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Flying Officer Neville Hargreaves Oddie 400541 RAAF: KIA 13 February 1942
The RAAF contribution continued...
Spread half way around Australia or more, today the Oddie family maintain a keen sense of history, close links with each other, and a tradition of service in the RAAF, the Army, and in the Middle East. Barbara and John in Richmond and Peter and Rosemary in Victoria have very kindly made their carefully maintained collection about NH Oddie available for us to contemplate, even as Darwin commemorated the 60th anniversary of its first air raid.
Peter and John’s father Jim Oddie was Neville Oddie’s cousin. Today, Peter and Rosemary farm the Challicum Park property once owned by Neville and his sister Margaret, west of Ballarat in the Central Highlands district of country Victoria. John is a serving Group Captain in the RAAF. Barbara too served in the RAAF, in the early 1980s. Barbara and husband John are compiling the Oddie family history from the records variously held by the family: here they have dipped generously into the NHO collection. From the Australian Archives, the RAAF casualty file for Neville (Series A705/15 Item 163/50/51) has also played its part.
Some background
Neville Hargreaves Oddie was born on the 9th of March 1908. He joined the RAAF in September 1940 through 1 Recruiting Centre, to be posted to 1 ITS Somers (Victoria) for his (nominally 12 week) Initial Training School course ending in early December 1940. For his first 3 month Observer’s course, Neville was posted to No. 1 Air Observer’s School, RAAF Cootamundra (western NSW), which he completed in early March 1941. As a member of a Flight of 50, he completed a stiff set of exams, a lot of classwork, and numerous air navigation exercises of 300 or 400 miles by day and by night mainly in Avro Ansons.
His next posting was to No. 1 Bombing and Air Gunnery School, Evans Head, where he had completed the 8 week bomb-aiming course for Observers by the start of May 1941. 1 BAGS trained many an RAAF airman, mainly in Fairey Battles: Oddie’s crewmate Joe Payne had been posted there, too, for his 4 week WOp/AG training in August 1940. JB Keeping also trained there, completing his WOp/AG course just as Oddie was finishing his Cootamundra stint.
For the remainder of May 1941, Oddie was rounding out his overall Observer’s course-work under the EATS syllabus requirement of some 8 months training, by attending No 7 Air Observers Course at 1 Air Navigation School, RAAF Parkes in western New South Wales. At 1 ANS, he passed out Dux of the 4 week Astro Navigation course.
Bookplate: Australian Flying Corps (Oddie family collection)
His achievement was recognised, in the custom of those days, with the award of a book. Graced with a magnificent hand-coloured and drawn bookplate, Cutlack’s Australian Flying Corps (Volume VIII of the Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-1918) was presented to NH Oddie by the Rotary Club of Parkes. I hardly need add that the book today lies safe in the collection of John and Barbara Oddie.
L to R Keith Birdsey, Dennis Golder, Ken Sinclair (three of my pals) (Oddie family collection)
No. 1 AOS Cootamundra February 1941: Keith Birdsey 400523 subsequently served with 11 Squadron RAF in the Far East, only to be killed in a flying accident 5 April 1943. Dennis Golder 400531 survived the war, marching out a Flight Lieutenant 9 September 1946. This additional information by courtesy of David Vincent, who holds a dated copy of the print.
By late May or the first week of June 1941, Pilot Officer Oddie found himself posted to 1 Embarkation Depot Ascot Vale, leaving Sydney on 27 June bound for the Middle East, Kenya (70 OTU) and Egypt. Promoted Flying Officer in December, he joined 211 Squadron on 28 Dec 1941 according to his RAAF record, joining them in time for the long flight to the Far East in January 1942.
As recorded in the Far East and RAAF personnel sections, Australian aircrew were a strong presence in the Squadron’s first Far East campaign. Sadly, Neville was in the Far East for only a very brief period. Recovered at the end of the war, his personal effects included photographs from his service overseas but the collection did not extend to his time in Sumatra. His aircraft went down out of Palembang on 13 February 1942 - Oddie and his crewmates Mackay and Payne were all lost, first being posted as missing. From the 6th to the 13th of February it had been a very bad week.
NHO’s photographs
Just landed after 700 miles (Oddie family collection)
“NHO in Egypt or Kenya, 1941”
The aircraft is a de Havilland DH89 Dominie apparently in silver dope over all, if not trainer yellow. No rank insignia visible, either within or upon the Sidcot.
The DH89 had a range of 570 miles and a cruising speed of 132mph - an endurance of about 4 hours 20 min. Tired and somewhat ruffled after 700 miles of watching the mainplanes twitching, it looks as though NHO might have fancied a short interlude for refreshment. Well over 5 hours flying time in a DH89 and requiring a fuel stop, it must have been a long day.
While the distance itself might be seen as confirming the attribution, the flying suit and lack of camouflage are together faintly suggestive of other places, other times, possibly even Australia. In Aug–Sep 1940, the RAAF had impressed a number of DH89s into service. Referred to in Australia by their original title, RAAF Dragon Rapides operated until 1944 mainly in the wireless and navigation training roles.
