NAA: MP1049/1, 1918/066, pages 218 and 219 is a letter from ‘Anxious’ of ‘Bundoora’, Charles St, Brighton, Victoria, to the editor of the Melbourne Herald: A mysterious aroeplane [sic] passed over the east of Brighton this morning at 10 past 7 a.m. & went south east towards Gippsland. The machine was a very large one […]
NAA: MP1049/1, 1918/066, pages 674 through 690 is a copy of Directorate of Military Intelligence report HB56, ‘Aircraft, lights and objects reported seen in the air — summary and appreciation no. 3’. It is a continuation of the first such ‘summary and appreciation’ HB53 of nearly a week ago (no. 2 was an interim update
NAA: MP1049/1, 1918/066, page 33 is a copy of a letter from Sam. R. Dawson, ‘Roseneath’, Meerlieu, Victoria, to ‘The Military Officer’ at Sale: I notice by the papers that persons are asked to report any aeroplanes seen to the nearest military officer. On the 22nd. March we heard an aeroplane which seemed to be
NAA: MP1049/1, 1918/066, pages 849 through 854 is a report from Detective F. W. Sickerdick of Victoria Police (seconded to military intelligence for the duration, possibly due to German descent) to Major F. V. Hogan of the Intelligence Section, General Staff. Sickerdick had been ordered by Hogan to travel with Lieutenant A. Edwards of the
NAA: MP1049/1, 1918/066, pages 491 and 492 is a letter from Major E. L. Piesse, Director of Military Intelligence, to the Navy Office, informing them of the progress of the Army’s aerial reconnaissance of south Gippsland. Unfortunately, The aeroplane used in this reconnaissance has been unserviceable since 24th inst. No information has yet been received
NAA: MP1049/1, 1918/066, pages 701 to 709 is a copy of Directorate of Military Intelligence report HB53, ‘Aircraft, lights and objects reported seen in the air’. Copies have been sent to various District Naval Officers and the commanders of HMA Ships Brisbane, Encounter and Protector (presumably DMI sent it to the various military district HQs,
NAA: MP1049/1, 1918/066, page 459 is a copy of a telegram sent from the Navy Office to the Admiralty, London; Commander in Chief, China; Senior Naval Officer, Wellington; and Captain in Charge, Sydney. It reads: Reports are being received daily of Aeroplanes seen in Victoria and South Australia. Close investigations being made. Latest reports are
For Anzac Day, I had a chat about the Australian mystery aeroplane panic of 1918 with (the near-legendary himself) Phillip Adams on ABC Radio National’s Late Night Live programme. You can listen to it here. I enjoyed the experience, though I was a bit nervy myself at times and I didn’t manage to get across
NAA: MP1049/1, 1918/066, page 79 is a copy of a letter from James French, Shire Secretary, Maffra Shire, to the ‘Officer in Charge’ of the ‘Intelligence Department, Melbourne’. French has a lot to say on the subject of ‘hydroplanes’ that ‘have been seen of late in this District at night time’, and he thinks ‘the
NAA: MP1049/1, 1918/066, page 212 is a telegram from Captain C. Finlayson, censor for the 3rd Military District (Victoria), to ‘Intelligence’, Navy Office. He is passing on a newspaper article which has been submitted for censorship: A man named Lewis living at the corner of Frank and Mills Streets, Ballarat West, has reported to Sub-Inspector
