Here - Hull RAFA Branch

460 Squadron
Veterans & Friends Group
The G for George Squadron
October - December 2014
CO’s Corner:
W
GCDR Nathan Klohs gives up an update on the current
460 Squadron RAAF:
“Greetings from a wintery but slowly warming Canberra. The
past few months have passed quickly for 460SQN, and I can
scarcely believe September is with us already.
In early July, a new batch of junior airmen (and one junior
sailor!) joined the unit and have been undertaking their Mission
Qualifying Training over the past few weeks - they have
already been put to work with more experienced members on
operational support tasks, many working very military hours,
and as expected they have comported themselves with energy
and enthusiasm.
These newest members of 460SQN joined us just in time to
attend the 460SQN Reformation Anniversary Dining-In Night
on 4th July, a highly successful night where - by all reports
- a good time was had by all. More importantly from a CO’s
perspective, no-one was arrested and nothing was ‘liberated’
from the Mess, so all in all, a tremendous success! We were
treated to reflective and engaging speeches from Air Vice
Marshall Kym Osley AM CSC, and Professor Alex Jenkins.
CPL Claire Humberstone was awarded 460 Squadron Veterans
and Friends Group Trophy for the most outstanding member of
460SQN in 2014.
On the night, I also gratefully accepted several historical
mementoes from both Laurie Woods DFC and Professor Alex
Jenkins PhD, which have joined the growing collection of WWII
memorabilia on display within the squadron workplace.
In late July, we deployed several members of our unit to the
Middle East for six months, including SQNLDR Michael Nygh
(Executive Officer), and I ask that you join us in keeping them
in your prayers and thoughts. While Mick is deployed, I have
appointed Major Tina Kent (US Air Force) as my Acting XO,
continuing the squadron’s history of Allied cooperation. We have
also recently trained and certified four new squadron ‘pointdroppers’, the modern equivalent of the Lanc’s bomb aimers.
The next few months promise to be equally busy, as we
approach the end of the year and the traditional flurry of lastminute tasks, and strive to meet the annual production target
before Christmas. We will be farewelling a number of 460SQN
Attendees at the 14 July 2014, 460 Squadron Dining in Night
personnel who are moving on to other postings around the
Air Force, and will welcome some new faces next year - I will
provide a list of these Hails and Farewells for the December
edition, as I know many of you have formed close relationships
with our airmen and officers, and will want to track their careers
as time marches on. We are likely to be called upon to deploy
more members overseas on operations, and there are some
major exercises approaching for which we need to prepare.
I am always proud of the manner in which the squadron rises
to each new challenge, and I am confident that the remainder of
2014 will see us exceed even our own expectations.
Strike and Return.”
Top: CPL Claire Humberstone with her 460 Sqn V&F Gp Trophy, with
Veterans Morrie O’Keefe, Frank Gubbins DFC and WGCDR Nathan
Klohs
Below: AVM Kym Osley, Laurie Woods DFC with one of his WWII
memorabilia he presented to 460 Sqn and WGCDR Nathan Klohs
Dining in Night - 2014:
3
7 Veterans and Family members, together with Dr
Ron Houghton DFC PhD, President of Bomber
Command association in Australia, accepted WGCDR
Nathan Klohs’ invitation to join with 460 Squadron
personnel and distinguished guests to celebrate the
Fourth Anniversary of the Reformation of 460 Squadron
RAAF in Canberra on 4 July 2014.
Meet and Greet:
A
ll the non RAAF attendees met at the lounge bar in
the QT Hotel (previously Rydges Lakeside) to get
to know each other. Unfortunately after travelling all
the way across the continent from Perth, Veteran Bob
Porteous was unwell and wasn’t able to join us.
Canberra was very kind to us providing a mild night
in the middle of a cold winter. Apart from a slight missdirection from hotel staff on the shortest route to walk to
the bus, the group arrived in good spirits at the Officers’
Mess, each being welcomed by their individual 460 Sqn
chaperone for the evening.
The editor was sitting across the table from two of
the new 460 Sqn recruits that WGCDR Klohs mentions
above. They looked quite bewildered when AVM Kym
Osley opened his address with the comment that
he would like to swap places with them and start his
incredible RAAF journey again. He caught everyone’s
attention by stating the aircraft that he had flown – from
the Avro Lancaster (the BBMF aircraft) to the most
modern strike fighter. WGCDR Klohs together with
Veterans from each state presented the annual 460 Sqn
V&F Gp trophy to CPL Claire Humberstone, a worthy
recipient from the explanation given by WGCDR Klohs.
460 Veteran Professor Alex Jenkins PhD was asked to
speak to the current squadron members on a day in the
life of aircrew. At the lectern, he folded up his prepared
speech and spoke to the audience from the heart, of his
thoughts about the human side of being a member of a
Bomber Command crew – as they say “you could have
heard a pin drop” - there were many people wiping a
tear from their eye. By this time the faces of the two new
recruits opposite, told me that they knew that they had
joined something special.
The traditional passing of the port and the following
‘banter’ session concluded the formal part of the evening
before farewell drinks. All WWII related attendees
thanked their hosts for a magnificent welcome and a
wonderful evening, before boarding the bus for a followup ‘meet & greet’ back at the hotel lounge.
Left: LtoR: David & Barrie Tod, Olive Spence and Anne Marie Jonas
Right: LtoR: John & Gwen Richards, Dr Ron Houghton DFC, Gary Lea in
the background
Left: John Herlihy and Chris Porteous
Right: LtoR: Dorothy Robb, Gale & Gary Lea and John Robb
Left: Laurie Woods DFC and Kenneth McKeown
Right: David Tod, Professor Alex Jenkins PhD and Richard Munro
Left: LtoR: Bob Spence, Anne Marie Jonas, Dr Ron Houghton PhD & Lynne
De Vercel
Right: LtoR: Anne Lewarne, Betty Seery and Lorna Archer
Above: Professor Alex
Jenkins PhD delivering
his very emotional
address
Right: Prof Alex
Jenkins PhD
presenting WHCDR
Nathan Klohs with
a treasured WWII
emblem
LtoR: Ross Carter, Doug & Laurel
Leak, Dawn (& behind her) Frank
Gubbins DFC and Bev Speechley
Vales:
Charles Kenneth Gilkes
(6 February 1923 – 19 July 2014):
A
lthough not having flown with 460 Squadron, Ken Gilkes was a great friend to many of our Veterans
and a great supporter of Bomber Command, being BCAA Membership Secretary for many years
and of 460 Squadron Association.
