ANZAC Day Odd Bods Reunion 2022 In Pictures

 

The 2022 Odd Bods Reunion was held in the very pleasant surroundings of Amora in Richmond. The program included the Last Post and Reveille, a presentation by President Bruce Waxman OAM with particular reference to Odd Bod Spitfire Pilots, a fascinating question and answer session with our newest member Sue Brookes who has an extensive RAAF history, and the Loyal Toast as shown in our lead photo. 

The best smiles of the day - L-R Geoff Clark, Sue Bennett, Sue Brookes, Jan Dimmick, & Jennifer Hibbens.

 

               Jan Dimmick                                                                                           Doug Parry

Rosemaree Matta and Jane Ford.

 

 

                                            Michael Rossiter & Gary Elliott                           Sue Brookes and Bruce Waxman.

Sue Bennett, Jan Dimmick, Robert Jackson & Jenny Hibbens.

                                          Vice President Peter Randell and President Bruce Waxman.

Carol McCabe proudly displays her father's medals in front of the banner.

   

Clarke Rossiter chats with Bruce Waxman while Greg Parry, Leigh Bennett, and Doug Parry enjoy conversation.

ANZAC Day Odd Bods March 2022 In Pictures

 A beautiful sunny Anzac Day in Melbourne has provided the perfect backdrop to remember the sacrifices made by Australians in various theatres of conflict including WW2. The photos shown here will grow over coming days as we receive input from members.

The march up St.Kilda Rd. was conducted in bright sunshine. Here the Odd Bods are passing the Arts Centre.

Odd Bods come in view just as RAAF PC-21's fly over (click on the photo for video).

The Melbourne Shrine provides the perfect backdrop as the Odd Bods banner reaches the end of its march journey.

Friends of the Odd Bods Association President Bruce Waxman prepares to lay a wreath, kindly supplied by Jan Dimmick, at the Odd Bods tree adjacent to the Shrine.

L-R Committee Members Michael Rossiter, Steve Trask, Greg Smith, Bruce Waxman, Peter Randell, Sue Bennett. Thanks to the RAAF personnel for holding our banner.

A video extract from the ABC's TV coverage of the Melbourne March (click on the photo).

ANZAC Day 2022 For Odd Bods

2019 ANZAC Day March in Melbourne

As 25th April rolls around again, we can expect a return to ANZAC Day marches around Australia including the famous march up St.Kilda Rd. to the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance. 

The Odd Bods will be holding their post march ANZAC Day reunion in 2022 and the following email has been sent to all members. 

"Dear Friends,

We are pleased to confirm arrangements for this year’s ANZAC Day reunion and a return to some normality with the Odd Bods banner participating in the traditional march to the shrine. 

Our booking for the Amora Hotel in Richmond on Monday 25th April has been confirmed, and you can now book your attendance. The cost will be $48 per head which is a modest 7% increase on recent years.

Details of the Reunion Luncheon and an application form are attached, and will also be available on our website. We have nominated a closing date of 22nd April which will hopefully give veterans the flexibility they require as we get closer to ANZAC Day. Due to new vehicle restrictions, taxis and private vehicles will not be given access to the shrine precinct this year. March participants will need to make their own way to the reunion lunch.

Wesley College have confirmed that their ANZAC service will be held 11:30 am Thursday 28th April and we expect details soon including presentation of the George V. Smith Award. 

We look forward to seeing you on Anzac Day and in the meantime if you have any queries please direct them to your Committee Members.

Best Wishes

Bruce

Sqn Ldr Bruce P Waxman OAM RAAF (Rtd)

President

FRIENDS OF THE ODD BODS ASSOCIATION INC."

Click on the following link to download the Reunion Luncheon Application Form - REUNION APPLICATION

====================================================================

COMMENTS: 2/4/2022 - A message from member Brian Bange who will be attending ANZAC Day in Caloundra - "All the best to members and families who will remember our special service folk."

