WGCDR Frank Ronald Schaaf 03382

DFC + Bar

This article was published in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 16, (MUP), 2002

Frank Ronald Schaaf (1915-1978), air force officer, was born on 22 July 1915 at Tenterfield, New South Wales, elder child of Frank Otto Schaaf, tram guard, and his wife Ivy Beatrice, née Hill, both born in New South Wales. Young Frank attended Clovelly Public and Sydney Technical High schools, and studied accountancy at the Metropolitan Business College. He passed the Federal Institute of Accountants' examinations and worked as a clerk with a number of Phillip Street barristers, with export firms and with a transport company. Having served in the cadets, he transferred to the Militia, became a gunner with the 18th Field Brigade, reached the rank of warrant officer, class 2, and was discharged from the army in 1936. At the district registrar's office, Chatswood, on the 10th of May 1937 he married May Rachel Donnelly; they were childless and divorced in March 1945.

On the 21st of March 1938 Schaaf had joined the Royal Australian Air Force as an aircraftman 1, clerk. He was posted to No.3 Squadron at Richmond, where he was promoted to corporal in January 1940 and sergeant in July. Two months later he applied for aircrew training. Sent for flying instruction to Mascot in December and to Wagga Wagga in February 1941, he was commissioned on the 3rd of June. He arrived in Britain in August and, after operational training, was posted in November to No.452 Squadron, R.A.A.F., based at Redhill, Surrey. The pilots in this Spitfire unit included Keith ('Bluey') Truscott and C. N. ('Bardie') Wawn.

In February 1942 Flying Officer Schaaf was sent to Egypt. There, on the 6th of June, he joined No.450 Squadron, an R.A.A.F. fighter-bomber unit which flew Kittyhawks. Within three weeks he claimed his first aerial victory, for damaging a Messerschmitt 109. On the 22nd of January 1943 he shot down one Me-109, shared in shooting down another and damaged a third. During the advance to Tripoli, Libya, he held temporary command (January-February) of the squadron and led it 'with great distinction'. By the end of his period in the Western Desert he had destroyed three enemy aircraft in aerial combat and won the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Reaching Melbourne on the 21st of March 1943, Schaaf was employed as an instructor at No.2 Operational Training Unit, Mildura. He was promoted flight lieutenant in June. After training as a fighter controller at New Lambton, New South Wales, he served with No.104 Fighter Sector Headquarters at Port Moresby from October and with No.111 Mobile Fighter Control Unit at Aitape, New Guinea, from April 1944. He returned to Australia in August. In May 1945 he was posted to No.82 Squadron at Noemfoor, Netherlands East Indies; he commanded the unit at Labuan, Borneo, from July and was made acting squadron leader in October. He led a strike against Kuching on the 8th of August, which entailed a long return trip of 950 miles (1529 km) for the Kittyhawks. Three enemy aircraft were destroyed on the ground. For 'exceptional operational ability, leadership and courage' Schaaf was awarded a Bar to his D.F.C.

At the end of World War II No.82 Squadron was re-equipped with Mustang fighters in anticipation of its deployment to Japan as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force. On the 18th of October 1945 at Glenferrie, Melbourne, Schaaf married with Presbyterian forms Margaret Florence McKenzie, a hairdresser. In March 1946 he took his squadron to Bofu, Japan. He acted from time to time as temporary commander of No.81 (Fighter) Wing before returning to Australia in February 1947 to commence a series of instructional, test-flying and staff appointments, including postings to the Central Flying School, Point Cook, Victoria, No.78 Wing headquarters, Williamtown, New South Wales, and the Aircraft Research Unit, Laverton, Victoria. Promoted wing commander in July 1954, he served on the staff of the Australian air attaché, Washington, and on exchange with the United States Air Force in 1956-59. He was later employed at the Department of Air, Canberra, in the directorate of organization and the electronic data-processing centre. On his retirement on the 10th of November 1964, he was made honorary group captain.

After working for R. A. Irish & Michelmore, a firm of chartered accountants in Sydney, Schaaf moved to Canberra in 1970 and joined the Commonwealth Public Service. He died of myocardial infarction on the 18th of April 1978 in Canberra Hospital and was cremated with Anglican rites; his wife, and their daughter and son survived him.

Select Bibliography

• G. Odgers, Air War Against Japan 1943-45 (Canb, 1957)
• operations record book, 82, 450, 452 squadrons, RAAF, 1939-45 (National Archives of Australia)
• private information.

Citation details

David Wilson, 'Schaaf, Frank Ronald (1915–1978)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/schaaf-frank-ronald-11626/text20763, accessed 26 September 2013. This article was first published in hardcopy in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 16, (MUP), 2002 by David Wilson

Christie’s Auctioneers – sold 1999:

Lot Description - The Rare Second World War D.F.C. and Bar Group of Eight to Wing Commander F.R. Schaaf, Royal Australian Air Force, a Successful Kittyhawk Pilot Who Was Credited With Four Victories in the Middle East Prior to Leading a Successful Strike on Kuching on August 1945, the Longest Oper-tional Flight Undertaken by Kittyhawks in the South-West Pacific Area.