He was born on 6 February 1923 in the Sydney harbour side suburb of Neutral Bay, the eldest of
eight brothers and sisters. He enlisted in the RAAF on 9 November 1941. He was shot down and badly
burned, becoming a member of the famous Guinea Pigs Club, the name given to pilots in the Battle
of Britain who were treated by Sir Archibald McIndoe at the burns unit of Queen Victoria’s Hospital in
East Grinstead, West Sussex. The Guinea Pigs were given this name simply because McIndoe had
no choice but to try out his ideas of plastic surgery, recreating lost fingers and the like, on the men
as he had no book to refer to or guide him. As the war progressed, the type of patient treated at the
burns unit changed from fighter pilots to bomber crews. In the final year of the war, 80% of those treated at the burns unit were from
bomber crews.
Warrant Officer Gilkes was discharged from #3 RAAF Hospital on 22 September 1945. He served for many years as Company
Secretary of Perpetual Trustees. Ken passed away peacefully on Saturday 19 July 2014. He is survived by his wife Roma, children
Jocelyn and Ian and grandchildren Gareth, Alistair, Edwin, Nicola and Matthew and great grandchildren Oscar and Archer.
Donald James Annat
(9 July 1923 – 26 June 2014):
D
onald James Annat was born on 9 July 1923 in the
Queensland capital city of Brisbane, where he enlisted
in the RAAF on 19 June 1942, three weeks before his
19th birthday. He arrived at 460 Squadron, Binbrook on 25
May 1944, mustered as a Wireless Operator. He flew five
operations with 460 Squadron - his first operation on 7 June
1944 was with F/Sgt LR Pearson RAAF’s crew to Foret de
Cerisy, in support of the D-Day landings. He then flew one op
with F/Sgt C P Gunderlach RAAF, in between his three ops
with P/O R H Jopling RAAF. They were shot down on the 20
July 1944 raid on Courtrai Railway Yards. Not only did all the
crew survive but Jopling and the Rear Gunner L G Rosseley
evaded capture, while Mid Upper Gunner Mills evaded
capture for a month. The remainder of the crew, including Don
are listed as POWs, yet none of them are in the records as
such e.g. his Service Record indicates he was not a POW, nor
has the official POW book ‘Footprints on the Sands of Time’
by Oliver Clutton-Brock has any of these listed.
Don was promoted to Warrant Officer and was discharged
on 2 June 1945, returning to Brisbane where he married and
raised a family. Don was a long time member of 460 Squadron
Association (Queensland branch). We thank his daughter Lee
for telling us that he died peacefully on 26 June 2014.
Donald Trennery Williams
(8 January 1922 – 7 April 2014):
D
onald Williams was born in Mile End, an inner suburb of
Adelaide, the capital of South Australia on 8 January 1922. He
enlisted in the RAAF on 14 August 1943, six months after his 21st
birthday. Donald arrived at Binbrook near war’s end on 3 April 1945
as the navigator in the crew of F/O R F Sweet RAAF, flying one
bombing raid on 18 April 1945 to Heligoland, a major German naval
base situated 46 Km off the German coastline.
Their remaining three ops were as part of Operation Manna,
two to the Rotterdam area and one to Leiden Airfield. Don was
promoted to Warrant Officer and discharged on 14 December 1945.
Don returned to Adelaide and married Joyce. The couple were
long time members of 460 Squadron Association (SA Branch). He
died in Adelaide on 7 April this year.
Joy Tibbetts ( died 2014)
G
eoff Raebel, editor of the Bomber Command Association of
Australia newsletter advised us of the sad news that Joy
Tibbetts has passed away earlier this year. Joy was the widow of
Darrell Joseph Tibbetts, a Rear Gunner who flew 6 ops with 460
Squadron near war’s end. Darrell and Joy were long term members
of BCAA.
Cal Younger’s
sketch book
T
his is the sixth
bulletin exhibiting
the late Cal Younger’s
cartoons from his
booklet “Get a Load
of This”, which adds
some humour to the
seriousness of the
risks and stresses of
everyday at war. In
Cal’s honour, we will
continue to include
his cartoons in future
bulletins.
Left: “Can’t get a sight on Polaris, Skipper. A blasted night fighter keeps getting in the way.”
Right: “O.K., Bill – I got a Jack.”
NSW Parliament House Christmas lunch
combined 460 squadron-Path Finder Force – Bomber Command:
T
he annual Christmas luncheon this year will be a combined
PathFinderForce/460Squadron/Bomber Command function, involving 37 Squadron
and the current 460 Squadron.
The function will be held on Friday 5 December 2014 in The Strangers’ Room at
NSW Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney, beginning at 12 (noon).
Please note this date and address in your diary and use the ‘tear off slip’ at the
bottom of this bulletin to reserve your tickets.
This event will be one of the highlights of the 2014 calendar, so I encourage as
many members to attend as possible.
Binbrook and Breighton Events –
Push for Australian Govt to remember 460 Sqn:
A
ustralian SBS News, Monday 8 September included an item by
their European Correspondent, Brett Mason, on the concerns
for the future of the memorial to 460 Squadron at Binbrook, since
the land was sold off by Britain’s Ministry of Defence. The Curator
of RAF Binbook Heritage Centre, Ray Whiteley is interviewed.
To watch the news item, click on the following link:
http://www.sbs.com.au/search/?query=460+squadron+bin
brook&op=&form_build_id=form-qHq2W3viN-Q7sVrqEuYwN
pAqykEWEjIzvwvPqZrUyWk&form_id=sbs_global_widgets_
search_block
Above Left: Brett Mason, SBS European Correspondent in
front of the hangers at Binbrook
Above Right: A memento to 460 Squadron painted on a wall
of one of the hangers at Binbrook
Centre Right: Representative of the poor state of the areas
around the RAF Binbrook Heritage Centre
Right: Ray Whiteley, Curator of RAF Binbrook Heritage Centre
Photos taken from the SBS news item
Left: NSW Parliament House; Right: The
Strangers’ Room
Two Lancasters flying together:
A
fter an extraordinary ferry flight
across the Atlantic by the Canadian
aircraft, the world’s last two flying Avro
Lancaster bombers have been reunited
in the U.K.
After eight months of planning,
the Avro Lancaster of the Canadian
Warplane Heritage Museum touched
down safely at RAF Coningsby,
Lincolnshire, U.K., the home of Britain’s
last flying Lancaster operated by the
Royal Air Force’s (RAF) Battle of Britain
Memorial Flight (BBMF). The two aircraft
will be taking part in more than 60 events
and fly-pasts during the English summer.
Following a day of maintenance checks
after its 3,700-mile journey, the Canadian
Lancaster, known as Vera, took off alone
on a test flight. Once this flight was
completed successfully, clearance was
given for both to fly together.
Before this tour, the last time a pair of
Lancaster bombers was seen in the UK
was 50 years ago.
The Canadian Lancaster tour also
commemorates the shared experience
of U.K. and Canadian pilots during the
Second World War in which 50,000 Royal
Canadian Air Force (RCAF) aircrew
served with RAF Bomber Command. Of
the nearly 56,000 Bomber Command
aircrew who died during WWII, some
10,000 were Canadians serving either in
RAF or RCAF squadrons.