On the other hand, there is at least one indication that DH89s were present in the Middle East. The Kenya Auxiliary Air Unit had one DH89 on charge in East Africa in 1940–1941: K8 (ex VP-KCR) was used as a transport for example to the April 1941 armistice discussions with the Italians at Diredawa, finished in a local camouflage scheme. While Oddie had spent time at 70 OTU in Kenya, the connection is rather faint. This may be a RAAF Dragon Rapide, but equally may be a RAF Dominie. Only Neville’s logbook would reveal which aircraft this was.
Myself (Neville Hargreaves Oddie) outside the Sudan Railway Hotel at Wadi Halfa - quite a good pub (Oddie family collection)
Wadi Halfa: a staging post on the border of Egypt and the then Sudan, well known to the denizens of Wadi Gazouza.
Our damaged craft in the hands of the RAF boys away down in the Sudan (Oddie family collection)
A Mark I Blenheim, cockpit shrouded against the heat, as fitters work on the starboard engine. The LSC (Light Series bomb carrier) clearly seen against the sunlit sand, abaft the bomb bay. Mid to late 1941, most probably.
L to R Sergeant Blumer (wireless op & gunner), Flt Lt Duggan-Smith (pilot) and the Shell Co's representatives at Assouit (Oddie family collection)
Keith Birdsey (Oddie family collection)
The Officers' Mess Wakuna [sic Nakuru] (Oddie family collection)]
An Outpost of Empire: RAF Headquarters Gil-Gil (Oddie family collection)
[Neville's quarters Mid-East]
Officers' Mess members, Wadi Halfa. The full complement of the Officers' Mess at Wadi Halfa. Breakfast on the verandah. L to R. F/O Kinnar (the C/O), Doc Robinson (a hard case Australian), Smithy, myself occupying the vacant chair (Oddie family collection)
Graham Mackay (Mac)
My pilot. He does not usually look as grim as this. (Oddie family collection)
Myself outside our home in the M.E. Pool
The sign originally read Belle Vue but some humourist changed it.
However it was quite appropriate as we used to spend quite a while
there on our backs with the minimum of clothing. (Oddie family collection)
Myself flying a bomber somewhere in the Sudan (Oddie family collection)
Myself at the United Services Club "Ismailia" (Oddie family collection)
This advertisement was done by a signwriter in the AIF in Tobruk. (Oddie family collection)
The tale as told by others
As usual, any amplifications [thus].
1. Pilot Officer Brown’s letter
407357
P/O R.F. Brown
6 Squadron RAAF
Richmond N.S.W.
I am sorry that I am so late in my letter but my mother had kept your letter at my home until she received from me my new address which is as above.
Needless to say I am very sorry to hear that Neville is missing, he was one of my best friends. We had both started our observers course together at Somers in Sep. 1940 [No 1 Initial Training School, near Western Port Bay, Vic] and kept together all through, first our 8 months course in Australia [No 1 Air Observers School, Cootamundra in the mid-west of New South Wales, No 1 Bombing and Air Gunnery School, Evans Head and No 1 Air Navigation School, Parkes] then Egypt, Kenya, Egypt again and finally Sumatra.
It was on 13.2.42 not 21.2.42, that Neville disappeared together with his crew, Graham Mackay and Joe Payne. I remember it well and it was from Palembang in Sumatra and not from Java - Dave Stewart disappeared from Java on 21.2.42. Neville's machine was one of several from our squadron which went out on 13.2.42 and were caught in a terrific storm. Most of the machines managed to grope their way back in the storm and in darkness, but Neville's machine and another piloted by a Scot RAF chap named Chalmers - failed to return. A few weeks later we learnt that Chalmers had been unable to find Palembang and landed in the sea, just east of the Sumatra coast near Palembang. He and his gunner were picked up by a vessel after they'd been in the water for about 12 hours. The observer was killed on impact, but of Neville and his crew no-one has heard a word, unfortunately. They were certainly not shot down when on the raid, for they went out in formation and did not locate the enemy shipping they were after. It was only when well on the way home that the storm split them up and darkness closed down. Anything could have happened. They may have flown around looking for Palembang until out of petrol & then parachuted, or they may have put the machine down in the sea and met with an accident in doing so.
If they had jumped they will be prisoners now as we left Palembang 3 days later. It would have taken them days to have gone a few miles in the swampy & forest covered country around the port (or "that part" ) of Sumatra.
[Despite this optimism, other Squadron members held a reasonably firm view that Mackay, Oddie and Payne had gone down in the jungles and swamps that are characteristic of Sumatra’s north-eastern landscape. They were right, though it took over a quarter of a century to find out. See the the Sumatra and Java section for the various DPS Casualty Section narratives.]
