Vale Geoffrey Conacher

We sadly report the passing of Odd Bod, Geoffrey Conacher, on 20/11/2022. We are advised by his wife, Marion, that Geoffrey passed peacefully in comfort.

 Geoffrey  CONACHER   419799  PLT  622 Squadron.

Geoffrey Conacher grew up in Australia and after a few months in the army he joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1942. After training he flew 14 operations as a pilot with 622 Squadron (see below). His aircraft was shot down and he baled out over liberated France. 

Geoffrey joined the Odd Bods in 1992 and featured at the unveiling of the Odd Bods Bronze Plaque at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra in March 2020.

Geoffrey Conacher (second from left) at Odd Bods plaque unveiling Canberra 2020.

An IBCC interview was conducted with Geoffrey back in 2017 and is available online. Geoffrey gives a fascinating account of his wartime experiences. At the end of the war Geoffrey flew Lancasters that were bringing POWs back to the UK, some of them after 5 years of internment. He particularly remembers the delighted looks on their faces when they returned to England. Here is the link to the audio interview - https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/document/3378

Our condolences and best wishes to Marion and family.

622 Squadron: No. 622 Squadron was first formed at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk on 10 August 1943, equipped with Stirling Mk.III bombers, as part of 3 Group in Bomber Command. It re-equipped with Lancaster Mk.III bombers in December, after briefly operating Lancaster Mk.Is that month. It operated in Bomber Command's Main Force as part of No 3 Group until April 1945 when it moved to humanitarian duties dropping food to the Dutch (Operation Manna), repatriating POWs (Operation Exodus) and ferrying troops home from Italy. The Squadron was disbanded at Mildenhall on 15 August 1945.

POSTSCRIPT: 1/12/2022 - At today's funeral we were treated to a variety of moving stories about Geoff's life and particularly his love of family. The photo tribute included a number of photos from the Odd Bods Bronze Plaque unveiling in Canberra. An RSL component in the service gave details of Geoff's war service as a Lancaster Pilot.