Today, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, we pause to remember the end of fighting on the Western Front in 1918 and those who have been lost in all wars since then. Together with the countries that fought for the British Empire in the ‘War to End All Wars’ including Great Britain, Canada, New Zeland, India, South Africa, Kenya, Mauritius, Bermuda and Barbados, we commemorate this day with solemn ceremonies and a minute of silence.

War exacts a terrible cost on people, families, communities and societies. We must always remember that our freedom comes at a heavy price. Lest we forget.

Understanding the weight of our freedom and of decisions to send people to war requires us to know and remember our history. My book, The Adventures of William Brambleberry: Aviator Mouse, was created to inspire children to dream big and work towards their goals while educating them about Australia’s military history. It features members of 453SQN, an Australian Spitfire squadron that fought in Great Britain and France against German invasion during WWII. To deepen this knowledge of our military history and broaden the book’s usefulness for teaching, I have created Teaching Notes and gift them with love to everyone on this Remembrance Day.

These Teaching Notes provide resources and tools that enable teachers to use the book for teaching across a broad range of learning areas from Foundation to Year 6, including English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, Health and Physical Education, Technologies and the Arts. The projects and activities are designed to enhance capabilities for literacy, numeracy, digital literacy, critical and creative thinking, personal and social capability, and ethical understanding.

I hope you find them useful.

The Adventures Of William Brambleberry Teaching Notes

1.23MB ∙ PDF file

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I am sorry it has taken so long to write to you and I hope all is well in your world. It has been a busy year already and there is so much to tell you since the last post in November last year.

Working with the Military Shop has been a wonderful experience. They have put much effort and love into developing, publishing, distributing and marketing the gorgeous ‘Aviator Mouse’ box set. Now my adventurous little Aviator Mouse is enjoying his adventures in the lives of many more little (and big) people.

Australia Post

Australia Post Offices around Australia stocked the box set for ANZAC Day commemoration. Here’s one I spotted at the Australia Post Office in Queanbeyan NSW.

Interviews and Fun Facts

The Military Shop organised several interviews with me about the book and how the story evolved, including one on the Military Voice blog (Baba Yaga makes an appearance) and a lovely article in the RiotAct by Dione David. They also organised ‘Fun Facts’ and ‘Did You Know’ graphics shared on social media.

Canberra Airport Open Day

In April, I happily attended the Canberra Airport Open Day for the Airforce Shop, signed books and talked to passers-by about the story and 453 Squadron. If you can attend the next Canberra Airport Open Day it’s well worth it for the interesting stalls, the plane and helicopter exhibition, aerial acrobatics displays and entertainment.

Book Reviews

The book received several lovely reviews this year, click on the links if you’re interested in reading them:

• Sue Warren aka Losang Zopa (Teacher Librarian)

• Cate Whittle (Teacher and Children’s Book Author)

• Little Darlings by Aleesah Darlison (Children’s Book Author)

• Barbara Braxton (Teacher Librarian)

• David Leith - son of Russell ‘Rusty’ Leith, WII RAAF Pilot 453SQN

Book Week 2024

I was so thrilled to receive photos of a young William and his amazing aviator costume for Book Week 2024. What an amaxing effort, well done William!

Thank you to Canberra Airport and Majura Park Shopping Centre for hosting Book Week activities and inviting me to read The Adventures of William Brambleberry: Aviator Mouse. It was a lovely way to spend the morning.

Teaching Notes

I am working on a set of teaching notes and activity packs for the Aviator Mouse book, which is a useful tool for teaching from Foundation to Year 6, and particularly Years 1 to 4, across several key learning areas including English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, Health and Physical Education, Technologies and the Arts.

The Teaching Notes pack will provide project ideas and activities that enhance students’ general capabilities for literacy, numeracy, digital literacy, critical and creative thinking, personal and social capability, and ethical understanding.

Once the pack has been finalised, they’ll be available as a free download on this website and through the Military Shop.

I’ll be in touch again next month with another Very Brambleberry News updated. Feel free to post a comment or get in touch about all things ‘Spitfire,’ ‘453SQN’ and ‘Aviator Mouse.’

Kind Regards,

Oh, stop! This little mouse – William Brambleberry – is just too cute. Not only does the book feature illustrations of sweet little William who declares he’ll be ‘the bravest, most adventurous aviator mouse in all the world’, it also comes with a delightful plushie version of William complete with bomber jacket, soft pilot ‘helmet’, and flying goggles. Win. Win. WIN.

