Farewell To Odd Bod Ron Clarkson

"I wish to inform the Odd Bods Association Victoria of the passing of my father in law Ronald Victor Clarkson RAAF 417805. DFC.  who passed away on November 9, 2016 at Lutheran Aged Care, Albury 2640 He was aged 98 years and 6 months. 

Earlier this year Ron received the French Medal of Honour of which he was very proud.  He enjoyed hearing from the Odd bods via Newsletter, please cancel his subscription.  

Ron was born in Peterhead, South Australia and during WW11 was sent to England and was posted to Lissett Air force Base in Yorkshire and became a member of 158 Squadron, his plane being the famous “Friday the 13th” which was awarded the Victoria Cross and went on display in Oxford St, London after the war.  Ron did 40 sorties over enemy territory and was awarded the DFC for his courage. 

Ron’s beloved wife of 68 years passed away 5 years ago on November 15, 2011.  Ron was a beautiful humble man and we shall miss him so.  He has two sons, Terry and Leigh. I am married to Terry and Leigh’s wife is Marilyn.  

I wish also to thank the lovely lady who sent Christmas and birthday cards to Ron. Much appreciated.  

Thank you, Sue Clarkson. Albury. NSW"

Always A Rookie by Jack Elliott

Jack Elliott passed away on 7^th November 2016 and like many veterans had recorded some of his wartime experiences. His family have given us access to his memoirs and they contain many fascinating stories.

Those of you who knew Jack will understand that humour will be an inevitable part of his writing. 

Jack starts with the early process of selection as ACII’s into the Air Force, and then training in Tiger Moths at Benalla in Victoria. He talks about the never to be forgotten experience of flying solo after just 5 or 6 hours of tuition, and progresses through his trip to the UK via USA and further training in Tiger Moths at Fairoaks. He recalls the occasion when strong headwinds caused his Tiger Moth to fly backwards and the skills he had to learn to combat those types of experiences.

And Jack hasn’t left out personal stories like the time he was “conned” into meet his wife to be, Laurel, an event he never regretted. And did you know that Jack once appeared in a movie, “Caesar and Cleopatra”?

The full story makes good reading and can be found here – Always A Rookie.

Remembrance Day Service At Repat Hospital Heidelberg

Following are a number of photos from the Remembrance Day Service at the Repat Hospital Heidelberg in Melbourne 2016.

Friends of the Odd Bods Association Secretary, Peter Randell, laid a wreath on behalf of the association and in special memory of veterans George Smith who had a long association with the hospital and Jack Elliott who passed just a few days ago. The hospital’s veteran liaison officer, Robert Winther, mentioned both George and Jack during the service.

Peter is shown with Odd Bod Joe Shuttleworth in one of the photos.

Farewell Jack Elliott

Jack Elliott passed away peacefully on 7/11/2016 with family present after a brief illness.

J. W. Elliott 430131, PLT, 21OTU.

For Those Lighter Moments

From Walter Eacott's collection:

A man in Brisbane walked into the produce section of his local Woolies supermarket and asked to buy half a head of lettuce.

The boy working in that department told him that they only sold whole heads of lettuce. The man was insistent that the boy ask the manager about the matter.

Walking into the back room, the boy said to the manager,

"Some old bastard wants to buy a half a head of lettuce."

As he finished his sentence, he turned around to find that the man was standing right behind him, so he quickly added, "and this gentleman kindly offered to buy the other half."

The manager approved the deal and the man went on his way.

Later, the manager said to the boy,"I was impressed with the way you got yourself out of that situation earlier, we like people who can think on their feet here, where are you from son?"

"New Zealand, sir," the boy replied.

"Why did you leave New Zealand ?" the manager asked.

The boy said, "Sir, there's nothing but prostitutes and rugby players there."

"Is that right?" replied the manager,

"My wife is from New Zealand!"

"Really?" replied the boy, "Who'd she play for?"

John Ireland - Legion D’Honneur Recipient

Another Odd Bod who has received the recognition of the French Government for war service is John Ireland WAG 575 Sqn.

John received his Legion D’Honneur at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance on 29^th September and in fact he is in the same photo as Ron Fitch in a previous article. Our apologies for missing you John.

