1 W.A.G.S. Gallery

The Gallery of 1 W.A.G.S. Memorial Website contains historical photos of the training school during the 1940’s. There are photos of buildings, people and aircraft that were intrinsic to the training of these young RAAF recruits.

Photos from the Avro Anson Museum memorabilia give an insight into 1 W.A.G.S. during WW2.

There is also a collection of photos from the Australian War Memorial related to Wireless Air Gunners, The Empire Training Scheme and 1 W.A.G.S. Ballarat. 

The restoration and renovation of Hut 48 [ the Officers Mess at 1 W.A.G.S. Ballarat 1940-45] is captured through a series of photos from the beginning to completion of the restoration and includes the official opening of the building.

Over 1200 photos related to individual RAAF personnel listed on the MEMORIAL ROLL are included on their profile page. These photos can also be found in The 1 W.A.G.S. PEOPLE GALLERY.

Newspaper articles from the Ballarat Courier and Trove relating to 1 W.A.G.S. are to be found in the HISTORY of 1 W.A.G.S. section of the site.

Many specific photos and articles are included in the other menu areas of the site. Further photos will be added as they become available.

The GALLERY is intended to enhance the 1 W.A.G.S. Memorial site by providing a visual representation of the written information. If you can add a photo, please contact the web developer on the CONTACT US page. Hover curser over images for names.