The video link: http://www.bbc.com/
news/uk-england-lincolnshire-28778217
Sources: http://aviationweek.com/
blog/lancasters-united; http://www.
dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2725231/
RAF-past-present-Last-two-airworthyLancaster-bombers-flypast-Eastbourneairshow-Red-Arrows-dazzle-crowdsacrobatic-display.html; http://
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englandlincolnshire-28756779
Vulcan and two Lancasters in formation over England – stills from video link: http://planestv.com/video/266?mc_cid=a9fe2be743&mc_eid=7cbe3170e2
French Youth seeking Australian ‘Pen Pals’ interested in 460 Squadron or
Bomber Command – a follow-up to June 2014 Bulletin article:
A
recap – two crew of 460 Sqn Lancaster ND586, Bomb Aimer Austin Palfreyman and Mid Upper Gunner
William Hogg were both ex-students of Toowoomba Grammar School. In our last edition, we mentioned
the move to link up students from the village school of Vieux Misnel where a memorial has been unveiled to
the seven crew who died in the crash, as ‘pen pals’ with current students at the Queensland school.
I am happy to report that via Bob Spence, the Headmaster of Toowoomba Grammar School has contacted
us and recommended two students to correspond with students in the village of Vieux Misnel. Bob has
passed on the two boys’ names to Bernard Feutry.
WWI Centenary Tribute, London:
Incredible WWI Tribute In London Looks Like A River Of Blood… But Look Closer!
By Steve Rushing, 2 August 2014
“World War I, known at the time as the Great War, was thought
to be the war that would end all future wars. All sides suffered
an incredibly high number of needless deaths and the war
devastated an entire generation. In fact, the sheer amount of
destruction and death has only been eclipsed by World War II.
Since it ended, all countries involved have held memorials to
remember their fallen dead who sacrificed their lives for the good
of their country. This fact is all the more so in England, where
nearly a million people lost their lives. What they’ve done to
commemorate their fallen soldiers is truly beautiful, while also
helping us understand the true scope of these soldiers’ sacrifice.
Even a hundred years later, we should not forget their incredible
acts of heroism.
The moat that surrounds the Tower of London has long stood
empty and dry. But now, what may look like gushing blood from
its very walls, is actually something beautiful
This summer, the moat has been filled with 888,246 red
ceramic poppies, one for each British and Colonial soldier who
perished during World War I.
Since July 2014, a team of 150 volunteers has been placing
red ceramic poppies one by one around the Tower. The last
poppy will be symbolically planted on the last day of the
installation: November 11 2014, Armistice Day.
Each evening, the Last Post will be sounded and a selection
of names of the dead read out loud. It’s stunning and sobering
commemoration that befits the Great War.
Regardless of why their countries went to war, we should
never forget the selfless acts of these brave men”.
A Poem by Geoff Magee
T
his is the twenty second of the poems we are publishing from Geoff Magee’s 1991 booklet of his poems.
Source: Bombs Gone! By Geoff Magee
The Pen
I had known young Blue since A.F.U,
He was one of the best mates I had,
And he’d joined a really gung-ho crew,
And was himself a likely lad.
I had often borrowed his Parker pen,
It had written me many a line,
But sadly now I remember when
I said, “I wish that it were mine!”
And he said, “It’s yours if I get the chop’,
If you’ll do one thing for me,
I care for tis girl in the village shop,
Just tell her ‘Good-bye’, you see.”
Now I’m using that Parker, and can’t give it back,
For Blue and his crew are no more,
They were over Essen in heavy flak,
And their Lanc took a shell through the floor.
He knew when he left that pen on my bed,
For he smiled in the funniest way,
And though he just waved and nothing was said,
He knew he would die that day.
So now I must visit that pretty young thing,
And tell her that Blue won’t be back,
I dread even to think of the message I’ll bring,
And the words that I need I still lack.
Well, I went to that girl with my news so ill,
And in hesitant tones spoke to her,
And my heart even still, does with bitterness fill,
For that pen makes my thoughts recur.
Poor Blue, and the other good mates that were lost,
In that war, Oh! So long ago,
There would be so many, as we learned to our cost,
And the years makes our sadness grow.
I should let the dread past bury its dead,
And think of these things no more,
But I treasure that keep-sake, that pen, be it said,
And on the memories I set a great store.
Australian POW Memorial – Ballarat, Victoria:
Address of memorial: 1A Carlton St, Lake Wendouree VIC 3350.
his unique memorial, the Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial was
unveiled by General Peter Cosgrove AC MC Chief of Defence Forces
(now Governor General of Australia) on Friday, 6 February 2004. The
explanation plaque at the entrance reads:
“This memorial to Australian Prisoners of War takes the observer on a
journey. More than 35,000 Australian men and women were held captive as
prisoners by the enemy during the Boer war, World War I, World War II and
the Korean War. This memorial honours them.
The journey begins on a long pathway designed to create a strong visual
perspective that emphasises the great distance Australians travelled to war.
The paving stones forming the pathway are shaped like railway sleepers
in recognition of the iconic place of railway journeys in the history of
Australian Prisoners of War.
A roll of names of all the known Australian Prisoners of War is etched into
a black granite wall running parallel to the pathway. The roll gives no rank,
service number or enlistment detail, in recognition that sacrifice, suffering
and deprivation acknowledge no person’s status. These men and women
are equals.
In a break in the wall, a row of stone obelisks stands sentinel in a shallow
pool of water. Each bears the names of countries where Australians were
held as Prisoners of War. The obelisks are out of reach across the water,
symbolising that all the prison camps were overseas, far from home and
the comfort of family and friends. The size of the obelisks and their position
in the water create a powerful image and offer a place for reverence and
reflection.t
The obelisks form a silent line of guardians watching over their Prisoners
of War for ever. The fallen stone honours the (over 4,000) … men and
women who died as Prisoners of War (their deaths were mainly the result of
brutality, starvation and disease).
The roll of names on the granite wall continues towards a large stone at
the end of the pathway. The stone rests on a small granite wall and bears
the timeless injunction “Lest We Forget”.
This is the end of the journey – an intimate space for contemplation.”
Concept and Design: Peter Blizzard (Sculptor)
T
Centre Right: The names of all known POWs etched on the black granite wall
Right: the row of obelisks, with the fallen stone, second from the left
Photos taken by Richard Munro
Does anyone remember Inky?
P
eter Forrester, nephew of 460 Sqn pilot Sidney Forrester, KIA on 3 September 1943 asks
for our readers help for a friend of his, Michael Wainwright, who is interested in hearing
from anyone who remembers his mother, 460 Sqn WAAF Radio Telephony Operator Irene
Eleanor ‘Inky’ Sheppard and would love to know why she was nicknamed ‘Inky’.
