Mango Stories

208 Pages·2007·10.56 MB·English

Mango Stories

Preface

Memories drive it

This Mangoes’ fiftieth reunion history project is the brainchild of Kev Stapleton assisted by
Jim Nicholls, and we owe them a vote of thanks for their interest in capturing the collective
memories of us all.
Memories drive our recollection of the events which we have committed to the written
word. Memories usually come associated with events which, to us, were pleasant or
unpleasant, exciting, frightening and very much linked with strong emotion at the time. The
events will not necessarily generate any strong response from those who may read the
histories we write. But they are our stories and together will present an overall view of a
group of very special people.
I take great joy in attending our local reunions in Brisbane each year and had a wonderful
time at the fiftieth celebrations (fifty years after the apprentice scheme started) in Wagga in
1998. I’m happy to contribute towards our fiftieth reunion and remain impressed at how
strong the bonds developed so long ago still remain.
What more can one Mango say? What we received as impressionable kids fifty years ago
set us on individual paths. I have no real regrets, and I hope most Mangoes can say the same.
I still do my buttons up and polish my shoes.
My memories are good. I wish I could remember more, but that’s what reunions are for: to
catch up and renew bonds.

Les Bunn

First published in March 2004.
Printed by Nepean Printing Pty Ltd,
Unit 4, No 1 Peachtree Road.
Penrith NSW 2750.
Phone [phone].

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior written
approval of the individual authors.
Every effort has been made to correctly identify people in photographs. If unknown by the
supplier of the photograph names were listed only after identification by at least two other
persons. If there are mistakes we apologise.
1
Mango Stories

Foreword

I was more than pleased to be asked to write the foreword for this book detailing the lives
of many of the young lads who joined the RAAF in 1954 as No 8 Apprentice Course and No
3 Junior Equipment and Administrative Trainees. They were known as Mangoes and I am
sure the full meaning still brings a smile.
Having joined as an apprentice in 1949 I was thrilled to achieve my ambition to be the first
ex-apprentice to return as Commanding Officer of the RAAF School of Technical Training
as it was known in 1978. Sadly, I found many of the traditions had evaporated, but with
some effort the pride of graduating on a full dress parade was returned. The bonding and
development of that strong espirit de corps which occurred in those early informative years,
when boys became men, has meant so much to us.
The Air Force has benefited enormously by breeding such committed people. They were
adaptable, dedicated achievers and loyal. Sadly, by 1993 the economical rationalists could
prove it was not cost effective to train youngsters and the youth of that era were different.
Most of us would strongly suggest, “How wrong can you be!”
The life stories presented in the following pages are unique with some great surprises. They
provide a fascinating insight of how a group of young people, from all walks of life, gave the
Service a brotherhood of achievers who were of benefit to our country, even when they left
the RAAF.
Australians are renowned for their teamwork and our country’s history in conflict confirms
that emotional ties can overcome adversities and win the day. This band of Mangoes are
examples of such men and when one notes that about forty percent of graduates were
commissioned (two reaching Air Commodore rank) - this alone is tangible evidence of the
measure of commitment.
I applaud the publication of these stories as they form part of history which adds to the
heritage of life - too easily forgotten! These recorded events are important and the authors
are to be commended, for too often it is left too late.

