Odd Bods In WW2 - Speech At Australian War Memorial - 15/8/2019

The video for the public talk about the contribution of Odd Bods in WW2 can be found below. This discussion took place at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra on 15th August.

Flypast At RAAF Museum Point Cook

Here are some more photos and a video taken after the Friends Of The Odd Bods Committee Meeting at the RAAF Museum at Point Cook on Sunday 18th August. A big thank you to David Gardner and staff for their hospitality.

Friends Committee Meeting At RAAF Museum Point Cook Celebrates 65 Years of Odd Bods

The first official Odd Bods meeting was held on 24th August 1954 and 65 years later Friends Of The Odd Bods Association Inc. celebrated the occasion at the RAAF Museum Point Cook.

Museum Director, David Gardner OAM, graciously provided our meeting room, a light lunch, and then treated committee members to a fly past of historic aircraft.

The location was significant for a number of reasons, and particularly because one of the agenda items at this meeting was the treatment of historic memorabilia. The museum is in the process of setting up displays for Fighter Command, Bomber Command, Coastal Command, and Odd Bods.

A number of items of Odd Bods memorabilia have already been presented to the museum and David Gardner has asked us for historic information about the Odd Bods (UK) Association and Friends Of The Odd Bods which will be passed on in due course.

Greg Smith taking this selfie with L-R Robyn Bell, Jenny Hibbens,
Jan Dimmick, Bruce Waxman, Peter Randell, David Gardner (Museum Director), Terry Maher, Stephen Trask.

Odd Bod Sacrifices In WW2

A stirring address by FOTOBAI Patron, AVM Peter Scully (Rtd), at our reunion luncheon on ANZAC Day 2019, is recorded below. The address sets a challenge for members and indeed all Australians to remember the sacrifices made by RAAF personnel in WW2.

ANZAC  DAY  2019

ADDRESS TO ‘FRIENDS OF THE ODDBODS’

Mr President, Oddbods and Friends of the Oddbods.   It is both a great privilege and a pleasure to be with you once again this year.   Thank you for your kind invitation to give a short address….but Bruce, how long is a piece of string?

However, I would like to say a few words on why I think you are one of the most important of the many ex-service organisations in our country – and I mean that most sincerely.

At the beginning of World War Two, all realised that this would be a war in which airpower would play a major and dominent role.   So much so that Britain and the old Dominions, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and later on South Africa entered into an agreement:  The Empire Air Training Plan, or more usually called the Empire Air Training Scheme – EATS.   Britain, despite its small size would be able to manufacture the necessary aircraft – and nearly all aircraft involved were in fact manufactured in that country – but would be unable to produce the numbers of aircrew required.  So, the dominions agreed to develop a training programme to supply the necessary aircrew.    The RAAF’s responsibility was an immense and daunting one, tasked with producing over 27,000 aircrew in Australia plus an additional 10,000 in Canada and 700 in Rhodesia.

The RAAF grew from 27 to 3037 operational aircraft plus another 2808 training aircraft.   38 new flying schools were established, the number of Qualified Flying Instructors grew from 27 to 3061.  The force grew from 10 officers in 1939 to 20,000.  Airmen increased from 3179 to 144,000 together with 18,000 airwomen:an absolutely incredible undertaking.

The RAAF served in every theatre of that war, including Russia.  5036 were killed in action in Europe and the ME alone – and another one third were killed in training accidents.  Indeed, of the total Australian battle fatalities, Army, Navy, Airforce, in all theatres of that war, over 30 percent were RAAF in Europe and the ME alone.  3 percent of the RAAF served in Europe but suffered30 percent of casualties.

At the end of the war, the Australian War Memorial produced and film, ‘Sons of ANZACS’.  It lasted 124 minutes, the RAAF coverage lasted just 10 minutes and the RAAF’s contribution to bomber/fighter/Coastal Commands received NO mention at all.