As Michael explains: “My father was John Edgar Wainwright, known as Jack. He was
posted as a Bomb Aimer to No 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron stationed at Dunholme Lodge
in Lincolnshire on the 24th March 1944. No 44 Squadron was part of 5 Group, Bomber
Command, and back in December 1941 had been the first squadron to be equipped with the
Avro Lancaster. His Lancaster (ME699) KM-T for Tommy was shot down by a German nightfighter on the 4 July 1944 raid on St Leu d’Esserent, with Jack and the Engineer only able to
parachute out before the aircraft crashed and exploded. Having landed behind enemy lines
Jack was lucky that he was in “friendly” territory. The invasion of Europe was established in
Normandy and the French Resistance were actively supporting from behind German lines.
My Father spent most of July and August 1944 in France with the French Resistance.
“My Mother, Irene Eleanor Sheppard as she was in the war years, was a Radio
Telephony Operator in the WAAF. She was stationed at RAF Binbrook
with 460 Squadron RAAF until about March
1945, then transferring to RAF Blyton. During her time with the WAAF
she was mysteriously nicknamed ‘Inky’.
Jack met Irene when she was a WAAF Radio Operator at RAF Binbrook. They
were married in Bournemouth while he was on demob leave on the 8th February
1947.”
Does any reader remember Inky?
Above Right: 460 Sqn WAAF Radio Telephony Operator Irene Eleanor ‘Inky’ Sheppard
c.1945,
Far Left: W/O John Edgar Wainwright RAF
Left: Their wedding photo
France honours Australian WWII
Veterans living in Australia:
W
e have tried to communicate this honourable gesture
of the French Government to all living Australian
460Squadron Veterans who took part in raids that helped
liberate France
Legion d’honneur:
The year 2014 marks the 70th anniversary of the Allied
invasion of Normandy, a military offensive which included
the D-Day landings. To commemorate this occasion, The
French Republic would like to honour all eligible Australian
veterans of the campaign by awarding them with the rank
of Chevalier in the Legion of Honor (Ordre national de la
Légion d’honneur). Paying tribute to those who served is
one way France can express gratitude toward those who
risked their lives defending liberty.
The French Legion of Honor is an order of distinction first
established by Napoleon Bonaparte in May of 1802. It is
the highest decoration bestowed in France and is divided
into five categories: Chevalier (Knight), Officier (Officer),
Commandeur (Commander), Grand Officier (Grand Officer)
and Grand Croix (Grand Cross). The highest degree of the
Order of the Legion of Honor is that of Grand Master, which
is held by the sitting President of the Republic.
We ask all Australian veterans, who served in France in
Allied forces or with French forces during the campaign for
the liberation of France in the Second World War, and wish
to be awarded the Legion of Honor to email or send us:
1. A copy of their current valid identification (such as
driver license, passport). This document must contain the
veteran’s photo, full name, date and place of Birth as well
as veteran’s current nationality. Please advise if veteran’s
nationality during the military service was different.
2. A copy of their military record relating to the operations
for liberation of France. This document must contain the
rank and the unit in which Australian veteran served.
In order to facilitate administrative processes, an
application Form for award proposal that can be
downloaded here.
Please note the following:
That the medal cannot be granted posthumously.
That the French Legion of Honor is not the same as the
Normandy Commemorative medal
The Chevalier in the Legion of Honor may only be
awarded once to any individual. Those who have already
received this medal need not apply.
To inquire about eligibility for the decoration of an
Australian veteran having served in France, please
contact:
Ms Lisa SEGOVIA [email protected] or
(02) 6216 0161 Embassy of France - 6 Perth Avenue,
Yarralumla. ACT 2600
Award for Veterans of Landing Operations in
Normandy
The French association “Normandie Mémoire” is
honoring all Australian and New-Zealand veterans,
who served in Normandy by awarding them with a
recognition certificate and a commemorative medal.
A copy of their current valid identity card A copy of their
military record
Please note that the medal cannot be granted
posthumously. For further information, you are invited to
consult the French Association “Normandie Memoire »
website:
To send your record, please contact the Defence Section
of the French Embassy in Australia Contact : defence@
ambafrance-au.org or +61 (02) 62160161
Melbourne’s The Argus from 16 May 1945
article on Operation Exodus:
R
ecently WGCDR In
Gibson was ‘digging’
on http://trove.nla.gov.au/
ndp/del/article/1098924 and
came across a bit of Bomber
Command history, a list of 300
Prisoners of War repatriated
back to England at war’s end
as part of Operation Exodus,
many flown back by 460
Squadron Lancasters. He
found the names of a couple
of his friends, 460 Sqn SA
Veterans Lloyd Leah and
Graham Berry
The editor can spot two of
460 Sqn’s longest serving
POWs Gordon Lake (shot
down 6 May 1942) and Cal
Younger (shot down 29 May
1942).
Quotable Quotes:
“As long as I still have my head cold in the morning, I will
be satisfied”
– mate of Max Spence, coughing badly before an op
“A good landing is when you can walk away from the plane.
A great landing is when you can reuse the plane. ”
- www.aviation-humor.com
“If you see a bomb technician running passed you, try
to keep up with him.”
– multiple sources
The Flight Engineer’s role:
T
he following article in The Telegraph
(UK), gives a wonderful insight into the
life of aircrew. Pilot Officer Edgar “Jumbo”
Childs DFM did not fly with 460 Squadron.
He completed 46 operations with No.83
Squadron of the Pathfinder Force, and was
awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal
for his outstanding service as a Flight
Engineer.
Extract from the article written by Gordon
Rayner, Chief Reporter, published in The
Telegraph (UK) on 24 Oct 2008, written in
the first person of Edgar Childs:
“When I was 18, in February 1941, I
volunteered for the RAF and became a
trainee flight mechanic. I qualified in late
1941 and was sent to a maintenance
unit in Lossiemouth where we repaired
all sorts of aircraft, from Spitfires to Tiger
Moths.
P/O Edgar Childs DFM 86, at the RAF Museum in Hendon in front of a Lancaster
My chance to fly came in late 1942, when
there was a notice put up seeking volunteers Bomber
Photo: JULIAN SIMMONDS
to train as flight engineers. I put my name
forward, because I thought it might be
exciting and because I felt there was a war
going on and someone needed to do it. We knew that essentially we were signing our own death warrants, but when you’re young you
don’t think you can die and that helps you to get through.
I was trained at St Athan in South Wales, before going to a conversion unit at Waddington where I joined a crew from Boston,
Massachusetts. The pilot, Sgt Chuck Haskins, had gone to Canada to join the Royal Canadian Air Force before America entered the
war because he felt so strongly that Hitler had to be defeated. Our crew became the first to go straight from training to the Pathfinder
Force, which had been formed to locate and mark targets with flares to enable the main force to bomb more accurately. Ours was
No.83 Squadron.
