Indigenous Odd Bods

Aircrew from 106 Squadron.

The Indigenous Round is being celebrated in many Australian sports this week including AFL, NRL and Netball. We thought this might be good time to recognise an indigenous Odd Bod.

The Australian War Memorial completed a talk entitled "First Nation Flyers" in 2019. It was conducted by AWM Curator, Garth O'Connell, who was also the presenter of a talk about Odd Bods in the same year. 

The "First Nation Flyers" talk covers a number of indigenous aviators including Lancaster Pilot Roy Hill. Roy was one of three brothers from the Wardandi nation in Western Australia. Roy Hill, who had enlisted in the RAAF, became a pilot and an officer in Bomber Command. Serving in Britain, he flew Lancaster bombers for No. 106 and No. 189 Squadrons of the Royal Air Force. 

Squadron 106 was particularly active towards the end of the war and participated in the famous attack against the V-2 rocket research facility at Peenemünde in 1945. No. 189 Squadron was among the 107 Lancasters and 12 Mosquitos of No 5 Group which attacked the oil refinery in Tonsberg in Southern Norway on 25 April 1945 in the last raid of the war flown by heavy bombers of RAF Bomber Command.

Roy Hill was not a member of the Odd Bods Association but as an Australian serving in RAF squadrons was certainly an Odd Bod.

The "First Nation Flyers" talk can be found here - AWM First Nation Flyers.

POSTSCRIPT:

We have amended the title of this article to read Indigenous Odd Bod(s) because Garth O'Connell from AWM has informed us of another Aboriginal Odd Bod  - 424587 Flying Officer Errol James “Blue” INGRAM, 622 Squadron RAF (1924-1990).

Ingram flew Lancasters towards the end of the war in day and night bombing missions, food drops, and repatriation of POW's.

Aircrew Kit In The Spotlight

One of our contacts sent us this wonderful photo of Sergeant Lincoln Orville Lynch DFM, a West Indian air gunner serving with RAF No 102 Squadron.

Sergeant Lynch's story is fascinating in its own right. He shot down a Junkers JU98 on his first mission and was awarded a DFM for his "high standard of determination and devotion to duty". You can read more in his Wikipedia entry.

But the photo caught our attention for other reasons as well. Most photographs from this era lack clarity but this one, with a bit of help from colourising, shows great detail in the aviator's kit, and that is before you get to those menacing Halifax rear guns.

We have assembled some more photos of the kit worn by bomber crews and with true impartiality included some aircraft other than the Halifax. We hope you enjoy them.

Odd Bod Bill Akers gets assistance with his gear.

Flying kit of RAAF Pilot Francis Robertson.

Lancaster Crew.

Stirling Crew.

Australian and NZ Aviators in front of Mitchell Bomber 180 Sqn.

Wireless Operator In Flying Kit.

Special Birthday Wishes

It has been a long Odd Bods tradition to send birthday cards to wives and widows of veterans. The practice continues today with two of our association corresponding with these very important members of the Odd Bods family.

Anne Jones and Willa Whitewolf write personal birthday cards to wives and widows each year on behalf of the association, and are regularly heartened by the replies they receive from recipients. 

At the AGM this month, the Friends Committee passed on thanks to Anne and Willa for their part in “Pressing on....remembering.”

AGM And Your Committee of Management

 

Your Committee for 2021/22
L to R Back - Greg Smith, Steve Trask, Sue Bennett, Gary Elliott, Peter Randell, Bruce Waxman.
L to R Front - Robyn Bell, Jan Dimmick, Jenny Hibbens. Apology - Michael Rossiter.

The seventh Annual General Meeting of Friends of the Odd Bods Association Inc. was held on Sunday 23rd May at the Oakleigh Carnegie RSL Club, Drummond Rd. Oakleigh.

An election of officials was held with the return of President Bruce Waxman, Peter Randell was appointed Vice President/Secretary, and Gary Elliott as Treasurer. Terry Maher stepped down as Vice President and the committee would like to thank Terry for his contribution to the Odd Bods over a number of years. Terry continues as a member. We were pleased to welcome Sue Bennett on to the Committee. Sue is the daughter of past Odd Bod, Jack Ruby, 409598, W/O Nav.B, 44 Sqdn.

