Operation Pig Bristle

The RAAF's No. 38 Squadron was selected to transport Australia's share of the bristles.^[6] This squadron was equipped with Douglas Dakota aircraft, and was responsible at the time for conducting regular flights from Australia to Japan carrying personnel and supplies for the Australian element of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force.^[2] A detachment of three Dakotas led by No. 38 Squadron's commanding officer, Squadron Leader John Balfe, was sent from Australia to Hong Kong in preparation for the task.^[7] As flying conditions were expected to be difficult, each of these aircraft was manned by two highly experienced pilots as well as another airman who performed the duties of navigator, radio operator and flight engineer.^[8]

The flights from Hong Kong to Chongqing began in early May 1946.^[9] At this time Chongqing had been isolated by Communist forces, and foreign embassies were being evacuated from the city ahead of its expected occupation by the Communists.^[10] No navigation aids were available to guide the Australian aircraft, and their crews had to use inaccurate road maps for navigation during the 1,100-kilometre (680 mi) trips between Chongqing and Hong Kong.^[7] The RAAF aircrew found the flights between Hong Kong and Chongqing to be challenging as a result of mountains around the Chinese city, as well as the expected lack of accurate weather forecasts and navigation aids.^[11] As the Australian legation was evacuated from Chongqing in early May, the RAAF aircrew slept at the British embassy when they needed to overnight in the city.^[12] The detachment was successful in flying out the pig bristles within the two weeks available, with eight return flights being made to Chongqing.^[2][7] In his memoirs Balfe attributed this success to "reasonable weather and everyone's enthusiasm".^[11] After completing their task, the three Dakotas left Hong Kong bound for Australia on 14 May.^[7]

Some of the pig bristles were rushed to Australia on board No. 38 Squadron aircraft, and the remainder were transported from Hong Kong by sea.^[6][13] On 29 May it was reported that the shortage of pig bristles had been overcome.^[14] One of the pilots involved in Operation Pig Bristle received the Air Force Cross in the 1948 New Years Honours in recognition of his role in the operation.^[7][15] RAAF official historian Alan Stephens wrote in 1995 that "John Balfe's brief but thrilling account of his team's exotic adventure should be mandatory reading in every RAAF air transport crew room".^[16]

Citations

Works consulted

• Balfe, John (1985). ...And Far From Home: Flying RAAF Transports in the Pacific War and After. South Melbourne: Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-41507-8.
• RAAF Historical Section (1995). Units of the Royal Australian Air Force. A Concise History. Volume 4 Maritime and Transport Units. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. ISBN 0-644-42796-5.
• Stephens, Alan (1995). Going Solo: The Royal Australian Air Force 1946–1971. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. ISBN 0-644-42803-1.