2. Letter from Graham Mackay's Mother & Step-father (extract)
A P/O Cuttiford's account much the same as P/O Brown's - that the "planes left the aerodrome at 4.15pm and when they returned to the drome it was dark and a terrific storm was raging. There was no flare path for them to land so after circling the drome for ½ hour they left for another 45 miles away, the only other drome left in our possession, as the island was swarming with the enemy. Whilst the planes were circling, the drome ground staff were desperately trying to improvise by filling drums with sand and soaking it with petrol, to take the place of flares. All this took time and the planes had left. The Ground Staff definitely reported the 6 planes left the drome, and as only 4 landed at the next drome 2 were lost between the two places. One came down in the sea off Banka Island & the pilot & gunner were picked up. Of my son & his crew nothing has been heard. P/O Cuttiford thought that they may have been able to bail out & in that case taken prisoner. My husband immediately went to the Air Board, & we received a long telegram saying that they corroborated P/O Cuttiford's account.
3. Transcript of a letter to step-father of P/O Mackay
[An Oddie family transcript, on Challicum Park letterhead, of an Air Board document concerning the fate of P/O Mackay, lost on the same operation. The text is all in capitals (as was telegraph practice). It is not possible to state from the scanned copy whether it is a re-typed transcript or a photocopy of some sort. The language is slightly telegraphic. The reference to an enclosed list may indicate the original was a letter, but official telegrams and signals of the period were from time to time quite remarkable in length. The reference to the operation as “13 April 1942” is a an example of the sort of puzzle that arises in records, whether official or private, from such periods of great pressure. Here it is clearly a slip for February 13, and most likely a slip by the departmental staff (mentally “stuck” to the April dates of the immediately preceding references to prior correspondence) rather than a slip by the Oddie (or Mackay?) family transcriber, who would have well known the date in question.]
“Dear Sir,
I refer to telegram from this department of April 10th 1942, and to your letter dated 8th April regarding your step-son P/O Graham Gordon Mackay. Further information has been received from Sgt JO Penry of 211 Squadron who has recently returned to Australia from Sumatra. Sgt Penry states that on April 13th 1942 [sic: Feb 13] 6 Blenheims led by W/C Bateson left Palembang in the afternoon to escort a convoy. They were unable to find the convoy and as they were returning at dusk they ran into a storm over Palembang. 4 of the aircraft including the W/C landed at another airfield 45 miles away. One of the other two landed [sic: ditched] near Banka Is. where the Pilot and Gunner were picked up, the Observer being killed on impact and presumed to have gone down with the plane. I regret to say that the plane piloted by your stepson has not been heard of since. This report substantially confirms the report already in your possession, that P/O Mackay is presumed missing. He is not necessarily killed or wounded. In view of this it may be of assistance to you in your anxiety to know what action is taken to trace missing members of the air-force. I am enclosing a list.”
The Sunday Mail, Brisbane, 11 Feb 1968 page 5
 Only 30 miles but 26 years away from safety. The Mail’s story:
FOUND: Lost for 26 Years
“A crashed bomber found in the jungle swamps of South Sumatra has revealed the fate of a Brisbane pilot lost in the war against the Japanese 26 years ago.
He was Flying Officer Graham Gordon Mackay, aged 26, pilot of a Blenheim bomber which disappeared on February 13, 1942. A report from Jakarta published In The Sunday Mail last week said that the remains of three crewmen had been found 30 miles south-west of Talang Betut air base near Palembang.
A flying jacket found In the wreckage bore the name GG Mackay. Flying Officer Mackay and his crew went missing while returning to base from convoy patrol duty. They were attached to 211 Squadron RAF. His closest surviving relative is a sister, Mrs LR Douglas of Zillman Road, Hendra.
Flying Officer Mackay, who lived at Clayfield, was educated at the Church of England Grammar School and later studied accountancy and was on the staff of the Texaco Oil Company. He trained with the Light Car Unit before winning his wings in the RAAF at Amberley. Flying Officer Mackay's Blenheim was one of six which flew on convoy patrol on the day he was lost. Four of the other aircraft returned to base. A fifth crashed into the sea, and two of the three crew were rescued. The day after Flying Officer Mackay's Blenheim disappeared, his bomber unit was withdrawn in the face of advancing Japanese.”
Remembered with honour
Like too many of their comrades, Graham Mackay, Neville Oddie and Joe Payne are commemorated in the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, on the Singapore Memorial in Kranji War Cemetery in Singapore and on the CWGC Honour Roll. For 26 years the Singapore Memorial was their only epitaph. Today, Neville, Graham and Joe lie together under the sun in Lutwyche War Cemetery, Queensland, their last place of rest maintained in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
(Oddie family collection)
In Memory of
NEVILLE HARGREAVES ODDIE
Flying Officer 400541
Royal Australian Air Force
who died on Friday 13 February 1942
Age 33
Son of Francis and Elizabeth Ann Oddie
Remembered with honour
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Site created 15 Apr 2001, last updated 31 Jul 2008. Page created 2 Mar 2002, last updated 23 Apr 2005
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