PETER SEAR

SMOKERS THREE

COMETS

PIONEER

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ARTIST PROFILE: Peter Sear
Victoria

I am approaching 80 years old and have spent much of the last 75 years thinking, watching, reading and talking about - wait for it  -  aircraft and related subjects! I've also spent much time making models of them, photographing, painting and drawing them, but not nearly enough of late!

I'm not an artist, but I try to illustrate aircraft and events that interest me. As an amateur historian, I enjoy the research and am constantly amazed at the information obtainable on Google. (Once one has found the appropriate key words!)

In the 30s I became an enthusiastic modeller and when WW2 started, I began to draw my own 1/72 scale plans by scaling up aircraft recognition silhouettes. This involved lengthy calculations. (I didn't know about slide rules, and calculators hadn't been invented!)I learned a lot about mechanical drawing , but not much about art!

In 1941 I joined the Air Training Corps and had my first flight in a RAF DH Dominie. In 1944 I learned to glide with the ATC and volunteered for aircrew with the RAF. I faced the selection board in July 1945, was accepted, sworn in and sent home on "deferred dervice". One month later, WW2 ended and the Flying Training Roster was suspended!

I eventually got to fly Tiger Moths at Grading School, but was struck down with a throat ailment which persisted for weeks. By this time, my mates were on their way to EFTS in South Africa and my place was taken by someone from a waiting list. Delays over medical tests and deciding whether I should have my tonsils out meant I was put on the same waiting list!

I opted to take the flight engineer course which was just starting, hoping to remuster to pilot later on. I trained on Coastal Command Lancasters, then converted to Sunderlands. From mid '49 to mid '51 I flew with 88 Sqdn, based in Hong Kong, including operstions under US Navy command during the Korean War.

Then I met my present wife, Betty, and decided to leave the RAF and return to engineering design. We came to Australia in 1959 and settled in Frankston, Victoria, where we've lived ever since. Betty is from an Air Force family and I used to play snooker with her father in the Sergeants' Mess in Hong Kong before I knew he had a daughter.

Through my time in the RAF I kept an illustrated diary. One day I'll unearth it and produce some paintings based on those old sketches. I just need to get a round tuit!