Spotlight on Odd Bods Aircraft and Squadrons - Part 3

 

Following on from last year’s 100 year anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), the Friends of the Odd Bods Association would like to take a look back at where our fore-fathers served in World War II and why it is so important to ensure that this information is not lost, but preserved and recognised by the coming generations. The Friends of the Odd Bods Association hope you enjoy this series dedicated to these men as we “Press On Remembering”.

Part 3 of a Series.

The aircraft we will learn a little about in this part is the Avro Lancaster Bomber and the RAF Squadrons 57 and 514 where our Odd Bods served. The aircraft also flew in the following RAAF Squadrons - 460, 463 and 467.

What was an Avro Lancaster Bomber? – It was the most famous British heavy bomber of World War II. The initial aircraft or the ‘prototype’ first flew on January the 9th 1941 and there were 7,374 aircraft manufactured. The standard aircraft was operated by 7 flight crew. Their positions were;

1) Pilot;

2) Flight Engineer;

3) Navigator;

4) Wireless Operator;

5) Bomb aimer;

6) Mid gunner; and

7) Rear gunner.

There were 16 variants of the Lancaster made however we will highlight the specifications of one of the most famous aircraft still in existence, ‘Just Jane’ which is based at East Kirby in Lincolnshire, United Kingdom. The aircraft although it looks like it, is not yet ‘airworthy’ which means that the aircraft cannot take to the skies as yet. Just Jane was one of the first B Mk VII Lancasters built (There were 150 manufactured) The owners are working tirelessly to get the aircraft airborne where it will join the only two hulls that are airworthy. 

What was the aircraft powered by – Four Rolls Royce Merlin 24 engines each producing 1640 horsepower.

Dimensions – Wing Span – 102 feet, Length – 69 feet 11 ¾ inches, Height – 20 feet 6 inches

Maximum Take-Off Weight – 72,000 pounds

Maximum Landing Weight – 60,000 pounds

Maximum Bomb Load – 18,000 pounds

Maximum Speed – 275 mph at 15,000 feet

Cruising Speed – 200 mph at 15,000 feet

Maximum Altitude – 25,000 feet

Range – 2350 miles with 7,000 pounds of bomb load

What was special about the Lancaster designer? – The designer (Roy Chadwick) was a brilliant engineer who under direction of the Chief Draftsman and at the age of 18, drafted the design of a two seater bi-plane. Even before the Lancaster, Mr Chadwick designed an all-metal plane called the Avro Avian which Bert Hinkler flew solo from England to Australia in 1928. 

Mr Chadwick was appointed a ‘Commander of the Order of the British Empire’ (CBE) in 1943 for his contribution to the design of the Lancaster and in the adaptations he made to the aircraft in the preparation for the low level attacks on the German dams, during the Dam Busters raid ‘Operation Chastise’. Sadly Mr Chadwick died in an aircraft accident in 1947 where a prototype of the Avro Tudor crashed just after take-off.

Does the Lancaster still fly? – There are two Lancaster’s in an airworthy condition today. One flies in Canada and the other in the United Kingdom. Saying that, there are 17 complete aircraft still in existence. There are 2 here in Australia (In Canberra and Western Australia), 8 in Canada, 1 in France, 1 in Germany, 1 in New Zealand, 3 in the UK and 1 in the USA. 

(Information Source – Wikipedia February 16 2022)

RAF Squadron 57 – Motto is “Corpus non animum muto – I change my body not my spirit”

Did our Odd Bods serve in this Squadron – Yes;

When was the Squadron formed originally? – 1 April 1918 and disbanded 31st December 1919;

When was the Squadron reformed? - (1st Time) - 20th October 1931 to 25th November 1945 (2nd Time) – 26th November 1945 till 9th December 1957; (3rd Time) – 1st January 1959 till 30th June 1986, (4th Time) – 1st July 1992  till 14th March 2002, and (5th Time) – 1st October 2008 to present. 

