Donald Alfred Marsen papers

Series 1: Log book (1941-1946)

Series number
1
Series title
Log book
Date
1941-1946
Scope and content

Observer's Air Gunner's and W/T Operators Flying Log Book associated with Donald Marsen, who served with the RAAF during the Second World War.

Includes handwritten and typewritten notes providing Marsen's description of service: I finished my Air Crew Training as a W.A.G. in November 1941 just as Japan entered the war. For some time then was on shipping convoy patrol work in Australia with 67 Squadron until May 1943. Then did several schools (Gunnery Leaders Course) and 2 Operation Training Unit Courses flying with A.N.A. for about two months and a half while waiting the courses. Then went north to West of Australia. I was with 1 Squadron until February 1945. Next with Chemical Research Unit, flying in gas trials etc. Then to 5 Communications Unit, Townsville in October 1945 on flying duties, such duties entailing trips to New Guinea, was with 5 C U until March when I came to [...] for discharge in August 1946.

[Item M660/1]

Description
1 log book
Locate
OMOSBOX Box 5639
Access restrictions
Unrestricted access
Conditions of use
You are free to use for personal research and study. For other uses see https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/understanding-copyright
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Series 2: Service medals (1939-1945)

Series number
2
Series title
Service medals
Date
1939-1945
Scope and content

Service medals and associated ribbons issued to Flight Lieutenant Donald Marsen RAAF for his service during the Second World War.

The collection includes:

  • Four service medals issued to Donald Marsen, RAAF: 1939-1945 Star; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-1945; Australian Service Medal 1939-1945.
  • Minatures of the four service medals issued to Donald Marsen, RAAF
  • Ribbon offcuts for the 1939-1945 Star.

[Items M660/2 - M660/4]

Description
1 folder
Locate
OMOSBOX Box 5639
Access restrictions
Unrestricted access
Conditions of use
You are free to use for personal research and study. For other uses see https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/understanding-copyright
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Series 3: Military artifacts (1939-1945)

Series number
3
Series title
Military artifacts
Date
1939-1945
Scope and content

Collection of military insignia, badges, pins, brooches and goggles, associated with Donald Marsen and the RAAF during the Second World War.

[Items M660/5 to M660/19]

Description
1 folder
Locate
OMOSBOX Box 5639

Items in this series:

Service chevrons (1941-1945)

Unit ID
M660/5
Item title
Service chevrons
Date
1941-1945
Scope and content

Australian Air Force khaki cotton rank insignia; white and brown emboidered chevrons.

Description
7 badges

Service stripes (1914-1945)

Unit ID
M660/6
Item title
Service stripes
Date
1914-1945
Scope and content

RAAF Flight Sergeant's Stripes [cloth, dark and light blue] associated with Donald Marsen.

Description
2 badges

Badge (1941-1945)

Unit ID
M660/7
Item title
Badge
Date
1941-1945
Scope and content

RAAF Wireless Operator's cloth badge / insignia [hand with lightning] assocated with Donald Marsen.

Description
2 badges

Badge (1941-1945)

Unit ID
M660/8
Item title
Badge
Date
1941-1945
Scope and content

RAAF Shoulder Eagle [light blue] cloth badge / insignia

Description
4 badges

Epaullets (1941-1945)

Unit ID
M660/9
Item title
Epaullets
Date
1941-1945
Scope and content

RAAF Flight Lieutenant epauletts [kakhi cloth] with a florentine bronze crown & eagle badge.

Description
8 items

Air Gunner's brevet (1941-1945)

Unit ID
M660/10
Item title
Air Gunner's brevet
Date
1941-1945
Scope and content

Australian manufactured, 1940 pattern RAAF Air Gunner's 'AG' brevet, showing a white wing, and a white 'AG' within a pale blue wreath, on a RAAF blue wool ground. Associated with Flight Lieutenant Donald Marsen.

