A CONCISE ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLE OF THE V.A.O.C IN W.W II
The Volunteer Air Observers Corps (VAOC) was one of Australia’s largest Second World War organizations. In the desperate last days of 1941 following Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbour and with attacking Japanese forces almost on Australia’s ‘doorstep’ a meeting at RAAF H.Q. Melbourne of the Australian Air Board and RAAF intelligence officers resulted in an edict directed to RAAF Southern Command to commence formation forthwith of an air observation corps based on Britain’s already famous Royal Observers Corps.
Because of the acute manpower shortage in Australia the new Corps was to be formed by male and female civilian volunteers in unique State based units of the RAAF. Queensland was divided into two units, Qld. And North Qld. The urgency of the situation saw the organization spread rapidly over most of continental Australia resulting in the establishment of almost 3000 Observation Posts (O.P) Reporting Posts (R.P) and Air Reporting Officers (A.R.O). The States were divided into 39 Zone Controls and 6 Air Sectors (1 per State unit) later to become State ADHQ.
The VAOC provided Australia’s first line of defence from enemy air attack and air intelligence which was shared with the USAAF. The VAOC was a continuous 24 hr. Operation. From February 1942 to 1946 no aircraft could move in Australian airspace without coming under the surveillance of the VAOC. All flights were observed, reported and tracked to termination including all Japanese aircraft intrusions.
When the Japanese threat to Australia was virtually eliminated Australia became a huge air training zone. The VAOC provided a vast safety umbrella for the airmen in training. By the end of the war VAOC personnel were credited with saving more than 2000 aircraft with crews numbering several thousands from potentially fatal situations. Thousands of aircrew and passengers were saved by VAOC personnel from aircraft crashes on land and offshore. Before the war ended, several additional tasks were thrust upon the ever accommodating personnel of the VAOC.
The VAOC operated flawlessly to beyond the end of the war being disbanded in 1946. The VAOC represented the ultimate achievement of patriotic devotion to National duty.
No Australian aviation library can be complete without the history of this truly amazing RAAF organization.
