THE
SECRETARY'S PAGE
The Gold Card.
Notice to all Gold Card holders. Recently there have been further reports of specialists refusing to honour veterans' Gold Cards in treating accepted war-caused illnesses. If you are having trouble in this regard, be sure to advise your Veterans' Affairs Office.
Anzac Day March
The forming-up programme for the 2004 March is to remain as in recent years. RAAF Europe & Middle East contingent will form up as usual in Flinders Street between Swanston and Elizabeth Streets and is due to move off at 1105 hours. The Odd Bods "form-up" will be approximately opposite Degraves Street and the banner will be in position by 1045 hours. So look for it and be there before 1100 hours!
Descendants of Veterans.
The decision to allow descendants to march is to be left to Unit Associations upon request and our practice to limit permission to descendants of veterans who were, or would have been, eligible to be Odd Bods, is to continue. We would expect such descendants to march at the rear of our contingent; this provision would not apply to any CARERS.
Transport will be provided
for disabled veterans in the march as usual by both the RACV and Victorian
Military Vehicle Corps (VMVC). Veterans using RACV cars are to stay in
those cars and not leave them to join VMVC vehicles, and also should remember
that the military vehicles are for the use of those disabled who can get
into and dismount from those vehicles without assistance.
Those members who think that they may require transport should contact
Secretary George Smith on (03) 9847 0617 before 20 March 2004.
If any Odd Bods have family members who could provide a car after the
march to convey marchers from the Shrine to the Reunion venue at Melbourne
Park would you please also contact the Secretary.
George Nash, who you may recall had some heart problems in May / June last year, now has a pacemaker and rumour is that he is so well his heart skips a beat at the sight of a lovely lady. George just can't remember why (only joking). Great news George!
Ken Ward has had a battle with serious health problems in recent months, and has been in Sunshine Hospital; he was looking rather well when visited by our President early in January. We send our best wishes to you Ken.
Our sincere condolences to Ron Frearson on the passing of his wife, Lillian, in October.
I have to report the recent deaths of 3 widows of former Odd Bods, in Thelma Paterson, widow of Past President and Life Member John; Joyce Butt, widow of Geoff, and Irene Ritchie, widow of Jim.
Our esteemed Auditor, Alan
Hopkins, had quite a long stay in hospital in December for heart surgery,
I understand a double triple by-pass and before he could escape home some
surgery on another part of his anatomy was necessary and Alan's hospital
stay lasted about a month. Pleased to report that the prognosis is good
and Alan is well on the mend.
Air Commodore Bill Garing, CBE, DFC, DSC (USA) no doubt known to many
of you, passed away on New Year's Day, aged 93. Fondly known as "Bull",
he was a very well known and respected officer who saw service in World
War 2 in UK with 10 Squadron Sunderlands and later did great work in the
New Guinea campaign. As Commanding Officer of RAAF Point Cook in the early
postwar years he was very generous in his support of the fledgeling Odd
Bods UK Association. When later posted to NSW he was a leading light in
setting up the NSW Odd Bods.
Committeeman Keith Shalless, after his trying time healthwise in recent months, reports that he is progressing slowly - just keep it up Keith.
At the time of writing Fred Harrison, another of those ex-Calgary Wireless School bods, is in Palliative Care at the Mt Eliza Centre. Our thoughts are with you, Fred.
FROM Ted Chamberlain,
of Mount Gambier:
"My wife Pat and I have recently returned from a holiday in England
and whilst there had the pleasure of attending the annual reunion of 158
Squadron, which was held at Bridlington, 29-31 August 2003.
The President of the Squadron Association , Bluey Mottershead, and his
wife, Kay, met us on our arrival in Bridlington and helped us to obtain
accommodation.
On Saturday 30 August a bus trip for all members and their wives, and
widows of former members, was organised for us to spend some time in Hull,
where we visited the new aquarium, named "The Deep".
On Sunday 31 August we went
by bus to the churchyard at Lissett, where a memorial service was held,
and where I had the honour of laying a wreath at the memorial to the Squadron
members who lost their lives whilst operating from Lissett.
Bluey Mottershead has been Secretary/President of the 158 Sqn Association
for 27 years, and for health reasons has decided to hand the job over
to Adrian Hammond, the grandson of a former Squadron member. I am sure
he will do an excellent job.
The Association presented me with a framed picture of Halifax "Friday
the Thirteenth" and with the signatures of many former Squadron members
on the surround.
Trusting this account of our visit will be of interest to Odd Bod members.
All the best for now."
Ted Chamberlain.
FROM The Rev Kevin Joyner
of Blackburn:
"My dear friend, Thank you for the latest issue of Odds 'n Ends.
The article on the pitot head cover reminds me of an incident at Patricia
Bay OTU, Vancouver Island, Canada. We were training on Hampdens, dropping
18 inch torpedoes against shipping.