The then Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sir Richard Williams, referring to the RAAF in Europe stated: “They did not realise that most of their achievements were not recorded in Australian history.”

Even to this day, the great majority of our population is totally unaware of these great RAAF efforts and sacrifices; awareness made less likely by the current ‘political correctness’ which denies our British heritage. 

I’d like to give another example of how our RAAF history has been lost.   Some years ago I was asked by the Australia National University to write an entry for the Australian Dictionary of Biography on an RAAF airman, a Russell Foskett.   I accepted thinking that the task would be pretty simple and as I had many contacts with WW2 aircrew (most of my early instructors were pilots who had served in Europe).   No-one had ever heard of him.   So, I applied to the National Archives for his file.  It contained but two entries; his enlistment documents and his discharge documents.  There was no record of his overseas service in Australia.   It seemed I’d reached a dead end.

However, from his enlistment details at least I knew where he used to live.   So, I armed myself with a Sydney map and phone directory and wrote to everyone by that name within a 10 mile radius of his home address.  What luck – I managed to get in touch with his two spinster sisters.  Unfortunately, one had just entered a nursing home and had thrown out his log book and associated documents.  Nevertheless, we established good friendships and I learned much about his early life.

Next, I wrote to some RAF contacts I’d made during my time as Airforce Advisor at the Australian High Commission in London.  This produced some useful information.  Foskett had an impressive record with the RAF.  He’d earned an OBE and DFC and flew Hurricans and Spitfires in the Med, Greece and Yugoslavia.  He’d become a flight commander on No 80 Squadron RAF and then Commanding Officer on No 94 Squadron RAF.  He lost his life following an engine failure at low level preventing his parachute from opening properly.  His body was recovered by a Royal Navy warship.   He died just eight months after his younger brother who was a navigator on a Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft shot down over Berlin.  They were both ‘Oddbods’.

I hope this might give you a better understanding of why your organisation is so important.   You have the opportunity to keep alive the memories of these Australian airmen who served their country so selflessly and at such a tragic cost.   Please spread the word because there seems to be  no-one else to do so.

COPY OF A LETTER WRITTEN HOME BY

FLYING OFFICER BRUCE W. FOSKETT, (413755), RAAF

     Since I have last written we have started what we have for so long been training.   We've a few trips in now, all to the Ruhr, and oh boy is that one hot place.   No one who has ever seen a target in there, as we go to work and blow it all to hell, could ever believe what it is like.   It is fantastic almost and how on earth we can go through it and come out unscathed as we have done so far, is beyond me.   The amount of hate Jerry throws up at us, everything but the kitchen sink, and even that at times I think, is amazing.   And I don't blame him, for, although they are Germans and all that that entails, I sometimes feel sorry for those people that we give such an awful plastering to.   There was never a closer thing to a living hell I don't think, than one of our raids at its height I know I'd sooner be up where we are than down on the ground under us, catching all the stuff we let fly at them.

     The first thing of course is the searchlights.   The feeling of security you have in all the enveloping darkness of the night as we scream across enemy territory on the way in, goes west the moment those light get cracking.   We've only been caught once so far, and then only for a couple of minutes, but I thought we'd had it.   Up there with something between 20 and 30 lights on us, I felt as though I was standing naked on the stage of a full theatre and it appeared we'd never get out of that blinding, dazzling glare.   We must have been living right though, for somehow one moment there we were lit up like a Christmas tree just waiting for it and the next moment we were out in the clear and we were back in the darkness again.   Boy, did I have my fingers crossed, especially when  I could see they had us bracketed with flak, six bursts on each side every few seconds, right at our height and gradually creeping in on us, closer every salvo.  

