Peter Isaacson flies Lancaster underneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Video bccavic Educational, Uncategorized

In 1943 the late Peter Isaacson AM DFC AFC DFM and his crew flew a brand new Lancaster from England to Australia travelling from East to West. Once in Australia they embarked on a War Bonds fundraising tour of Australia and New Zealand. This was about a year before the famous G-Gorge now in the Australian War Memorial was flown here.

Here’s the page from Peter’s logbook with that flight underlined in red.

PI_Under bridge logbook copy

From Peter’s scrapbook.

Newspaper article.png

A photo from the day before with Peter as best man to his navigator whom he mentions having to wake up.

FL Neilsen wedding.png

Image Control made an ANZAC Day documentary for Channel 7 in 2002 and part of this was Peter’s story of flying ‘Queenie VI’ under the bridge in October 1943.

The story of conserving Lancaster G for George at the AWM

Image bccavic Uncategorized

Back in the early 2000s I was lucky enough to see the inside of this Lancaster while it was undergoing conservation work at the Australian War Memorial. What I found most interesting were the many signatures in pencil of some of the ‘erks’ who had worked on her during her operational life.  The AWM has written the story of this work on their website. (Keith Webb)

Link to AWM story

Christmas 2017 luncheon

Image bccavic Events
On December 13th 2017 Bomber Command Commemorative Association – Victoria held a Christmas luncheon at the Toorak Services Club.
P1230687
 From left Paul Dipnall, chairman, Gerald McPherson, Arthur Atkins DFC, Bill Rudd, Jack Bell, Jan Dimmick, vice-chair.
Hosted by Club president Mike Fogarty the luncheon was the idea of our vice-chair Jan Dimmick where a small number of World War 2 veterans and their partners/carers were invited to join us to recognise their service and to celebrate the end of the year.
Among those present were two centenarians and one who was about to have his 100th birthday, it was a remarkable gathering.
Centenarian Arthur Atkins DFC served in the RAAF during the war as a pilot of a Lancaster of 625 Squadron. He flew a tour of 31 operational sorties and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Jack Bell who turns 100 on December 20th 2017 was a wireless operator who was shot down in a Bristol Bombay North Africa. He was badly injured in the crash and spent the rest of the war as a prisoner, first of the Italians and then the Germans.
While in an Italian prison camp Jack met Army private Bill Rudd who was also serving in North Africa when he was captured in 1941.
Gerald McPherson was a tail gunner on Lancasters with 186 Squadron and served a tour of 38 operational sorties.
It was our privilege to hold this event to thank these brave men.
P1230695P1230692
P1230680P1230666

75th Anniversary of Bomber Command Commemorative Medallion

bccavic Uncategorized

We wish to advise that Bomber Command Veterans are entitled to apply for their own medallion from DVA.
The medallions will be sent to those veterans who have registered an interest in attending the national commemoration,
and those unable to attend may claim their medallion by providing their details including service number to RAAFA Victorian Division via post (24-36 Camberwell Road Hawthorn East VIC 3122)
or email  (office@raafavic.org.au).

Bomber Command veteran Arthur Atkins DFC turns 100

Video bccavic Uncategorized

Arthur transferred from the Army to the RAAF and did his elementary flying training at 11 EFTS Benalla, then SFTS at Mallala on Avro Ansons. He was posted to England, where he trained on Wellingtons then Lancasters at No1 Lancaster Finishing School.

He flew a tour of 31 operations, and was awarded a DFC.

He then stayed on as the Wing Commander’s personal pilot flying an Airspeed Oxford at 1667 Communications Unit.

On August 6th 2017 he celebrated his 100th birthday in Melbourne. Here’s a short video where Arthur speaks about flying alongside a B17 Flying Fortress.