William Brambleberry lives in Perranporth in the UK and watches planes take off and land each day. William likes the Spitfires best. He sets out to prove his family and friends wrong when they tell him that a mouse can’t be an Air Force pilot and boy does he show them! After William sneaks into the airbase, he is discovered by three men in the 453 Squadron from Australia. Over time, William learns all about flying is eventually given a tiny plane of his own to pilot.

The Adventures of William Brambleberry: Aviator Mouse is a story about the Air Force, history, Spitfires and fighter planes. It’s dedicated to the brave men and women of the Australian Defence Force and is the first book in a series of three. While it harkens back to the time of immense bravery and sacrifice during WWII, the story also resonates today by showing that even the smallest person – or creature – can be brave and achieve their dreams.

NB: Keep an eye out for our William Brambleberry Competition in coming weeks where you could win a copy of the book and the William plushie!!!!

From the first moment I saw this book, I knew I had to get my hands on it. How could I not… as the daughter of an WWII RAF crewie, albeit different squadron and different aircraft? When absolutely adorable softie William arrived with my copy from Geneviève, I was totally in love!

This book is based on 453 Squadron, an Australia Spitfire Squadron stationed in the UK during WWII, which saw distinguished service in the D-Day Normandy landings and over the skies of the UK, France and Germany. [In fact, a squadron to which my dad often referred and I feel sure there were combined post-war Christmas parties etc for Sydney ex-RAF families]. Factual material is included in this delightful narrative of a little mouse with a big dream.

William has watched the Spitfires taking off at the airfield since they arrived. He longs to one day fly a Spitfire. His family and friends are openly dismissive of his goal, as being completely unrealistic. Of course, being a very small mouse, there is a problem with logistics – most obviously SIZE.

When William finally ventures right onto the airfield to get up close to his beloved aircraft, he is picked up (literally) by a very friendly and kind Aussie named Don (coincidentally, also the name of my Father Bear’s skipper).

While Don and his buddies are a little surprised by William and his big dream, they are ready, as one would expect from Aussies, to give the little mouse a fair go. They arrange for him to learn all about Spitfires and when they deem him ready, provide him with his own custom-made exactly-the-right-size aircraft.

This is just the cutest book and I only wish I had had it in time for this year’s ANZAC Day, but you can be sure I’ll be keeping it and using it next year, as well as Remembrance Day this year, and very likely between those significant days as well.

Geneviève’s narrative is really charming, without being ‘twee’, as so often happens with anthropomorphised animals in books, and the illustrations from Alexandra Heazelwood are equally so.

I am a fan of William for the whole RAF connection but now I’m also eager to see more adventures from Brambleberry. These are exactly the sort of stories I thrived on as a small child, and I believe that many children still do. Your purchase of this little book (available from several outlets but do try the Military Shop) will also mean that 10% of your purchase will go to Soldier On, helping our veterans. Talk about a win/win!

Your kiddos will adore this as much as I do, I have no doubt. And I can completely envisage (and will try out) some follow up creative writing and art based on the adventures of William.

Highly recommended for kiddos from Prep up to middle primary with a big little 5 🐁🐁🐁🐁🐁 rating!

William Brambleberry might be an aviator mouse, but he’s not pure fiction

Geneviève did a large amount of research to ensure the accuracy of locations, names and events on which the book is based. She has provided her notes below:

• The History of No. 453 Squadron RAAF

• No. 453 Squadron Operations

• The Boys from No. 453 Squadron

• SQNLDR Donald George Andrews DFC – Pilot

• WO Clarence Alfred Seeney (KIA) – Pilot

• WO Roderick Lyall – Pilot

• FLGOFF Roger Bush – Engineer Officer

• No. 453 Squadron Mascot ‘Sprog’

• Spitfire Squadron Organisation and Training

• Air Combat Tactics

• Spitfires: History and Engineering

This is two enchanting books in one. It’s a warm-hearted animal story for pre-school-age children. At the same time, it’s a tribute to real people – Aussies who flew Spitfire aeroplanes in Britain in the Second World War.

The author has cleverly created a yarn about a mouse called William Brambleberry who dreams of being an aviator. She has then set her yarn in Cornwall in the west of England where the Australian air base was located in 1943. William decides this is his chance to learn to fly. Real members of the squadron appear in the story under their own names, and there is biographical information about these people and about the famous fighter plane they flew.

For me, the book is appealing because my father was one of these very fighter pilots. But I’m sure any grown-up will enjoy reading this yarn to their young children or grandchildren.

As war rages above the skies of the Cornish town of Perranporth, a little mouse watches the Spitfires of the RAAF Squadron 453 fly overhead and dares to dream… “One day I’ll be the bravest, most adventurous aviator mouse in all the world.”