J R Bartram, AM
Group Captain RAAF (Ret’d)
(A Sunbeam)
2
Mango Stories

The Mango story

Who could ever have foreseen as we arrived at Wagga Wagga on a hot January day in
1954, confused, bedraggled and bewildered that fifty years later we would be celebrating the
occasion.
We arrived at the RAAF School of Technical Training from all states of Australia: young
boys aged between fifteen and seventeen. On arrival at the Forest Hill RAAF Base we
became aware that our intake had been named the Mangoes by the senior apprentice
squadron. Anyone with the audacity to ask, “Why Mangoes?” was quickly told, “Green on
the outside, yellow on the inside and too many of them give you the shits.”
Besides this RAAF apprentice tradition of bestowing a name on each new intake, we were
also subjected to various initiation rituals by the senior third-year apprentices. The most
spectacular was the blanket toss as shown on the cover photo of this book. Other initiation
rituals included being seconded to clean the senior group’s huts regularly on “panic” nights,
and other servant tasks like polishing shoes or brass. Anyone who objected or resisted
generally copped twice as much attention, so one quickly learnt it was easier to submit.
Generally the senior apprentices protected us from the second-year apprentices who also
attempted to use us as servants. The only consoling factor one had at the time was that one
day we would be the senior group and the roles would be reversed.
As a new group it bought us together more quickly because we were all being subjected to
the same character testing. Initiation, together with the first six weeks spent on the parade
ground being drilled, was a tough introduction to an apprenticeship. Receiving multiple
injections for various overseas exotic diseases at the hospital and then being required to drill
immediately afterwards on the parade ground for hours (in the middle of summer) caused
many apprentices to faint or become sick. Times have changed as one could not imagine
such treatment occurring nowadays without a public outcry followed by a parliamentary
inquiry. Several recruits dropped out and returned home during this period.
This fiftieth reunion of the Mangoes is linked to those initial memories, the good times, the
sad times and the emotional times we experienced growing up from teenagers to young
adults over the three years at Wagga. However, it is the special bond of friendship between
all who went through the experience that is the glue to the reunion. In many cases we will be
catching up with people we have not seen since leaving Wagga forty-seven years ago.
The mid-fifties was a unique time in RAAF history: the Korean War had finished, the jet
was about to replace propeller aircraft and the Cold War had started. We seemed to be in the
right place at the right time. The transistor radio had been invented. Rock ‘n’ roll was all the
rage. It was an exciting time to be young and to be experiencing the world that was changing
around us.
Whilst no one can take away those memories, we are now fifty years older. Some have
passed on. Those of us left are all physically less able, grey-haired or bald with too many
health problems. Although, one thing in our favour is that we are much wiser from life’s
experiences.
This book is a collection of individual life stories which, hopefully, will in some way again
link us to fellow apprentices with whom we have long lost contact. When one reads the life
stories in this book, one can see that none of us has had an ordinary life. Each story is a
unique human life experience.
These are extraordinary life stories told by a special group of people.

Kevin Stapleton and Jim Nicholls
3
Mango Stories

Contents

Preface………………………………………………………………………… 1
Foreword……………………………………………………………………… 2
The Mango Story………………………………………………………………3
Contents……………………………………………………………………….. 4-5
Mango Stories:

ALCOCK Errol 6-7
BARNWELL Richard 8-11
BAYFIELD (Doc) Noel 12-13
BEST (The Beast) John 14-15
BLACK Bill 16-19
BLISSETT Ray 20-22
BOWDEN Mal 23-28
BUNN (Nub) Les 29-36
CAVANAGH (Herb) Ashton 37-40
COOPS Warren 41-44
COX John 45-46
CUTHBERT Mick 47-49
DENNETT (Foxy) Clive 50-55
DODDS Dave 56-58
DONNELLY Phil 59-60
DOWNTON William 61-64
GENT Garry 65-68
GIBBON Allen 69-72
GIFFIN (Giff) Graham 73-77
GLEESON Mike 78-81
HOBBS Harry 82-83
HORTH Ernest 84-88
JACKA Barry 89-92
LAMBIE Bob 93-98
LEWIS Merv 99
MACKENZIE Rod 100
McCALLUM Geoff 101-107
4
Mango Stories

Contents

McDOUGAL Merv 108-117
McGUIGAN Ron 118-120
MELBOURNE Ian 121-122
MENZIES Dave 123-125
MIDDLEBROOK John 126
MORRISSEY Richard 127-131
MORROW Geoff 132-135
MURPHY Brian 136
NANCARROW Roy 137-139
NICHOLLS Jim 140-144
NORTH Bill 145
PIKE Leo 146-149
POINTON Dave 150-151
SCRACE Mick 152-155
SCUTTS Tom 156-159
SMITH Don 160-163
SMITH Peter 164-168
STAPLETON Kevin 169-173
WARD (Butch) Ray 174-175
WILKINS Anthony 176-178
WYTHE (Willie) Alan 179-180
HODGE Phil (Deceased) 181
Apprentice Intake / Graduation Roll ——————————————— 182-185
JEAT Intake / Graduation Roll ————————————————— 185-186
Mango Scrapbook Images ——————–———–—- 46, 55, 68, 77, 92, 98, 99, 135,
Mango Scrapbook Images—————— 139,149, 151, 155, 168, 175, 178, 186-208.
Front Cover – Photo—–————————Blanket toss initiation of Mango Intake
Back Cover – Photo—–———Apprentice graduation parade and graduation roll
5
Mango Stories
Errol Alcock—A216432—Clerk Equipment

