Odd Bods At Battle of Britain Commemorations Hobart

The National Battle of Britain Commemorations (Gathering of Eagles) are being held in Hobart 13 -15 September 2019. Our Patron, AVM Peter Scully (Rtd) has been joined by FOTOBAI President Bruce Waxman, and Committee Member Jennifer Hibbens.

President Bruce Waxman,
and Jennifer Hibbens

Jennifer Hibbens, Air Marshall Mel Hapfield
 AO, DSC, Chief of Air Force, Marjorie
Fitzpatrick and AVM Peter Scully (Rtd)

Following the commemorations an exhibition is being staged at the RAAF Museum, 61 Davey St. Hobart with the theme “Australian Airmen in the European theatre WW2”. If you happen to be in Hobart in the near future, make sure you check it out.

SNAP-SHOTS OF AIR FORCE HISTORY

From fragile beginnings to the War in Europe

Over 30% of all the battle fatalities in the Second World War,

across the Army, Navy and Air Force were Australian Airmen in Europe.

What was behind this frightening statistic??

In this exhibition, selected objects and their associated stories from the Royal Australian Air Force Museum (Tasmania),aim to provide some insight into this question…

Some more photos -

Peter Scully presents prologue.

Fly over Hobart

More Than A Bronze Plaque

Back in 1946 three young survivors of WW2 met to work out how they could avoid having their war service marginalised and 73 years later a humble bronze plaque at the Australian War Memorial will go a long way to achieving their dream.

The Australian War Memorial has agreed to the laying of a Pavement Memorial Plaque dedicated to “Odd Bods” the name given to Airmen who served on foreign squadrons (usually RAF) in WW2.

When these Airmen returned after the war there was no Australian squadron banner to march behind on ANZAC Day. They were marginalised, and with typical Aussie spirit, set about ensuring that the sacrifices made by their comrades would never be forgotten.

Like their Australian squadron counterparts, losses in the air had been horrendous. Chances of completing a tour in Europe or the Middle East were very poor and many of their fellow service men and women failed to come home.

Odd Bods Reunion 1956

 After a number of early meetings the Odd Bods Association was formalised in 1954 and the task of creating an awareness of this group’s role in WW2 began. The Odd Bods numbers grew and participation in various memorial events including ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day created an awareness and influence that continues today. There were attendances at conferences, liaison with educational bodies ( Odd Bods have an affiliation with Wesley College in Melbourne) and countless requests for information and advice.

Bronze plaques recognising Odd Bods were laid at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance, the Repatriation Hospital at Heidelberg, and the RAAF Memorial Grove just out of Canberra. Much to the delight of veterans, Friends of the Odd Bods Association was formed in 2015 to carry on the good work and the next generation started to get involved.

But there was one box that hadn’t been ticked - one lingering issue that had not been resolved. It might be a bit theatrical to call this the “Holy Grail” but Odd Bod veterans like Co-founder George Smith and immediate Past President, Walter Eacott, keenly lobbied for Odd Bods recognition at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra over a number of years. A plaque in the grounds of this revered place was denied for technical reasons (the Odd Bods were not a military unit).

Like all good causes, and through the work of some very good people, an Odd Bods plaque in the grounds of the AWM was finally approved this week and will be processed over coming weeks. This has been a long journey with many involved, but particular thanks at this time go to Dr. Brendan Nelson Director of the Australian War Memorial, Odd Bod Edward Fleming, and President of the Friends of the Odd Bods Sqn. Ldr. Bruce Waxman (Rtd).

“Pressing On Remembering” has particular relevance this week.

Great News For Odd Bods

It is fascinating how a sequence of simple events can come together to create a very important result and that is certainly what happened this week for Odd Bods.

To cut to the chase - the Australian War Memorial in Canberra has approved an Odd Bods Pavement Memorial Plaque in its grounds. A memorial at the AWM has long been sought by Odd Bods past and present, although extensive lobbying had failed to achieve approval. This latest decision will delight members and their families.

Members will remember that a public talk was recently presented at the Australian War Memorial on the subject of Odd Bods in WW2. Odd Bods were in the spotlight. A couple of weeks later Veteran Odd Bod, Edward Fleming apparently bumped into AWM Director Brendan Nelson in Canberra. Dr. Nelson had recently visited the International Bomber Command Centre in the UK. It was suggested that Friends of the Odd Bods should once again make a formal application for a plaque at AWM. A quick response from our President, Bruce Waxman, and now we have approval.

The more spiritual amongst you may imagine a few gentlemen and ladies upstairs perhaps sharing a beer and echoing “a job well done”. Further details to come.