By the end of the war I was the only one of the seven of us still alive. I had been asked to join a Polish crew which had lost its flight
engineer, and after five ops with them I completed another 41 with Flying Officer Smith, known as Smithy. I never did find out his first
name!
Before you went on ops it was the fear of the unknown, and the most frightening time was between briefing and take-off. Once you
got in the plane you had a job to do and the biggest fear at that point was letting your mates down. Because we were flying at altitude
with no real heating to speak of, where outside temperatures could be minus 40C, we had to wear a lot of kit, starting with long johns
and long-sleeved vests made from a mixture of silk and wool, our battle dress, a thick white polo neck jersey, sea boot stockings,
sheepskin flying boots, bomber jackets, three pairs of gloves - silk, wool and leather - topped off with flying helmets and goggles. Over
the top we wore a Mae West lifejacket, a parachute and harness. The gunners also had electrically-heated suits.
As flight engineer, my job was everything mechanical on the aircraft. I would start the engines, and during take-off I would control the
throttles once the pilot needed to put hands on the control column. I had to get the wheels up and trim the flaps, and during the flight I
kept an eye on all the instruments. It was almost a co-pilot’s job, but there was only one control column. I was sufficiently trained that
I could fly the aircraft, but if anything happened to the pilot it was nigh on impossible to get him out of the seat in all his flying gear.
I never heard of one case where anyone got an injured pilot out of his seat and took over the controls. (Editor’s note: Laurie Woods
DFC would disagree). It was also my job to dispense “window”, the strips of foil which we threw out of the aircraft in bundles to confuse
German radar.
We coped with the loss of other crews by becoming very insular. Each crew would tend to go out together and we wouldn’t get too
close to members of other crews. We were friendly but we didn’t become close buddies because that could upset your composure if
they died. I’m afraid that by the time my old crew were killed, I was part of another crew and I just thought: ‘Lucky me.’
When we went to the Ruhr Valley we would cross the Zuider Zee and you could see ahead of us where the raid was going on, with
six or eight cones of 18 to 20 searchlights. And flak going off everywhere. From a distance it didn’t really look as if anything could live
through it, it was so intense. It was only when you got closer that little gaps appeared.
When another aircraft had been “coned” by searchlights we would fly as close as we could to that one, because it meant that those
searchlights were busy and couldn’t pick us out. You learned things like that from experience and that was what got you through in the
end.
It was exciting at times, it was boring at times, it was fascinating - the whole gamut of experiences.
If there were no ops on and it was still reasonably early in the day I would get a day pass and hitch a lift from the base at Wyton
back home to Mill Hill. I would arrive home at 2pm and the radio would be on talking about a raid over Berlin. I would say to my mother
‘I was on that raid last night’.
My mother would make quite a fuss of me and cook my dinner, then I would sleep in my own bed and get up early the next morning
to hitch a lift back to the base, often on a van which went round all the cinemas distributing films. I would get back by about 10.30am,
in plenty of time. It was an odd way to fight a war, really.
My last trip was to Munich. By then I had completed 46 missions over the course of 12 months, which was one more than the usual
Pathfinder Force complement of two back-to-back tours.
Some people, including Smithy, volunteered to carry on, but to be honest I didn’t really want to do any more trips. I heaved a sigh of
relief when I finished my tour, just grateful to be alive.”
Edgar Childs sadly passed away on December 26, 2008. His family has asked for this article to remain on The Telegraph website in
his memory.
Another amazing 460 Squadron Veteran
W
illiam Lloyd Brill was born on 17 May 1916 at Ganmain, New
South Wales, fourth child of Victorian-born parents Edward
Henry Brill, a farmer, and his wife Bertha, née Logan. Educated
at Yanco Agricultural High School, William took up wheat-farming
at Grong Grong in partnership with his brothers. He served two
years in the Militia before enlisting in the Citizen Air Force, Royal
Australian Air Force, on 11 November 1940. After training in Australia
and Canada, he was commissioned on 28 July 1941 and arrived in
England next month.
In January 1942 he joined No.460 Squadron located at Breighton
with P/O Brill piloting a crew flying Wellingtons. On the night of 2930 May 1942 he flew through squally weather on a strike against
factories at Gennevilliers, Paris. Anti-aircraft fire damaged his
aeroplane’s hydraulic system and put the rear turret out of action.
Undeterred, he inspected his target from only 1500 feet (457 m),
pressed home the attack and hit his objective, although 4000lbs
(2000kg) of bombs had hung up. Bad weather made the home journey
hazardous, but he succeeded in landing safely without flaps and with one
wheel disabled. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in June
for his courage and determination.
Wing Commander W L Brill, (left) as pilot and (right) as CO
467 Squadron RAF, July 1944
As John Watson’s Crew database shows:
P/O W L Brill’s crews on his tour with 460 squadron:
(P2)Shepherd L
Shepherd L
Walsh J P
(B) Game P B
Wilkinson L
Wilkinson L
(N) Thompson W H
Thompson W H
Thompson W H
(W) Lofts F G
Lofts F G
Lofts F G
(G) Light K W
Light K W
Light K W
1
4
4
----Wilkinson L
Thompson W H
Lofts F G
Light K W
12
(P2)Lark C R
(B) Wilkinson L
(N) Thompson W H
(W) Lofts F G
(G) Light K W
1
---Wilkinson L
Thompson W H
Lark C R
Light K W
1
--Wilkinson L
O’Donohue T
Lofts F G
Light K W
5
(P2)Surgeon J N
Nix T
Bond R
Jevons G S
Duff R
1
(Keys I F
Wilkinson L
Thompson W H
Lofts F G
Light K W
1
After thirty-one sorties, Brill was seconded to the R.A.F. in
November 1942 for instructional duties. His second operational tour
began on 1 January 1944 with his posting as a flight commander
in No.463 Squadron, R.A.A.F. Four weeks later, during a nightraid over Berlin, incendiary bombs dropped by an aircraft above
fell onto Brill’s Lancaster, starting fires in the fuselage and a
wing, impairing rudder controls and rendering the compass
unserviceable. On later missions his aircraft sustained damage
from shrapnel and bullets, yet he invariably managed to return to
base. For his leadership, skill and gallantry, he was awarded the
Distinguished Service Order in May 1944.
That month Acting Wing Commander Brill took command
of No.467 Squadron, R.A.A.F. In July, while bombing St Leu
d’Esserent, France, his successful efforts in driving off three
German night-fighters won him a Bar to his D.F.C. Having
completed fifty-eight sorties, he came back to Australia in January
1945. On 29 January 1945 he married a teacher Ilma Margaret
Kitto at the Methodist Church, Ganmain.