     Next thing to the lights is the flak.   All over the sky you see the pin pricks of bursting flak, everywhere it seems, but when they cone a kite they just pour everything up those beams till they either get the kite or the kite beats them and gets out of the cone.   All over the place you see aircraft coned.   All around these targets for miles you see these cones, 20 and 30 and often more lights to a cone, and away up where the beams cross is an aircraft looking just like a moth and absolutely surrounded by flak burstsThis light stuff is green and red and blue and silver and its an awesome sight to see it pouring up.   Then there are the hundreds of flares, theirs and ours, all colours and types bursting all over the sky in great showers of fire spreading out and gradually falling like a giant coloured blanket.   There's some kind of stuff they put up that's silvery in colour and breaks out like tinsel, shimmering and shivering in the sky, amongst all the other strange lights and flares.   Maybe you'll see a kite go for a burton and murmur a silent prayer for the boys with her who are not having the luck you are.   But that part of it is not a nice sight.   And then there is the target, its terrific, just one great area burning and smoking like hell, even from the height we bomb we can see the ugly dark red flames as the incendiaries we drop get a hold and the building start to burn

    

          I hope you haven't minded me telling you about the work over here.   My only wish is that you don't let it worry you.   We've been through it a few times now and can do it again as many times as we have to.   There's nothing else I can tell you of what we do without perhaps overstepping the censor.   I thought perhaps you'd want to know how it impressed me and what our job is like.

Vale Joe Shuttleworth MBE

We wish to inform you all of the death of Joe Shuttleworth on Saturday 10th August 2019. 
Joe was one of our Odd Bod veteran members and was present at the Anzac Day Reunion this year.
He was always at the Remembrance Day Service at the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital having worked there for most of his career.
Joe was a rear gunner on Lancasters during the war.
His funeral will be held on Monday August 22nd at 10:30 am at the chapel at the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital.

Link: IBCC Interview #5: Joe Shuttleworth, 50 Squadron Rear Gunner



COMMENTS:

On 19/08/2019 1:16 pm, Peter Randell wrote:

I attended Joe Shuttleworth’s funeral today and represented the Association at that.        

I checked on our banner - still looking good with George and Walters signatures on the order of service documents next to it

For Joe, they did a great service including the Ode and Last Post as well as particular reference to his war service and time on Lancs

Very well done indeed 

And, for all you Carlton supporters, note that Joe was a big Hawks fan, so that was the song played as we walked him out, the Hawthorn Footy Club song!

Cheers 

Peter

Odd Bods Feature In War Memorial Presentation

Odd Bods are to feature in a free public talk at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra on Thursday 15^th August 2019. Members are invited along but if you are unable to attend we will post a link to a Youtube video of the talk as soon as possible after the 15^th.

The Australian War Memorial

Treloar Crescent

Campbell ACT 2612

Free public talk

BAE Systems Theatre, 12.30pm, 15th August 2019

"The Second World War saw tens of thousands of Australians take to the air as members of the Royal Australian Air Force. Most of them served in Australian units, while the remainder served as “odd bods” in British, Canadian, or New Zealand squadrons. Among these were two Australian Victoria Cross recipients. This presentation will highlight the stories of some of these men who flew a diverse range of aircraft around the world in non-Australian units."

Bomber Command Commemorative 2019

The Bomber Command Commemorative Service was held at the Shrine on Sunday 2nd June 2019 with Friends of the Odd Bods Association member, Wing Commander Mike Oram, as Guest Speaker. Mike is the Son of Odd Bod Johnny Oram.

Mike has been kind enough to let us publish his speech and you are urged to read the fascinating account of his Father's war story which can be described as a chilling account of the immense danger and huge sacrifices made by Australian Airmen. You can find the full text here - - https://friendsofoddbods.blogspot.com/p/bomber-command-service-2019.html

Attendees on the day included Jack Bell, Gerald McPherson, and Jan Dimmick who delivered the reading "Place of Ghosts". Thanks to President, Bruce Waxman, for the photos.

Guest Speaker Wing Commander Mike Oram

Jack Bell & Gerald McPherson

Jan Dimmick

Harvard Flyover

Coastal Command To Be Featured In Shrine Exhibition

Ground crew of 10 Squadron RAAF haul a Sunderland flying boat ashore for maintenance at RAF Mount Batten, Plymouth, England, May 1945.