Is the Squadron still active? – Yes;

What type of aircraft did the Squadron fly in WWII? – Bristol Blenheim, Vickers Wellington and Avro Lancaster

What was unique about the Squadron? – At the start of World War II, the squadron moved to France in a reconnaissance role. Following the German invasion of May 1940, the squadron added bombing to its duties and was forced to move its base regularly to avoid the German advance. It was decided on the 21st of May 1940, the squadron was to be evacuated to England. It originally set up base in Wyton, then RAF Elgin in Scotland, then Feltwell in late 1940 before moving again to Scampton in September 1942. In August 1943, the squadron made its final move to East Kirkby where it operated for the remainder of the war until being disbanded on the 25th of November 1945.

What is special about East Kirkby? – Should any reader of this article wish to know what it was like in 1945, take a trip to East Kirkby in Lincolnshire (UK) where Squadrons 57 and 630 were stationed. The airfield, the surrounding infrastructure and of course, Lancaster ‘Just Jane’ (registration NX611) is today still there after preserved by the Panton family. You can visualise what the airmen and ground crew experienced at this airfield where at one stage, 55 Lancaster’s and their crews were based.

Statistics – 57 Squadron flew 5151 operational sorties and lost 172 aircraft.

(Information Source – Wikipedia 16 February 2022)

57 Squadron at East Kirkby, April 1944

 

RAF Squadron 514 - "Nil Obstare Potest - Nothing Can Withstand"

Did our Odd Bods serve in this Squadron – Yes;

When was the Squadron formed originally? – 1st September 1943 to 22 August 1945 (First operation was conducted on the 3rd of November 1943)

Is the Squadron still active? – No, disbanded;

What type of aircraft did the Squadron fly in WWII? – Short Stirling, Handley Page Halifax and Avro Lancaster

What was unique about the Squadron – 514 was an impressive unit for being only active in two years. The squadron decimated German E-boats at Le Havre along with ensuring the Allies secured channel ports of Boulogne and Calais after German forces had dug in. The squadron was also part of ‘The Oil Plan’ which Bomber Command had decided the fuel supply was a fundamental importance to the German war effort. Naturally these were defended strenuously and unfortunately during an attack on the Rhein-Preussen facility at Meerbeck, Hamburg on the 20th July 1944, four the squadron’s aircraft and crew were lost. This attack saw the squadron lose as many aircraft that it had lost in sixteen raids on Berlin.    

Statistics – 514 Squadron flew 3675 sorties and lost 66 Lancaster’s (426 Flight Crew and 9 Ground crew perished)

Further Reading – There is a war diary of 514 Squadron written by Simon Hepworth and Andrew Porrelli called ‘Striking Through Clouds’ should the reader of this article like to explore more information of this very unique outfit.

(Information Source – Wikipedia and 514 Squadron UK webpage - February 16 2022)

514 Squadron at RAF Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire, 1945

Article by Michael Rossiter - 20/02/2022.

More Reading:

Spotlight On Odd Bods and Aircraft Part 2 - The Spitfire

Spotlight On Odd Bods and Aircraft Part 1 - The Halifax

Odd Bod Joe Shuttleworth MBE Book Launch

Odd Bod Joe Shuttleworth passed away on 10th August 2019, and a book about his war experiences (and those of his Pilot) has now been published. The book joins a growing library of fascinating WW2 accounts involving Odd Bods.

Author, Jeff Steel’s prologue is a great starting point in “Best of Time, Worst of Times” as he explains why the uncomfortable term “heroes” was indeed appropriate for WW2 airmen including Joe Shuttleworth and his pilot Tom Blackham.

Tracing the stories of two airmen and two quite different war experiences forms the basis of a fascinating book, but as with most war stories, be prepared for some harrowing descriptions.

The book is to be formally launched on Saturday 26th February at Box Hill RSL, Nelson Rd. Box Hill from 7:30pm to 10:30pm. Please let us know if you wish to attend (Email or 0406222020).

