, pp. 47–49
  28. ^ Coulthard-Clark, The Third Brother, pp. 192, 202
  29. ^ Stephens, Power Plus Attitude, pp. 37–38
  30. ^ Coulthard-Clark, The Third Brother, p. 367
  31. ^ Coulthard-Clark, The Third Brother, pp. 466–468
  32. ^ Stephens, Going Solo, p. 179
  33. ^ a b Coulthard-Clark, The Third Brother, pp. 359–360
  34. ^ Coulthard-Clark, The Third Brother, p. 192
  35. ^ "No. 33946". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 June 1933. p. 3807.
  36. ^ "No. 34010". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1933. p. 8.
  37. ^ Ashworth, How Not to Run an Air Force!, p. 3
  38. ^ Ashworth, How Not to Run an Air Force!, p. 20
  39. ^ Ashworth, How Not to Run an Air Force!, pp. 18–21
  40. ^ Coulthard-Clark, The Third Brother, p. 468
  41. ^ a b Ashworth, How Not to Run an Air Force!, p. 301
  42. ^ Ashworth, How Not to Run an Air Force!, p. 303
  43. ^ Gillison, Royal Australian Air Force, pp. 91–92
  44. ^ Ashworth, How Not to Run an Air Force!, p. 41
  45. ^ Ashworth, How Not to Run an Air Force!, pp. 132–133
  46. ^ Stephens, The RAAF in the Southwest Pacific Area, p. 61
  47. ^ Odgers, Air War Against Japan, pp. 141, 152
  48. ^ Stevens, A Critical Vulnerability, p. 237
  49. ^ Odgers, Air War Against Japan, pp. 152–153
  50. ^ Stevens, A Critical Vulnerability, p. 241
  51. ^ Ashworth, How Not to Run an Air Force! Volume One, p. 303
  52. ^ a b "RAAF Staff College History". Australian Defence College. Department of Defence. Archived from the original on 17 March 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  53. ^ Stephens, Power With Attitude, p. 83
  54. ^ a b Helson, Ten Years at the Top, pp. 228, 233–237
  55. ^ "Anderson, William Hopton". World War Two Nominal Roll. Department of Veterans' Affairs. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  56. ^ Stephens, Power With Attitude, p. 92
  57. ^ Stephens, Going Solo, pp. 451, 498

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to William Anderson (RAAF officer).


Military offices
Preceded by
Air Vice-Marshal Stanley Goble
 Chief of the Air Staff
January–February 1940 		Succeeded by
Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Burnett
Preceded by
Air Commodore Adrian Cole
 Air Officer Commanding Central Area Command
April 1940 – August 1941 		Position abolished
New position Air Officer Commanding Eastern Area Command
May 1942 – July 1943 		Succeeded by
Air Commodore John Summers
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