(a)Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., with Bar for Second Award, the reverse of the Cross officially dated '1943' and the Bar '1946'
(b)1939-45 Star (2623 F.R. Schaaf)
(c)Air Crew Europe Star (2623 F.R. Schaaf)
(d)Africa Star, bar North Africa 1942-43 (2623 F.R. Schaaf)
(e)Pacific Star (2623 F.R. Schaaf)
(f)War Medal 1939-45 (2623 F.R. Schaaf)
(g)Australia Service Medal 1939-45 (2623 F.R. Schaaf)
(h)Air Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R. (03382 F.R. Schaaf), this last with officially corrected surname, very fine and better, mounted as worn, together with related Dress Miniatures (excluding (h)) (8).

Lot Notes Sold with a quantity of original documentation and artefacts, including the recipient's original R.A.A.F. Flying Log Books (2), covering the period December 1940 to December 1958, the wartime entries with superbly detailed 'unofficial' commentary; an impressive photograph album, subject matter largely relating to Pilot training days; a lucky mascot leather dog, signed by fellow Squadron members; silk wartime maps (2), and much besides.

D.F.C. London Gazette 23.2.1943. 'This Officer has taken part in many operational sorties and has destroyed three enemy aircraft in combat. During the advance into Tripoli he led the Squadron with great distinction. On one occasion, when attacking Castel Benito, he destroyed an enemy aircraft on the ground. Two days later, Flight Lieutenant Schaaf led a formation attack on five Focke Wulfe 190s, three of which were destroyed.

Bar to D.F.C.

London Gazette 25.6.1946. Recommendation states 'Flight Lieutenant Schaaf has destroyed four enemy aircraft in the air, probably destroyed four, damaged three, and has destroyed 11 enemy aircraft on the ground. While at Labuan, he has destroyed one aircraft on the ground and one motor vehicle, has shared in the destruction of one motor transport, eight large houses, seven barges, two launches, and one W.T. Station, and has shared in the damaging of one motor transport, three barges, nine launches, two luggers and one ketch. During this period, he has shown leadership, courage and operational planning ability of an exceptional type. Flight Lieutenant Schaaf planned and led the first strike by Kittyhawk aircraft on Kuching on the 8th of August 1945, an exceptionally long flight of 950 miles for this type of aircraft. At Kuching, his formation destroyed three enemy single-seater fighters, which were at the end of the airstrip, apparently about to take off, one with the engine running. Flight Lieutenant Schaaf has always shown exceptional operational ability, leadership and courage. His leadership is most inspiring and effective. He has completed a total of 240 sorties, including 200 strikes.

About Frank

Wing Commander Frank Ronald Schaaf, D.F.C., entered the Royal Australian Air Force soon after the commencement of hostilities and started his Pilot's Course at No. 4 Elementary Flying School at Mascot, New South Wales in December 1940. By May 1941 he had gained his 'Wings' and sailed for the U.K. where he joined No. 57 O.T.U., 'A' Flight being commanded by the famous Battle of Britain ace "Ginger" Lacey. Qualifying on Spitfires, he was posted to No. 452 Squadron at Redhill, Surrey in November, with which unit he completed a number of operational sorties, including a Squadron "Balbo" on 12.12.1941 when he was jumped by 109s 'but got away'. Then in June 1942 he joined 450 (R.A.A.F.) Squadron in Libya, a busy tour in Kittyhawks resulting in a string of successes.

