As part of the RAAF Centenary celebrations a spectacular fly past involving 60 aircraft took place over Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra today (Wednesday 31st March 2021)
Aircraft included Hudson, Harvard, Wirraway, Mustang, Spitfire, Kittyhawk, and Catalina.
One of our readers (thank you Caitlin) was on the spot and sent us this video of the Roulettes performing the final stage of the flypast.
President Bruce Waxman, and committee members Jan Dimmick and Robyn Bell joined in the evening with Robyn Bell gifting a figure of a young RAAF Airman to RAAFA. We include some photos below including one of the honour board recording Odd Bod Frank Dimmick as President of RAAFA from 1983-1985.
Women’s contribution during WW2 varied around the globe, from countries like Russia where frontline activity including bomber pilots (**) were in the heat of the action to countries like America where the frontline participation of women was largely opposed.
In Australia the WAAF’s (or more correctly the WAAAF’s) made an important contribution to war effort as the government looked to step up community involvement – all hands to the wheel. The Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force was formed in 1941. It was the largest of the wartime Australian women’s services with some 27,000 women enlisting between March 1941 and August 1945.
One of the key needs in Australia was for women to help support the Empire Air Training Scheme which was of course significant for many Odd Bods as they progressed to active service.
In the early days of the WAAAF nurses played an important role leading to the formation of the Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service (RAAFFNS). By the end of the war, women were involved in more than 73 trades including fabric workers, photographers, engine fitters, clerks, cooks, meteorological assistants, and included commissioned officers (***).
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| Lots of WAAAF's in this photo taken in Melbourne in early 1940's. We believe Odd Bods Founder George Smith's wife Shirley is in the photo. |
** In the fall of 1941, with invading German forces threatening Moscow, Marina Raskova (known as the “Russian Amelia Earhart”) convinced Joseph Stalin to authorize three regiments of female pilots. The most famous was the 588th Night Bomber Regiment, whose pilots hit so many of their targets that the Germans started calling them the Nachthexen, or “night witches.” Using rickety plywood planes, the women of the 588th flew more than 30,000 missions and dropped more than 23,000 tons of bombs on the Nazis; 30 of them were killed and 24 received the Hero of the Soviet Union medal, the nation’s highest award for valor.
*** https://web.archive.org/web/20080720074942/http://www.airforce.gov.au/history/women.htm
It is somewhat hard to believe, but
this coming Sunday March 14 will be the first anniversary of the dedication
ceremony for the Odd Bods plaque at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
Talk about timing.....after many months of planning how lucky we were to be able to proceed with the ceremony..... with the Covid-19 State of Emergency and Stage 1 restrictions announced on March 16 2020, just two days after the ceremony.
With Stage 2 Stay at Home on March
26 2020, and the War Memorial itself suddenly closed on March 24 2020 we certainly timed
it to perfection. (AWM only reopened on a strictly limited basis July 1st.)
Along with border closures and other
constraints, if we had missed that slot then the Odd Bods could still be
waiting. It was meant to be, that is for sure.
The significance of this plaque has been written about a number of times and you can find a full rundown by clicking on the tab marked “Odd Bod Plaque At Australian War Memorial” at the top of this page.
Thank you to Gary Elliot for this storyline, and to Mark Smith for the photographs taken this week in Canberra.
Email To Members 5/3/2021
Dear Friends,
Since we last contacted you about ANZAC Day arrangements in Melbourne a lot has changed.
- There will now be a Dawn Service at the Shrine. The exact nature of the Dawn Service is subject to change, but we anticipate a ballot will allow up to 1500 people to attend. The service is scheduled to start at 0600 and In the Centenary year of the RAAF, an RAAF veteran will lay the wreath. Others will be encouraged to observe a drive way vigil similar to 2020.
- There will be a march with massed banners and post Vietnam service veterans marching (up to 5,000 registered marchers). WW2 veterans will not march.
- WW2 veterans will be given the option of a vehicle pick-up from their home, delivery to an undercover seating area at the shrine, and then a return trip to their home immediately following the march. I will be in contact with our veterans to determine their availability.
- There will be no vehicles in the march and no buses or other pick-ups at the end of the march.
