[RossGmann]

A little off what you require, but the following website may be of interest

http://home.star.brisnet.org.au/~dunn/8pr.htm

A number of pilots from the 8th Photo Recce Squadron were living in a house at 38 Stokes Street near the centre of the Townsville business area. Bill Groves from Mount Isa told me that his mother, who lived at 30 Hale Street just around the corner, used to do the washing for a number of the pilots including, the Commanding Officer Karl Polifka, and pilots Ralph Watts, Weller, Gorton, Rogers and Ludtke of "A" Flight. Bill Groves remembers playing with their .45 calibre guns on a few occasions. He also remembers that Lt. Ralph Watts gave him a belt with beading on it and the word Mexico written on it. Bill Groves told me that Lt. Ralph Watts had a small Koala Bear which was his good luck charm that he took with him on his missions.
"A" Flight was hurriedly transported to Australia aboard the S.S. President Coolidge on 19 March 1942. "A" Flight arrived in Camp Pell, Melbourne on 7 April 1942, and departed for Camp Doomben, Brisbane on 24 April 1942. They only had four F-4 Lightning aircraft which were operational in late April and early May 1942 under the command of 1st Lieutenant Karl L. "Pop" Polifka. He commanded 8PR until November 1942 when he was posted to Europe.

http://www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/l...sky_flyers.htm

Karl Polifka

39k JPG
One of the most famous and daring American reconnaissance pilots was Karl Polifka, who flew missions during both World War II and the Korean conflict. Throughout his career he photographed vital targets in the South Pacific, the Mediterranean, and Korea. When in his mid-thirties and thought too old to fly dangerous missions, he would put himself down in the records as "Lieutenant Jones" and fly anyway. In 1951, he was killed on a reconnaissance sortie to Kaesong, Korea, when his plane was shot down and his parachute caught on its tail.
Department of Defense Photograph

Kind regards
Ross