Gough Whitlam

Gough Whitlam enlisted in the RAAF on 20th June 1942. After training as a navigator bomb aimer, Pilot Officer Whitlam joined 13 Sqn when they re-equipped with the Navy Ventura (PV1) at Fairbairn airport, Canberra in September 1943. In February 1944 the squadron moved to Coffs Harbour, fromwhich it searched for Japanese submarines and escorted Allied ships. Based at Cooktown Mission from June to August 1944 and then at Gove, Northern Territory, it bomber Japanese held islands in the Arafura Sea and as far as Lombok. The squadron was last based in Labuan. From March to September 1945 Goughs Ventura was the only Empire aircraft at MacArthurs headquarters in Leyte and Manila. They transported British, Canadian, New Zealand and Australian Admirals, Generals and Air Marshals from and back to Morotai. Whitlams crew flew 750 hours on Venturas. He was discharged on 17th October 1945. Edward Gough Whitlam was born in Melbourne on 11th July 1916 and joined the Australian Labor Party in 1945. He won the Federal seat or Werriwa at a by-election in November 1952 and was deputy leader of his party from February 1960 to February 1967 and thereafter leader until December 1977. Gough Whitlam was Prime Minister of Australia from 5th December 1972 to 11th November 1975. He resigned from Parliament in July 1978 to pursue an academic career.

Artwork signed by this Pilot or Aircrew