1 Wags Ballarat Courier Articles
Air Trainees settle down at showgrounds Courier May 1st 1940
Welfare of Recruits Courier 1940
All Walks of Life Courier May 1st 1940
1 W.A.G.S. Inter-Squadron Athletic Sports.
Air Force trainees at Ballarat Courier 31st May 1940
Airforces 1st game - Courier May 18th 1940
1 W.A.G.S. winning rowing team.
'G' for George flying over Ballarat
1 W.A.G.S. Football team 1940
1 WAGS RAAF Revels Concert
1W.A.G.S Prisoner Of War
Major camps for Australian P.O.W.s in Europe
RAAF Ex-P.O.W
Ex RAAF POWs Welcomed Home 11 September 1945 Trove
A Japanese POW Camp
Allied POWs in a Japanese internment camp
2019
Trainees on parade
Courses 1 and 2 1 WAGS Hut 48
1WAGS Trainees
Jack Bell addressing the opening of Hut 48
75 Years On ~ War In the Pacific
ABC Photo -  Kokoda Track
Battle for Australia Assoc - Bombing of Darwin
AWM 044546 - Manly Beach Sydney 1942
AWM 026648 - RAAF Milne Bay Papua September 1942
Battle for Australia Association - Battle in the jungle
About Hut 48
1 W.A.G.S. Memorial Wall Hut 48 Created by Peter Schoutens
Hut 48 AFA Ballarat branch HQ
Hut 48 after renovation
Hut 48 before renovation June 2017
Hut 48 before renovation
Hut 48 before renovation
Hut 48 before renovation
Jack Bell addressing the opening of Hut 48
Hut 48 AFA Ballarat branch HQ
Hut 48 under renovation
Avro Anson Air Museum Ballarat Aerodrome
Apco Sponsorship L to R Janet Bates Peter Dowling Olivia Bates Ivor Riesewyk Photo Edwina Williams.
ANZAC Day 2020
ANZAC DAY 2020
ANZAC DAY 2020
ANZAC DAY 2020
ANZAC DAY 2020
ANZAC DAY 2020
ANZAC DAY 2020
ANZAC DAY 2020
ANZAC DAY 2020
ANZAC DAY 2020
Arch of Victory Ballarat Centenary
Avenue of Honour 1917
Opening crowd of the Arch of Victory
Lucas girls football team
Laying of Foundation Stone 1920
Lucas girls awaiting HRH Prince of Wales at the official opening
Presentation of gold scissors to HRH by Mrs Lucas
Tilly Thompson presenting HRH with silk pyjamas
HRH Prince of Wales cutting the ribbon
HRH moving to his car for a tour of Ballarat
Ballarat Memorial Concert Band
Bomber Command Squadrons
Bomber Command Memorial London
Bomber Command
Lancaster over fires of Hanover 1943
Wireless Operator - Lancaster - Bomber Command
Wellington Bomber and crew 149 squadron 1940
Operations Room Conference Bomber Command 1943 Artist Herbert Arnould Olivier
Bomber Command Squadrons 2
F/O Francis Petch 550, 150 Sqns Dis 28/11/1945
F/O Frederick Spafford 50, 617 Sqns Left 2nd. K. 16/09/1943
W/O Denis Kelly 467 Sqn Left 4th Dis. 24/08/1945
Lancaster Bomber G for George 460 Squadron
460 Squadron and G for George Lancaster Bomber
F/Sgt Mervyn Whittenbury 460 Sqn K. 13/06/1944
Courses - Badges
Wireless (Air) Badge
Air Gunner Badge
Navigator Badge
Signaller Badge
Observer Badge
Wireless Air Gunner Badge
Courses - Graduation Certificates
1 WAGS Evaluation Form {Wireless}
1 W.A.G.S. Evaluation Form {Gunner}
1 WAGS Evaluation Form {General}
1 WAGS Course 4 Navigator Graduation
1 WAGS Course 5 Navigator Graduation
1 WAGS Course 5 Navigator Graduation
1 WAGS Course 5 Graduation Dinner
1 WAGS Course 5 Graduation Dinner
1 WAGS Course 5 Graduation Dinner
1 WAGS Course 7 Graduation Menu
1 WAGS Graduation Course 13
1 WAGS Graduation Course 14
1 WAGS Course 16 Graduation Certificate
1 WAGS Course 7 Graduation Menu
1 WAGS Graduation Course 17
1 WAGS Graduation Course 23
1 WAGS Graduation Course 26
1 WAGS Graduation Course 24
1 WAGS Course 26 Graduation
1 WAGS Course 26 Graduation
1 WAGS Course 26 Graduation
1 WAGS Course 26 Graduation
1 WAGS Graduation Course 27
1 WAGS Graduation Course 28
1 WAGS Course 28 Graduation
1 WAGS Course 28 Graduation
1 WAGS Course 28 Graduation
1 WAGS Course 28 Graduation
1 WAGS Course 28 Graduation
1 WAGS Course 29 Graduation Dinner
1 WAGS Graduation Course 29
1 WAGS Graduation Course 30
1 WAGS Graduation Course 31
1 WAGS Graduation Course 32
1 WAGS Course 33 Graduation Dinner
1 WAGS Course 33 Graduation Dinner
1 WAGS Graduation Course 33
1 WAGS Course 34 Dinner menu
1 WAGS Graduation Course 34
1 WAGS Course 35 Graduation Certificate
1 WAGS Graduation Course 36
1 WAGS Graduation Course 37
1 WAGS Graduation Course 38
1 WAGS Graduation Course 42
1 W.A.G.S. Course 48 Graduation Certificate
1 W.A.G.S Course 49 Graduation Certificate
1 WAGS Course 53 Graduation Certificate
1 WAGS Course 53 Names
1 WAGS Course 53 Guests of Honour
1 WAGS Course 53 Photo
1 WAGS Course 53A Graduation Certificate
Events
Arch of Victory Ballarat Photo Roland Weatherall
Flight Lieutenant Peter Charles Turstin Armytage O
Flight Lieutenant Peter Charles Turstin Armytage OAM
Flight Lieutenant Peter Charles Turstin Armytage OAM
Flight Lieutenant Peter Charles Turstin Armytage OAM
Flight Lieutenant Peter Charles Turstin Armytage OAM
Flight Lieutenant Peter Charles Turstin Armytage OAM
Flight Lieutenant Peter Charles Turstin Armytage OAM
Flight Lieutenant Peter Charles Turstin Armytage OAM
Flight Lieutenant Peter Charles Turstin Armytage OAM
Flight Lieutenant Peter Charles Turstin Armytage OAM