Introduction to the RAAF and RSTT
I joined the RAAF at RSTT as a Junior Equipment and Administrative Trainee (JEAT) on
25 January 1954, undertaking both educational and service training followed by practical on-
the-job training at No 3 Aircraft Depot, RAAF Base Amberley. Following JEAT training I
graduated in 1955 as an aircraftsman recruit minor (you cannot get much lower) and was
later posted as an airman to serve at units located in Victoria, Northern Territory and New
South Wales.
Post RSTT training and experiences
I served for about nine years as an airman and NCO, and on an opportunity basis attended
evening classes to obtain a leaving certificate. Concurrently, I completed service and trade
promotion examinations, being promoted to the rank of sergeant on 1 June 1961 at the age of
twenty-three.
In 1962 I applied for and was accepted for training at Officers Training School. Point Cook
in Victoria and graduated as a pilot officer with a permanent commission on 13 May 1963.
After initial officers training I successfully completed a range of progressive specialist
occupational and service training courses, being promoted to the ranks of flying officer in
1964, flight lieutenant 1966, squadron leader 1970 and wing commander on 1 January 1979.
As a commissioned officer I served on or was attached to most RAAF establishments
within Australia including Officers Training School (OTS and Commanding Officers’ Law
Course), 1 Stores Depot, Tottenham, Victoria (as an AC, corporal, sergeant and officer),
Base Squadron Fairbairn, Weapons Research Establishment and Base Squadron Edinburgh,
RSTT (as a senior NCO and officer on courses, and as an independent flight commander),
Departments of Air and Defence, Headquarters Support Command (as an NCO and officer),
No 2 Stores Depot, Regents Park NSW, Base Squadron, Darwin NT (as an NCO and officer)
and 7 Stores Depot, Toowoomba, Queensland.
My overseas postings/attachments include Base Squadron Butterworth, Headquarters
RAAF Butterworth, RAAF Support Unit Tengah, 2 Squadron Vietnam and Japan as a
member of 29/84 Joint Services Staff College Course (JSSC) - the ‘Kamikaze’ Course. I
successfully graduated from JSSC in July 1984 and was later posted to Defence Central as a
senior staff officer in the supply organisation. I submitted my resignation in 1984 and was
discharged from the RAAF on 2 July 1985, having served for thirty-one and a half years.
During my RAAF service I had about thirty-nine postings and attachments (aided by three
years in Air Force Office as an Organisation and Establishments Inspector with the
Directorate of Organisation and Establishments) and served in South East Asia for
approximately three years. Places of career and general interest visited were Malaysia,
Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan and Guam.
Career Highlights
Being selected for and graduating from the Officers Training School, being a temporary
commanding officer at both Base Squadron Darwin and No 2 Stores Depot, and
commanding officer of No 7 Stores Depot in Toowoomba, Queensland. Graduating from the
Joint Services Staff College in 1984 with forty-four officers from twelve different nations
was a further highlight. I still keep in contact with members of the ‘Kamikaze’ Course.
Exciting Moments
Breaking the sound barrier (as a passenger - under instruction) at about 27,000 feet in a
Dual Mirage fighter over Malaysia and participating in exercises off Sydney’s coastline
inside a RAN Oberon Class submarine - on joint RAAF and RAN exercises. Ironically,
when posted to Defence Central (post JSSC) I was involved in the early stages with the
Collins Class submarine project.

6
Mango Stories
Errol Alcock—A216432—Clerk Equipment
Retirement
In retirement I have travelled around most parts of Australia visiting areas of interest,
especially mainland wineries in a FWD towing a caravan (for 13,000 km). I have completed
welding and rural fire fighting courses and was a foundation member of the local Wivenhoe
Pocket Rural Fire Brigade. As the opportunity arises my wife and I continue travelling but in
comfortable sedans - without a caravan attached.
I also pursue interests in genealogy, the military history of relatives since the Boxer
Rebellion, computers and property maintenance. Twice a week I provide computer training
as a volunteer mentor for a government-sponsored program in the local area.

