These profiles and stories were donated to the RAAF Museum by the Gold Coast Branch of the Air Crew Association.

Service Profile: Roy Brandli

Roy Frank Brandli joined the 10th Light Horse Regiment on 17 December 1941 as a part-time Army member. His regiment was called up for full-time duty after the declaration of war on Japan. Roy was attested into the Royal Australian Air Force on 13 October 1942 and was trained under the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS), in common with thousands of young men throughout the (then) British Empire.

His initial training took place at No. 4 Initial Training School Victor Harbour, South Australia. After categorisation as a Wireless Air Gunner (WAG) the next part of his training was at No. 1 WAG School Ballarat, Victoria, followed by the gunnery part of his training at No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School East Sale, Victoria. He qualified as a WAG on 17 September 1943 with the rank of Sergeant and was sent to No. 2 Personnel Depot at Bradfield Park, Sydney, for overseas posting. He sailed on the Mariposa for USA en route to the UK for further training and service in Bomber Command.

From the RAAF Personnel Depot in Brighton, his first posting in the UK was to No. 2 Radio School at Yatesbury in Wiltshire. That was followed by attendance at No. 4 Advanced Flying Unit, West Freugh, Scotland, then to No. 29 Bomber Operational Training Unit, Bruntingsthorpe, to 'crew-up' and learn to operate as a team. He and his crew initially trained at Bitteswell satellite airfield before returning to Bruntingsthorpe for further operational training.

Advancing from training on Wellingtons Roy and his crew were posted to No. 14 Heavy Conversion Unit, Wigsley, to convert to Stirlings, then to No. 5 Lancaster Flying School for further conversion and operational training prior to posting to No. 44 (Rhodesian) Squadron, based at Spilsby, commencing operations on 4 December 1944.

Roy returned to Australia on the Aquitania, arriving in Fremantle on 26 November 1945, and was discharged on demobilisation. He rejoined the RAAF on 28 February 1946 but that is another story.

During Roy's aircrew service he flew as a crew member in Wacketts, Avro Ansons, DH-84s, Fairey Battles, Airspeed Oxfords, Proctors. Percepters, DH Dominies, Wellingtons, Stirlings, Lancasters, Dakotas, Lincolns, Bristol Freighters, S-51 helicopters, Mosquitoes, Canberras, Austars and Wirraways.

Roy's last appointment was as Commanding Officer of No. 3 Telecommunications Unit (3TELU), retiring as a Wing Commander.

As It Happened: One Man's War Service (110K PDF)