- It is not immediately clear whether the Odd Bods banner will participate due to restrictions on the march however the option to have our banner at the Odd Bods tree would appear to be open to us.
- The RSL is to make a final Covid safe proposal to the State Government by 15th March and we expect clarification, including banner status, some time after that.
- The Dawn Service and the march will be live streamed by the Shrine.
- As previously advised, there will be a Reunion Luncheon at Amora for members starting at 1100 hrs on ANZAC Day. Details will be advised shortly.
- Our Association will be conducting a Last Post co,petition similar to 2020 with more details to come.
It is great to see that more normalized arrangements are planned for ANZAC Day 2021 in Melbourne. There are still a number of matters that require clarification and we will keep you informed as matters progress.
Best Wishes
Bruce
Sqn Ldr Bruce P Waxman OAM RAAF (Rtd)
President
Friends Of The Odd Bods Association Inc.
In conjunction with the 100 year anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), the Friends of the OddBods 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 OddBods Association hope you enjoy this series dedicated to these men as we “Press On Remembering”.
Part 1 – The Handley Page Halifax Mk III and RAAF Squadron 466 and RAF Squadron 51 where our OddBods served.
What was a Handley Page Halifax Mk III Bomber? – It was a four-engine aircraft designed purely during WW II and it’s first flight was on the 25th of October 1939. It was introduced on the 13th of November 1940 and 6178 aircraft were built until April 1945. This was very impressive and at one stage, one Halifax was completed every hour mainly due to the aircraft being built by 5 manufacturers, Handley Page, English Electric, Fairey Aviation, London Aircraft Production Group and Rootes Securities.The version Mk III bomber was the most popular and this was used by 7 countries (including Australia) as military operators.
What was the aircraft powered by? - Four 1650hp Bristol XVI radial piston engines with 3 bladed constant speed propellers.
Maximum Take-Off Weight – 65,000 pounds
Maximum Speed – 282 mph
Maximum Altitude – 24,000 feet
Bomb carriage weight – 13,000 pounds
How many crew were on the Halifax? - Pilot, flight engineer, navigator, wireless operator/gunner, bomb aimer and two gunners (Total of 7).
How many operations did the Halifax carry out? - 82,773 operations dropping 224,207 tons of bombs
How many Halifax were lost in WWII? – 1833 of 6178 built.
What happened to the aircraft after WWII? - The aircraft was retired from operational military use in 1961. The aircraft was also used in 11 countries by civilian operators in the post war era.
Are there any Halifax’s still existing today? – Only three remain complete. They are;
1. Restored Aircraft Serial Number NA337 built by Rootes Motors and delivered to 644 Squadron – It resides in the National Air Force Museum of Canada, Trenton Ontario
2. Restored Aircraft Serial Number HR792 built by Handley Page and delivered to 58 Squadron – It resides at the Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, North Yorkshire;
3. Unrestored Aircraft Serial Number W1048 built by English Electric and delivered to 102 Squadron – It resides in the RAF Museum London, Colindale London.
Other useful information – There is a Canadian organisation called Halifax 57 Rescue which is dedicated to the recovery and restoration of Handley Page Halifaxes. This organisation was founded in 1994 and has recovered two aircraft, one being NA337. This aircraft was recovered from 750 feet underwater in Lake Mjosa, Norway. The second aircraft LW682 was recovered from Geraardsbergen, Belgium. As part of the recovery from the bog, the bodies of three airmen was carried out and enabled them to be given a proper burial. Once recovered, the airframe was melted down and the material was used to construct the RAF Bomber Command Memorial in London which was unveiled in 2012.
