Biographical entry Schaefer, Gustav Griffin (1913 - 2004)

Summary

Gustav Griffin Schaefer (Gus) founded the first Defence Operational Research Group at the Department of Supply in 1951. During World War II he worked for the Optical Munitions Panel. His area of interest at that time was optical design, using ray tracing analysis.

Details

After completing his science degree at Queensland University, Gus Schaefer took up secondary teaching and taught science in Queensland for many years. In 1940 he moved to Melbourne and the next year began his career in scientific research. Schaefer's first job was with the Munitions Supply Laboratories working on optical design and ray tracing analysis. In 1951 he moved to the Defence Operations Research Group, then to the Aeronautical Research Laboratory (ARL) in 1953. Gus Schaefer remained with ARL until 1977 making many major contributions to the aeronautical industry. His research included studying the aerodynamics of aircraft wings for Boeing 747 and other models.

Events

c. 1920

Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc) completed at Queensland University

c. 1920 - c. 1940

Career position - Secondary Science Teacher at various Queensland schools including Mt Isa High School

1940

Life event - Moved to Melbourne

1941 - 1951

Career position - Design and analysis at the Munitions Supply Laboratories (MSL) in Melbourne

1951 - 1953

Career position - Defence Operational Research Group with the Department of Supply in Melbourne

1953 - 1977

Career position - Aeronautical Research Laboratory (ARL)

1977

Life event - Retired

1989

Life event - Moved to Port Macquarie

Published resources

Encyclopedia of Australian Science Exhibitions

• The Giant's Eye: the Optical Munitions Exhibition, Australian Science Archives Project, 1997, http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/exhib/omp/omp.htm. Details

Online Resources

• 'Schaefer, Gus', in The Giant's Eye: the Optical Munitions Exhibition, A Bright Sparcs Exhibition, Australian Science Archives Project, 1997, http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/exhib/omp/people/schaefer.htm. Details
• 'Schaefer, Gustav Griffin (1913-2004)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1476048. Details

See also

• Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Technology in Australia 1788-1988, Online edn, Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, Melbourne, 3 May 2000, http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/tia/index_s.html. Details