Help my PhD project document WW2 sites in QLD & NT
Donation protected
At the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) sent a handful of Wirraway aircraft of No. 12 Squadron, RAAF, from Laverton, near Melbourne, to defend Darwin, in the Northern Territory. During this 100th Anniversary year of the formation of the RAAF, I am hoping to visiting numerous RAAF airfields in both Queensland and the Northern Territory.
About me
I am a PhD candidate at the University of New England (UNE) investigating the archaeology of Second World War air power in Australia. I have had an interest in wartime aviation, particularly of that used in the South West Pacific, for over 20 years and have visited numerous aircraft wrecks and air power infrastructure sites in Australia and Papua New Guinea during that time. In 2017 I completed a Bachelor of Arts majoring in both Archaeology and History at UNE, and in 2018 I was awarded First Class Honours for my project investigating the archaeology of airfields utilised by schools of the Empire Air Training Scheme during the Second World War. Over the past few years I have presented at a number of archaeology and history related conferences, details of which can be found on my Academia page.
In early 2019 I raised funds through GoFundMe that saw a team of archaeologists document the wreck of a Brewster Buffalo aircraft that crashed in northeast Victoria. The results of this archaeological survey were presented at the Heritage of the Air Conference held at Australian National University in November 2019 and at the Victorian Archaeology Colloquium held at La Trobe University in February 2020. It was also detailed in an issue of 'Flightpath' magazine. Because of this work, the Buffalo wreck is now listed on the Victorian Heritage Inventory.
The journey
Travel to Darwin will be conducted in May to align with National Archaeology Week (16-22 May). One other archaeology student will also be taking part. Once in the Darwin area, we hope to visit the airfields built during wartime at which numerous Australian, Dutch, British, and American squadrons were based between 1942 and 1945. All data recorded will be included as part of my PhD project. Eventually, this data and imagery will be made public via a dedicated website (expected to go live in late March 2022).
As this will be occurring at the approximate time of National Archaeology Week - the time when we aim to increase public awareness of Australian archaeology and the work of Australian archaeologists - it is planned to document the journey on a day-to-day basis through an online blog . Additionally, we will be conducting a live Q&A session with the UNE Archaeology Society on the evening of Thursday, 20 May. These will of course be reliant on technology functionality and data access rates at the time.
While archaeologists will be involved in this project, no excavation will be taking place, nor will any artefacts be salvaged from the sites visited. Permission will be sought prior to accessing any sites located on private property.
How you can help
Flights to and from Darwin and accommodation in Darwin has now been paid for. We now require funds to hire a suitable vehicle and pay for fuel to travel to sites in the area - the more we receive, the more we will be able to cover. Additional funds for daily food, water, and additional expenses will also be required. Note that donations won't just help me and my PhD project, but also an Archaeology Masters student who has volunteered to assist.
What you'll receive
All those who donate AUD $20 or more in one donation will have their names included in an Appendix of my PhD thesis when it is submitted in 2022. Anyone who donates AUD $50 or more in one donation will also have their names included in any academic conference material or academic papers published where the data obtained during the journey is being presented.
A change in plans
It was originally hoped that we would have been able to have conducted this journey as a road trip from Armidale to Darwin, following the route(s) travelled by aircraft deploying to the area. Unfortunately, due to the inability to raise the required funds; one team member being unable to travel; and a replacement unable to be found, this plan will no longer be achievable by National Archaeology Week (NAW). This means that the research trip has been divided into at least two - the Darwin leg taking place during NAW, while the Queensland leg is expected to take place later in the year. Any leftover funds from the Darwin leg will directly go to funding the later Queensland trip.
About me
I am a PhD candidate at the University of New England (UNE) investigating the archaeology of Second World War air power in Australia. I have had an interest in wartime aviation, particularly of that used in the South West Pacific, for over 20 years and have visited numerous aircraft wrecks and air power infrastructure sites in Australia and Papua New Guinea during that time. In 2017 I completed a Bachelor of Arts majoring in both Archaeology and History at UNE, and in 2018 I was awarded First Class Honours for my project investigating the archaeology of airfields utilised by schools of the Empire Air Training Scheme during the Second World War. Over the past few years I have presented at a number of archaeology and history related conferences, details of which can be found on my Academia page.
In early 2019 I raised funds through GoFundMe that saw a team of archaeologists document the wreck of a Brewster Buffalo aircraft that crashed in northeast Victoria. The results of this archaeological survey were presented at the Heritage of the Air Conference held at Australian National University in November 2019 and at the Victorian Archaeology Colloquium held at La Trobe University in February 2020. It was also detailed in an issue of 'Flightpath' magazine. Because of this work, the Buffalo wreck is now listed on the Victorian Heritage Inventory.
The journey
Travel to Darwin will be conducted in May to align with National Archaeology Week (16-22 May). One other archaeology student will also be taking part. Once in the Darwin area, we hope to visit the airfields built during wartime at which numerous Australian, Dutch, British, and American squadrons were based between 1942 and 1945. All data recorded will be included as part of my PhD project. Eventually, this data and imagery will be made public via a dedicated website (expected to go live in late March 2022).
As this will be occurring at the approximate time of National Archaeology Week - the time when we aim to increase public awareness of Australian archaeology and the work of Australian archaeologists - it is planned to document the journey on a day-to-day basis through an online blog . Additionally, we will be conducting a live Q&A session with the UNE Archaeology Society on the evening of Thursday, 20 May. These will of course be reliant on technology functionality and data access rates at the time.
While archaeologists will be involved in this project, no excavation will be taking place, nor will any artefacts be salvaged from the sites visited. Permission will be sought prior to accessing any sites located on private property.
How you can help
Flights to and from Darwin and accommodation in Darwin has now been paid for. We now require funds to hire a suitable vehicle and pay for fuel to travel to sites in the area - the more we receive, the more we will be able to cover. Additional funds for daily food, water, and additional expenses will also be required. Note that donations won't just help me and my PhD project, but also an Archaeology Masters student who has volunteered to assist.
What you'll receive
All those who donate AUD $20 or more in one donation will have their names included in an Appendix of my PhD thesis when it is submitted in 2022. Anyone who donates AUD $50 or more in one donation will also have their names included in any academic conference material or academic papers published where the data obtained during the journey is being presented.
A change in plans
It was originally hoped that we would have been able to have conducted this journey as a road trip from Armidale to Darwin, following the route(s) travelled by aircraft deploying to the area. Unfortunately, due to the inability to raise the required funds; one team member being unable to travel; and a replacement unable to be found, this plan will no longer be achievable by National Archaeology Week (NAW). This means that the research trip has been divided into at least two - the Darwin leg taking place during NAW, while the Queensland leg is expected to take place later in the year. Any leftover funds from the Darwin leg will directly go to funding the later Queensland trip.
Organizer
Daniel Leahy
Organizer
New South Wales