Errol Alcock
192 Locker View Road
Wivenhoe Pocket, Qld. 4306
Tel. [phone]
RSTT Crest No.3 JEAT course RSTT Wagga 1954
Ex-COs of No.7SD
at Closure Ball
20 August 1993.
me, second from right
7
Mango Stories
Richard Barnwell—A216361—Engine Fitter

Some people are lucky to start life with a silver spoon in their mouth. I was, too; well, it
was actually stainless steel wrapped in the form of forceps about my head to bring me
kicking and screaming into this world. I started life traumatised. I was christened Richard.
Everyone on my mother’s side called me this, but on my father’s side of the family I was
called Dick. So, by the age of two, I had my first identity crisis.
During the first ten years of my life we lived in seven different suburbs of Sydney and
Melbourne. I was a seasoned traveler by the age of eleven when we returned to Fivedock,
Sydney where I started High School. I was fortunate enough to gain entry to Sydney
Technical High School, which meant an hour travelling each way by tram. I became an avid
reader and soon lived in a world of Biggles and Captain Blood. Greek mythology soon took
over and by the age of twelve I was living completely in a world of daydreams. It was also
about this age that I was sent to visit an uncle who had the dubious honor of trying to give
me a sex education.
This uncle explained the basic principles using the rear end of his milking cow. I rejected
his theory in preference for the one of being born under a cabbage leaf. This later theory,
however, was also rejected after deep and meaningful discussions with a young lady from
Crown Street Girls High, who became my travelling companion in the tram to school. We
debated important issues including the art of French kissing; hell, I didn’t know how to
Australian kiss let alone any of that foreign stuff!
What I lacked was a strong male influence for guidance. My grandfather (lieutenant
commander RAN) and my father (squadron leader RAAF) were off playing war games when
I needed them most. And living with my grandmother, mother and aunt was no fun
compared to fishing and football. At the age of fifteen, I examined my mythical heroes and
Biggles won. So, I applied to join the Air Force. This became my second major trauma; my
heroes never mentioned hobnailed boots or KP in their escapades.
I remember Forest Hill well: frozen overalls on the line in winter, hay fever in the summer;
but all the rest is a blur. Thanks to the dedication of the instructors, I managed between
daydreams to pass, gaining a posting to Richmond as an engine fitter.
Twelve months at Richmond quickly passed with beaches to find in Sydney, and girls. It
was about this time that I started to realise my life was lacking. I lacked money, female
company, direction, and to top it off I was posted to Sale Maintenance Squadron. Moses did
seven years in the wilderness and I guessed this was mine. Now, with Sale, being an
agricultural area, the cows are milked at six in the morning and four in the afternoon. Before
or after these times, life appeared to be nonexistent. To break out I started to apply for any
job that would get me away from Sale, one of these happened to be for a survey
draughtsman. After three years, I received a posting to Richmond. You beaut, back in the
warmth of Sydney and beaches.
Now, I must add here I was screwed up; my parents had divorced by the time I was ten and
although I had dated a number of wonderful young ladies, I could never tell what was love
or lust, or both. Fortunately, one of these young ladies had my measure and must have
realised somewhere there was some form of redemption for me.
Now, Anita was thoughtful, kind, caring and a born optimist (all the characteristics I was
lacking). She decided to save my soul from the devil and we tied the knot on my twenty-
third birthday (so I wouldn’t forget our anniversary).
Now, I hadn’t been at 2AD more than six months when one of the admin bods said, “Hey,
you’re supposed to be in the drawing office for training” (who said there’s no guardian
angels). I had applied for survey draughting years ago and this was engineering. Who cares?
I was out of the oil. After six months or so of pencil smudges and inkblots, I passed the
8
Mango Stories
Richard Barnwell—A216361—Engine Fitter
necessary exams and changed musterings.
I decided to get some formal qualifications in mechanical engineering and for the next four
years studied at Granville and Ultimo Technical Colleges, and to my surprise managed to
pass.
During this period of studying we purchased land at Carlingford and after a couple of years
Anita decided I needed a son. I smiled, and in no time flat we had a beautiful daughter,
Joanne (I got it wrong). A year or so later Anita said I needed a son, and yes we had another
gorgeous girl, Linda.
Now, with life returning to an even keel with studies completed, Anita said you need a son.
