Air Force Lieutenant in sidcot suit, with bomb

3D Model

Our Air Force Officer, courageous and daring in his sidcot flying suit, flying helmet with goggles and leather gauntlets brings a new face to warfare.

Powered flight was in its infancy at the outbreak of the First World War but by 1918 the aircraft had become one of the most deadly new weapons on the battlefield and tactics like strategic bombing would change the nature of war forever. Wearing special clothing to protect himself from bone numbing temperatures at altitude. At his feet is an aerial bomb.

Although Australia did not create its own Air Force until 1921 Australians flew as pilots and observers in the Australian Flying Corps in the Middle East and over the Western Front or joined the British forces and flew with the Royal Flying Corps or the Royal Naval Air Service.

During the Great War only officers could serve as aircrew.