New Spitfire Movie - Shamrock Spitfire

Shamrock Spitfire tells the true story of Brendan “Paddy” Finucane, one of the most celebrated fighter pilots of World War II and the youngest Wing Commander in the history of the RAF. 

One of the characters in the movie is Australian ace fighter pilot, Keith William "Bluey" Truscott DFC & Bar. "Bluey" Truscott was a well known Australian Rules footballer (Melbourne Demons) when he joined the RAAF in 1940. He became the second-highest-scoring Australian World War II ace, credited with 20 confirmed victories and 5 unconfirmed victories. 

More information on "Bluey" Truscott here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Truscott

The movie is to be released early in 2024. Click below for the trailer.

Spitfire Beer Delivery??

Our intrepid correspondent from Selby in the UK, Bryan Wilcockson, has sent us this photo of a Spitfire carrying what appears to be beer barrels under the wings.

Bryan has sensibly steered clear of validating the photo, and given the internet's ability to mislead viewers, we can understand why. However, one website presented the following explanation -

"13th June 1944: An English brewery donates a sizable amount of fresh beer for the troops fighting in Normandy and a unique delivery method is created, strapping kegs to the underwings of Spitfires being shipped to forward airfields. Flying at 12,000 feet chills the brew to perfection."

Another article referred to syphoning beer from wooden kegs into long range metal fuel tanks designed for the Spitfire, and questioning how aviation fuel tainted beer would have been received by the troops.

Whatever the reality of events towards the end of WW2 we are inspired by the idea, and there is little doubt that battle weary troops would have appreciated a cold beer under any circumstances.

  

Odd Bods Support Students at Raphael Centre, India

Friends of the Odd Bods currently support 4 students at the Raphael centre operated by the Ryder Cheshire Foundation in Dehradun, India. Raphael focusses on caring for people with leprosy, tuberculosis (TB), multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) and physical, intellectual and learning difficulties. 

We also make special donations, and just last month contributed A$1500 for the purchase of a microscope at the Ryder Cheshire TB centre in Timor-Leste, and $500 to Legacy. These charity activities continue the good work set up by Odd Bod Veterans decades ago, and are only possible thanks to the contributions of our members.

Keeping up with student progress at Raphael is an important part of the Ryder Cheshire connection and following are the latest reports on our four students.