(Information Source – Wikipedia Feb 17 2021)
RAAF Squadron 466 – Motto was “Brave and True”
Did our OddBods serve in this Squadron – Yes;
When was this Squadron formed? – 10th October 1942 at RAF Driffield, East Yorkshire, UK
Is the squadron still active? – No, it was disbanded on the 26th of October 1945;
What type of aircraft did the squadron fly? – Vickers Wellington, Handley Page Halifax and Liberators;
How many operations did the Squadron fly? – 3326 sorties against 269 targets;
How many aircraft were lost? – 81 with 184 RAAF personnel also lost;
What was unique about the Squadron? – Even though this was an RAAF unit, the majority of the personnel were British Air Forces. The Squadron was also heavily committed to mine-laying operations throughout 1943;
Citations – Following a mission on the 14th of April 1943, four members of the crew of a 466 Squadron Wellington received Joint Citation after suffering an attack by a fighter aircraft over the Ruhr target in Germany. With the aircraft badly damaged and a deceased rear gunner, the pilot was able to get his aircraft back to an airfield in his country without the further loss of life.
(Information Source – Wikipedia and Various Sources Feb 17 2021)
RAF Squadron 51 – Motto is “Swift and Sure”
Did our OddBods serve in this Squadron? – Yes;
When was the Squadron formed originally? – 15th May 1916 and disbanded 13th June 1919;
When was the Squadron reformed?; - 15th March 1937, at RAF Snaith, East Yorkshire, UK
Is the Squadron still active? – Yes, at RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, UK
What type of aircraft did the Squadron fly in WWII? –Vickers Virginia, Armstrong Whitworth Whitley, Avro Anson, Handley Page Halifax, Short Sterling and Avro York
How many operations did the Squadron fly? – 51 Squadron was part of 4 Group Bomber Command who were part of 62,000 sorties during the war;
How many aircraft were lost? – 1441 aircraft did not return from their missions;
What was unique about the Squadron – This unit was based at 6 airfields during WWII from just before the war broke out in 1938 until the war ended in 1945;
Citations / Battle Honours – 15 separate fields of war resulted in this Squadron being awarded Battle Honours. It also needs to be known that there were 16 Australian Distinguished Flying Crosses and 1 Australian Distinguished Flying Medal awarded to our servicemen.
(Information Source – Wikipedia and Various Sources Feb 17 2021)
By Michael Rossiter
Please see various photos of the Halifax below.
At number 5 in the RAAF's iconic aircraft countdown is a long-serving workhorse ideal for getting in and out of tight spaces: the de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou.
In the early 1960's the RAAF was searching for a replacement for the venerable Dakota aircraft and the Caribou fitted the bill. Arriving in 1964, the Caribou was immediately sent into service in the Vietnam War carrying troops and supplies to rugged, inaccessible airfields near the frontlines. A short take-off and landing aircraft, it continued to operate for the next 45 years across the Indian-Pacific region, often delivering humanitarian aid and disaster relief to areas other aircraft could not access.
The Caribou had no auto pilot and was physically demanding to fly. It quickly gained a reputation as a tough reliable workhorse, much admired by Australian and allied airmen.
Click on the photo at the top of this article to be taken to the RAAF website and a very informative video about the Caribou.
At Sunday’s FOTOBAI Committee
Meeting the committee discussed a plan of action to address the ongoing
uncertainty regarding ANZAC Day arrangements under Covid.
The
RSL has announced that there will not be an ANZAC march in Melbourne although
other Australian states have announced varied responses.
It was agreed that we would make
every effort to formalize arrangements for ANZAC Day and continue the tradition
of honoring all Odd Bods at this time. FOTOBAI plans include –
1. A reunion luncheon will
be held at Amora, Melbourne on ANZAC Day 2021. We already have a booking at
Amora, although the format and size of the gathering will depend on Covid
regulations operating at the time. Photographs and videos will be available
online for those unable to attend.
2.
It is unlikely that a Dawn Service or ANZAC March will take place in Melbourne
however we will actively seek participation of the Odd Bods banner in whatever alternative
arrangements are authorised at the Shrine.
3. We will examine
options for inclusion in other memorial services including Wesley College.
3. We will conduct an online
2021 Last Post Initiative similar to 2020 in which members submit their photos and
stories about ANZAC Day for publication on the FOTOBAI website – details to follow.
4. In the absence of a
Dawn Service on ANZAC Day we anticipate driveway vigils to be observed and we
will invite members to submit photographs on the day for immediate posting on
our website. – details to follow.
The
aim of all these measures is to honour Odd Bods in the most appropriate manner
given the restrictions on gatherings imposed by Covid.
