Don Charlwood
Encyclopedia
Donald Ernest Cameron (Don) Charlwood OAM
(born 6 September 1915, in Melbourne, Victoria) is an Australian author. He has also worked as a farm hand, in air traffic control, and most notably as an RAAF navigator in Bomber Command
during the Second World War.
While best known for No Moon Tonight
, his memoir of life as a crewmember in Bomber Command, Charlwood has written a number of other biographical, fiction, and non-fiction works.
At Burnside, Charlwood was already writing and occasionally supplementing his wages by selling articles and short stories. He remained there through the thirties, but in 1940, as war unfolded in Europe and France and the Low Countries fell, he signed up for the RAAF, and was placed on the reserve.
In May 1943, on the Polish Batory, Charlwood and his course traveled to England, anchoring on the River Clyde on the evening of 12 May. Here the course was split, with Charlwood and half of them posted to No.3 Advanced Flying Unit, Bobbington, between the Severn Valley and Birmingham. After completing Advanced Flying, aircrew were posted to Operational Training Units, their entry into combat operations. Charlwood was posted to No, 27 OTU, Lichfield - a unit which fed Bomber Command. He had almost 200 hours flying time.
At Tatenhill, a satellite airfield of Lichfield, Charlwood, with Pilot Geoff Maddern, crewed up to form a crew of five - the basis of all his future flying in Bomber Command. On 1 August 1942 they flew together as a crew for the first time, in a Wellington Bomber. On the night of 5 September 1942, they made their last training flight. Charlwood's total flying time was now just under 257 hours. Training completed, they were posted to fly Halifaxes
from No. 103 Squadron RAF
, Elsham Wolds
.
In 1992 Charlwood was made a Member of the Order of Australia
in recognition of service to literature.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 6 September 1915, in Melbourne, Victoria) is an Australian author. He has also worked as a farm hand, in air traffic control, and most notably as an RAAF navigator in Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...
during the Second World War.
While best known for No Moon Tonight
No Moon Tonight
No Moon Tonight is a World War II autobiographical book by Halifax/Lancaster/Wellington bomber navigator Don Charlwood. Born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1915 Charlwood joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1940 and was trained in Canada via the Empire Air Training Scheme...
, his memoir of life as a crewmember in Bomber Command, Charlwood has written a number of other biographical, fiction, and non-fiction works.
Early life
Born in Melbourne, Victoria, in 1915, Charlwood's family moved to Frankston when he was eight. Charlwood left Frankston High School in his Leaving Certificate year, to take a job with a local estate agency and produce market. Approaching eighteen years of age he was required to train his replacement, and found himself in 1933 unemployed. He took a holiday at a relative's farm, Burnside near Nareen, found the life enjoyable, and was invited back to work there for the shearing and harvest of 1934.At Burnside, Charlwood was already writing and occasionally supplementing his wages by selling articles and short stories. He remained there through the thirties, but in 1940, as war unfolded in Europe and France and the Low Countries fell, he signed up for the RAAF, and was placed on the reserve.
Military service
For the rest of 1940, Charlwood worked at The 21 Lessons - a course to ensure candidates were fitted for the theoretical work of initial training. In May 1941, after 11 months on the reserve, Charlwood was called up and posted to No 1. Initial Training School, Somers, Victoria. From Somers, he proceeded to Sydney and then to Vancouver in Canada. Their trip to Canada was the first across the Pacific by Australian military on a ship of neutral America, the liner Monterey. On reaching Vancouver, Charlwood along with the rest of his group, was sent to Edmonton. In October 1942, they started their training as bombaimer/navigators in Course 35 of the No. 2 Air Observer Training School, Empire Air Training Scheme. Six months, a number of courses and stations, and around 160 hours of flying time later, initial training was complete.In May 1943, on the Polish Batory, Charlwood and his course traveled to England, anchoring on the River Clyde on the evening of 12 May. Here the course was split, with Charlwood and half of them posted to No.3 Advanced Flying Unit, Bobbington, between the Severn Valley and Birmingham. After completing Advanced Flying, aircrew were posted to Operational Training Units, their entry into combat operations. Charlwood was posted to No, 27 OTU, Lichfield - a unit which fed Bomber Command. He had almost 200 hours flying time.
At Tatenhill, a satellite airfield of Lichfield, Charlwood, with Pilot Geoff Maddern, crewed up to form a crew of five - the basis of all his future flying in Bomber Command. On 1 August 1942 they flew together as a crew for the first time, in a Wellington Bomber. On the night of 5 September 1942, they made their last training flight. Charlwood's total flying time was now just under 257 hours. Training completed, they were posted to fly Halifaxes
Handley Page Halifax
The Handley Page Halifax was one of the British front-line, four-engined heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. A contemporary of the famous Avro Lancaster, the Halifax remained in service until the end of the war, performing a variety of duties in addition to bombing...
from No. 103 Squadron RAF
No. 103 Squadron RAF
No. 103 Squadron was a Royal Air Force bomber squadron during World War I, World War II and the Cold War, switching to helicopters in the late 1950s until it was disbanded for the last time in 1975.-Formation in World War I:...
, Elsham Wolds
RAF Elsham Wolds
RAF Elsham Wolds is a former Royal Air Force station in England, which operated in World War I and World War II. It is located just to the north east of the village of Elsham in north Lincolnshire.-World War I:...
.
Later life
Following his return to Australia and release from the RAAF, Charlwood worked for the Department of Civil Aviation, initially as an Air Traffic Controller, and later as a trainer. It was while working at the DCA that he wrote No Moon Tonight.In 1992 Charlwood was made a Member of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
in recognition of service to literature.
Autobiographical
- All The Green Year, Angus and Robertson, 1965. ISBN 978-0-20-719120-6
- No Moon TonightNo Moon TonightNo Moon Tonight is a World War II autobiographical book by Halifax/Lancaster/Wellington bomber navigator Don Charlwood. Born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1915 Charlwood joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1940 and was trained in Canada via the Empire Air Training Scheme...
Angus and Robertson, 1956. ISBN 978-0-90-757997-7 - Marching As To War Christina Stead award for literature 1990. ISBN 978-0-949873-33-0
- Journeys into Night ISBN 978-1-87-642524-1
Non Fiction
- The Wreck of the Loch Ard
- Wrecks & reputations: the loss of the Schomberg and Loch Ard, Angus and Robertson, 1977, ISBN 978-0-20-713065-6
- Take-Off to Touchdown: The Story of Air Traffic Control, Angus and Robertson, 1968, ISBN 978-0-642-01620-1
External links
- http://www.awm.gov.au/people/1074771.asp
- http://www.elsham.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/raf_bc/20_men.html
- http://www.awm.gov.au/transcripts/kmsa/s00568_tran.htm
- http://www.burgewoodbooks.com.au/
- http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/script/veteran.asp?ServiceID=R&VeteranID=1043161