A fascinating Pacific Theatre Royal Australian Observer’s Air Gunner’s and Wireless Transmitter Operator’s Flying Log Book issued to Flight Lieutenant J.W. Jamison, Royal Australian Air Force who saw service as a Navigatorwith 528th Squadron, 380th Bomb Group, 5th United States Army Air Force and later with 21 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force taking part in numerous bombing missions over Papua New Guinea and later Celebes, Indonesia including bombing shipping in the Molucca Sea on 28th September 1944 when he attacked a Japanese Destroyer and later on 10th May 1945 when he bombed shipping in Maomere. In June 1945 he would support the Australian landings in Borneo, later in the month being attacked by 2 Japanese Oscar aircraft, before on 1st July 1945 he supported the Australian landings at Balikpapan in Borneo, the last major ground operation of the war. He would complete 36 operations flying his last on 19th July 1945.
Royal Australian Air Force Observer’s Air Gunner’s and W/T Operator’s Flying Log Book to 428321 J.W. Jamison.
Condition: loose from spine, Very Fine
Along with:
Royal Australian Air Force Interim Certificate of Service dated 8th November 1945 confirming he had served for 3 years.
3 small newspaper articles, one mentioning that he had Flying Officer Barry-Brown of Melbourne had survived two crashes in 28 days, one while taking off in New Guinea with 8000lb of bombs the other in Australia
Two letters dated 17th July 1934 confirming his employment for 9 years with Dennys, Lascelles Limited, Melbourne.
Letter dated 18th September 1942 confirming his employment for 8 years with the Commonwealth Wool & Produce Company Limited.
Certificate for the completion of No. 3 G.R.N. course at the General Reconnaissance School dated 1st October 1943 giving him a Distinguished Pass.
Letter dated 9th January 1946 from the Royal Australian Air Force thanking him for his service with the Air Force.
Letter dated 2nd May 1952 from Nicholas Propriety Limited confirming his employment with that company from 19th November 1945 until 31st March 1952
3 personal letters relating to his appointment in a position in Aspro, London immediately after his employment with Nicholas Propriety Limited.
Cloth United States 5th Air Force patch.
Along with image of the recipient as a child along with a sibling.
J.W. Jamison began his training on Ansons in Australia on 11th January 1943 with No.2. Air Observers School, Royal Australian Air Force at Mount Gambier, South Australia and would pass his Air Observers Course on 1st April 1943. He would join C. Flight Bombing at West Sale on 12th April 1943 where he would fly Oxfords, and then fly Fair Battles from 6th May 1943 until 10th May 1943 on a Gunnery Course with A. Flight at West Sale.
He would then join No.2. Air Navigation School on 5th June 1943 once more flying Ansons passing the course as an Astro Navigator on 24th June 1943.
He would join No.67 Squadron at Laverton on 29th October 1943 serving as a Navigator, mainly under the piloting of Flying Officer Shepherd until the end of November 1943.
On 4th January 1944 he would join 5th U.S. Army Bomber Command at Charters Towers initially as a member of Squadron Leader Rayson’s crew. It wasn’t until February 16th that he would undertake his first mission to Kavieng in Papua New Guinea dropping 6 x 1000lb bombs. On both 23rd and 27th February 1944 he would bomb Wewak, on both occasions dropping 8 x 1000lb bombs, before hitting But on 4th March, Gasmata on 10th March. He would travel to Nadzab on 11th March before bombing Tadji on 14th March 1944.
He is noted as having crashed on 7th March 1944 whilst taking off from Nadzab with 5 of the crew injured. He would largely then be involved in training and travel in Australia and the allied held area of Port Moresby until on 4th August 1944 he started flying with 528th Squadron, 380th Bomb Group, U.S. Army Air Force.
With 528 Squadron he would bomb Laha on 10th August 1944, and Cape Chater, Portuguese Timor on 13th August 1944, Namlea on 17th August 1944. From the base at Fenton, he would transfer to Darwin on 22nd August 1944 subsequently bombing Lautem on Portuguese Timor on 2nd September, Kendari (Celebes) on 10th September, then Laha on both 20th September and 24th September. On 28th September he would fly a 12.30 hour mission over the Molucca Sea where he bombed a Japenese Destroyer near Celebes, before bombing Macassar (Celebes on 2nd October 1944.)
Transferring to 21 Squadron at Leyburn on 10th October 1944, he would remain there for two months until transferring to 23 Squadron on 4th December 1944.
It wouldn’t be until 28th April 1945 that he saw service on an operations gain, bombing Binkalapa, Celebes on 28th April 1945, then flying an harassing raid to Boeloedowanga and Limboeng, Celebes where he dropped 10 x 100lb demo bombs. On 10th May 1945 he flew an Armed Reconnaissance to the Flores Islands where he bombed shipping in Maomere with 12 x 500lb bombs starting many fires and explosions. On 10th June 1945 he supported the Australian Landings at Labuan Island, Borneo dropping 26 x 260lb fragmentation bombs and on 21st June 1945 he would be involved in a strike on Limboeng where he dropped 9 x 500lb and was intercepted and attacked by 2 Japanese Oscar fighter aircraft.
1st July 1945 saw him supporting the Australian landings at Balik Papan with 12 x 500lb general purpose bombs, before on 19th July 1945 he took part in an armed anti-shipping search between Darwin and Timor where he destroyed an oil barge. This completing 36 ops and ending his tour of duty.
