Later war service John Lerew

hudson similar in nos. 24 , 32 squadrons

returning australia, lerew held various base commands including raaf station townsville, raaf station nowra in new south wales, , batchelor airfield near darwin, northern territory. led no. 7 squadron, operating bristol beauforts out of first nowra , townsville, august december 1942. returned raaf station laverton take charge of no. 1 aircraft depot (no. 1 ad). lerew s biographer, lex mcaulay, speculated of quick succession of postings across country: ...it easy assume wing commander critical reports seen war cabinet, , had twice escaped enemy @ close quarters, not allowed personal contact media of day until experiences no longer topical , overtaken more recent momentous events . though degree-qualified in civil engineering, lerew believed underused in technical environment of no. 1 ad, , sought overseas posting. nevertheless, tenure @ laverton helped prepare him later flying safety work. in september 1943, investigated crash of vultee vengeance flown experienced aviator, , found when rolling aircraft right possible pilot s movements release safety harness, making impossible him remain in seat , control aircraft. lerew designed , developed clip prevent recurrence of mishap, later adopted worldwide such harnesses.

lerew posted raaf overseas headquarters, london, in december 1943. travelled via united states, meeting film stars bing crosby, bob hope, , dorothy lamour on set of road utopia @ los angeles in february 1944. in london, undertook study of raf , usaaf methods of operations, diplomatic duties. of invasion of france on 6 june 1944, wrote: there has been no rejoicing. hushed quietness has descended on london , of england. people have relatives in it, , there 1 wish: is, end quickly. depressing playing no part in it. later in year, lerew invested distinguished flying cross king george vi @ buckingham palace. returned australia in 1945, , married laurie steele, australian-born widow of royal air force night-fighter pilot, having met when stationed in england. couple had 2 daughters, divorced. in march, lerew took part in investigation crash of hudson carrying major general george vasey; determined pilot s lack of experience in instrument flying had been factor, , recommended further such training raaf flight crew. promoted group captain, formed directorate of flying safety in june 1945 , served inaugural director. believing promotion of flying safety in raaf cut across both administrative , operational spheres, , aware of notorious feud between service s 2 senior officers, air vice marshals george jones , bill bostock, lerew had proposed new directorate placed squarely under auspices of jones chief of air staff, authority demand free access information other directorates.