Transferring to the Permanent Air Force in September 1948, Brill
Pilot Officers A W Doubleday (29 July 1942) and W L Brill DFC
was to command four different R.A.A.F. bases between that year
(8 August 1942), the first pilots to complete a tour on 460
and 1964. As Wing Commander, he was staff officer to the RAF
Chief of the Air Staff in 1952-54 and Director of Personnel Services Squadron.
Note: Both S/L A.W.Doubleday DSO DFC MID and Gp Cpt
from 1956 to 1959. As Group Captain, he was D.P.S. from 1960W.L.Brill DSO DFC & Bar survived the war.
63.
Imperturbable in nature and exceptionally fair-minded in outlook,
he was 5 ft 9½ ins (177 cm) tall, with blue eyes. Brill endeavoured to make service life congenial, particularly for the airmen, and
recognized—more than many of his peers—that aircrew and aircraft are useless without efficient and contented ground-staff.
Dedicated to community service, he was a Freemason and was appointed in 1962 Boy Scouts’ Commissioner in charge of Canberra
area development. He died of myocardial infarction on 12 October 1964 at Campbell and was buried in Canberra cemetery with
Anglican rites; his wife, daughter and two sons survived him.
Source: http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/brill-william-lloyd-9582; John Watson 460 Sqn Crew Lists; and John Currie 460 Sqn Personnel
and Ops database.
An English Journalist’s view on the Impact of 460 Squadron RAAF on the Outcome of WWII:
M
orrie O’Keefe sent us a copy of a clipping from a WWII newspaper that puts the facts behind the value of 460 Squadron to
Bomber Command and the war effort.
Extract from a U.K. Newspaper, 22 February 1945, London:
throughout Bomber Command. First, the devotion and skill of its
ground crews (some of which are soon likely to be lost to Qantas),
Note: this is 3 months before the end of the war.
which worked any hours in any weather maintaining a maximum
“This is a summary of the deeds of a famous RAAF heavy
number of aircraft in serviceable condition; secondly, the fine
bomber squadron which last year received a number of white
squadron spirit coupled with do or die bombing which has won
feathers from Australia. It is No. 460 Lancaster Squadron, which
for the squadron three DSO’s, 160 DFC’s, 96 DFM’s and one
dropped more bombs. Suffered greater casualties and won more
conspicuous gallantry medal (Editor’s note: remember, WWII
decorations than any other squadron in the Australian Air Force.
still has 3 months to run but the number of each decoration is
Indeed, the achievements of this squadron has placed it amongst
significantly less than noted by Peter Firkins in ‘Strike and Return’
the top six squadrons of RAF’s Bomber Command, which is a
which states 9 DSO’s, 228 DFC’s, 14 Bar to DFC, 1 CGM, 101
pretty eloquent reflection of its worth. Now for the facts.
DFM’s, 1 MBE, 1 DCM and 8 MID’s).
In 4,000,000 miles (6.4 million km) of slogging through nightThe squadron’s war has been far from one-sided battle. German
fighters, flak, storms and even more dangerous sunshine, they
flak, night-fighters, and inevitable operational accidents like
have dropped nearly 23,000 tons of bombs, from Normandy
collisions and bombing of own aircraft in the congested sky over
to Dresden. The magnitude of this weight of high explosives,
targets had, over the years, caused casualties consistent with
incendiaries and sea mines, dropped in attacks in three years,
the sustained savagery of the air war waged between bomber
first in two-engined Wellingtons, and since November 1942, in
Command and the German defences.
four-engined Lancasters, is only comprehensible to the layman by
The squadron’s Church of England padre (SQNLDR. Percy
comparison.
Anderson) is the man who knows what knocks the squadron has
The Australians’ No. 460 Squadron’s total bomb tonnage carried
taken. In winter and summer, no matter at what time, the aircrews
against the enemy is exactly half the load the entire Bomber
return from night missions, padre Anderson has greeted them with
Command carried against the enemy in 1942 and nearly double
coffee, cigarettes and a “cheerio.”
RAF’s bomb load in 1940 – a remarkable achievement for a single
From Australia alone, the padre received over a thousand letters
squadron.
of thanks from next-of-kin to whom he supplemented the official
The squadron will shortly appropriately celebrate its five
casualty notifications by personal letters about husbands, brothers
thousandth individual operational sortie in Lancasters alone
and sons killed, missing, or taken prisoner. From the squadron’s
(Editor’s note: by war’s end, over 6,000 operational sorties in total
special fund for prisoners of war in Germany £126 sterling is spent
in WWII), each of which, depending on the distance involved, has
monthly for cigarettes.
carried upwards of 12,000lbs (5,500kg) bombs to the enemy.
The padre says that the Germans’ treatment of allied airmen
The squadron, only a year or so ago, considered the lifting of a
killed over Germany is impeccable, today as all through the war.
hundred tons of bombs for one raid a first class performance, but
The squadron’s losses lately have been small – a situation, as
when close support for the armies invading Europe required shortany airman knows, capable of swift and tragic change. Members
range targets, the squadron, in a maximum effort, once carried
of the squadron say of Germany today that the Luftwaffe’s night169 tons of bombs into action.
fighters are as large and formidable as ever, but are partially
That squadron record was made in August last (1944), when
hamstrung by the RAF’s raiding techniques. They say of flak that
the Allied armies were racing through France and Belgium. The
in many once sultry areas it has diminished considerably. Their
members of Squadron No. 460 in that month alone dropped 1,940
explanation is that many ack-ack batteries have been sent to the
tons of bombs, flying over 300,000 operational miles (almost half
Russian front as field artillery. They also say that many AA guns in
a million kilometers). Moreover, although the raids included seven
important areas are now manned by women, who do not possess
daylight attacks, it was a month without the loss of an aircraft.
the spirit and skill of the former Wehrmacht gunners, who put grey
The squadron has frequently topped the monthly all-round
hairs in the heads of many members of Squadron No. 460.”
performance lists of the RAF group to which it belongs. For
The editor thanks to Morrie O’Keefe for providing us with this
instance, last December (1944) not a single aircraft taking off for
great recognition of 460 squadron by an English journalist (name
Germany had to turn back through mechanical trouble.
is not noted on the clipping).
Two factors have largely determined this squadron’s prestige
Headline: Big Part Played By Australian Squadron
The Victoria Park Brass Band link to 460 Squadron:
D
uring this year’s ANZAC Day march in Perth, SQNLDR Kenneth McLennan
noticed a band with what appeared to be 460 Squadron armbands. His enquiry
to 460 Sqn CO WGCDR Nathan Klohs led to some investigating and via 460 Sqn
Veteran Doug Arrowsmith DFC, we now have this interesting story:
Bruce Wheatland, son in law of 460 Sqn Veteran Neville Johnson asked Neville
to write the story behind the link between the Victoria Park Brass band and 460 Sqn:
“Some years ago, Clarrie Taylor DFC (30 0ps with 460 Sqn as a Navigator), whose
father was a symphony orchestra musician and his mother, a talented singer,
attended a 460 Squadron Association (WA Branch) AGM meeting and mentioned
that he had spoken to the Victoria Park Brass Band to see if they could march in
front of 460 Squadron. This was not possible, but they did agree to break into the
Victoria Park Brass band – 2014 ANZAC Day
march before the Veterans Associations arrived. WEM (Jerry) Bateman DFC and
march – Perth WA
myself went out to Victoria Park to listen to their rehearsal. The band asked if they
could wear an armband on their uniform depicting the 460 Squadron emblem. We
agreed to this and they are still wearing it at any ex service functions they play at.
