HOW WE BECAME THE RARE BREED
Australia has used compulsion to help fill the ranks of its armed services on four occasions during its history:
1: 1911–1929 (the universal military training scheme);
2: 1940–45 (wartime conscription),
3: 1951–57 (the first national service training scheme)
4: 1965–1973 (the second national service scheme).
Of these,
only the third occasion involved the Royal Australian Air Force.
In 1950 it was proposed, largely in response to a deteriorating international situation, that 15,000 Australian men aged 18 would be trained annually for the Army,along with 1000 for the Royal Australian Navy and 5000 for the RAAF.
In 1950 it was proposed, largely in response to a deteriorating international situation, that 15,000 Australian men aged 18 would be trained annually for the Army,along with 1000 for the Royal Australian Navy and 5000 for the RAAF.
This scheme would be implemented before 1 January 1952. The government was actually preparing to withdraw its forces involved in the occupation of Japan since 1945, to help provide the regular instructors needed for the new training scheme, when the Korean War began in June 1950.The RAAF already had a transport unit assisting Britain to deal with the Malayan Emergency, and indeed a fresh commitment of a bomber squadron was made to that theatre at the same time as No 77 Squadron joined the fighting in Korea.
THE RARE BREED
Despite the pressures this created in terms of finding an adequate supply of training staff, during September 1950 the decision was made to bring forward the start-date for introducing the National Service scheme to 1 May 1951, in line with government fears that Australia faced the prospect of becoming involved in a third world war within three years.
Trainees could nominate in which service they wished to do their training, but those going to the RAN or RAAF had to volunteer to serve outside Australia if necessary. By the time the scheme ended in 1959, some 227,000 young Australian men had passed through the three services—the great majority of these through the Army. It is not possible from surviving records to determine the precise number who performed their National Service in the RAAF. Calculations that the RAAF’s two intakes annually produced only about 3300 trainees once the scheme reached maturity suggests that the figure would not have exceeded 20,000. Based on the number of intakes, and the fluctuating size of these, the actual number was more likely between 15,000 and 18,000 out of a total of 227,000 National Servicemen.
Some made it to the coveted status of pilot or air crew. RAAF Nashos flew or worked on a variety of aircraft including Lincoln bombers, Dakota, Canberra bombers and Vampire and Sabre jets.Some served in Malaya. Many worked on aircraft that flew through the atomic bomb blasts at Monte Bello Island in Western Australia and at Maralinga in South Australia in the 1950s. Navy and Army Nashos also were stationed in the blast areas or worked on vehicles used during the tests and are still seeking compensation for cancer and other effects. However,as in the other two Services, RAAF discipline was strict and the Blue Orchids learnt weapons handling and drill to the same high standard.
On the 26th April 2001 the government of the day announced that 325,000 National Servicemen would receive the Anniversary of National Service Medal 1951 - 1972. Later the Defence Medal was also awarded to all National Servicemen.
There were only around
20,000 Royal Australian Air Force Nashos during this 21 year period. How many are left now is anybody's guess.