And yes, we were blessed with another beautiful daughter, Melanie. I was outnumbered and
out-manoeuvred, but life was great except for the lack of promotion. It had taken twelve
years to reach the starry heights of corporal and there was no hope of exceeding this when
the fifteen years was up and I decided to throw my hat into the civilian ring. I applied for a
drafting position with the Electricity Commission of NSW, and was fortunate to obtain it.
When I started work with the commission I though it was Utopia. A thirty-five-hour week,
air conditioning, no uniform, didn’t have to shave and lunch in the Botanical Gardens of
Sydney was great - flowers and birds everywhere.
After twelve months, Anita noticed I was getting too settled. She decided we needed a
change of air, so we sold our house and purchased a larger one at Warriewood on Sydney’s
northern beaches.
We installed Anita’s mother downstairs, and I thought we were settled there when Anita
had the great idea that I needed a son, I smiled and headed for the bedroom. She yelled, “Not
that way. Come here and sign this adoption form.” Some months later
we were offered a young lad of twenty-three months. We soon discovered girls were
different to boys, Matthew had all the signs of autism, (he was diagnosed, aged nineteen,
with fragile-X syndrome) but Anita decided that if she could straighten me out, she could
handle any young boy.
Twelve months slipped by and Matt didn’t make any great headway. Anita thought
however that another son would not go amiss, and so, with the assistance of DOCS, we
acquired another son, a wonderful three-month-old boy, Steven.
Life at Warriewood was great. Being close to the water meant plenty of boating activities.
We started with a ten-foot clinker dinghy, worked our way slowly through powerboats,
trailer sailors and ended up with a North Shore 33 yacht. We had great expectations of
sailing the eastern coast of Australia. We did all the navigation and radio courses, club raced
it, then started to sail offshore… I was totally bored with endless miles at sea. However, we
love Broken Bay with all its rivers and bays and now sail a Gillcraft 29 motor sailor, usually
having two days midweek aboard.
Have you ever tried to fit five lively children, wife, two grannies and yourself in a HK
Holden station wagon! In a nutshell, you don’t fit at all well. Delete the grannies and add
camping gear and it is even worse, similar to a hot water bottle on wheels. We solved this in
1976 with a long wheelbase Nissan Patrol. It rode like a billy-cart, looked like a tank, but
you couldn’t overload or stop it. That rugged old truck took our camping gear and us on
many exciting holidays both on and off the black stuff, and introduced us to a way of life
that was inexpensive and different. A camper, this in turn by a small caravan, superseded the
tent and now five vans later we have a van with all the comforts. The “tank” has also been
replaced a number of times and we now have a cruiser with a suspension designed for aging
bones.
In the mid seventies and eighties the Commission was developing and building power
stations in the Hunter Valley and Lithgow areas. I found that system design and construction
to be both challenging and exciting,
9
Mango Stories
Richard Barnwell—A216361—Engine Fitter
I was fortunate to be rewarded for my efforts with both promotion and the responsibility of
controlling a group of officers preparing mechanical systems. This later extended to power
station layouts and development. A division called Elcom Services was created to sell the
Commission’s expertise in engineering design to external organisations to prepare
conceptual power station designs for overseas countries such as China, Egypt and Malaysia.
Good things, however, all come to an end and the state government, in their wisdom,
decided we had ample generating capacity and that privatisation could earn once-off capital.
I pulled the plug and retired in August 1996: a great decision.
It took five years to gradually refurbish our home at Warriewood, swinging on a safety
harness three storeys up in the air is strictly for the birds so when it was completed we sold it
and we now have a single story home at Terrigal (NSW Central Coast). It is easily
maintained, located in a quiet area and has a tranquil outlook.
Our family has increased steadily; we have gained three sons-in-law, one daughter-in-law,
four beautiful granddaughters (I’m not the only one who thinks pink), and finally one very
lively grandson. Life has been very kind to us, we have a wonderful loving family, good
health and, God willing, shall be able to tour and enjoy this fabulous country for some time
yet.

Richard Barnwell
91 Hillcrest Street
Terrigal NSW 2260
Tel. [phone]
Power station passion … a thing of beauty is a joy forever
L to R: Linda, Joanne, me, Bianca, Steven, Anita, Matthew, Melanie.
Induction of new member to the Barnwell clan.
10