This is a great honour for recipients, and as John points out, it reflects well on the service of all Odd Bods during WWII.

Presidents Message

Dear Friends,

It is that time of year when we call upon your generosity of heart to support you Association, by renewing your subscription and enjoy the collegiality of other Friends at the Annual Ladies luncheon at Amora Hotel, Riverwalk, Richmond on Friday 4 November.

Your committee has been active this year with regular quarterly meetings organizing those events that carry on the tradition of Pressing on Remembering, and at the AGM on 22 May the existing executive and committee were re-elected.

The Anzac Day march and lunch was the highlight with our patron Air Vice Marshall Peter Scully RAAF Retired as guest speaker and Walter Eacott paying tribute to George Smith, and also having  co-authored George’s Obituary that appeared in The Age in March 2016, which immortalized the ‘Smith Hug’. George’s contributions to the Odd Bods will be perpetuated in the George Smith Award to be presented at the Wesley College Anzac Day service to the year 10 student who is judged to have written the best essay about the Anzac Spirit

The Friends were also represented at two functions at the Shrine; Victory in Europe Day, featuring our vice-president Terry Maher on 8 May and the Battle of Britain 76^th Anniversary on 22 September.

So support your Association dig deep and renew your subscription and join us at the lunch on 4 November

Cheers

Sqn Ldr Bruce P Waxman RAAF Retired

President

Friends of the Odd Bods Association Inc.

October 2016

PS – Veteran members and widows do not pay a subscription.

See Tab at the top of this page for  Combined November Luncheon Application and Subscription Form.

Ron Fitch Legion D'Honneur Presentation

Ron Fitch receives his Legion D'Honneur from the French Ambassador at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance on 29th September. Congratulations to Ron.

Some Interesting Links

Our readers provide many interesting links to WWII aircraft (and later) stories and here are just a few from recent weeks.

Scottish International Airshow 2016. - http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-37255610

F-16’s Fly As Drones - http://video.boeing.com/services/player/bcpid1173939806001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAAukPAlqE~,oAVq1qtdRjwBrIkHYj2MSytJiEK9s5fy&bclid=0&bctid=2684464741001

A Boy Solves His RAF Father’s Disappearance After 73 Years - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3793758/The-German-laid-war-hero-s-ghost-rest-73-years-Son-s-life-haunted-RAF-father-s-disappearance-stranger-pieced-puzzle-restored-faith-humanity.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

RAF Church Fenton -  First look: Behind the scenes at Yorkshire’s new film studios (From York Press) - http://m.yorkpress.co.uk/news/14747791.First_look__Behind_the_scenes_at_Yorkshire___s_new_film_studios/?ref=eb

Battle of Britain 75^th Anniversary Celebrations - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3202341/Remembering-Britain-s-hardest-day-Spitfires-Hurricanes-skies-75-years-battle-scuppered-plans-Nazi-invasion.html

Great Old Aircraft Photos

The photos shown below are just a small sample of a variety of WWII aircraft photos at - http://www.mission4today.com/index.php?name=ForumsPro&file=viewtopic&t=14429&finish=15&start=0

Thanks to Fay & Gerald McPherson for the link.

Walter's Wisdom

That Was The Sweetest Aeroplane

Our title was a quote from an American pilot who went on to say "Everyone should fly a Spitfire at least once." John Blyth flew Spitfires for photo reconnaissance during WWII. We won't tell you any more here because the video below won an honorable mention for short film making at the 2007 Sundance Festival and it tells a wonderful story - Just click on the photo and enjoy.

The Battle of Britain 76th Anniversary Service

Battle of Britain 76th Anniversary - Held in the Sanctuary of The Shrine of Remembrance  on Sunday 18th September this years service featured Guest Speaker, Wg/Cdr John Ward, Air Training Group, RAAF Williams, Laverton.
Thanks to Friends of the Odd Bods President, Bruce Waxman, for the photos.

Ryder Cheshire Fund Raiser & Christmas Cards

An Afternoon of Poetry, Music and Song will be this year's fund raising event for Ryder-Cheshire Victoria. 
The event will be held at the RAAF Association rooms in Hawthorn East on Saturday 8th October from 2:00pm to 5:00pm. Tickets are $25 each and bookings are essential. Contact Helen Newton on 9894 3191 or phnewton@bigpond.com.
Ryder-Cheshire Christmas cards will be available on the afternoon or through the above contacts.

