467 463 RAAF SQUADRONS HISTORY Good afternoon, and welcome to the Squadron's History. Several thousand Australians joined the RAAF during World War II and went to a war so far away from their home and loved one's. They came from the land, from sheep stations, factories, offices, cities, country towns, and brought with them that unique sense of humor and devoted mateship that is the fierce pride of the Australian Warrior. The Runnymeade Memorial in England commemorates over 4,000 Australian Aviators who paid the Ultimate Price to win that war. This is a disturbing figure, not only by its magnitude but by its obscurity. Many Australians today are not aware of the thousands of young Australian men who took part in the Battles in the Skies over Europe during WWII, one of Australia's greatest and deadliest commitments to battle. As a nation we are not aware of what these men suffered, what demands were placed on them, and how bravely they continued the tradition of The ANZACS, not on the ground, but in the freezing skies above Europe. It is sad to note that the Australian Men who fought in Bomber Command WWII, each and every one a hero, have been dealt obscurity by this great nation. This site has been created to Honour the men, the boys that left home and became old men at 30, to Honour those that flew in Bomber Command, and to Honour the Aviators and support crews of RAAF 467 463 SQUADRONS The quote in red on this website states 4,000 Australians commemorated at Runnymede which I did see when I was starting my project nearly four years ago. Seeing it again the other day and I am quite puzzled. My Figures show 1464 of which 68 are Australians in the RAF listed as UK. Therefore RAAF / Australians should show 1396. Although my list is only 39-45 there are only a few 46-47 which are Runnymede. Have I made an error? My search for Australian/Runnymede = 1383 (close enough) My search Australia/Royal Australian Air Force/Runnymede = 0 Anyone? Cheers Geoff
Hi Geoff, When Runnymede was opened in 1953 they listed 1403 RAAF By 1989 1397 RAAF. A list of some RAAF aircrew, who have been found. Year ? Milsbeek War Cemetery, Holland F/S G.S READER RAAF Panel 261 17.9.44 102 Sqn Year ? Ravenna War Cem Italy Sgt G.G FRASER RAAF Panel 112 24.10.42 57 Sqn 1990s Parchim Cem Germany F/S J.S SCOTT RAAF Panel 261 24.3.44 51 Sqn 1993 St Charles de Percy Cem France P/O D.W MASON RAAF Panel 258 18.6.44 198 Sqn 2001 Haarlemmermeer Gen Cem Holland F/S H.J BOAL RAAF Panel 260 31.1.44 97 Sqn 2003 Berlin CWGC Germany F/L I.G DURSTON RAAF DFC Panel 256 29.1.44 467 Sqn P/O R.L LUDLOW RAAF Panel 258 29.1.44 467 Sqn F/S P.R GILL RAAF Panel 260 29.1.44 467 Sqn F/S J.W.A SUTHERLAND RAAF Panel 261 29.1.44 467 Sqn 2005 Hanover CWGC Germany F/O A. C BOND RAAF Panel 257 7.12.44 463 Sqn F/O G. THOMAS RAAF Panel 258 7.12.44 463 Sqn F/S R.T HAWTHORN RAAF Panel 260 7.12.44 463 Sqn F/S J.L HENDERSON RAAF Panel 260 7.12.44 463 Sqn So the number should be under 1386 (?) Mark
Thanks Mark, I have 2 or 3 to include for the years 46/47 however the spreadsheet is not yet complete for integration. So 1386 seems an achievable number. I will have to check the double ups again. Cheers Geoff Edit: I have 1383 RAAF (1939/45) (if only two 46/47 entries, the number will be spot on) 1 RCAF 4 RNZAF 72 RAF I downloaded my list from the CWGC site in 2007 and it seems the crew found at Hanover in 2005 were still listed. I will amend. I now require 4 headstone photos from Hanover after thinking the cemetery complete.
Sounds like they bumped up the numbers to 4K to make it seem even more shocking... By the way Spidge am going on a Normandy Battlefields tour in March.. I think you have all the French ones from that area? I dont know which graveyards we will be visiting but if you have any missing ones let me know and if I can get them I will. Dee
Sounds like they bumped up the numbers to 4K to make it seem even more shocking... By the way Spidge am going on a Normandy Battlefields tour in March.. I think you have all the French ones from that area? I dont know which graveyards we will be visiting but if you have any missing ones let me know and if I can get them I will. Dee Thanks Dee, We lost that many in bomber command and I think he has possibly confused the two or alternately thought they were one and the same. Will have a look. Some of the cemeteries I am going to do in France are not even listed on my gigantic map. Thank God I have all the coordinates. Cheers Geoff
Spidge It smacks of one word SENSATION to give the impression that the article is more profound than it really warrants, me I agree with CWGC or Geoff's search engine for my figures.
Spidge I live relatively near Runnymede and can go and get pictures if you like of any names you require. Only a short drive away.
Spidge I live relatively near Runnymede and can go and get pictures if you like of any names you require. Only a short drive away. Hi Nicola, Thanks for the offer however I have all of the plaques. I am now down 4 headstones from Hanover though Cheers Geoff
Spidge It smacks of one word SENSATION to give the impression that the article is more profound than it really warrants, me I agree with CWGC or Geoff's search engine for my figures. Yes Oldman, could possibly be construed as such however frustration may be the cause of the error. The recognition rate by Australians for Australians in Bomber Command is I have found quite low considering the amount of lives lost. Cheers Geoff
Spidge I live relatively near Runnymede and can go and get pictures if you like of any names you require. Only a short drive away. Nicola To save anyone a visit, Forum Member CL1 (Clive) has already posted photos of all of the panels on this Forum. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/war-grave-photographs/27301-air-forces-memorial-runnymede-panels-1-292-reference.html Regards - Rob
Hi, Also this year will see the burial of F/L H.L SMITH RAAF (Panel 256) KIA 11.6.44 453 Sqn at Ranville Cemetery, Normandy in April ! Mark
Quote Spidge{The recognition rate by Australians for Australians in Bomber Command is I have found quite low considering the amount of lives lost.}End Quote. I agree, I find that most Aussies have no idea how many people the RAAF lost during the war. When I quote the figure of 10,000+ dead or even that over 7000 died while technically on combat type ops, I often find many either disagree or are amazed of the totals. So many just think of Army and the HMAS Sydney and a few planes as being the basis of all Aussie casualties. So many also have no idea of the size of the RAAF during WW2 including those under RAF Control.
Hi, Also this year will see the burial of F/L H.L SMITH RAAF (Panel 256) KIA 11.6.44 453 Sqn at Ranville Cemetery, Normandy in April ! Mark I have the date (the week before Easter) however as all is not finalised (Family/Dignitaries etc) I will not publicise the date. I wish I could be there for the burial however I won't be in France taking my RAAF photograph's until May 18th. He will be buried next to the only other RAAF lad at Ranville who was killed the previous day supporting the D-Day landings. Smith in his Spitfire and Anderson in his Hurricane! ANDERSON, THOMAS ROBERT BOWDEN Flight Lieutenant 409081 65sq 10/06/1944 23 Royal Australian Air Force Australian V. F. 15. RANVILLE WAR CEMETERY Cheers Geoff