The other mice laughed at him and told him he was too small to fly planes, but William had faith and one day, instead of just looking at them, he took the first step in making his dream come true – a step that had the most remarkable consequences.

Based on thorough research and including actual air and ground crew characters at the time, this is not only a story to encourage young readers to work towards making their dreams reality, but it will also appeal to those with an interest in military aviation and Spitfires in particular. Diagrams and accurate illustrations add authentic information and there is also the most adorable soft toy available.  It is the first of three proposed stories so young readers can look forward to learning more as they read more.

With the commemoration of ANZAC  Day on April 25, this is something different to add to that collection of Australia’s military history to appeal to those looking for a new avenue to explore, particularly families whose families may have served either in the squadron itself, or in the RAAF generally as something other than stories featuring ground troops. 

The book is available from the Military Shop and similar outlets as well as selected Australia Post shops, so an internet search would be the best way to identify your best supplier.  

The story of William Brambleberry and the boys from 453 Squadron will reach so many more people now!

While I am proud that my work will reach many more people, I am so much more excited that the WWII history of Australian Spitfire pilots, operations and ground crew, especially 453 Squadron, will be widely shared.

I am deeply grateful to the Military Shop for their kindness and support of the story and of me personally through the last 6 years as a loyal Very Brambleberry customer and through the evolution of our new working relationship. Thank you to Stephen for taking a punt and being so inclusive with my suggestions and thoughts, and thank you to ‘the other Steve’ for re-creating the entire product in its new form, in such a conscientious and meticulous way.

Click on the links for the book and toy if you want to purchase the book and/or the toy before they are relaunched next year.

Thank you also to the marvellous Australian War Memorial, whose outstanding and easily accessible collections and databases I’ve trawled through for photos, stories and records of 453 Squadron and Australia’s WWII contributions. You can read some of the research notes for the book here. Thank you also for being one of my earliest supporters and customers of the Aviator Mouse books and toys.

I am also grateful for the support shown by the families of the WWII generation of 453 Squadron pilots, operations and ground crew, and for your generosity in sharing your, and their stories.

If this new venture proves to be successful, there is a very good chance that the next book in the series, The Extraordinary Tale of Nancy: Spy Mouse, will be published in 2025.

War hero, resistance fighter, and spy, Nancy is no ordinary mouse. In fact, she is extraordinarily brave and more than a little determined. Based on the true story of an Australian/New ZealandWorld War II hero, Nancy Wake.

I will keep you all updated through this journey. Thank you my dear readers for all of your support!

Saturday, 2 December 2023 - Bungendore Christmas Markets

Genevieve will have a stall at the 2023 Bungendore Christmas Markets, selling her book, ‘The Adventures of William Brambleberry: Aviator Mouse’ and a limited number of Aviator Mouse toys.

For some reason, they were not able to take the dog with them and I don’t know if they had the dog before moving to Perranporth. I was not able to find any mention of Sprog in official records of that time and would love to find out more about this dog. If you know anything more, please get in touch.

In Praise of the Squadron Dog

While I haven’t been able to find out much else about Sprog, I did find this lovely article by Dave O’Malley from Vintage Wings of Canada about the important role Squadron dogs have played throughout the history of aviation, especially during the World Wars. Here is an excerpt below:

“Every dog has its own cosmic assignment. Some snarling and unhappy German shepherds are to be chained to an engine block in a Pennsylvania junk yard, some bloated spaniels comfort lonely octogenarian spinsters while dining on marshmallows and cashews, some Pekingese change for the better the lives of shut-ins with requited affection while some pit-bulls are slated to bring menace and a degree of unearned security to mullet-headed reprobate dope dealers. Every dog has an assignment, every dog has his day.

While canines have roamed the planet for eons and shared the company and shelter of man over millennia, one powerful latter-day assignment is but a century old – the squadron or hangar dog – perhaps the highest calling any dog can have for he or she will provide anchorage and embrace for those in peril in the air.

We now know that the appearance of the first squadron or aviation dog dates to the crack of dawn of flight, to Kill Devil Hills North Carolina where the Wright brothers were still experimenting and preparing their machine for their now seminal flight. The dog is there, but his name is not recorded – just a nameless black dog accompanying a man and a boy. It is interesting to note that, in this photograph taken prior to that flight, this dog had accompanied four men from the Kill Devil Hill Lifesaving Station who were helping the Wrights move the aircraft. So, quite possibly, the first dog to frequent the halls and fields of flight had life-saving DNA – how very, very appropriate.