 The Shrine is currently developing an exhibition about RAF Coastal Command during the Second World War and the role of the RAAF squadrons and airmen who served within it. The exhibition will open in early August and be on display for a year.

Organisers are keen to make contact with any Second World War Coastal Command veterans still living in Victoria so as to invite them to the exhibition launch and involve them in some of the related programs - public lectures, book launches etc.

If you, or someone you know, can assist with this worthy exhibition we would love to hear from you. Please contact Peter Randell or Greg Smith. Click on the “Contact Us” tab above for more contact details.

VE Day At Melbourne Shrine 2019

The commemoration of Victory In Europe (VE Day) took place at the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance on Wednesday 8th May 2019.

A service incorporating The Shrine, RSL, and Friends of the Odd Bods Association was conducted in fine (if chilly) weather on the forecourt of The Shrine. The Shrine Guard Catafalque Party and Navy Band contributed to the service with a speech from Colonel John Wertheimer AM RFD.

Colonel Wertheimer made reference to the 6000 Australian Airmen who gave their lives in WW2.

Friends of the Odd Bods Association attendees included Maurie Smith (who laid the Friends wreath), Frank Sims, Jan Dimmick, along with Peter Randell, Gary Elliot, Greg Smith, Robyn Bell, and Robert Jackson.

Our Secretary, Peter Randell, thanked The Shrine, and RSL organisers for another impressive service.

Wesley ANZAC Service Excels Again

There is something special about the ANZAC Service at Wesley College that has attendees congratulating the school as they did again today.

Perhaps it is the music, the solemn nature of the service, the religious input from the School Chaplain, the selection of guest speakers, the special guests including Odd Bods, the integral involvement of students or that very special time when a gong is rung as the names of Old Wesleyians who gave up their lives, are read out.

A feature of the ceremony in recent years has been the presentation of the G.V.Smith Award for the best ANZAC essay by a student. Due to curriculum changes this year the award was held over until 2020 when the Year 9 students include ANZAC in their curriculum. Winning essays from past years continue to feature in our top 10 most read articles.

The Guest Speaker this year was Dr. Annette Holian who served in theatres of war and is currently Group Captain in the RAAF Reserve. Dr. Holian urged students to be brave and speak out -"There are many ways to make the world a better place. I am confident you can make that contribution."

The day concludes with a wreath laying ceremony at the Lone Pine in the school grounds.
Well done to Wesley and all contributors on another special ANZAC service.

Some Conversations From ANZAC Day.

The ANZAC spirit is alive and well and exemplified in the attendance of Maurie Smith who suffered a fall recently and sustained two broken ribs. Most of you will know that is a very painful experience and the discomfort lingers for some time. Maurie was determined to spend this important day with his mates, and soldiered on well, although he did try to avoid too much laughter.

The RSL laid down an edict for this year’s march that all WW2 veterans would have to travel in cars. This was to avoid delays during the march over past years as veterans struggled to keep up with the pace. Well, they needed a sub-clause “except for Frank Sims” because Frank marched once again and displayed no ill effects from the exercise. In fact he was able to give a TV interview immediately after the march as you will see in a separate post.

A sobering statistic from our Patron AVM Peter Scully (Rtd.) that Australian Airmen in Europe represented over 30% of total Australian casualties in WW2. This supports the view that the contribution of Australian Airmen in WW2 does not receive sufficient consideration.

Member Bryan Wilcockson sent us this message from the UK yesterday “ Good morning - I'm in Melbourne (UK) and dressed ready for the ANZAC day march, but there's no sign of the Friends bus?”

Unfortunately our bus didn’t get to the UK but we will try again next year Bryan.

Frank Sims TV Interview ANZAC Day 2019

Friends of the Odd Bods veteran, Frank Sims, was collared by the ABC after this years ANZAC March and here is the interview that went to air. Thanks to Gary Elliot for the feed.

