In what has become one of the most well attended events at the Australian War Memorial, the fourth annual ceremony will be held in Canberra on Sunday June 5 at 11am.

Remaining western area veterans and their families are invited to attend the ceremony and weekend events.

It is held in the Sculpture Garden of the Australian War Memorial where, in 2005, an impressive sculpture memorial was dedicated to all those who served in Bomber Command in the 1939-45 conflict.

During World War II a RAAF training camp operated at Narromine and Parkes, where many young men from throughout the western area received basic training before going to Canada for further training, then on to Britain where they joined either the RAAF or RAF.

The Stores Depot at Dubbo became the RAAF’s largest stores depot by the end of World War II. After the disbandment of No 6 Stores Depot in 1953, the unit became Detachment D of No 2 Stores Depot, and continued operations in the city until 1992.

Many highly decorated aircrew came from Dubbo, including Pilot Officer Rawdon Middleton VC, Jack Bassett DFC, George Taylor, who was badly burnt and became a member of the famous Guinea Club, Bill McBurney, William (Pat) Mumford, and Jeff Perry from Warren.

All those men who enlisted shared one common trait – incredible bravery, determination and dedication which, 65 years later, has stood the test of time.

That spirit was defined by heroic acts of bravery, such as the one which earned Rawdon Middleton a posthumous Victoria Cross.

On November 28, 1942 Pilot Officer Middleton took off on his 29th operation, to the Fiat works in Turin, Italy. Middleton’s aircraft was struck by flak over the target, one shell exploded in the cockpit wounding Middleton in the face and destroying his right eye.

Middleton lost consciousness and the aircraft dived to just 800 feet before the second pilot brought it under control. They were hit by more flak as they tried to escape the target.

When Middleton regained consciousness he began the long and gruelling flight back over the Alps towards England, knowing that his damaged aircraft had insufficient fuel to complete the journey.

As they approached the French coast the Stirling was again hit by flak but flew on. Now over the English coast with only five minutes of fuel left Middleton ordered the crew to abandon the aircraft.

Five men left the stricken plane, and two remained on board to help Middleton before attempting to parachute to safety, although unfortunately both were drowned. The Stirling then crashed into the sea, killing Middleton.

He was only one operation away from completing his first tour on bombers.

In a similar act of bravery, after taking off one night in 1942 on a mission to attack Berlin, Warrant Officer Bassett’s plane was crossing the North Sea when the rear gunner complained of a lack of oxygen.

Warrant Officer Bassett immediately dropped to a low altitude to give the gunner some relief and continued on course, but as they approached the target one of the bomber’s engines became unserviceable and had to be feathered.

Despite this, Bassett persisted in his mission and successfully attacked the target, for which he was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

At the first ceremony the then Governor General, His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery AC, CVO, MC (Retd) gave the main address in which he poignantly described the contribution Bomber Command made in bringing about the Allied victory.

He and other speakers each year have spoken of the great loss of young lives that Bomber Command suffered.

Speakers have also spoken of the training and the dedication of all who supported Bomber Command.

In his address Major General Jeffery gave the example of the Australian 460 Squadron which lost 200 planes and more than 1000 airmen from a total of 2730 who served with the Squadron.

The surviving members of Bomber Command who come to the Canberra ceremony from all over Australia, are moved by the fact that so many people join them on this very special day to remember and acknowledge the service and sacrifice of all those who served in Bomber Command.

The memorial ceremony at the war memorial is to be followed by a luncheon to be attended by Bomber Command members, their families and friends.

On the previous evening a meet and greet function will be held at the Australian War Memorial where there is a permanent display dedicated to Bomber Command. The “star” of this display is the Lancaster bomber ‘G’ for George.

The members of the Bomber Command Commemorative Day Foundation expect even more people will travel to Canberra in 2011 to be part of this significant event.

Many of the surviving members are now in their nineties, so the day and its celebrations are especially important to them.

For more information on the ceremony please contact Annette Guterres on (02) 9743 5794 or email her at annette.guterres@gmail.com