Good morning.
Today, for the first time nationally in Australia, we remember with admiration and pride the men and women of Bomber Command and especially those who were killed and wounded, or have passed on since. The Royal Air Force Bomber Command remains one of the most respected and recognised strike forces in the history of modern conflict.
In the dark days of the Second World War, the attacks by Bomber Command reduced the industrial capacity of our then foe, but more importantly diverted significant German military resources from the offensive to the defensive, and in the lead up to the D-Day landings and the subsequent invasion, provided extraordinary levels of tactical support that greatly reduced Allied casualties in allowing a rapid, less seriously contested advance.
It was the bombing of Berlin in 1942 that caused Hitler to make a strategic mistake in diverting his air assault attacks on vital RAF airfields to the bombing of London and UK cities - the Blitz. In so doing, the men of Bomber Command helped secure the triumph of democracy over dictatorship - a triumph of freedom and decency over tyranny. However, the fatalities suffered by Bomber Command per capita when compared to any other service or military engagement, before or since, were horrific. At one stage the ‘killed in action’ rate reached 85 percent.
For example, one of the Australian manned Squadrons, 460, lost 200 planes and more than 1000 airmen over the course of the war, from a total of 2730 men who served with the Squadron. Today, we honour and remember in excess of 10,000 gallant Royal Australian Air Force personnel who served in Bomber Command. Nearly 3500 RAAF aircrew were killed in action and some 546 were killed in training.
The Australians in Bomber Command represented fewer than 2 per cent of Australian enlistments in all services, but accounted for nearly 20 per cent of all Australian combat deaths during the Second World War. As one veteran has said: ‘We flew until we died or survived.’ The efforts of Australian, British and Allied aircrews in Bomber Command were both extraordinary and heroic.
We also remember and honour the sterling efforts of the ground crews and the other staff who supported this important component of the Allied war effort. The courage and self-sacrifice demonstrated by the Australians and all members of Bomber Command during World War II was of the highest order. It made a significant contribution to the Allied victory, and the people of many nations, including our own, owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to those who served on our behalf.
We applaud the clear-eyed vision, resolve and supreme efforts of self-sacrifice of all involved.
Being a crew member of a Halifax, Stirling or Lancaster bomber was a cold, dark, noisy, unpredictable and extremely dangerous undertaking. Flying an unarmed Mosquito path finder aircraft was equally as dangerous and required the highest level of flying skill. Taking intense flak from massive German anti aircraft barrages, fighting heavily armed enemy planes, seeing mates in your own formation go down in flames, and witnessing the terrible fires as bombs hit the target below - were just some of the things they experienced.
With bomber formations of sometimes up to 1000 aircraft, pilots had to be careful not to collide with their colleagues. Planes had to dodge up to 500 searchlights over Hitler’s industrial heartland of the Ruhr Valley, Hamburg and Berlin, and often an equal number of anti-aircraft guns; not to mention every night fighters equally equipped for the task. As many veterans of those raids will tell you, service in Bomber Command demanded nerves of steel. Crews flew for between five and ten hours straight and as part of a gruelling schedule of “six weeks on, six days off”.
If they were lucky enough to survive a raid, and the chances of that were appallingly low, our airmen had time only to briefly reflect on their dead, debrief, prepare for the next raid and perhaps catch some fitful sleep. To have some idea of what was it like to be in the thick of the conflict, we can turn to the achievements of Australian Victoria Cross winner Air Commodore Sir Hughie Edwards. His citation, earned leading a raid over Bremen on the 4th of July 1941 describes just what faced a Bomber Command aircrew:
‘Wing Commander Edwards, although handicapped by a physical disability resulting from a flying accident, has repeatedly displayed gallantry of the highest order in pressing home bombing attacks from very low heights against strongly defended objectives. On 4th July, 1941, he led an important attack on the port of Bremen, one of the most heavily defended towns in Germany. His attack had to be made in daylight and there were no clouds to afford concealment.
During the approach to the German coast several enemy ships were sighted and Wing Commander Edwards knew his aircraft would be reported and that the defences would be in a state of readiness. Undaunted by this misfortune, he brought his formation 50 miles overland to the target, flying at a height of little more than 50 feet, passing under high-tension cables, carrying away telegraph wires, and finally passing through a formidable balloon barrage. In reaching Bremen he was met with a hail of fire, all of his aircraft being hit and four of them being destroyed. Nevertheless he made a most successful attack, and then with the greatest of skill and coolness withdrew the surviving aircraft without further loss.’
Or RAAF Pilot Officer Middleton awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously for an action in Italy whilst attached to Bomber Command as a flight sergeant. After a night raid on Turin, Middleton's aircraft was damaged and low on fuel. Middleton and his second pilot were also severely wounded. Despite his diminishing strength Middleton made the decision to head for the English coast, where five of his crew were able to parachute to safety. However Middleton, and two of his crew crashed into the Channel and did not survive.
Ladies and gentlemen It is fitting that we now commemorate these gallant Australians and these tumultuous events in this country, so that the deeds and sacrifice of Australian aircrew and support staff in Europe are never forgotten. The passing of time has encouraged a new appreciation of the historical military record and those who have gone before us. This annual observance will ensure that successive generations of Australians continue to understand and appreciate their dedicated and distinguished service, and their sacrifice.
I commend all former members of Bomber Command here today and those who cannot be with us for your outstanding service to the nation and the free world.
Let us never forget.
