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.