John “Skip” Bailey

Miller Buzzard
The Life and Times of John “Skip” Bailey
by Philip John Buzzard

17.1
Rusty Cuming

Born Gordon Stewart Cuming on 14th July 1919, Rusty was highly educated, attending Technical Colleges in Perth from 1931 to 1934 and Guildford Grammar School from 1934 to 1936. From 1937 to 1938 he worked as a junior chemist at the Cuming Smith Laboratory in Bassendean W.A. He then enrolled in a science course at the University of W.A. in 1939 but left it in the same year and went farming with his father.

He joined the RAAF Reserve on 18th April 1940 and was awarded the Flying Badge on 7th February 1941. However, Rusty was brought up in a farming community and was a free spirited young man when he joined the RAAF. His service in the RAAF was not without incident. He had trouble adapting to military life and his service record showed many times when this free spirit was to test the RAAF’s regulations. This record showed him being demoted in rank from a Warrant officer (W OFF) to a Leading Aircraftman (LAC).

The incidents were:

08/08/1941	With 22 Squadron he left his room in dirty and untidy condition – admonished
29/12/1941	Court Martial – He flew a Wirraway A20-76 without authorization. He was convicted of “conduct to the prejudice of good order and Air Force Discipline” in He was reduced to the rank of sergeant.
10/06/1942	Absent without Leave – he was reprimanded and forfeited two day’s pay.
09/10/1944	With 85 Squadron at Guildford, W.A. he damaged a Boomerang A46-52. He was convicted of negligently damaging the aircraft on landing. The damage was estimated at £150. He was reduced to rank to LAC (the lowest in the RAAF), sentenced to 30 days field punishment and 30 days loss of pay.
02/11/1944	At South Belmont flew Wirraway aircraft A46-70 which he knew to be unserviceable.
02/11/1944	Honourably discharged after wars end.

After the war, Rusty went back to farming at Kobel with his brother Malcolm Ross and his wife Helena Betty.

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