A Watch With An Odd Bod Pilot Connection

 The watch shown in our photo is a modern tribute to one of the most famous aviation events of WW2 and it has a very strong connection to an Australian pilot hero.

Watch brand, AVI-8 (see what they did there), manufacture a collection of WWII and modern military aviation inspired timepieces. The watches are of generally good quality, made of stainless steel and include many of the features found in wartime timepieces. The watch is quite large for easy reading in tough conditions. It has a large knurled crown so that it can be wound while wearing gloves, and luminescent hands for night time reading. These days the watches are powered by battery operated quartz movements.

The watch was owned by FOTOBAI member, Peter Smith, who sadly passed away last year. Peter had a strong interest in WW2 aviation and once built a comprehensive model of Dunsfold Airfield in the UK as it looked during WW2.

This watch is dedicated to Lancaster Bombers, and in fact, one particular aircraft. It is inscribed on the bezel with “DAMBUSTERS” and “617 SQUADRON”. If you look at the dial adjacent to 9 ‘o’clock position you will see the designation AJ-N. AJ-N was the Lancaster that dropped the bomb that successfully breached the Eder Dam in the famous DamBusters raids, and the pilot of that aircraft was none other than Australian Pilot Les Knight (DSO). 

Les Knight was killed a few months later during an operation in Holland which earned him hero status. His low flying aircraft was damaged after clipping a tree. He brought the Lancaster up to a height that allowed all the crew to parachute to safety.  Knight stayed with the aircraft to avoid hitting a nearby village, and unfortunately perished in a crash landing.

This is an interesting story of bravery in WW2 and a lot more detail can found by searching Dambusters and Les Knight online.

Incoming - Last Battle of Britain Pilot, Avalon Airshow, and more.....

 Last Surviving Battle of Britain Pilot -

The BBC have reported that the last surviving Battle of Britain Pilot, John "Paddy" Hemingway, has passed away at the age of 105.

Group Captain John Allman Hemingway, DFC, AE (17 July 1919 – 17 March 2025), known as Paddy Hemingway, was an Irish fighter pilot who served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War in the Battle of Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain, the Allied invasion of Italy and the Invasion of Normandy. 

From April to December 1945 he commanded No. 43 Squadron RAF, flying Spitfires. The squadron served in Italy, and it was there that Hemingway was shot down for a fourth time.

Wesley College ANZAC Commemoration Service - Thursday 24th April

The Wesley service and the presentation of the George V.Smith Award will take place at the Wesley Glen Waverley campus on Thursday 24th April commencing with morning tea, in the Alex Room at 10.45am, prior to a service at 11.45am in the Prest Quad. Please let us know if you wish to attend.

The George V.Smith Award is presented by the Odd Bods and the Smith Family to the student who has written the best essay about the Spirit of ANZAC. This year the award will be presented by George's Grandaughter, Kirsty Costa.

ANZAC Day Form Up - 25th April 2025

It looks like we will be forming up at about the same place on Flinders St. this year for the ANZAC Day march to The Shrine on 25th April. Form up time is 0945. 

Following the March there will be an informal gathering at Amora Riverwalk Hotel, 649 Bridge Rd. Richmond. We will gather in the general lounge area for a casual drop in and catch up after the march with attendees paying for their own food & drinks. 

Immediate Past President, Bruce Waxman, has offered to transport a veteran or widow of a veteran in the ANZAC march. This would involve a pick up at the veterans home, in-vehicle participation in the march, and then transport home. Please contact us if you are interested in Bruce's kind offer.

Avalon Air Show - 2025

Our esteemed Secretary and Vice-President, Peter Randell, joined in the wonder of this year's Avalon Air Show, and has been good enough to send us a visual record. May we suggest you pour a tea, coffee, or something stronger, sit back, and enjoy.

Photos of Spitfire & Mustang followed by F16, F35, Canberra, and Drone

Supported Students in India - Latest Updates

 

Tug of War on the grounds of Raphael Centre Dehradun, Northern India

At the Ryder-Cheshire Raphael Centre in Dehradun, India, we provide financial support for four disabled students, and here are their latest updates.

Vashnavi Gupta

Ishant Rawat

Sarthak Beshwal

Ansh Negi – Resident 

10 years old Ansh lives in Gumkhal, Pauri Garhwal with his parents and a younger brother. His father works as a labourer, mother is a housewife and brother is in class 2nd in a mainstream school.

His initial assessment indicated that he has moderate autism . As per his educational assessment, Ansh’s mode of communication is verbal but has limited vocabulary. He is able to use the familiar objects. As he never went to a school earlier, there is lack of exposure in him.

He is presently in primary class where he is following the class curriculum .

The long term for Ansh is to train him in activities of daily living activities, preacademic skills, social and communication skills.

80 Years Since The Blackout Curtains Came Down

Many Odd Bods experienced vivid memories of the day they pulled down the blackout curtains in their UK accomodation at the end of the war in Europe. That was the day they dared dream of returning home after a drawn-out terrifying war.

The end of the war in Europe, Victory in Europe Day, is celebrated on 8th May each year, and this year it celebrates 80 years since that great day. On 8th May 1945 Winston Churchill announced the end of the war in Europe, and Odd Bods made their way home to Australia, and a new world order.

It was the Odd Bods who instigated a special VE Day service at the Melbourne Shrine back in 1956, and each year since we have been a key contributor. In 2023 then President Bruce Waxman presented the address in the hallowed Inner Sanctum of the Melbourne Shrine, followed in 2024 by Odd Bods member Wing Commander Mike Oram. 

Arrangements for this year's service are currently being considered and will be announced nearer the time. It is difficult to believe that 80 years have passed since the war's end, and this will be a particularly good time to remember the sacrifices made by our Odd Bods.

"Pressing on ... remembering"

*Link to 2023 VE Day address by then President Bruce Waxman.

A Long Yarn About WW2

 

Art is art, even if it is made of knitting wool and this display has reached mammoth proportions in its depiction of the Battle of Normandy in 1944. The Battle of Normandy involved many Odd Bods and incuded the D-Day invasion.

The Longest Yarn is a registered non profit Association in France, totally self funding. Their crafters are from all age groups and walks of life. The work is 80 meters long representing 80 years and the 80 days of The Battle of Normandy, including D-Day. It is broken up in to 80 one meter panels being constructed around the world… from as far as Australia, New Zealand, United States of America, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland and Europe. 

Each panel represents what happened on June 6th 1944 - with men loading up in England and stuck there because of the storm, to the fierce battles on the landing beaches in Normandy, the bombardment of the civilian population with towns and cities flattened by allied bombing. 

The display has been touring around the UK, and will reach New Jersey in the USA in April 2025.

A big thank you to member, Bryan Wilcockson of Selby UK, who sent us details after the display was exhibited in Selby’s twinned town of Carentan.

The Day A Canberra Bomber Flew Through A Hanger ....Or Did It?

Flying a jet powered medium bomber through an aircraft hangar is not for the faint hearted, and we can understand why this photo caused a stir back in 1955. Such a dangerous activity is certainly not in the RAAF book of procedures.

Manipulating photographs is quite common today, in fact many of us do it on our mobile phones, but it took some special photographic talent, and some special props to achieve this photo back in 1955.

Apparently the aircraft was sitting on stands for servicing with it's wheels up when the photo was taken, and those stands were removed from the picture during the developing process. The result caused some laughs, and maybe a bit of explaining, but the end result is certainly entertaining.