ANZAC March & Reunion 2019 Photos

(L-R) Doug Parry, Frank Sims, Maurie Smith, Joe Shuttleworth,
Jim Mitchell, Jan Dimmick, Alan Couper.

Our veterans get the top billing on this collection of photos (and rightly so) but ANZAC Day 2019 turned on great weather, great memories, and many heartfelt discussions as we all joined to remember those who had passed and all those who contributed to the amazing stories of Australian Airmen and Women in WW2.

The following is just a small sample from the day. We hope you enjoy them, and encourage you to send us your photos for inclusion.

The Odd Bods march into view and you might
notice a few eyes turned to the heavens which
will make sense with the next photo.

Many thanks to our wonderful banner bearers
from Wesley.

And we simply could not get along with
our reliable drivers Vin and Mohit
 from 13 CABS.

Our President Bruce Waxman opens
 proceedings at the luncheon.

Some very wise words and encouragement
from our Patron AVM Peter Scully (Rtd)

Gary Elliot, Jim Mitchell, Peter Randell, and
Joe Shuttleworth enjoying the discussions.

Frank Sims was captured by an
ABC TV crew after the March

Twenty Years Since This Article Was Published. These Three Gentlemen were intrinsic in setting up The Odd Bods.

ODD BODS MARCH TOGETHER

Herald Sun April 22nd 1999

COMMENT:

Rex19 April 2019 at 11:12

My father Francis George Haw was an Odd Bod. Couldn't wait for Australia to get its act together and went to Canada to take part in what I think was called the Empire Training Scheme. He ended up as a WO2 rear gunner in a Wellington bomber. Took part in the defence of Malta and finished his operational duties when his Wellington crashed in Libya in 1942. He was the only survivor and suffered horrific injuries including a broken back. He ended up at Sale Air Base in Victoria as an air gunnery instructor until the war ended.After the war he married my mum, but was forced to spend many years back in hospital trying to fully recover from plane crash injuries. He studied law while in hospital and later became a practising barrister and solicitor, mostly in Melbourne.

Assistant Editor21 April 2019 at 19:13

Thanks Rex. Really appreciate you sharing the story of your father. Although my father was lucky to come back without injury, the stories he did tell in his later life were obviously forever playing on his mind. We are lucky to have had these men as role models and we will all try to ensure that the next generations never forget the sacrifice that was made for our freedom.

20/4/2019 17:15 Thanks for your story Rex. My Father also suffered back injuries when his Mitchell B-25 crash landed. Not as serious as a broken back however. Some tough times. - Greg Smith

Stirring ANZAC Speech By RAAF Veteran

Friends of the Odd Bods member, Gabrielle Hogan, gave us a heads up on a recent article in Sydney Newspapers about RAAF Pilot Eric Barton and it is one of his ANZAC Day speeches that particularly caught her attention.
Eric Barton flew as a Lancaster pilot with No 186 Squadron Royal Air Force RAF between October 1944 and March 1945. He was part of the Pathfinders, the target-marking squadrons in RAF Bomber Command.
In a speech at the Cronulla RSL Anzac Dawn Service in 2013 he delivered a powerful message. He told the crowd: 

"You don’t need to wear a uniform to be an Anzac; you need to treasure and fight for our laws, our individual right of free speech. Don’t waste your freedom. Don’t be a ‘she’ll-be-right-mate’ Australian; be an Anzac Australian like your oldies. They didn’t say ‘she’ll be right, mate'. They made sure it would be right by doing, and in many cases by giving their lives to make sure it would be right mate.”

Eric Barton passed away in February 2019. The link to the full article can be found here - Eric Barton WW2 Pathfinder - "the best of the best".

Tom Rossiter - Peter Scully Interview

AVM Peter Scully (Rtd.) has given us kind permission to publish his wonderful interviews with WWII Airmen and we have just uploaded his account by Odd Bod Tom Rossiter.
Peter's interviews are remarkable for the insight into veterans thoughts and experiences during wartime. 
You will find more of Peter's interviews and other stories of Odd Bods listed in the side panel.