Title: Best of Times, Worst of Times: Bomber Command – Two Men – One War 

ISBN: 978-1-922488-81-7

Odd Bods Sponsor Children At Raphael Centre, India

 

The Odd Bods have a long history of supporting charity groups including Raphael, the Ryder Cheshire International Centre at Dehradun, the capital of the state of Uttarakhand in India's northern region. 

We are currently providing financial support for three students at Raphael and the Ryder Cheshire Foundation have been good enough to send us reports on the progress of Abbas, Asma, and Sarthak.

Raphael provides  a range of disability and rehabilitation services to the disadvantaged and was set up by ex RAF Group Captain, Leonard Cheshire (Baron Cheshire VC, OM, DSO & Two Bars, DFC), and his wife, Sue Ryder (Margaret Susan Cheshire, Baroness Ryder of Warsaw and Baroness Cheshire, CMG, OBE).

Stories From Wing Commander Bill Kilsby MBE AFC (1923-2021)

 

In a previous article we reported the passing of Odd Bod, Bill Kilsby, and Bill's family have been good enough to provide us with a couple of stories written by him, including a first hand review of the iconic Canberra Bomber.

Bill's career was particularly interesting because he was one of the few Odd Bods who continued with the RAAF after WW2, and his experiences, not only of WW2, but flying during the Malayan Emergency, and the Vietnam War, meant that he built up a comprehensive list of different aircraft in his piloting credits. 

Bill's writing includes some technical explanations that thankfully he has written in an easy manner that those of us not-so-expert can understand. His accounts of refuelling whilst in the air, and some of the harrowing experiences in Canberra Bombers, make for great reading. And, if you have never heard about "Toss-bombing", here is your opportunity.

Bill's stories have been divided into two, firstly with an account of his life story, and secondly his encounter with Canberra Bombers. Links can be found below, and will be permanently available in the Stories Of Odd Bods column in the left hand column of each page.

We trust you enjoy the reading.

Wing Commander Bill Kilsby's Story

Canberra Bombers - By Wing Commander Bill Kilsby

 

Vale Bill Kilsby, Wing Commander, MBE, AFC, 1923-2021

Odd Bod Bill Kilsby passed away on 4th October 2021 after a short illness. His daughter Debra has been good enough to provide us with this brief history of his war service. Bill was one of the few Odd Bods who continued in the RAAF after the war and went on to fly key aircraft including the Canberra Bomber.

Wing Commander C.G. Kilsby – Biography

Cecil Kilsby, who became known as Bill, was sworn into the RAAF on 01/01/1942 at the age of 19, and attained his wings at the end of that year.  On New Years Day 1944, he was sent by ship to England but once there volunteered for the Burma campaign. In India he was trained to fly the Lockheed Liberator, and was second pilot in RAF 356 Squadron.  In this role he was involved in bombing raids across Burma, the Malay Peninsula, Singapore and Thailand. On June 24th 1945, Bill was the second pilot of the lead plane that successfully bombed the bridge at Kanchananaburi – the infamous ‘bridge over the River Kwai’.  By the end of the war, Bill had risen to the rank of Warrant Officer, and returned to Australia in late January 1946.

In mid 1946 he was posted to Air Navigation School in East Sale, and became one of the first pilots to fly the new Australian built Lincoln, and at the end of 1950 was transferred to Amberley to captain one of the Lincolns, and shortly after was promoted to Flight Officer and sent to captain a seven man Lincoln crew with No1 (B) Squadron during the Malayan Insurgency.  Bill returned to Amberley on 01/01/1952 and began flying Canberras. 

In 1955 he was posted to Air Trials Unit, Woomera but was firstly sent to England to collect a Vickers Valiant.  Bill was in fact, for a time, the only RAAF pilot who could fly the Valiant.  From 1959-1963 Bill was back in Amberley as Flight Commander and Temporary Commanding Officer of No 6 (B) Squadron, and back flying his beloved Canberras. In January 1959 he had been promoted to Squadron Leader.

