As part of the RAAF Centenary celebrations a spectacular fly past involving 60 aircraft took place over Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra today (Wednesday 31st March 2021)
Aircraft included Hudson, Harvard, Wirraway, Mustang, Spitfire, Kittyhawk, and Catalina.
One of our readers (thank you Caitlin) was on the spot and sent us this video of the Roulettes performing the final stage of the flypast.
President Bruce Waxman, and committee members Jan Dimmick and Robyn Bell joined in the evening with Robyn Bell gifting a figure of a young RAAF Airman to RAAFA. We include some photos below including one of the honour board recording Odd Bod Frank Dimmick as President of RAAFA from 1983-1985.
Women’s contribution during WW2 varied around the globe, from countries like Russia where frontline activity including bomber pilots (**) were in the heat of the action to countries like America where the frontline participation of women was largely opposed.
In Australia the WAAF’s (or more correctly the WAAAF’s) made an important contribution to war effort as the government looked to step up community involvement – all hands to the wheel. The Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force was formed in 1941. It was the largest of the wartime Australian women’s services with some 27,000 women enlisting between March 1941 and August 1945.
One of the key needs in Australia was for women to help support the Empire Air Training Scheme which was of course significant for many Odd Bods as they progressed to active service.
In the early days of the WAAAF nurses played an important role leading to the formation of the Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service (RAAFFNS). By the end of the war, women were involved in more than 73 trades including fabric workers, photographers, engine fitters, clerks, cooks, meteorological assistants, and included commissioned officers (***).
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| Lots of WAAAF's in this photo taken in Melbourne in early 1940's. We believe Odd Bods Founder George Smith's wife Shirley is in the photo. |
** In the fall of 1941, with invading German forces threatening Moscow, Marina Raskova (known as the “Russian Amelia Earhart”) convinced Joseph Stalin to authorize three regiments of female pilots. The most famous was the 588th Night Bomber Regiment, whose pilots hit so many of their targets that the Germans started calling them the Nachthexen, or “night witches.” Using rickety plywood planes, the women of the 588th flew more than 30,000 missions and dropped more than 23,000 tons of bombs on the Nazis; 30 of them were killed and 24 received the Hero of the Soviet Union medal, the nation’s highest award for valor.
*** https://web.archive.org/web/20080720074942/http://www.airforce.gov.au/history/women.htm
It is somewhat hard to believe, but
this coming Sunday March 14 will be the first anniversary of the dedication
ceremony for the Odd Bods plaque at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
Talk about timing.....after many months of planning how lucky we were to be able to proceed with the ceremony..... with the Covid-19 State of Emergency and Stage 1 restrictions announced on March 16 2020, just two days after the ceremony.
With Stage 2 Stay at Home on March
26 2020, and the War Memorial itself suddenly closed on March 24 2020 we certainly timed
it to perfection. (AWM only reopened on a strictly limited basis July 1st.)
Along with border closures and other
constraints, if we had missed that slot then the Odd Bods could still be
waiting. It was meant to be, that is for sure.
The significance of this plaque has been written about a number of times and you can find a full rundown by clicking on the tab marked “Odd Bod Plaque At Australian War Memorial” at the top of this page.
Thank you to Gary Elliot for this storyline, and to Mark Smith for the photographs taken this week in Canberra.
Email To Members 5/3/2021
Dear Friends,
Since we last contacted you about ANZAC Day arrangements in Melbourne a lot has changed.
- There will now be a Dawn Service at the Shrine. The exact nature of the Dawn Service is subject to change, but we anticipate a ballot will allow up to 1500 people to attend. The service is scheduled to start at 0600 and In the Centenary year of the RAAF, an RAAF veteran will lay the wreath. Others will be encouraged to observe a drive way vigil similar to 2020.
- There will be a march with massed banners and post Vietnam service veterans marching (up to 5,000 registered marchers). WW2 veterans will not march.
- WW2 veterans will be given the option of a vehicle pick-up from their home, delivery to an undercover seating area at the shrine, and then a return trip to their home immediately following the march. I will be in contact with our veterans to determine their availability.
- There will be no vehicles in the march and no buses or other pick-ups at the end of the march.
- It is not immediately clear whether the Odd Bods banner will participate due to restrictions on the march however the option to have our banner at the Odd Bods tree would appear to be open to us.
- The RSL is to make a final Covid safe proposal to the State Government by 15th March and we expect clarification, including banner status, some time after that.
- The Dawn Service and the march will be live streamed by the Shrine.
- As previously advised, there will be a Reunion Luncheon at Amora for members starting at 1100 hrs on ANZAC Day. Details will be advised shortly.
- Our Association will be conducting a Last Post co,petition similar to 2020 with more details to come.
It is great to see that more normalized arrangements are planned for ANZAC Day 2021 in Melbourne. There are still a number of matters that require clarification and we will keep you informed as matters progress.
Best Wishes
Bruce
Sqn Ldr Bruce P Waxman OAM RAAF (Rtd)
President
Friends Of The Odd Bods Association Inc.