Flight Lieutenant Peter Charles Turstin Armytage OAM
Flight Lieutenant Peter Charles Turstin Armytage OAM
Flight Lieutenant Peter Charles Turstin Armytage OAM
Flying Officer Francis Noel Miller PETCH
Flying Officer Francis Noel Miller PETCH - 1 WAGS
Flying Officer Francis Noel Miller PETCH - 1 WAGS
Flying Officer Francis Noel Miller PETCH - 1 WAGS 1943
Flying Officer Francis Noel Miller PETCH - 1 WAGS 1944
Flying Officer Francis Noel Miller PETCH - Crew 1944 R.
Flying Officer Francis Noel Miller PETCH - 1 WAGS
Flying Officer Frederick Michael SPAFFORD
General
Avro Anson Aircraft Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial 1 WAGS display
Australian War Memorial RAAF badges
Australian War Memorial 1 WAGS display
Australian War Memorial RAAF Empire Training Scheme
Australian War Memorial RAAF Empire Training Scheme
Australian War Memorial -To Fly for the Empire
Australian War Memorial - Empire Training Scheme Bases
Australian War Memorial -  Cockpit of Avro Anson aircraft
Australian War Memorial- Pilots handbook for Avro Anson aircraft
Australian War Memorial - Aircraft formation
Australian War Memorial - Lancaster 'G for George' aircraft
Australian War Memorial - " A Bomber called George"
Australian War Memorial - " Failed To Return"
Australian War Memorial - Wireless Operator
Australian War Memorial - "Crew Tasks"
Australian War Memorial - Air Gunner Turret
Mrs Margaret Wood former WREN laying a wreath at D Day Commemoration
No 1 W.A.G.S - Theatre in 1941 Occasion unknown
Morse Code
1 W.A.G.S Radio lesson
Air Gunner training Sale, Vic.
1 W.A.G.S - Wackett training aircraft
1 W.A.G.S - Wackett training aircraft with pilots in foreground
1 W.A.G.S Ballarat - Huts
RAAF trainees being briefed for an airborne exercise
Trainees at 1 W.A.G.S
History
Poster recruiting for RAAF Empire Training Scheme
New arrivals being briefed at 1 W.A.G.S.
1 W.A.G.S Ballarat - huts
Aerial photo of 1 W.A.G.S. Ballarat
1 W.A.G.S. Concert and Theatre building.
Occupants of Hut 15 at 1 W.A.G.S.
Snowing at 1 W.A.G.S.Ballarat
Snowing at 1 W.A.G.S.Ballarat
Wing Commander Fairbairn
Wackett trainer aircraft
1 W.A.G.S. on Revue
1 W.A.G.S. Control Tower
1 W.A.G.S Writing Paper
Jack Bell
Warrant Officer John [Jack] Robert Bell
Warrant Officer John [Jack] Robert Bell[Enlistment]
Warrant Officer John [Jack] Robert Bell
Warrant Officer John [Jack] Robert Bell
Warrant Officer John [Jack] Robert Bell [Jack Bell's War]
Warrant Officer John [Jack] Robert Bell[War Memorial]
Warrant Officer John [Jack] Robert Bell - Opening of AFA Ballarat Hut 48
Memorial Roll
Grieving Mother Arch of Victory Ballarat [information] Photo Roland Weatherall
Grieving Mother Arch of Victory Ballarat Photo Roland Weatherall
Ex-Prisoner of War Memorial Ballarat Photo Ex-Prisoner of War website
Ex-Prisoner of War Memorial Ballarat Photo j burrell
No. 1 Wireless Air Gunners School Plaque
No 1 Wireless Air Gunners School Plaque in full
Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Medal
George Medal
Prisoner of War in the Pacific
1 WAGS - GRAHAM Maurice Anthony - 410337
GRAHAM Maurice Anthony ITS
GRAHAM and BOANAS fate
1 WAGS - BOANAS Jack William Robinson - 417331 ITS
No. 2 Squadron [Hudson] RAAF
1 WAGS - OLDFIELD Ernest Radcliffe DFM - 406221
TROVE RAAF POW return - 21 September 1945
Japanese POW Camp
Allied POW in a Japanese Internment camp
Ex Prisoner of War Memorial Ballarat
The Empire Training Scheme
The Empire Training Scheme- Leaving for Canada
 Empire Training Scheme Courier May 20th 1940
The Empire Training Scheme Commemorative coin
The Empire Training Scheme Recruits
RAAF Recruitment Poster
Empire Air Training Courses 1 & 2 Leaving Sydney
Trainees at 1 Wags
1 W.A.G.S. trainee practicing his wireless skills.
1 W.A.G.S. theatre - occasion unknown.
Trainees at 1 W.A.G.S. in class
Trainees at 1 W.A.G.S. in marching drill
Trainees at 1 W.A.G.S. On the Go!
Trainees at 1 W.A.G.S. Wireless Instruction
Trainees at 1 W.A.G.S. with instructor
WAAAF
W.A.A.A.F. Recruiting Poster
W.A.A.A.F Womens Weekly 1943
W.A.A.A.F Womens Weekly 1943
W.A.A.A.F Womens Weekly 1945
WACKETT AIRCRAFT
Final instructions
Warrant Officer Tom Runnels
 Warrant Officer Tom Runnels
 Warrant Officer Tom Runnels
 Warrant Officer Tom Runnels
 Warrant Officer Tom Runnels
 Warrant Officer Tom Runnels
Wing Commander Charles Osborne Fairbairn
Wing Commander Charles Osborne Fairbairn OBE AFC
Wing Commander Charles Osborne Fairbairn OBE AFC Uniform
Wing Commander Charles Osborne Fairbairn OBE AFC DH.85 Leopard Moth
Wing Commander Charles Osborne Fairbairn OBE AFC Courier
Wing Commander Charles Osborne Fairbairn OBE AFC Ballarat Times
Wing Commander Charles Osborne Fairbairn OBE AFC TROVE
Wing Commander Fairbairn
RAAF Training School C.O. Retires - Wing Commander Fairbairn
Wing Commander Fairbairn Retires
Wing Commander Fairbairn RAAF Training School CO Retires

Acknowledgements

National Archives of AustraliaUBC Web DesignCity of BallaratAPCO AlfredtonDepartment of Veterans+39 AffairsAustralian War MemorialRSL Virtual War Memorial