It has been 80 years since World War II started and the Royal Australian Air Force Association Tasmania Division is marking this anniversary with a commemorative weekend in Hobart later this month.
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This service is an important one for Newstead resident Marjorie Fitzpatrick, as it recognises her younger brother Flight Lieutenant Richard (Dick) Darcey, but also his fellow pilots, ground crews and other service personnel.
Flight Lieutenant Darcey was a Spitfire pilot in World War II who died, aged 27, in October 1944 while in service at the Admiralty Islands, in the Pacific Ocean.
The RAAF Association remembrance service will be held at St David's Cathedral, Hobart, on Saturday, September 14.
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Mrs Fitzpatrick, 104, hopes to attend so she can honour her brother as well as those who served in the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Air Force, Allied and other air forces from past and present conflicts.
"Tasmania is the only state that has this commemorative service. All the top brass go," Mrs Fitzpatrick said.
"They play recordings of Big Ben sounding the end of the war and the air raid signal.
"It's a very impressive service. They've got a beautiful stained glass window and when the sun comes through you get all the colours on the walls," she said.
Flight Lieutenant Darcey, of Hobart, joined the RAAF in 1939 and trained at Western Junction and Ontario, Canada, before joining the RAAF Spitfire squadron in England.
He participated in 60 operational sweeps in the 18 months he served in England.
"[Spitfires] were the most wonderful fighting machines. They were excellent planes. They always said Spitfires won the war," Mrs Fitzpatrick said.
"They protected the coasts of England, Scotland and France. My brother was in many dogfights with the Germans, trying to keep the [English] Channel clear. He was the only Tasmanian who piloted a Spitfire."
Flight Lieutenant Darcey was also the sole survivor of an attack on a flak ship.
After serving in England he was sent to New Guinea and then seconded to the US Airforce to perform reconnaissance duties.
The Royal Australian Air Force Association Gathering of Eagles weekend also includes a welcome happy hour at RAAF Memorial Centre, Hobart, on Friday, September 13, dinner on Saturday night at Elwick Park and a service and wreath laying at the Hobart Cenotaph the following day.
For more information about the commemorative weekend visit raafatas.com
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Johanna Baker-Dowdell
Johanna has more than 22 years experience as a journalist for newspapers, magazines and online publications.
Johanna has more than 22 years experience as a journalist for newspapers, magazines and online publications.