Laurie Woods DFC, President of 460 Squadron (Qld) sent over a musical score playing “Those magnificent men in their flying
machines” and it is still being played during every Anzac Day march.
When 460 Sqn Association (WA) folded, we donated the remains of our funds to the band, for which they very much appreciated. They
said they would use the money for repairs to the musical instruments. We received a lovely letter from them thanking us.”
Lunches since last edition:
City Bowlers Club – Tuesday 12 August 2014:
A
lthough small in number, the eight
attendees at the August Bowlers’
Club lunch enjoyed a great lunch, sipped
the occasional beer & wine and joined
in a lot of banter, led ably by 460 Sqn
Veteran Fred Sargeant, who said that
he only had one glass of beer all day.
Several Veterans passed on their last
minute apologies, unable to make it on
the day. John Munro, brother of editor
Richard Munro timed his visit to Sydney
to include the lunch and now says he
is a certain starter for the 5 December
Christmas Parliament House luncheon.
Left: Bob & Olive Spence, Richard Munro, Barry Anderson, Fred Sargeant, John Munro and Trish Berghouse (photo taken by Ray Berghouse)
Right: John Munro, Ray & Trish Berghouse (photo taken by Olive Spence)
Watsons Bay Luncheon – Tuesday 9 September 2014
S
ydney on Tuesday 9 September 2014 put on magnificent weather
for a day out on the famous harbour – a ferry trip followed by a
lunch with a view.
Sixteen attendees took advantage of the beautiful day to lunch
among 460 squadron family members. Discussions were wide
spread from the SBS News item the previous evening asking for
Australian Government involvement in making a memorial park
to 460 Squadron at Binbrook, to the status of four Veterans (Jim
O’Riordan, Bill Grey, Tony Cohen and Fred Sargeant) whose health
on the day prevented them coming and whether the current 460 Sqn
would be involved in the ISIS crisis in Iraq. James Elwing (son of 27
op 460 Sqn Veteran Bomb Aimer, Archie Elwing) with his partner Jill
Gurney, attended their first 460 Sqn function, taking several photos
with his classic Leica digital.
Thank you to Trish Berghouse for organising another great
luncheon at Watsons Bay Hotel.
Left: Pre-lunch ‘meet & greet’: At the rear: Bob Spence, David
Tod (back to camera), Barry Anderson and Anne Lewarne;
around the table: Olive Spence, Una Mason, Suzanne & Derek
Hogg (sitting back to camera), Jill Gurney (standing left of
umbrella stand), Carole Walters (standing right of umbrella stand)
talking to Neville Cusick (arms & beer only visible)
Middle: LtoR: Jill Gurney, David Tod, Neville Cusick, Una Mason,
Barry Anderson, Carole Walters, Trish Berghouse, Bob Spence,
Stuart Waldon (standing), Anne Lewarne and Anne Marie Jonas.
Right: Una Mason, Barry Anderson, Carole Walters and Trish
Berghouse
Left: LtoR: Richard Munro, Derek Hogg, James Elwing, Jill Gurney, David Tod , Rear of table as per above photo and Suzanne Hogg
Middle: The group, so deep in conversation they didn’t look at the camera
Right: Anne Lewarne, Anne Marie Jonas and a ‘beach going Gate crasher’
Photos by James Elwing and Bob & Olive Spence
460 Squadron Crew # 18:
I
n this article, we are presenting the multi-country crew of Sgt Ronald Martin RAAF, who
were all KIA on their 13th operation together as a crew on the 25 February 1944 raid on
Augsburg
Augsburg was historically a militarily important city due to its strategic location, with
the Messerschmitt AG military aircraft firm headquartered here. There were also two
Wehrmacht Kasernes (barracks), named after famous WWI locations: Somme Kaserne
(housing Wehrmacht Artillerie-Regiment 27) and Arras Kaserne (housing Wehrmacht
Infanterie Regiment 27).
During World War II, one subcamp of the Dachau concentration camp was located
outside Augsburg, supplying approximately 1300 forced labourers to local military-related
industry, most especially the Messerschmitt factory.
An interesting aside, is that on 10 May 1941, Deputy Fuhrer, Rudolf Hess without
Hitler’s permission secretly took off from a local Augsburg airport and flew to Scotland to
meet the Duke of Hamilton, whom he believed was prominent in opposition to the British
government, in an attempt to mediate the end of the European front of WWII so Britain
and Germany could join sides for the upcoming Russian Campaign. Source: http://
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augsburg
Sgt Ron Martin was piloting 4690 Squadron Lancaster JB 742, the same aircraft they
flew on 11 ops, including the previous night’s raid on Schweinfurt and in the previous
week to Stuttgart, Leipzig and Berlin
Tina Bearsby, the niece of the M.U.G. knew that her uncle Sgt Frank Woodward RAF
was the crewman on the right in the back row “with the hat apparently up his nose”
and enlisted the assistance of 460 Sqn V&F Gp to identify the other crew members.
Committee member David Barrington took up the challenge, contacting Ron Martin’s
relatives in Gloucester, with the result that he received the same photo that Tina
possessed but with the names included.
In the next bulletin, there will be a follow-up article on the challenge and amazing
surprises of finding the families of this crew.
Left to Right: Front Row: Sgt R (Ron)
C Martin RAAF, Pilot, F/Sgt W (Bill) D
Carlisle RAAF, Wireless Opr
Middle Row: F/Sgt W (Bill) J Howiss
RAAF R.Gunner, F/Sgt J (Johnny) B
Strain RCAF Navigator, Sgt F (Fred) Willis
RAF Engineer
Back Row: F/Sgt P (Peter) W B
Gurdon RAAF B.Aimer an Sgt F (Frank)
Woodward RAF M.U.Gunner
460 Squadron Events for your 2014 Diary
H
ere is a list of the events where 460 Veteran, Families & Friends can come together in 2014 – please note them in your diary for the
balance of the year.
October
2nd Tuesday (14th) - City Bowlers Club, 99 York Street Sydney.
The fourth of our bi-monthly lunches at the Sydney City Bowlers Club.