Today, for the first time nationally in Australia, we remember with admiration and pride the men and women of Bomber Command and especially those who were killed and wounded, or have passed on since. The Royal Air Force Bomber Command remains one of the most respected and recognised strike forces in the history of modern conflict.
In the dark days of the Second World War, the attacks by Bomber Command reduced the industrial capacity of our then foe, but more importantly diverted significant German military resources from the offensive to the defensive, and in the lead up to the D-Day landings and the subsequent invasion, provided extraordinary levels of tactical support that greatly reduced Allied casualties in allowing a rapid, less seriously contested advance.
It was the bombing of Berlin in 1942 that caused Hitler to make a strategic mistake in diverting his air assault attacks on vital RAF airfields to the bombing of London and UK cities - the Blitz. In so doing, the men of Bomber Command helped secure the triumph of democracy over dictatorship - a triumph of freedom and decency over tyranny. However, the fatalities suffered by Bomber Command per capita when compared to any other service or military engagement, before or since, were horrific. At one stage the ‘killed in action’ rate reached 85 percent.
For example, one of the Australian manned Squadrons, 460, lost 200 planes and more than 1000 airmen over the course of the war, from a total of 2730 men who served with the Squadron. Today, we honour and remember in excess of 10,000 gallant Royal Australian Air Force personnel who served in Bomber Command. Nearly 3500 RAAF aircrew were killed in action and some 546 were killed in training.
The Australians in Bomber Command represented fewer than 2 per cent of Australian enlistments in all services, but accounted for nearly 20 per cent of all Australian combat deaths during the Second World War. As one veteran has said: ‘We flew until we died or survived.’ The efforts of Australian, British and Allied aircrews in Bomber Command were both extraordinary and heroic.
We also remember and honour the sterling efforts of the ground crews and the other staff who supported this important component of the Allied war effort. The courage and self-sacrifice demonstrated by the Australians and all members of Bomber Command during World War II was of the highest order. It made a significant contribution to the Allied victory, and the people of many nations, including our own, owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to those who served on our behalf.
We applaud the clear-eyed vision, resolve and supreme efforts of self-sacrifice of all involved.
Being a crew member of a Halifax, Stirling or Lancaster bomber was a cold, dark, noisy, unpredictable and extremely dangerous undertaking. Flying an unarmed Mosquito path finder aircraft was equally as dangerous and required the highest level of flying skill. Taking intense flak from massive German anti aircraft barrages, fighting heavily armed enemy planes, seeing mates in your own formation go down in flames, and witnessing the terrible fires as bombs hit the target below - were just some of the things they experienced.
With bomber formations of sometimes up to 1000 aircraft, pilots had to be careful not to collide with their colleagues. Planes had to dodge up to 500 searchlights over Hitler’s industrial heartland of the Ruhr Valley, Hamburg and Berlin, and often an equal number of anti-aircraft guns; not to mention every night fighters equally equipped for the task. As many veterans of those raids will tell you, service in Bomber Command demanded nerves of steel. Crews flew for between five and ten hours straight and as part of a gruelling schedule of “six weeks on, six days off”.
If they were lucky enough to survive a raid, and the chances of that were appallingly low, our airmen had time only to briefly reflect on their dead, debrief, prepare for the next raid and perhaps catch some fitful sleep. To have some idea of what was it like to be in the thick of the conflict, we can turn to the achievements of Australian Victoria Cross winner Air Commodore Sir Hughie Edwards. His citation, earned leading a raid over Bremen on the 4th of July 1941 describes just what faced a Bomber Command aircrew:
‘Wing Commander Edwards, although handicapped by a physical disability resulting from a flying accident, has repeatedly displayed gallantry of the highest order in pressing home bombing attacks from very low heights against strongly defended objectives. On 4th July, 1941, he led an important attack on the port of Bremen, one of the most heavily defended towns in Germany. His attack had to be made in daylight and there were no clouds to afford concealment.
During the approach to the German coast several enemy ships were sighted and Wing Commander Edwards knew his aircraft would be reported and that the defences would be in a state of readiness. Undaunted by this misfortune, he brought his formation 50 miles overland to the target, flying at a height of little more than 50 feet, passing under high-tension cables, carrying away telegraph wires, and finally passing through a formidable balloon barrage. In reaching Bremen he was met with a hail of fire, all of his aircraft being hit and four of them being destroyed. Nevertheless he made a most successful attack, and then with the greatest of skill and coolness withdrew the surviving aircraft without further loss.’
Or RAAF Pilot Officer Middleton awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously for an action in Italy whilst attached to Bomber Command as a flight sergeant. After a night raid on Turin, Middleton's aircraft was damaged and low on fuel. Middleton and his second pilot were also severely wounded. Despite his diminishing strength Middleton made the decision to head for the English coast, where five of his crew were able to parachute to safety. However Middleton, and two of his crew crashed into the Channel and did not survive.
Ladies and gentlemen It is fitting that we now commemorate these gallant Australians and these tumultuous events in this country, so that the deeds and sacrifice of Australian aircrew and support staff in Europe are never forgotten. The passing of time has encouraged a new appreciation of the historical military record and those who have gone before us. This annual observance will ensure that successive generations of Australians continue to understand and appreciate their dedicated and distinguished service, and their sacrifice.
I commend all former members of Bomber Command here today and those who cannot be with us for your outstanding service to the nation and the free world.
Let us never forget.