The committee was grateful that, despite the challenges of a Covid year, our list of activities showed we were able to maintain the intent of our Purpose Statement – “To keep alive the memory of the Odd Bods, the service they gave to King and Country and to keep the Nation mindful of its debt to those who made the Supreme Sacrifice.”

Here is the list of activities for 2020:

The Friends Of The Odd Bods Association Inc

Statement of Activities 2020

For the period January 1 2020 – December 31 2020 the Friends Of The Odd Bods Association Inc has undertaken the following – 

1. Conducted an Annual General Meeting

2. Conducted 4 Committee meetings

3. Planned for attendance at the Melbourne Anzac Day March and the Annual Association Reunion in 2021

4. Maintained contact with Wesley College regarding arrangements for the  Anzac Day Service 2021

5. Provided a wreath for the VE Day memorial service at The Shrine of Remembrance

6. Attended and contributed to The Kindred Organisations And Unit Associations meetings

7. Maintained an independent blog and website and provided regular updates to members via email

8. Maintained charitable donations to the Ryder-Cheshire Foundation

9. Maintained sponsorship of 3 children in India through Ryder-Cheshire

10. Provided practical help and support and contact to veteran members

11. Maintained communication with veteran’s widows through sending birthday cards 

12. Adhered to the Association’s Purpose Statement whilst adhering to Covid 19 Restrictions

13. Continued a formal relationship with The Point Cook Airforce Museum to house and display relevant material and memorabilia from the Association and its members.

14. Attended the commemoration service and overseen placement of the memorial plaque for the Odd Bods Association in the grounds of the Australian War Memorial.

 Peter Randell – Secretary – Friends Of The Odd Bods Association Inc.

Vale Ralph White

 Longtime member of the Odd Bods, Ralph White, passed away on 3rd May 2021 at the age of 98 years.

WHITE, Ralph Robert, 427630,  Pilot, 192 Sqn.

In recent years Ralph attended the Wesley College, Glen Waverley Campus, ANZAC Day commemoration services and is seen on the right in this photo taken in 2017.

Our condolences to Marie and the White family.

VE Day - Then and Now

Victory In Europe Day is a significant day on the Friends of Odd Bods calendar and the history of our involvement goes way back.

On 8th May 1945 Winston Churchill announced the end of the war in Europe and the hopes and dreams of all allied service personnel were answered with the end of hostilities. Odd Bods made their way home to Australia and a new world order.

We have recounted on these pages many times how Odd Bods arrived without a squadron banner (because they had served on overseas squadrons) and how they formed their own association, created a banner, and set about "Pressing on ... remembering". 

One of their early goals was to recognise 8th May as a very significant date and the inaugural VE Day Pilgrimage in 1956 at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance was organised by a committee including a representative of the Odd Bods.  Hugh Niven (seen in the photo above) was our representative in 1956 and the association paid a £2 yearly subscription.

Today, The Shrine records the VE Day Service as follows - 

ANNIVERSARY OF VICTORY IN EUROPE (VE DAY) INCORPORATING THE FRIENDS OF THE ODD BODS ASSOCIATION

In his address at today's service in the Shrine Sanctuary, the Shrine Governor recalled his attendance at Odd Bods functions in the past and expressed his delight at seeing so many Odd Bod representatives continuing the tradition on VE Day.

Friends of the Odd Bods President, Sqn Ldr. Bruce Waxman OAM RAAF (Rtd) presented the address, while Odd Bod Doug Parry read the Ode. here is a link to the video of the livestream - https://youtu.be/16kFAgwVvPM?t=157

And here are our photos of the day - 

L to R - Cathy Randell, Peter Randell, Gary Elliott, Doug Parry, Greg Parry, Greg Smith, Bruce Waxman, Sue Smith & Robyn Bell.

Second from the right in this photo
is Edward Bartosh from the American
Ex-Servicemen's Association.