RAAF
STAFF SCHOOL
MOUNT MARTHA HOUSE
466 ESPLANADE
MOUNT MARTHA, VIC
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WWII
The RAAF Staff School had its beginnings on 3 August 1943 in temporary accommodation at 203 Domain Road, South Yarra in Melbourne.
The first Commandant of the Staff School was Air Vice Marshal William Hopton Anderson (3), CBE, DFC. The senior staff at the RAAF Staff School were initially:-
Group Captain Ulex Edward Ewart (034) - Assistant Commandant
Group Captain Jerrold Ronald Fleming (0313)
Group Captain Gerald Packer (251800) - Directing staff for the War Staff Course
Group Captain Kenneth Ranger (250300) - Directing Staff for the Unit Commanders Course
Flight Lieutenant John Samuel Donald Edwards (017970) - Education Officer (arrived 9 August 1943)
Mount Martha House was taken over by the RAAF and after some alterations was occupied by the RAAF Staff School on 22 September 1943.
Air Commodore Arthur Henry Cobby (0251334), CBE, DSO, DFC took over as Commandant whilst recovering from injuries. Once he had recovered, he returned to the Pacific theatre and was replaced by Air Commodore Ewart (promoted by now). Air Vice-Marshal W. H. Anderson was reappointed as Commandant of the RAAF Staff School on 30 October 1944.
RAAF Staff School at Mount Martha House, Mount Martha, VIctoria
Air Board Order N 80/1944 of 18 February 1944, titled "Function and Scope of Course at RAAF Staff School, and Joining Instructions" stated in part:-
Joining Instructions advised that "in view of the acute shortage of accommodation in and around Melbourne and the comparatively short duration of the courses, it is inadvisable for wives of married officers to accompany them."(d) Officers of the rank of Flight Lieutenant to Group Captain of all branches of the service, including the education, dental, legal, meteorological, accountant, W.A.A.A.F., and chaplain's branches are eligible for the War Staff course.
(e) In selecting candidates for this course, preference will normally be given to officers who have some war experience of staff work as well as unit experience. In any case, they must be recommended by their Air Officer Commanding as being likely to become suitable to fill staff posts of medium seniority. And,
(f) Provision is made for a total of three officers of the R.A.N., A.M.F. and Allied Forces to attend each course on the nomination of their respective services.
Eight Staff Courses were completed over the following two years. The War Staff and Unit Commander's courses of 1944-45 at the RAAF Staff School at Mount Martha House produced the first RAAF-trained staff officers and commanders.
The temporary cessation of instruction occurred on 28 September 1945 after the completion of the eighth course.
Below are some of the courses held at the RAAF Staff School in Mount Martha House:-
2nd Airfield Construction Squadron RAAF - Commenced weapon training at Mount Martha on 8 August 1944
4th Airfield Construction Squadron RAAF - Commenced defence training at Mount Martha on 15 October 1944
6th Airfield Construction Squadron RAAF - Commenced training at Mount Martha on 28 October 194
7th Airfield Construction Squadron RAAF - Commenced training at Mount Martha on 25 October 1944
8th Airfield Construction Squadron RAAF - Commenced training at Mount Martha on 14 September 1944
9th Airfield Construction Squadron RAAF - Commenced training at Mount Martha on 16 November 1945
RAAF Combat Training Unit - Trained the 6, 7,8 & 9th Airfield Construction Squadrons at Mount Martha
RAAF Staff School moved from Mount Martha House to Point Cook in November 1945.
Today Mount Martha House is known as the Mount Martha House Community Centre at 466 Esplanade, Mount Martha.
REFERENCES
"Strategy and Red Ink - A History of RAAF Staff College 1949 - 1999" by Doug Hurst
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"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products
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This page first produced 25 January 2022
This page last updated 25 January 2022