On a night exercise, the pitot head froze and the pilot had no registered
air speed. Fortunately he managed to return to base and land. The electrical
coil inside the pitot head had ceased to operate, allowing the tube to
freeze over.
Small things make a difference. Later, at another OTU at Turnberry in
Ayshire, Scotland, during low flying formation exercise, my friend's one
engine cut. They crashed into the sea. Ron was blown out of the navigator's
position in the nose, back up and under the pilot's seat, and out through
the hatch, landing face up, unconscious. His Mae West had inflated.
One surgeon decided to amputate a leg; the next surgeon on duty decided
to treat it. Ron Warfield later came to Pembroke Dock on 461 Sunderlands,
and now lives in Brisbane.
Sincerely, Kevin Joyner.
P.S. Frances and I celebrated our 59th wedding anniversary. Walter Loveless,
Frances' first husband, was killed on bomb disposal at Birmingham in 1941,
just before their first child was born. Under the Lady Ryder scheme, I
was invited to the home of Frances' parents. I was the third man, only
two being expected. Frances' mother said, "I'll take that one".
Accidents of chance?
"Dear George, Thank you for forwarding the info about 75 NZ Squadron. I got to that squadron by way of allocation to an all-NZ crew at Bassingbourne OTU, in October 1941. Did not do many ops from there (about 5) when we were allocated a special mission from Boscombe Down to drop 2 resistance fighter leaders to south-central France, which we accomplished, but were shot down on the way out, on the alternative route to Malta. Two of us were smuggled by the French into Spain (Barcelona) and then on to Gibraltar by submarine, then taken back to UK for remuster into another crew. Because of the risk that we may have been shot down again, there was a policy of drafting to a new front, so we were posted to Malta, where 2 days after arriving our Wellington was bombed in its blast bay by Stuka dive bombers.
Then with a new crew I was sent on to N.Africa where we joined 70 Squadron, which was acting as a forward heavy bomber support from a desert 'drome at Mersa Matruh. Didn't last long there either (3 months) as we were shot down over Benghazi Harbour by a flak ship, but made it to the desert some 50 miles towards our lines. Bedouin Arabs handed us over to the Germans some 10 days later, and they shipped us back to Germany via Greece, Bulgaria etc. I was to be a PoW for 3 years, with varied good and bad treatment (NCO airmen were not a priority of the Huns).
During the 3 years we were moved to, or occupied, 4 different camps, a story evolved that could and has filled many books. On arrival at Luft III, I was the second RAAF aircrew at that particular camp and was taken into a barrack room that housed some 100 NZ blokes. I stayed on with them each time we moved and, at the same time, some Aussies joined us. This meant that during my war service I was associated with NZ-ers for most of the time captured and, prior, on active service.
Whilst a PoW, I served on escape committees that were organised in the various camps, and was a map maker and forger of papers for escape.
I was a member of the Odd Bods in the early years, but other avenues of life and ex-service organisations resulted in me dropping out until 10 years back when I returned as a member.
You may have heard of Cal Younger, a former cadet cartoonist with the Melbourne Argus; the Red Cross organised some of his PoW caricatures to be sent on in 1942 and published in that paper. Ron Damman, who is mentioned as the first RAAF aircrew PoW, was a member of the Damman family, tobacconists of Melbourne. Ron died 5 years ago at his retirement home at Runaway Bay, Qld.
I must say that I would have missed many years of comradeship by not continuing with the Odd Bods and, like you, have no doubt seen the thinning of the ranks.
(Following caption is from the Argus at the time)
Sent to "The Argus"
London office, from which it was forwarded to Melbourne, the series
of drawings reproduced above is the work of a Victorian Flight-Sergeant
in the RAAF who has been a prisoner of war in Stalagluft III at Sagan,
in Silesia, Prussia, since May, 1942. He is Flight-Sgt C.H.Younger,
of East Hawthorn, who has included his own likeness among those of a
number of fellow Victorian NCO's in the same camp. He has also completed
and sent out other series featuring New South Wales prisoners and an
Australian sporting team formed by men in the camp. All the airmen in
the group were brought down in raids over Germany at various times onwards
from early 1941, the "oldest inhabitant" among them being
Sgt-Pilot R. Damman, who has been a prisoner since April of that year.
Sgt A.L.Bull became a prisoner in August 1942, and Sgt F.W.Penn the
following month. W/O D.R.Wardell has been a prisoner since February,
1942; and Flight-Sgt R.F.Davies was brought down in a raid on Emden
four months later.
Stalagluft III is the German prison camp which recently figured in the
news with the announcement of the shooting of a number of Allied airmen
prisoners, including some Australians, by the Germans.
Notes:
Len Corcoran; Sunderlands. Scored 6 U-boats sunk.
Frank Penn; Wellingtons. Stockbrocker.
Ron Damman; Wellingtons. City tobacconists.
Dave Wardell; Wellingtons. Grandson of Test cricketer.
