Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

https://vwma.org.au/collections/home-page-stories/cheer-up-society-and-the-rsa

https://vwma.org.au/collections/home-page-stories/news-from-the-front

https://vwma.org.au/collections/home-page-stories/the-road-to-damascus

https://vwma.org.au/collections/home-page-stories/the-south-australian-red-cross-information-bureau

https://vwma.org.au/collections/home-page-stories/the-potter-brothers

https://vwma.org.au/collections/home-page-stories/diary-of-a-destroyer

Whilst on Malta We (Oxbury and Shipard) served as aircrew with 89 squadron's small detachment of Beaufighter Mk I's. This aircraft was a perfect flying platform for its fearsome armament which included four 20mm cannon and eight wing-mounted .303 machine guns. The punch from this monster could make short work of any enemy unfortunate enough to come within range of its devastating firepower. The Beaufighter's cannon were described by one pilot as being 'like hell's own hammers crashing upon some huge aerial anvil'. Suffice to say their cannon deafened our own crews - as well as silencing the enemy. On several occasions watching through the choking cordite fumes which quickly filled the fuselage - young Oxby would be horrified (but also secretly pleased) to see yet another enemy aircraft disintegrate in front of them. One time an enemy Junkers 88 just ahead exploded in a fireball - engulfing their own aircraft too. Now ablaze themselves Shipard saved the day - and their lives with some quick thinking. He put the Beau into a steep dive which quickly extinguished the 'flaming bonfire'. Merv wasn't too worried (or so he said at the time) because - 'it was just cheap 'n nasty German petrol'. At about this time Doug received his first DFM by selflessly giving up his oxygen supply to his pilot at 22000ft - knowing there was very little available left to him personally. Typically, Douggie made light of the episode and modestly denied his heroism. The truth was he had shown considerable courage on many occasions in life-threatening circumstances. There were often times he freely admitted to having been scared witless. One night Ship's airspeed indicator became u/s - the result of ice building-up in the wing pitot tube. Sensing the aircraft was flying too slowly and nearing a stall Ship pushed the stick forward to lower the nose and gain airspeed - but still, the knots indicated on the IAS dial remained static. Shipard pushed the control column further forward. The Beau responded dutifully and promptly entered a 'bunt' (a loop) before obliging Ship further by entering an uncontrollable inverted flat spin. Meanwhile, Oxby was being thrown about helplessly in the fuselage like a rag doll in a washing machine. He was terrified and not for the first time. In the end, Ship lost around 20,000ft of altitude before finally managing to regain control. Oxby had already been ordered to bail out. But somehow Doug had unintentionally caught his ripcord on an obstruction - causing his parachute to deploy whilst still inside the aircraft. Having struggled for several minutes now he was completely exhausted - and quite unable to effect an escape. Effectively trapped he lay back in the parachute silk - and prepared to meet his maker. In all, Merv and Doug walked away from no less than seven crashes - any one of which could easily have killed them. Several crashes resulted in the destruction of their aircraft. But they always seemed able to walk away from the wreckage - and the authorities in charge didn't seem to mind - so long as their tally of German aircraft remained greater than their losses of rather expensive Beaufighters. Whilst serving in the defence of Malta the squadron was re-equipped with new radar equipment. Doug explained 'Back then we were so short of juice that every operator was considered to be operational after just one twenty-minute practice'. Other crews spent weeks struggling with their unfamiliar equipment before becoming proficient. So it was surprising to find this crew seemed able to produce positive results after such a short practice period. Douggie laughed 'We did four sorties from Luqa (a key RAF airfield on Mata) on the same night' he said. Asked what luck he had had Doug replied 'One destroyed and one probable - both Heinkels. The probable was one of those annoying blighters that wouldn't burn. We chased it down from twelve to one thousand feet, and used all our ammo on it too'. It did not seem to strike him as anything of an achievement to get two visuals and combats straight off the reel with completely strange equipment. There was only a vague regret they hadn't properly fixed the probable. Doug Oxbury went on to fly with four more pilots and became the most successful radar operator / navigator of the war with a total of 22 confirmed kills; 13 with Merv Shipard. He was awarded the DSO, DFC and DFM. He passed away in 2009.

Olivia_Brook_Kadina_Memorial_School_Joseph_Colwyn_Kelly.pdf

Emma_Choi_Loretto_College_Lieutenant_Colonel_Henry_Simpson_Newland.pdf

Alexandra_Seal_Loreto_College_Corporal_Hurtle_Samuel_Walker.pdf

Eman_Alaboody_OLSH_Evelyn_Marguerita_Yeatman.pdf

Hannah_Rowlands_Mount_Compass_Area_School_Yolland_Morgan_Stevens.pdf

Tovie_Hallion_Golden_Grove_HS_Patrick_George_Hallion.pdf

Vinka_Lakic_Endeavour_College_Michael_Cetinich.pdf

Lara_Braithwaite_Kingston_Community_School_William__Bill__Edward_Nash.pdf

Sahibjot_Kaur_OLSH_Charles_Rischbieth_Jury.pdf

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1504223

https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7339932

https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1068845/document/5544837.PDF

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1601979/williams,-george-henry/

Aircrew Photo Late 1943 Just before Joining 57 RAF Squadron for First Tour in Jan 1944. All RAF apart from Ian. All Sgts apart from Nav. Rear L-R W/Op Ken Jenkinson (Survived War), Mid Upper AG Charlie King (Survived War), F/E William (Bill) Walter (KIA 12 Jan 1945) and Rear AG Bert McKellar (KIA 12 Jan 1945). Front L-R Nav Terry O'Brien (Survived War), Pilot Ian Ross (KIA 12 Jan 1945) and BA Ed Tilby (KIA 12 Jan 1945). Charlie and Terry elected not to Continue Flying and were Rested after completing their First Tour. Ken Remained with Crew but was Grounded Due to Illness and did not fly on Bergen Op. Replacement Crew - Nav Syd Anderson DFM, Mid Upper AG Les Griffiths and W/Op Ray Ellwood DFM MID. All were Killed with Ian. Rays body was Recovered and Buried in Norway, he had been on Operations since 1939. The Remainder are all on Runnymede with Ian. Family 1943

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/LIB100013707

Lancaster Mk I tail number NA 533 Squadron Code AF-P collided with another aircraft, Lancaster Mk 1 Tail number HK555 Squadron Code KO-E from No. 115 Squadron. The Navigator of Beck's aircraft POFF Bartlett was the only survivor of the 14 crew.

Commissioned by the 2/24th Australian Infantry Battalion Association Inc. as part of the Australian War Memorial’s Plaque Dedication Program.

https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=325044