In conjunction with the 100 year anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), the Friends of the OddBods Association would like to take a look back at where our fore-fathers served in World War II and why it is so important to ensure that this information is not lost, but preserved and recognised by the coming generations. The Friends of the OddBods Association hope you enjoy this series dedicated to these men as we “Press On Remembering”.
Part 1 – The Handley Page Halifax Mk III and RAAF Squadron 466 and RAF Squadron 51 where our OddBods served.
What was a Handley Page Halifax Mk III Bomber? – It was a four-engine aircraft designed purely during WW II and it’s first flight was on the 25th of October 1939. It was introduced on the 13th of November 1940 and 6178 aircraft were built until April 1945. This was very impressive and at one stage, one Halifax was completed every hour mainly due to the aircraft being built by 5 manufacturers, Handley Page, English Electric, Fairey Aviation, London Aircraft Production Group and Rootes Securities.The version Mk III bomber was the most popular and this was used by 7 countries (including Australia) as military operators.
What was the aircraft powered by? - Four 1650hp Bristol XVI radial piston engines with 3 bladed constant speed propellers.
Maximum Take-Off Weight – 65,000 pounds
Maximum Speed – 282 mph
Maximum Altitude – 24,000 feet
Bomb carriage weight – 13,000 pounds
How many crew were on the Halifax? - Pilot, flight engineer, navigator, wireless operator/gunner, bomb aimer and two gunners (Total of 7).
How many operations did the Halifax carry out? - 82,773 operations dropping 224,207 tons of bombs
How many Halifax were lost in WWII? – 1833 of 6178 built.
What happened to the aircraft after WWII? - The aircraft was retired from operational military use in 1961. The aircraft was also used in 11 countries by civilian operators in the post war era.
Are there any Halifax’s still existing today? – Only three remain complete. They are;
1. Restored Aircraft Serial Number NA337 built by Rootes Motors and delivered to 644 Squadron – It resides in the National Air Force Museum of Canada, Trenton Ontario
2. Restored Aircraft Serial Number HR792 built by Handley Page and delivered to 58 Squadron – It resides at the Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, North Yorkshire;
3. Unrestored Aircraft Serial Number W1048 built by English Electric and delivered to 102 Squadron – It resides in the RAF Museum London, Colindale London.
Other useful information – There is a Canadian organisation called Halifax 57 Rescue which is dedicated to the recovery and restoration of Handley Page Halifaxes. This organisation was founded in 1994 and has recovered two aircraft, one being NA337. This aircraft was recovered from 750 feet underwater in Lake Mjosa, Norway. The second aircraft LW682 was recovered from Geraardsbergen, Belgium. As part of the recovery from the bog, the bodies of three airmen was carried out and enabled them to be given a proper burial. Once recovered, the airframe was melted down and the material was used to construct the RAF Bomber Command Memorial in London which was unveiled in 2012.
(Information Source – Wikipedia Feb 17 2021)
RAAF Squadron 466 – Motto was “Brave and True”
Did our OddBods serve in this Squadron – Yes;
When was this Squadron formed? – 10th October 1942 at RAF Driffield, East Yorkshire, UK
Is the squadron still active? – No, it was disbanded on the 26th of October 1945;
What type of aircraft did the squadron fly? – Vickers Wellington, Handley Page Halifax and Liberators;
How many operations did the Squadron fly? – 3326 sorties against 269 targets;
How many aircraft were lost? – 81 with 184 RAAF personnel also lost;
What was unique about the Squadron? – Even though this was an RAAF unit, the majority of the personnel were British Air Forces. The Squadron was also heavily committed to mine-laying operations throughout 1943;
Citations – Following a mission on the 14th of April 1943, four members of the crew of a 466 Squadron Wellington received Joint Citation after suffering an attack by a fighter aircraft over the Ruhr target in Germany. With the aircraft badly damaged and a deceased rear gunner, the pilot was able to get his aircraft back to an airfield in his country without the further loss of life.
(Information Source – Wikipedia and Various Sources Feb 17 2021)
RAF Squadron 51 – Motto is “Swift and Sure”
Did our OddBods serve in this Squadron? – Yes;
When was the Squadron formed originally? – 15th May 1916 and disbanded 13th June 1919;
When was the Squadron reformed?; - 15th March 1937, at RAF Snaith, East Yorkshire, UK
Is the Squadron still active? – Yes, at RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, UK
What type of aircraft did the Squadron fly in WWII? –Vickers Virginia, Armstrong Whitworth Whitley, Avro Anson, Handley Page Halifax, Short Sterling and Avro York
How many operations did the Squadron fly? – 51 Squadron was part of 4 Group Bomber Command who were part of 62,000 sorties during the war;
How many aircraft were lost? – 1441 aircraft did not return from their missions;
What was unique about the Squadron – This unit was based at 6 airfields during WWII from just before the war broke out in 1938 until the war ended in 1945;
Citations / Battle Honours – 15 separate fields of war resulted in this Squadron being awarded Battle Honours. It also needs to be known that there were 16 Australian Distinguished Flying Crosses and 1 Australian Distinguished Flying Medal awarded to our servicemen.
(Information Source – Wikipedia and Various Sources Feb 17 2021)
By Michael Rossiter
Please see various photos of the Halifax below.
