 On 8 May 1945 , to celebrate Victory in Europe Day , 12 aircraft from No. 5 Operational Training Unit were detailed to do a flypast over Newcastle , New South Wales . Crombie headed the group , which comprised six Beaufighters followed by six Mosquitoes ; the final aircraft in the group was piloted by Flight Lieutenant Charles " Bud " Tingwell . The flypast concluded successfully , and the formation returned to base . However , as the group neared the aerodrome , the other pilots disobeyed Crombie 's orders and carried out a feint attack on the installation . He called the men into his office and reprimanded them as a result . 