We will keep you informed of our
plans and welcome your comments. In the meantime you may wish to check in at
the FOTOBAI website for recent articles including the RAAF 10 Most Iconic
Aircraft list.
Best Wishes
Bruce
Sqn Ldr Bruce P Waxman OAM RAAF (Rtd)
President
Friends Of The Odd Bods Association Inc.
Next up in the RAAF Iconic Aircraft countdown at number 6 is the radar superstar in the sky: the E-7A Wedgetail.
As the first Early Warning and Control aircraft in service, the Wedgetail is easily recognised by its game-changing MESA radar (AKA the ‘surfboard’) at the top of the fuselage. More than 600 hours of wind tunnel testing was required to perfect the aerodynamic design.
This Boeing 737 based aircraft was designed by the RAAF and subsequently taken up the air forces of Turkey, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.
The Australian Air Force Wedgetail crew is able to monitor a 4 million square kilometre area and coordinate more than 60 aircraft over a single 10 hour mission.
Click on the photo at the top of this page to go to the RAAF website and an informative video about the aircraft and its role.
In the lead up to 31st March 2021, the official Centenary date for the RAAF, the Air Force is revealing its Top Ten Iconic Aircraft.
Click on the photo to be taken to a website with a fascinating explanatory video for number 7 on their list - the Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina.
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| Click on this photo to go to an RAAF Information page. |
Originally intended as a long range patrol bomber, the Catalina was one of the most versatile aircraft in service during World War II, used for everything from reconnaissance missions to air-sea rescues.
Some Catalina Facts:
- Catalina airmen called their aircraft the "Cat" on combat missions and "Dumbo" in air-sea rescue service.
- Odd Bods will be interested to know that Wesley College staff and students who provide us with banner bearers for the ANZAC Day march also provide banner bearers for the Catalina Flying Boat Units.
- Catalinas served in most theatres of WW2 but were particlarly effective against the Japanese in the Pacific.
- The letters PB in the aircraft designation stand for "Patrol Bomber" while the Y was the code assigned to the manufacturer, Consolidated Aircraft.
- Catalinas were the most extensively used anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters of World War II.
- The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) operated Catalinas as night raiders, with four squadrons Nos. 11, 20, 42, and 43 laying mines from 23 April 1943 until July 1945 in the southwest Pacific deep in Japanese-held waters.
- The longest commercial flights (in terms of time aloft) ever made in aviation history were the Qantas flights from Perth to Colombo flown weekly in Catalinas from 29 June 1943 through July 1945 over the Indian Ocean. They were dubbed the "Double Sunrise" because passengers saw two sunrises in their 28-32 hour flight.
In the lead up to 31st March 2021, the official Centenary date for the RAAF, the Air Force is revealing its Top Ten Iconic Aircraft. We suggest you click on the photo to be taken to a website with a fascinating explanatory video of number 8 in their list.
Number 8 - Avro Lancaster.
Entering production in 1942, the Lancaster was a vital heavy bomber in the European theatre of World War II. Thousands of Australians flew dozens of sorties in the ‘Lanc’, carrying out crucial Bomber Command air raids and helping to secure victory against Germany.
The famous “G for George” Lancaster is located at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Flown by No. 460 Squadron RAAF Bomber Command, the aircraft flew ninety operational missions over Germany and occupied Europe before its retirement from active service in 1944.
In the lead up to 31st March 2021, the official Centenary date for the RAAF, the Air Force is revealing its Top Ten Iconic Aircraft - one each week.
Two aircraft have been revealed so far. We suggest you click on the photos to be taken to be taken to a website with a fascinating explanatory video.
Number 10 - F/A-18A/B Hornet - "a true icon of our skies that's given us nearly 35 years of service, the F/A-18A/B “Classic” Hornet."
Friends of the Odd Bods continue an Odd Bods tradition of sponsouring students at Raphael, the Ryder Cheshire Home located at Dehradun, Northern India.
Here are the latest reports on our three charges.