Legion d'Honneur Recipient George Tulloch

Congratulations to George Tulloch, one of our latest recipients of the Legion d'Honneur.

The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour (French: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), is a French order established by Napolean Bonaparte on 19 May 1802. Napoleon believed France wanted a recognition of merit rather than a new system of nobility.

The Order is the highest decoration in France and is divided into five degrees of distinction. A number of Australian Airmen have received the honour in recognition of outstanding services in the liberation of France during the Second World War.

Stunning Colourised Photos From WW1

This photo is part of a series of WW1 photos. The caption reads -
An unidentified member of the 69th Australian Squadron, later designated No. 3 Australian Flying Corps (AFC), fixing incendiary bombs to an R.E.8 aircraft at the AFC airfield north west of Arras. Savy, Nord Pas de Calais, 22nd, October 1917. The entire squadron was operating from Savy (near Arras) on 22 October 1917, having arrived there on 9 September after crossing the channel from the UK. 69 Squadron was temporarily attached to the RFC while they gained experience on the Arras front. They began moving to a more permanent base at Bailleul on 12 November, operating as a full Corps squadron attached to 1 Anzac Corps. The last AFC aircraft and personnel left Savy on 16 November 1917. (Source – Australian War Memorial’s collection – ID Number: E01176 – Maker: James ‘Frank’ Francis Hurley) (Colourised by Royston Leonard from the UK) https://www.facebook.com/pages/Colourized-pictures-of-the-world-wars-and-other-periods-in-time/182158581977012


More WW1 photos are available here - WW1 Photos

Thanks to Terry Maher for the link.

The Last Post - On Violin

Simply click on the picture for a stirring video of this Last Post rendition. Violinist Rachel Bostock had the following to say about her video - 26/4/2016

"Having had our ANZAC Day commemorations and memorials this past Monday, I felt inspired to pay my own tribute to our brave ANZAC's, including both of my Great Grandfather's. Sadly, neither of them made it home. To those who served then and to those who serve now, I thank you. Here is my rendition of The Last Post."

Friends of Odd Bods Member Receives Award

John Eacott (right) receives Master Air Pilot Award

The Honourable Company of Air Pilots, incorporating Air Navigators, was formed in 1929. It is now one of London’s livery companies which comprise ancient and modern trade associations and guilds.

"Before the Company was established in 1929, the future status of air pilots and air navigators was very much in doubt. The small group of commercial pilots who formed the "Guild" were virtually responsible for ensuring that their successors enjoyed a professional status, and one of the Company's objectives has been to foster and improve that standing. From the beginning the Company was modelled on the lines of the old City Guilds and Livery Companies and its constitution and by-laws reflect that foundation, although its activities and work is very much contemporary.

The Company became a Livery Company of the City of London in 1956: a rarely bestowed mark of distinction. This was a great factor in increasing not only the influence of the Company, the 81st Livery Company to be formed in 800 years, but of the entire profession of pilot and navigator in the United Kingdom and overseas.

In 2014, it received a further mark of distinction in being granted a Royal Charter in the name of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots. HCAP is unique as the only London company with overseas regions."

FOB member, John Eacott, son of past Odd Bods President Walter Eacott, is a Liveryman of the Company (John is shown on the right in our photo).John was granted freedom of the City of London some years ago in keeping with other Liverymen. He is active with the Australian Region of the Honourable Company and has been Honorary Treasurer of the Australian Region for some time. John received a Master Air Pilot award in 2015.

In July this year John was advised that he has been awarded the Masters Trophy for the Australian Region "in recognition of your outstanding contribution to aviation in Australia and elsewhere and meritorious service to the Company." The award will be presented at a dinner in November. Congratulations John.

North Atlantic Aviation Museum

Committee Member, Gary Elliott’s, recent overseas trip included a visit to the North Atlantic Aviation Museum at Gander in Newfoundland. Gander was an important trans-Atlantic strategic base in WWII. Thank you to Gary for these pictures.