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(1) This email was sent from David Walker to our Secretary:
"I have just read with interest the article on Mount Breckan. (Odds 'n Ends July 2006 by Tich Marshall). I am an historian at Deakin University, and in that capacity and as part of my family history I am researching the background and service of one of my RAAF uncles, Alan Walker. He attended 4 I.T.S. at Mt Breckan in 1942 before leaving for Canada at the beginning of 1943 and going on to the U.K. and 467 Squadron. I would be interested to know if there are reminiscences/recollections of 4 I.T.S. that help capture the atmosphere and experience of those who trained there.
All the best. David."
Any Odd Bods from Victor Harbor I.T.S. with stories to tell can email David here or send them to our newsletter Editor.
(2) and this one from Pat Hendry to our Secretary:
"Many thanks for your time yesterday. I really appreciated speaking to you. The only information I have is a sketchy record of my uncle's service which was forwarded to me by Douglas Evans.
My uncle, Sqn Ldr Frederick David Webster was an RAF pilot at Leeming from September 1941 where he was O.C. "A" Flight in 10 Squadron. He took part in a daylight attack on "Scharnhorst" and "Gneisenau" on 18/12/41 and was awarded the DFC on 29/12/41. On 30/12/41 he again attacked the two German warships with three other 10 Squadron aircraft. 22/3/42, eleven aircraft and crews from 10 Sqn were sent to Lossiemouth for a Bomber Command special mission to sink or cripple the Tirpitz.
My uncle lost his life on 31/3/42. He is buried at Stavne Cemetery near Trondheim. I have managed to contact most of the relatives of the crew and my uncle's neighbour in England, thanks to a Norwegian researcher and that wonderful resource, the internet. I would be so thrilled to know if anyone from the Odd Bods Association ever ran into my uncle at the OTU. I realise it's quite unlikely but I just thought I'd try.
If anyone can recall anything I would be happy to hear from them by email or phone 9561 5409.
Yours sincerely
Pat Hendry
From our Affiliate Member, ex-WAAF Jean Smith of McRae, Vic, to the Editor. Well known as our wives' birthday cards lady, Jean is the wife of Odd Bod Alasdair Smith. Both attained fame recently in Michael Veitch's book "FLY" (ISBN 9780670071838) published by Viking Books and well illustrated in hardback, rrp $49.50. A sequel to "FLAK" in 2006, this book contains wartime stories from 22 former aircrew, including 6 or 7 Odd Bods and (surprise) a couple of Luftwaffe pilots. The book is recommended as a very good read.
Dear Walter,
I've been clearing up in one of the spare bedrooms(!) and found the enclosed jokes/humour which my daughter had given me over recent years. I kept them to give to you rather than bin them as you may find one or two useful at speech times.
I've had another letter from RAAF pilot Ron Reed and wife Beryl. In it he mentions his younger brother who lives in Melbourne. Ron wonders whether any Odd Bods had met him, and I thought of you. His name is Alan Reed, he's 82 and was AOC RAAF Support Command in the 1980's in Melbourne, and has been active in ex-Service activities since.
Also been in touch with the ex-WAAF whose address Ron Reed sent me. I clearly remember her (and her RAAF pilot boyfriend whom she married). Turns out that we both used to go horse-riding in Lichfield in leisure time after night duty, but never met. Also both of us used to go to a tiny café called the Tudor Café, with our boy friends, after going to the pictures in Lichfield.
Sadly, Audrey is a widow now, but living in Maryborough, Qld. She has a number of friends and is in Legacy. It is odd picking up with folk after all these years. Ron Reed must have been severely injured in his crash at 27 OTU – had 4 big spinal operations at RAF Cosford hospital over the next 2 ½ years. He ended up on non-ops, flying on light twins at Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Radio Ops for OTU Coastal Command, and he had married Beryl by then.
Very best wishes,
Jean & Alasdair.
HUMOUR 1 – FROM JEAN SMITH
Here are the top nine comments, made by NBC sports commentators during the Olympics, that they would like to take back:
1. Weightlifting commentator: "This is Gregoriava from Bulgaria. I saw her snatch this morning during her warm up and it was amazing."
2. Dressage commentator: "This is really a lovely horse and I speak from personal experience since I once mounted her mother."
3. Paul Hamm, Gymnast: "I owe a lot to my parents, especially my mother and father."
4. Boxing Analyst: "Sure there have been injuries, and even some deaths in boxing, but none of them really that serious."
5. Softball announcer: "If history repeats itself, I should think we can expect the same thing again."
6. Basketball analyst: "He dribbles a lot and the opposition doesn't like it. In fact you can see it all over their faces."
7. At the rowing medal ceremony: "Ah, isn't that nice, the wife of the IOC president is hugging the cox of the British crew."
8. Soccer commentator: "Julian Dicks is everywhere. It's like they've got eleven Dicks on the field."
9. Tennis commentator: "One of the reasons Andy is playing so well is that, before the final round, his wife takes out his balls and kisses them ... Oh my God, what have I just said?"
HUMOUR 2 FROM JEAN
After every civil flight, the pilot completes a 'gripe sheet' which conveys to the mechanics problems encountered with the aircraft during the flight that need repair or correction. The mechanics read and correct the problems, and then respond in writing on the lower half of the forms what remedial action was taken and the pilots review the gripe sheets before the next flight. Never let it be said that ground crews and engineers lack a sense of humour. Here are some actual logged maintenance complaints and problems as submitted by Qantas pilots and the solutions recorded by mainentance engineers. By the way, Qantas is the only major airline that has never had an accident.
P = The problem logged by pilot.
S = The solution and action taken by the engineers.
P: Left inside main tyre almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tyre.
P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.
P: Something loose in cockpit.
S: Something tightened in cockpit.
P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on back-order.
P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet/minute descent.
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.
P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.
P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.
P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That's what they're there for.
P: IFF inoperative.
S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.
P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you're right.
P: Number three engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.
P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to straigten up, fly right and be serious.
P: Target radar hums.
S: Re-programmed target radar with lyrics.
P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.
P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like midget pounding on something with a hammer.
S: Took hammer away from midget.