'8 E.F.T.S.' Tiger Moth Memorial - Narrandera, NSW, Australia
S 34° 44.705 E 146° 33.035
55H E 458862 N 6155134
On the outside of the Tiger Moth Memorial is a brass plaque brass below the large sign.
Waymark Code: WMZNAZ
Location: New South Wales, Australia
Date Posted: 12/06/2018
Views: 0
Below a two metre wide, white sign (below an alarm strobe) is the rectangular brass plaque, which reads:
[Royal Australian Air Force crest]
This 8 E.F.T.S. Tiger Moth Memorial
Commemorates all those who passed through
No. 8 Elementary Flying Training School
1940 - 45
and the Special Relationship
They enjoyed with the people of Narrandera
Officially Opened October 2nd 1988 by
Air Chief Marshall
Sir Neville McNamara (Ret.)
From the Narrandera Tourist Centre website:
"On October 3, 1940, the first five Tiger Moth Aircraft (DH82-A) were flown in. The first intake of 60 Trainee Pilots, Course 5 (P) arrived on October 18, 1940 to commence their eight week course. By the end of October the schools strength was 24 Officers and 336 other ranks. In the four and half years of operation, 3,818 young men were trained in the elementary stages of flying.
"It was a self contained unit with its own post office, hospital, gymnasium, swimming pool and sewerage system.
"As the name No 8 EFTS suggests, the Narrandera Air School was one of a number established in Australia as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme which was established in April, 1940. The scheme created a world wide air training plan in which more than 250,000 young men were trained as pilots, navigators, wireless operators and air gunners for the various theatres of operations such as Europe, the Middle East, Burma and the South West Pacific.
"The official opening of the Narrandera Memorial on October 2nd 1988, was performed by Air Chief Marshal (retd) Sir Neville McNamara, a former Chief of Air Staff who trained at Narrandera in 1942. He later returned as a Sergeant pilot instructor prior to operational flying in the South West Pacific area." [ex-Narrandera Tourism: Tiger Moth Memorial.]
Visited: 1208-10, Friday, 1 June, 2018