Description
5 items

Service chevron (1940-1943)

Unit ID
M660/11
Item title
Service chevron
Date
1940-1943
Scope and content

Red service chevron, RAAF 1940-1943

Description
1 item

Sweetheart badges (1941-1945)

Unit ID
M660/12
Item title
Sweetheart badges
Date
1941-1945
Scope and content

Resin castes for, and partially constructed, sweetheart badges / brooches presumably crafted by Donald Marsen.

Description
1 folder

Ribbons, buttons (1941-145)

Unit ID
M660/13
Item title
Ribbons, buttons
Date
1941-145
Scope and content

Dark blue and light blue striped ribbons; Dark uniform buttons, associated with the RAAF.

Description
1 folder

Hat badges (1941-1945)

Unit ID
M660/14
Item title
Hat badges
Date
1941-1945
Scope and content

Four cloth and metal badges associated with RAAF Flight Lietenant Donald Marsen.

Description
5 items

Bomb pin (1941-1945)

Unit ID
M660/15
Item title
Bomb pin
Date
1941-1945
Scope and content

Metal pin to which is attached a stamped note: If bomb is not dropped replace split pin before removing from carrier and secure safety pin with suitable wire.

Description
1 pin

Belt, buckle (1941-1945)

Unit ID
M660/16
Item title
Belt, buckle
Date
1941-1945
Scope and content

Service issued belt with spare buckle associated with the RAAF during the Second World War.

Description
1 belt (& extra buckle)

Flying goggles (1941-1945)

Unit ID
M660/17
Item title
Flying goggles
Date
1941-1945
Scope and content

Fying goggles associated with RAAF Flight Lieutentant Donald Marsen. The goggles are made of leather, reinforced rubber and protective vision perspex.

Description
1 pair goggles

Radio componentry (1941-1945)

Unit ID
M660/18
Item title
Radio componentry
Date
1941-1945
Scope and content

Several items associated with RAAF radio componentry, some stamped Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation.

Description
1 folder

Miscellaneous items (1941-1945)

Unit ID
M660/19
Item title
Miscellaneous items
Date
1941-1945
Scope and content

Several items associated with Don Marsen's service with the RAAF including two spent bullets.

Description
1 folder
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Series 4: Photographs (1914-1988)

Series number
4
Series title
Photographs
Date
1914-1988
Scope and content

Group and studio portraits of servicemen from the First and Second World Wars associated with Flight Lieutenant Donald Marsen.

They include:

  • Flight Officer Donald Marsen outside Exhibition Buildings, Melbourne
  • Flight Sergeant Donald Marsen and Joe Gardiner on leave in Adelaide.
  • Flight Sergeant Donald Marsen with friends in Adelaide after fracturing right leg.
  • Group portrait of No. 1 Squadron RAAF. Bombing Timor and Islands north of there from Gould Airstrip, just near Bachelor, south of Darwin.
  • Group portrait of Air Crew No. 1 Squadron RAAF, Gould Airstrip. From left to right: Flight officers Douglas Gluyas (from Geelong, Vic.); Donald Marsen, Jack Willis, Douglas Aland (all from Brisbane)
  • Group portrait of Gunnery Leaders Course No. 10, held Mildura, Vic. Flight Officer Marsen pictured centre front row.
  • Group portrait of air crew while on shipping covoy work in Victoria and Southern NSW. From left to right Flight Officers Alex Baker, 'Hoop' Laurie Hooper and Donald Marsen.
  • Studio portrait of Flight Lieutenant Donald Marsen
  • Group portrait of members of the Beaufort Bomber Association at Amberley RAAF base, F111 aircraft in background.

[Item 20]

Description
14 photographs
Locate
OMOSBOX 5639
Access restrictions
Unrestricted access.
Conditions of use
You are free to use without permission. Please attribute the State Library of Queensland.
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Series 5: Souvenir (15 November 1989)

Series number
5
Series title
Souvenir
Date
15 November 1989
Scope and content

Souvenir booklet for the 50th Anniversary Colour Parade, for No.6 Squadron 1939-1989, held at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland.

Description
1 booklet
Locate
OMOSBOX 5639
Access restrictions
Unrestricted access
Conditions of use
You are free to use for personal research and study. For other uses see https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/understanding-copyright.
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