On a reconnaissance of the Gambut area on the 18th of June1942, he was jumped by 109s and his aircraft damaged, as evidenced by one of his 'unofficial' Flying Log Book entries: 'My port aileron damaged and three or four wires shot away. Returned their first attack by climbing up to them. Pooped until stalled and spun away. Possible hits scored. Rejoined fight in time to watch one 109 crash after being hit by Flight Sergeant Dyson'. A few days later, while providing cover for some Bostons, he attacked a 109 with better results: 'Damaged him severely but could not get confirmation of kill'. Once again, however, Schaaf's Kittyhawk felt the wrath of a 109, after a successful ground strafing operation on the 5th of July 1942: 'Attacked by 109 on way home who pulled away when I prepared for a head on attack. Got bullet in radiator which put cooling system u./s. and was lucky to get home'. And again, on the 27th of July 1942, over the vicinity of Daba, in company with Pilot Officer J. Forsyth, he was jumped by 109s, Forsyth being shot down and killed ('I got in very good bursts on the bastard who got him'). And so a relentless programme of strafing continued throughout August and September, among other successes being a surprise strike on an enemy unit 150 miles behind their lines on the 2nd of August 1942: 'Caught Jerry Long Range Group napping. Bombing and strafing excellent - I started a fire - probably a fuel dump'. But it was not until the end of October that Schaaf gained his first confirmed victory, a 109 over Daba, but not without cost - 'My kite hit by cannon fire'. Another victim was shared with his C.O. on the 25th of October 1942, a Stuka over Mersa Matruh, Schaaf's fire killing the Rear-Gunner - despite a punishing five minute engagement, the unfortunate Stuka remained as unconfirmed. November witnessed further successes, Schaaf claiming a 109 after a 20 minute engagement on the 9th ('Got in beautiful shots... Used up all my ammunition') and sharing a Stuka with Pilot Officer Dickie Wynn on the 22nd, their victim being 'sent into the sea with one engine out'. Undoubtedly, however, Schaaf's greatest day was the 22nd of January 1943: 'A helluva good show! Hit by 88mm. shell which did not explode... My first view of Tripoli... Jumped by four 109s... Got one and a half confirmed and one damaged'. He was lucky, however, to get back from his 'last flip in the Desert' at the end of the month: 'Had a crack at a truck on the coast road and in so doing got a bullet in the engine, writing off my fifth "Diamond". Made base just in time for engine to completely pack up in circuit area'.

Schaaf was awarded the D.F.C. and returned to Australia for duties as a Flying Instructor. In late May 1945, he returned to the operational scene with an appointment to 82 Squadron at Morotai, the unit shortly afterwards moving to Labuan, an island off the West Coast of Borneo. Equipped with Kittyhawks, 82 was charged with hitting Japanese ground forces in support of the A.I.F., a task which was carried out with relish and no small success, Schaaf's Flying Log Book once more providing a vivid record of the Squadron's trials and tribulations. But it was for leading a remarkable attack on an enemy airstrip near Kuching in Borneo on 8.8.1945 that he received his second D.F.C., a 950 mile return trip, the longest yet achieved by Kittyhawks in an operational role: 'Four of us destroyed on ground three Tojos [Oscars] and one M.T., badly damaged two M.T., two M. Launches, two Luggers, one Ketch, three Barges, one Radar Station. My share of destroyed: one Tojo, one M.T., one confirmed Nip'. In September Schaaf converted to Mustangs, immediate post-hostilities duties including escort work for the arrival of Lady Mountbatten in Labuan in October ('Engine cut out on take-off. Shaky do!'), and for Lord Louis when he arrived in December. Then in March 1946, as C.O. of 82 Squadron, Schaaf participated in the greatest mass flight in the history of the R.A.A.F., when over 120 aircraft flew 2500 miles to Iwakuni in Japan.

Schaaf remained in the Royal Australian Air Force until the 1960s, his post-War appointments including a stint in the U.K. in 1950 with the Central Fighter Establishment at Raynham, Norfolk, and as C.O. of 75 Squadron back in Australia soon afterwards. On the 1st of June 1951, he set a new Adelaide to Sydney record in a Mustang at one hour, 59 minutes and five seconds. Towards the end of his career he was attached to the 9th U.S. Air Force at Sumpter, South Carolina.

Frank Schaaf flying Kittyhawk III FR242/OK-<>. 450 Squadron, Libya, c.1943, via Mike Mirkovic. [Courtesy of ADF SERIALS]

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BOFU, JAPAN. 1946-03-18. 1319 WING COMMANDER ANDY D. SWAN MBE OF ELWOOD, VIC, SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER NO. 81 FIGHTER WING RAAF (LEFT), GREETING 2623 SQUADRON LEADER (SQN LDR) FRANK SCHAAF DFC OF SYDNEY, NSW (CENTRE), COMMANDING OFFICER NO. 82 SQUADRON RAAF, WHEN THE FIRST MUSTANGS REACHED BOFU, AFTER THE 2,500 MILE FLIGHT FROM LABUAN, BORNEO. 263691 SQN LDR LEN WILLIAMS OF RHODES, NSW, IS SECOND IN COMMAND TO WING COMMANDER SWAN.

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BOFU, JAPAN. 1946-03-18. 1319 WING COMMANDER ANDY D. SWAN MBE, ELWOOD, VIC (LEFT), SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER OF NO. 81 FIGHTER WING RAAF, WAS WAITING AT BOFU TO GREET 2623 SQUADRON LEADER FRANK SCHAAF DFC OF SYDNEY, NSW, WHO LED IN THE FIRST NO. 82 SQUADRON RAAF MUSTANG AIRCRAFT, AFTER A DIRECT FLIGHT FROM OKINAWA TO JAPAN, ON THE LAST LEG OF THEIR LONG JOURNEY FROM LABUAN, NORTH BORNEO.

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