In 1963 he took up a two year Exchange Position with the USAF, and was based at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina. Here he flew B66 aircraft, a single pilot aircraft.  Returning to Australia in 1965, Bill was briefly CO of Melbourne University Squadron before deployment to Vung Tau, Vietnam where he was Commanding Officer of the support unit being set up for No 35 Squadron (Caribou) and No 9 Squadron (Iriquos).

After his stint in Vietnam Bill was promoted to Wing Commander, and spent the rest of his airforce career at Defence Headquarters in Canberra, firstly in Intelligence and then as a planner in Joint Staff. On the 11 August 1974 Bill reached the mandatory retiring age of 50, so was forced to retire from the RAAF, having served it for 32 years.  During this time he was awarded the Air Force Cross and the MBE. 

Bill Kilsby (Left) with George Smith and Doug Parry at Melbourne Shrine 2012

 

Incoming Mail - Best And Worst Aircraft of WW2 ... and more.

An unlikely source of aircraft information is the website Hotcars.com which as the name suggests is all about muscle cars, fast cars, and so on. But clearly at Hotcars they have an interest in aviation matters including WW2 aircraft and we can confidently recommend the following two articles to our readers (just click on the link).

This Is What Made The Avro Lancaster Such A Successful WW2 Bomber

and

The 10 Greatest Aircraft of WWII (And The 5 Worst)

We couldn't help but notice that all the photos of the greatest aircraft were taken in the air while most of the worst aircraft were photographed on the ground - perhaps because no one was game enough to fly them?

And a big thank you to Bryan Wilcockson in theUK for this story about the restoration of a unique Mosquito.

The History of Mosquito HJ711

  

Vale Dr Edward Fleming 1925-2021

Dr. Edward Fleming passed away on Saturday 27th November 2021. (Funeral details below)

Service Brief: E.L. Edward FLEMING 430651 Pilot 550 SQDN 21 OTU

“Edward had a long and productive career and contributed to an important element of recognition for Odd Bods.Our thoughts and best wishes to his family at this time.”

Edward was born at St.Kilda in 1925. He joined the RAAF in February 1943 and trained in Tiger Moths and Avro Ansons in Australia before heading for the UK. He proceeded to 21 Occupational Training Unit training in Wellington aircraft before converting to Lancaster Bombers. Fleming and his crew then joined 550 Squadron, based at North Killingholme, Lincolnshire.

After the war Edward returned to Australia to commence his medical career. He undertook further studies in the UK and in 1966, Edward and his family moved back to Australia and settled in Canberra, where he practiced as a general surgeon. He then joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Reserve as a senior surgical specialist, working at RAAF Fairbairn. 

“Resurrecting the Odd Bod campaign for a

 Memorial Plaque at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.”

Edward became a volunteer at the Australian War Memorial, assisting visitors to discover service records of relatives. It was in a discussion with then Director of the AWM, Dr. Brendan Nelson, that Edward asked for re-consideration of an Odd Bods request for a memorial plaque in the grounds of the memorial. The Odd Bods had been denied a plaque because technically they were not a military unit. 

Unveiling the Odd Bods plaque 14/3/2020 - L to R Bruce Waxman, Geoff Conacher, John Ireland, and Edward Fleming

Due in no small part to Edward’s efforts, a plaque now resides in a courtyard adjacent to the main memorial building in Canberra. The plaque acknowledges the service of Odd Bods like Edward who contributed so much to the allied effort in WW2.

Edward had a long and productive career and contributed to an important element of recognition for Odd Bods. Our thoughts and best wishes to his family at this time.

Funeral Details:

A funeral for Dr. Edward Fleming will be held at St. John the Baptist Church, Reid, ACT on Monday 13th December 2021 at 10am.

The service will be livestreamed at https://funeralstre.am/edward-fleming

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Bush Heritage ACT (https://secure.bushheritage.org.au/donate) or the Royal Flying Doctor Service (https://rfdsse.giveeasy.org/in-memory).