Cal Younger; Wellingtons. Cartoonist and author.
Ron Davies; Hampdens. Flour miller.
Alan Bull; Spitfires. Footballer and swimwear manager.
Lloyd Clark; Wellingtons. Architect & civil engineer.
(Whether or not one smoked,
Cal Younger always depicted his caricatures with smoking paraphernalia
"for effect")
Our Odds 'n Ends July issue 2003 gave details of a reunion for RAAF W/Ops planned at Parkes Airport, probably during the latter part of last year. The date has now been finalised for the weekend 23-25 April 2004. Intestested W/Ops who trained at Parkes should contact Michael Greenwood, PO Box 337 Parkes 2870, or Arthur Parker (Secretary), Parkes Sub-Branch RSL, PO Box 169, Parkes, 2870.
FROM "WINGS" MAGAZINE
SPRING 2003
For a possible book I would
like to contact any former members of the RAAF pilots/ground crew, involved
in attacks on V2 sites in Holland from September '44 to March '45; in
particular 451 & 453 Squadrons. Also other units eg; 229/603, 602
& 124 Squadrons.
Bill Simpson
'Lochinvar', 10B Boswall Road, Edinburgh EH5 3RH, U.K.
bill@simpson-family99.fsnet.co.uk
John McNarry is the President of the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum
located at Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. BCATP was earlier known as the Empire
Air Training Scheme (EATS). Brandon was the aerodrome where the Canadian
No. 12 SFTS operated. The aim for BCATP is for it to become a medium for
communicating to future generations the very significant role WW2 veterans
played in the outcome of the war.
The museum committee is saving many of the existing buildings of the SFTS,
so that when people come to the museum they will be able to feel a sense
of being there in the early '40s.
John would like to hear from any groups of Empire Air Training Scheme
veterans who exist or from any veteran who trained in Canada.
As the son of an RCAF veteran, John feels that both he and younger folk
owe such a lot to the past, and have a responsibility to see that the
lessons are not forgotten.
Email John or write to him at:
Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum, Hangar 1, Brandon Airport, Box
3, Group 520 RR # 5, Brandon, Manitoba, Canada R7A 5Y5
(N.B. President Walter Eacott is keeping John McNarry informed of our own EATS activities, and our Secretary George Smith is also writing to John about our Odd Bods organisation.)
Title: HUNTING WARBIRDS
Author: CARL HOFFMAN
Publisher: Random House Australia -2001
Retail: $24-95 Available Public Libraries 1-74051.094
Reviewed by REX TATE - ex RAAF 1942-45
Authentic true stories of the locating, and desperate measures to recover,
several crashed planes from WW2, in whole or in parts to Museums. With
full details of the original crashes, units and crews. Plus backgrounds
of the contractors and finances involved. Details of the Confederate Air
Force formation, organisation and an Oshkosh 'Airsho' are a bonus. Australia
is not mentioned, but an exciting read, which is recommended.
*************************
Title: WE DOOD IT TOO
Author: FRANK PETCH
Publisher: SELF-PUBLISHED
Retail: $50 plus postage. Available from F.Petch, 15 Orama Avenue, Wendouree,
Vic 3355, or from Hylands Bookshop, Melbourne.
Review: Frank Petch (ex W/AG, 550 & 150 Sqns)
Autobiography by Frank of his life in the RAAF during WW2, and accounts
of 38 operations in Bomber Command, following training at home and in
the UK. Snippets of other squadrons, e.g. 460; post-war celebrations,
the Victory Cricket Tests and other memorable events before returning
home. There are 316 pages and 200 photos in this publication, recommended
by Odd Bod Harry Stack as "a good read".
*********
Not yet on
public sale, but a rattling good autobiography just the same, is Odd Bod
Roy Shallcross's story entitled "A Navigator's Tale". It tells
of his training and experiences as a Nav in the UK and Europe on Ferry
and Transport Commands, and is so well-written that on 4 August 2003 it
won Roy the literature prize of $5,000 in the RAAF Heritage Awards.
Roy was presented with his prize by the Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal
Angus Houston, AO, DFC at a special ceremony in Canberra, also attended
by Roy's wife Mavis. They were guests of the RAAF for the occasion. The
CAF also presented Roy with a framed certificate, congratulated him, and
invited him to return to Canberra later this year, when the book will
be published and launched by the RAAF.
Roy worked hard for this, teaching himself computer skills and having
more than one try at the big prize, so we say "well done, Roy",
and advise Odd Bods to look out for the official publication in due course.
We welcome these new chums,
and hope they have a long and happy association with us:
Noel HEWITT, Pilot, RAF Experimental Unit, Sussex;
Hilton NICHOLAS, AM, OBE, Pilot, Training Command, UK;
James PETER, MiD, Nav/B, 455 and 33 Sqns;
Dave SYMONDS, DFC, Pilot, 467 and 36 Sqns.