Batemans Bay’s Bob Wade is one of a group of Australian Bomber Command veterans flying to England for the official opening of the Bomber Command Centre (IBCC).
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Nonagenarian will take part in the Royal Air Force centenary commemorations on April 12, as a part of a tour organised by the Australian Bomber Command Association.
The RAF Bomber Command played a central role in the strategic bombing of Germany and occupied Europe, during World War II.
Mr Wade said the power of Bomber Command meant the war was curtailed years ahead of an unthinkable alternative. Of the 125,000 aircrew fielded, more than 44 per cent were killed, the highest death rate in any Allied unit.
The newly completed IBCC has recorded the names of 57,861 men and women of Bomber Command who gave their lives or were incapacitated. It will serve as a place for recognition, remembrance and reconciliation.
Mr Wade, now 92, joined the RAAF in Australia in July 1943 after his 18th birthday. After 18 months training as a navigator, he was attached to Mosquito Squadron of the RAF Pathfinder Force, located at Little Staughton, England.
Mr Wade said the Mosquito aircraft, known as the wooden wonder, were used as fighter aircraft in low level cannon attacks, for high level photography, and as a bomber with just a crew of two sitting side by side.
Bob and his English pilot John Smith carried out 26 operations over Germany, 22 at night and four during the day. Their first operation over the Ruhr, Germany, could well have been their last, as their fuel lines were ruptured, which forced a crash landing in Belgium. It was only the next day that they saw they had landed in a minefield, strewn with dead horses.
Mr Wade was was best man at John Smith’s wedding in 1945. Their friendship lasted until the latter’s recent death.
After the war, Mr Wade returned to civilian life but, unable to settle, rejoined the RAAF in 1953 with a distinguished 28-year career. He retired in 1981, the last Pathfinder to retire, and promoted to Air Commodore.
On retirement, Mr Wade and and his wife Lorna settled in Batemans Bay, where both were tireless volunteers. Mr Wades efforts with Eurobodalla Community Transport, Adult Literacy, Meals on Wheels, and Maranatha, were recognised when he received the Eurobodalla Senior Citizen of the Year award in 2005. He continued voluntary work until the age of 85. When Lorna passed away in 2016, the couple had shared 67 happy years of marriage.
Bob said he was privileged to be included in this IBCC event which would be an emotional journey.
“The opening of the Centre will give me the opportunity to grieve for the many from my Squadron who lost their lives on operations, and the many thousands of others from all Squadrons,” Mr Wade said.
“It will also be a time to remember those who still live but in a seriously impaired state because of injuries sustained over 70 years ago.”