News From India On Odd Bods Raphael Students

The Odd Bods have a long history of supporting charity groups including Raphael, the Ryder Cheshire International Centre at Dehradun, the capital of the state of Uttarakhand in India's northern region. We are currently providing financial support for three students at Raphael.

The centre now has an instagram and facebook page. Links are below.

Latest News from Raphael: November 2021

"With the number of Covid-19 cases continuing to fall in India, there has also been an easing of restrictions. 

Unfortunately that means that people are getting more casual about observing protocols that are still in place.

At Raphael we continue to maintain as strict a protocol as possible; this includes temperature check at the gate, masks at all times and constant hand sanitizing. Some of the older students are now used to the masks, but for others it hangs around the chin somewhere! All eligible staff and residents have been fully vaccinated.

There are 82 residents in the hostels now and about 50 children attend the day school, the early intervention programmes or the school readiness programmes. Parents whose children are in residence have been anxious to send them back to school. The parents of the day scholars have been a little more reluctant, but they are trickling back now.

We are now on Instagram and Facebook, thanks to our PR Officer Sanghamitra Ghosh. We have 105 followers on Instagram and over 1000 ‘likes’ on Facebook!"

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raphaeldehradun/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raphaelddn

Website: https://raphael-ryder-cheshire.org

Raphael provides  a range of disability and rehabilitation services to the disadvantaged and was set up by ex RAF Group Captain, Leonard Cheshire (Baron Cheshire VC, OM, DSO & Two Bars, DFC), and his wife, Sue Ryder (Margaret Susan Cheshire, Baroness Ryder of Warsaw and Baroness Cheshire, CMG, OBE).

Vale John "Jack" Bell 1917-2021

 Odd Bod Jack Bell passed away on 27th November 2021.

Service brief: J.R. BELL 404137 WAG 216 Sqdn.

"Jack will be remembered for his incredible energy and happy disposition - a well respected Odd Bod. Our sincere condolescences to all the Bell family."

Jack was born in Brisbane in 1917. In 1940 he was posted as a Wireless Air Gunner under the Empire Training Scheme and sent to No. 1 Wireless Air Gunners School, Ballarat. Jack was posted to 216 Squadron RAF in June 1941, Egypt. The Squadron flew Bristol Bombays, a medium sized transport aircraft, and moved stores, spare parts, medical supplies and personnel all over Egypt, Libya. 

Jack's aircraft was shot down early in 1942 and he spent 3 years as a prisoner of war. You can find a feature story on his war experiences here - https://www.1wags.org.au/information/featured-stories/warrant-officer-john-jack-robert-bell/

In recent years Jack was active in organisations like the Victorian Ex-POW's Association, and the RSL. He was a keynote speaker at ceremonies including VE Day at The Melbourne Shrine, and the Wesley College ANZAC Day service and stirred many hearts with his POW experiences. The photo on the left shows Jack with service heads at the 2018 VE Day service.

This photo of Jack was created by the Herald Sun for some of their WW2 feature stories and has been used on this website a number of times.

Jack will be remembered for his incredible energy and happy disposition - a well respected Odd Bod. Our sincere condolescences to all the Bell family.

Remembrance Day 11/11/2021 - Shrine, Repatriation Hospital, Jan Dimmick

 Today we remember those Australians who served our nation in all theatres of conflict and particularly those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Lest We Forget

(Click on the photo above for a replay of the service held today at the Melbourne Shrine 11/11/2021)

Poppies on the Odd Bods plaque at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital - 11/11/2021

Committee member, Jan Dimmick, prepares for a wreath laying on behalf of Bomber Command at St James Park, West Hawthorn, on Remembrance Day 2021.

Incoming Humour

 

In keeping with a long tradition of high level humour (?) in Odd Bods newsletters, we are referencing these outdoor signs from the USA. The Indian Hills Community Centre in Colorado is famous for its funny puns signs which are apparently refreshed every few days. Enjoy!