Prime Minister John Curtin shaking hands with General Douglas MacArthur at Sydney on 8 June 1943. These two leaders, more than any others, guided Australia's destiny during World War II. The warmth of their friendship is obvious. Curiously they both had one thing in common - a dislike for flying! The aircraft in the background is clearly a DC-3/C-47 but it is most likely General MacArthur's new C-47 VH-CXE (#2) which was delivered to his Brisbane GHQ just two days earlier on 6 June 1943.
Picture: Records of the Curtin Family. John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library 00376/69