Bomber Command Dinner

GUEST SPEAKER: Colonel Steve Larkins OAM (Retd)

During WW2, the single largest cohort of Australia’s personnel losses occurred among the group of RAAF men who were assigned to RAF Bomber Command.

A majority served as individual reinforcements to hundreds of RAF Squadrons, sometimes the only Australians in a particular unit at a point in time. These men

were known in the vernacular of the time as the “Odd Bods”.

Club President Colonel Steve Larkins, OAM will tell the story of one of those men, Flying Officer Tom “Tiny” Tobin. Tom’s progression through enlistment, selection, training and even his return home was unusual to say the least. Older than the average pilot and at 1.93m tall, he stood out. He was probably only ever going to fit in a Lancaster in which he and his crew flew a full operational Tour of 30 missions. This despite the loss of their first aircraft along the way, and finishing a bare fortnight before the war’s end. His story, unearthed at a dinner party in 2013 via a box full of photos and documents, resulted in his becoming one of the first and most comprehensive ‘airman’ entries on the Virtual War Memorial.

Time: 1830 for 1900

Dress: Mess Dress/Dinner Jacket with Miniatures

Price: $125.00 members; $145.00 non-members

(Price includes three course dinner and Club beverages)

Where: 111 Hutt Street, Adelaide, SA, 5000

RSVP: By 5pm Wednesday, 29 May 2024

CANCELLATION POLICY - Bookings cancelled after the RSVP will incur a 50% charge of the ticket price