The Runnymeade Memorial in England commemorates over 4,000 Australian Aviators who paid the Ultimate Price to win that war. 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.
The Australian Men who fought in Bomber Command WWII, each and every one a hero, left home as boys and became old men at 30.
| 60% were killed
in action 9% were killed in crashes 3% survived a crash but were seriously injured |
| Statistically, Bomber Command aircrew could not survive a total of 30 operational missions & it was not uncommon for aircrew to arrive at an operational squadron from their training unit and be tasked to fly that night. Within hours, they could have been shot down, not even having had time to unpack or get to know their comrades. |
They came from the land, from sheep stations, factories, offices, cities, country towns, and brought with them that unique sense of humour and devoted mateship that is the fierce pride of the Australian Warrior.
LES
- WAS JUST 18 WHEN HE FLEW HIS FIRST BOMBING RAID - THIS IS HIS STORY
(as told by his grandson)
"Les
was an accomplished sportsman playing representative football for Queensland
and when in England, representing the Australian Armed Forces in Cricket.
He enlisted at an early age and did his training in Canada before being
attached to the 460 squadron as a navigator flying, bombing raids over
Europe at the ripe old age of 18.
He never talked of his experiences and it was not until his funeral
that Air-force mates told his family what he and they endured during
those horrific times. "