Communications From Members

Behind the scenes at Friends Of The Odd Bods there is plenty of communication going on as you can imagine.

Our annual invitation to the ANZAC March usually brings a flurry of emails and members like Bryan Wilcockson from Selby in the UK like to join the spirit of the invitation even if distance might be a problem -

“Navigator to Pilot”
“Roger that, march from Selby to Melbourne definitely a ‘do-able’ on ANZAC day. Request permission to march one abreast (it’s not that I’m a ‘Billy-No-Mates’ just struggling to find another ‘Odd-Bod’ in Selby)
Riverwalk Amora Hotel not found. Suggest rendezvous at Melbourne Arms  53°52′04″N 000°50′19″W”

Bryan

One year we will have to get Bryan over for the March or maybe take up his offer of a reunion at the Melbourne Arms.

Another correspondent is Gabrielle Hogan, widow of Odd Bod Harl Hogan, who writes the most wonderfully descriptive emails. Gabrielle will be attending the Palm Beach ANZAC March up in Sydney this year and she wishes us every success with our march while "thinking of all who served their country, and so many of those who did, losing their lives,  in the wars."
Check out the article about RAAF Pilot Eric Barton and his resounding ANZAC Day speech which Gabrielle alerted us to.

A big thank you to all who have communicated over recent weeks and our thoughts go out to those who for various reasons, can't make it on ANZAC Day.

ANZAC Day Invitation - Thursday 25th April 2019

Dear Friends,

          Anzac Day is not far away and we are pleased to send you an invitation to this year’s Anzac Day reunion which is being held at the same location as last year’s successful event -  The Riverwalk Amora Hotel on the banks of the Yarra in Richmond.

          There have been some changes to the arrangements for the ANZAC march. You will find details for the day on the invitation form (see ANZAC Day 2019 tab above) and we ask you to complete the details as soon as possible particularly so that we can prepare transport arrangements. Arrangements like car transport in the march, bus transport to the reunion and luncheon bookings, need to be organised well in advance.

          Invitation forms have been sent out via email, hard copy for those without email addresses, and can also be accessed by clicking on the ANZAC Day 2019 tab at the top of this page.

           In addition you will find details of the Wesley College ANZAC Day Commemoration Service on Friday 26th April below.

          

          We look forward to seeing you on Anzac Day and in the meantime if you have any queries please direct them to Peter Randell (0410271941), Gary Elliott (0418523974), Greg Smith (0406222020),  or Michael Rossiter (0418324383).

Best Wishes

Bruce

Sqn Ldr Bruce P Waxman OAM RAAF (Rtd)

President

FRIENDS OF THE ODD BODS ASSOCIATION INC. - 2019

Addendum:

Wesley College ANZAC Day Campus Commemoration Service.

Friday 26^th April 2019

-        Glen Waverley Campus

-        Friday 26^th April – 11:10am in the Prest Quad.

-        Morning tea before the service at 10:30am in the Alexander Room in the Senior School.

-        Reserved parking will be available next to the Coates Pavilion.

-        Includes presentation of the G.V.Smith award to the year 10 student who has written the best essay about the ANZAC spirit.

-        All Friends of the Odd Bods Association members are invited.

-        RSVP to Peter Randell peter.randell5@gmail.com

Dambuster Fred Sutherland Passes Away

Dambuster Fred Sutherland died on Monday 21 January, at the age of 95. He was one of the only two survivors of the men who flew on the Dams Raid in May 1943. Sutherland was the front gunner in the aircraft piloted by Les Knight, which dropped the 'bouncing bomb' which broke the Eder Dam.

A comprehensive story including interviews with family and friends can be found on the Dambusters Blog (click to go to the blog).

Mosquito Takes To NZ Skies After $10m Refit