Abbas Hussain Zaidi - Abbas is 14 years old and has been at
2021 is the
year we celebrate the Centenary of the RAAF and the Australian War Museum has
published an incredible WW2 story of one Halifax’s unlikely return home after
sustaining major damage in a raid near Paris in June 1944.
The aircraft was badly shot-up, some crewmembers had bailed out in anticipation of a crash landing, but it managed to limp home.
The story has led to the argument that
Halifax’s were unjustly tagged as “bride’s maid” to the Lancaster when their resilience
deserved higher praise. Interestingly, it is reported that the survival rate
for aircrew shot down over Germany was significantly higher from Halifax aircraft
and apparently their wider fuselage, and escape hatch locations were key.
The AWM article can be found here, and if you would like to read more on the Lancaster/Halifax rivalry you might like to check this article – Halifax or Lancaster.
Member, Philip Moss, has advised us that with effect from 1/1/2021 the RAAF will re-establish No.464 Squadron, one of its WW2 squadrons.
Bombing up a 464 Squadron Mosquito.
The squadron was originally formed on 1 September 1942 at RAF Feltwell, Norfolk in the United Kingdom, as an Article XV squadron under the Empire Air Training Scheme. Although an RAAF squadron it included personnel from Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the Netherlands.
In 1943
No. 464 Squadron was transferred from RAF Bomber Command to the Second Tactical
Air Force and its Venture aircraft were replaced with De Havilland Mosquitoes.
The
squadron undertook operations over France and the Low Countries, from bases in
England and also flew night fighter missions. (Further detailsWikipedia)
Odd
Bods including Stan Moss and Owen Medley served on 464 Squadron.
The headquarters of the re-formed 464SQN will be at RAAF Base Glenbrook in the Lower Blue Mountains, NSW.
It is a month of aircraft birthdays with celebrations of the Lancaster's first flight 80 years ago on 9th January, and on 17th December DC3 recorded 85 years since it's first flight. The following video tells the DC3 story.
The AWM website recently featured an Article about the WW2 exploits of Odd Bod Dr. Edward Fleming.
Readers will remember that Dr. Fleming, a resident of Canberra, played an important part in achieving the installation of the Odd Bods bronze plaque in the grounds of the War Memorial earlier this year.
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| Wellington Aircraft |
Dr. Fleming's story contains some fascinating experiences including a flight in a Wellington which almost ended in tragedy when they became lost in bad weather. Like many of his contemporaries, Dr. Fleming learned to fly in Tiger Moths before graduating, in his case, to Lancasters.
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| Tiger Moth |
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| Airspeed Oxford |
His story contains photos of a variety of aircraft and a different experiences through the war period. You can catch the full story by clicking here - Dr. Edward Fleming WW2.
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| Avro Anson |
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| Lancaster |
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| Odd Bod Jack Bell features in this Herald Sun graphic for Remembrance Day. |
Remembrance Day (11/11) is dedicated to Australians who died as a result of war and a great opportunity to remember all our veterans who have contributed so much to the Australian way of life.
Odd Bods of the past, and those still with us today, are especially honoured in this place as we prepare for online ceremonies around the country. Of particular interest will be today's livestream from the Melbourne Shrine - https://www.facebook.com/shrineofremembrance
Best Wishes and Good Health
We would like to pass on best wishes and good health to all our Odd Bod veterans on this special day.
And we would love to hear from you - if you have a Remembrance Day story or photo, please pass it on.
PS - keeping track of our veterans can be a challenge. If you have changed addresses this year (or you know of a veteran who has) please let us know. You can do that by clicking on the "Contact Us" link at the top of this page. New street addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses, are important for keeping the communication channels open - "Pressing On Remembering".
Simply go to the link below and click on a photo to view that locations alternative appearance.
Come back here after the viewing
and we have a link to a 30 minute video that shows how former RAF bases are being used
after closing down at the end of the Second World War.
Here is the
link to the picture swaps of various locations in 1944 - https://interactive.guim.co.uk/embed/2014/apr/image-opacity-slider-master/index.html?ww2-dday
And here is
the link to the video about WW2 airbases today - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Os0Fbt0C2M
A special
thank you to Bryan Wilcockson for the picture swap link and to Bruce Waxman for
the video link.