November
December
Friday 5 December - Pathfinders Force/460 Squadron/Bomber Command Christmas luncheon at
NSW Parliament House 2nd Tuesday (9th) - City Bowlers Club, 99 York Street Sydney.
The fifth of our bi-monthly lunches at the Sydney City Bowlers Club and our last get together for 2014.
The work of the V&F Group is solely paid for by the generous
donations of members. The cost of publishing and posting the
bulletin is our major expense, costing $30 per year per reader. The
The Committee of 460 Squadron Veterans & Friends Group
Committee give their time voluntarily. Many members donate $50
thanks all the members who have continued to respond to our
annually. If you haven’t already contributed we ask that you please
request for assistance in funding this publication.
do so. Thank you.
Tear Here
Thank you for contributing
Payment Slip Combined Path Finder Force – 460 Squadron – Bomber Command Luncheon
The Strangers’ Dining Room
at NSW Parliament House, 6
Macquarie Street, Sydney
Friday 5 December 2014, 12
(Noon) for 12.30 lunch
Cost: $60 per person.
RSVP by Wednesday 26
November 2014
Payment - either:
Number of attendees: ______________ Do you want to be seated at a 460 Sqn table?: Yes / No
Names of attendees: __________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Amount being paid: $_______________
 Please make out your cheque to: Bomber Command in Australia Association
Post this slip and your cheque to: Mrs Annette Guterres PO Box 325, Concord NSW 2137, or
 With the subject ‘Parliament House luncheon’, please email the names of your attendees & that you want to be seated at a 460
Sqn table to [email protected] (or post the tear off slip) and transfer your funds electronically to
Bank: Bendigo and Adelaide Bank
BSB: 633-000
Account Name: Bomber Command in Australia Association Account Number: 125530550
Please type your ‘460 Surname x No. attendees’ e.g. ‘460 Smithx2’ in the Description window (typically restricted to 24 characters) and
copy/paste: [email protected] into the ‘payee’ window to alert the organisers to be aware of your money transfer
Nose Art of Lancasters of 460 #21:
T
his edition’s nose-art is a touch different, highlighting four Lancasters (AR-P for Peter)
that passed on the nose-art of “The FOOSHIP” as each aircraft replaced the previous.
Photo 1: AR-P for Peter = The Fooship: The nose-art depicts a cannibal king sitting in a canoe
holding a boomerang (denoting an Australian aircraft), with a full moon rising in the background.
Painted next to the caricature is the aircraft’s bomb log, showing at the time the photo was
taken, 31 completed missions, three rows of small kangaroos, four in different colour indicating
different crew(s) and the beginning of another crew using a boomerang for their first op in The
Fooship.
The Distinguished Flying Cross symbol signifies an op where one of the crew was awarded the
DFC.
Photo 2: The demise of Fooship I: An unidentified airman standing next to a badly damaged
AR-P for Peter which has belly landed at Binbrook, after returning from a raid over Germany.
On returning from the aircraft’s 43rd operation, a substitute crew (not the usual crew using the
boomerang for its bombing log) forgot to lower the under carriage resulting in a surprise belly
landing. Fooship I was damaged beyond repair and written off.
Photo by: F/O Henry Joseph Erb DFC (460 Sqn M.U.Gunner, 27 ops between 18 May and 3
November 1943
Photo 3: Replacement AR-P for Peter becomes Fooship II: shows the cannibal king carried over
from Fooship I, holding the boomerang to denote Australian aircraft, gloating over their next meal
– Adolf Hitler cooking in the cauldron. The normal crew assigned to Fooship I obviously took over
this new Lancaster, and after 12 successful ops in Fooship I, wanted to carry on their luck by
calling her Fooship II.
Note: The ice cream symbols represent 3 ops to Italian targets, having to travel over the icy
Alps to reach their targets. This photo was taken at Binbrook on 9 September 1943. The AWM
records this aircraft as Lancaster JA816, destroyed over Hannover, Germany, on the night of
27September 1943, only three weeks after the photo was taken. The aircraft was piloted by F/
Sgt L M Dargie RAAF, with all on board KIA.
Photo 4: A new Lancaster (PB407) arrives and is identified as the replacement AR-P for Peter,
with the crew carrying on the tradition by calling her Fooship III. The nose art painted on the
side of the aircraft depicts our cannibal king with his boomerang in one hand and the Australian
flag in the other. Attached to the boomerang by a trailing string, are the caricatured heads of
Adolph Hitler, Benito Mussolini, the Japanese emperor Hirohito and a bone – signifying that the
crew were ready to take on all comers. This aircraft was destroyed over Emmerich, Germany,
on 7 October 1944, piloted by F/Lt E R Greenacre DFC RAAF, the fourth op on his second tour
with 460 Squadron – all on board survived to become POWs. At the time this photo was taken,
Fooship III had yet to fly on ops.
Photo 5: Fooship IV was Lancaster AR-P for Peter (W4881). Our cannibal king appears to
have matured sufficiently to now have a queen – he seems quite pleased with himself. He is still
holding the boomerang trailing string, to which are attached the caricatured heads of Adolph
Hitler, Benito Mussolini, the Japanese emperor Hirohito and a bone. The female is wearing an
Australian flag skirt, bangle, necklace and a hibiscus in her hair. The aircraft’s bomb log shows
31 completed operations, with perhaps an eager painter already adding the 32nd before swiping
it out while the paint was still wet.. This aircraft was destroyed over Berlin, Germany, on 2
December 1943. The pilot was P/O J H J English RAAF. Four of the crew including English were
KIA, with the Engineer, Navigator and Bomb Aimer surviving to become POWs.
The editor cannot find any photograph of Fooship V, so the Cannibal King nose-art tradition
appears to have come to an end together with the 1943 year ending.
So, at least four Lancasters with identification AR-P for Peter and called The Fooship, were
all lost within a year of the squadron converting to Lancasters.
Does any reader know the nose art of future AR-P for Peter Lancasters?
Source of photos and information: http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/, John Watson 460 Sqn
Crew database and John Currie Personnel & Ops database
1
2
3
4
5
The Committee of 460 Squadron Veterans & Friends’ Group wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year:
We hope you
have enjoyed
reading this
bulletin. If
you have any
comments,
suggestions or
potential articles
please contact the
editor, Richard
Munro or any
other member of
the committee.
460 Squadron V&F Group Committee contact details:
Name:
Bob Spence:
David Barrington:
Janenne Moffatt:
Ray Berghouse:
Richard Munro:
tel: + 61 2
9869 1773,
9807 3179,
9869 2054,
9498 3727,
mobile: + 61 (0)
0410 005 199
0419 952 002
0411 203 968
0427 416 868
9872 4002,
0401 489 235
Postal and email address details:
Richard Munro
PO Box 273, Beecroft NSW 2119 Australia
[email protected]
Robert Spence
20 Japonica Road, Epping, NSW 2121 Australia
[email protected]