The Governor General’s Maps, WWII RAAF History
This RAAF box of maps carries a premium provenance: HRH The Duke of Gloucester, son of King George V. Each map and the box itself bears the stamp “OFFICE OF H.R.H. THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER / 28 MAR 1945.”
The clue is in the dating: January 1945 was the changeover date for the Governor General of Australia, and the Duke flew from wartime England to fill the post — the only Royal ever to do so. He arrived on 30 January 1945.
The Duke and the Avro York “Endeavour”
The Duke’s aircraft was an Avro York (MW140), named the Endeavour — the latest civilian version based on the RAF Lancaster bomber, fitted out as a luxury VIP carrier. The Governor General and his wife covered 63,000 miles in their two years in Australia, visiting every state.
These maps were navigational charts used by the navigator aboard the Endeavour. The map box was designed to be taken on board and fitted to the side of the navigator’s table, where the navigator had a good view ahead over the pilot’s shoulder and to his right through an oval viewing blister.
The Maps
