ODD BODS MARCH TOGETHER
Herald Sun April 22nd 1999
COMMENT:
My father Francis George Haw was an Odd Bod. Couldn't wait for Australia to get its act together and went to Canada to take part in what I think was called the Empire Training Scheme. He ended up as a WO2 rear gunner in a Wellington bomber. Took part in the defence of Malta and finished his operational duties when his Wellington crashed in Libya in 1942. He was the only survivor and suffered horrific injuries including a broken back. He ended up at Sale Air Base in Victoria as an air gunnery instructor until the war ended.After the war he married my mum, but was forced to spend many years back in hospital trying to fully recover from plane crash injuries. He studied law while in hospital and later became a practising barrister and solicitor, mostly in Melbourne.
Thanks Rex. Really appreciate you sharing the story of your father. Although my father was lucky to come back without injury, the stories he did tell in his later life were obviously forever playing on his mind. We are lucky to have had these men as role models and we will all try to ensure that the next generations never forget the sacrifice that was made for our freedom.
20/4/2019 17:15 Thanks for your story Rex. My Father also suffered back injuries when his Mitchell B-25 crash landed. Not as serious as a broken back however. Some tough times. - Greg Smith
My father Francis George Haw was an Odd Bod. Couldn't wait for Australia to get its act together and went to Canada to take part in what I think was called the Empire Training Scheme. He ended up as a WO2 rear gunner in a Wellington bomber. Took part in the defence of Malta and finished hois operational duties when his Wellington crashed in Libya in 1942. He was the only survivor and suffered horrific injuries including a broken back. He ended up at Sale Air Base in Victoria as an air gunnery instructor until the war ended.After the war he married my mum, but was forced to spend many years back in hospital trying to fully recover from plane crash injuries. He studied law while in hospital and later became a practising barrister and solicitor, mostly in Melbourne.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rex. Really appreciate you sharing the story of your father. Although my father was lucky to come back without injury, the stories he did tell in his later life were obviously forever playing on his mind. We are lucky to have had these men as role models and we will all try to ensure that the next generations never forget the sacrifice that was made for our freedom.
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