The Wright brothers flight was only eleven years before the half-decade-long misery and meat grinder that was the First World War. By that time, the Squadron Dog was already part of the culture of aviation and in particular, military aviation. Many a group photo or image of pilots relaxing included a four-legged aviator standing mutely with his or her pilots and ground crews.

Over the years of storyline research for our website on the web and in books, I constantly ran across these images of smiling pilots and their dogs. In almost every image, the pilots appeared to be relaxed, confident, positive and even laughing. It got me to thinking about the role of these hangar hounds, these unit pooches, these squadron dogs. What is their universal appeal for the aviator? You never see dogs hanging around race car drivers or lawyers or locomotive engineers, so why the abundance of pooch ‘n pilot imagery throughout the history of aviation?

The connection, I believe, is found in three of the most important factors impacting a combat pilot’s life – youth, fear and loneliness – a potent mix that finds a semblance of balance and normalcy in a four legged animal with no animosity.

Firstly, fighter pilots and bomber crews are, if anything, young. Boys really, just a couple of years past high school, first dates, harvest time and field sports. And boys love dogs, and dogs, as they do, return that love in a never-ending do-loop of unconditional affection. Growing up, they see dogs as companions in adventure, non- judgmental listeners and surrogates for youthful love. It’s just natural.

Secondly, combat airmen were facing repeated peaks of ungodly stress, horrific personal losses, endless deprivation and, in what has to be an understatement, an uncertain future. These strains and bombardments on their psyches caused extreme degradation in their confidence and overall mental state. The squadron dog provided momentary release from these responsibilities, and in the same way that today, dogs are used to help comfort, ground and bring relief to patients with Alzheimer’s, dementia and depression, air crew will found solace in a dog and a link to a real world without the stresses they face.

Thirdly, and most importantly, most combat ground and air crew, despite the bravado and squadron camaraderie, were profoundly lonely. They longed for mail from home, their mothers and girl friends, a home-cooked meal, high school buddies, and some semblance of the way it was before they found themselves in their predicament. While stories abound of pub-fueled exploits with NAAFI girls and London “birds”, the great majority of these young men spent their months and years of hardship without the simple blessing of affection.  Mothers were not there to stroke their hair. Fathers were not there to lay a hand upon their shoulders. Sweethearts were not there to fold them in their arms.  It is a known phenomenon that one sure way to feel the warmth of affection is to give affection. Enter the scrawny, floppy, slobbering, squadron puppy whose affection meter (sometimes called a tail) is always pinned at “Happy To See You”.

The squadron dog had an important role in squadron life, and some dogs were given official status as “Squadron Mascot” such as the spaniel Straddle of 422 Squadron or the Vietnam Thud drivers’ legendary Roscoe, of the 34th TFS. But the vast majority of these welcome creatures were simply the stray puppy or the starving cur that haunted the chow line or the flightline. I have always wondered what happened to these dogs as the unit got transferred or the war wound down or their masters failed to return from a mission. I know in many cases of the death or capture of the pilot or crewman who owned the dog, that the little guy would have been adopted by a fellow airman. In rare cases, the dog emigrated to Canada upon the return of the squadron. The vast majority, unfortunately, were victims of the war.

I have this maudlin image in my head of the fate of most of these lovely dogs, especially those adopted in theatre. I see the desert of North Africa. The last aircraft is fading into the haze, trucks filled with equipment and ground crew are raising a cloud of dust in the low light of a late afternoon as they too fade into the distance. I feel a growing silence. I see the detritus of war blowing and flapping in the desultory breeze, flies buzzing over middens of cans and boxes. I see heat rising from the desert floor and a single whimpering dog, standing, looking…  waiting.  War is hell, even for dogs.

The Squadron Dog… long may the little guy live!”

SQN 453 in Formation

One of the first things he learnt was Malan’s Rules of Air Fighting. A.G. ‘Sailor’ Malan was a fighter ace and one of the greatest fighter pilots of WWII. He learnt air combat tactics with 74 Squadron and developed his ‘Ten Rules of Air Fighting,’ which were circulated as a guide to fighter pilots. Malan’s 10 Rules were:

1. Wait until you see the whites of his (the enemy pilot’s) eyes. Fire short bursts of one or two seconds, and only when your sights are definitely ‘ON’

2. Whilst shooting, think of nothing else, brace the whole of your body, have both hands on the stick, concentrate on your ring sight

3. Always keep a sharp lookout, ‘Keep your finger out!’

4. Height gives you the initiative

5. Always turn and face attack

6. Make your decisions promptly. It is better to act quickly even though your tactics are not the best

7. Never fly straight-and-level for more than 30 seconds in the combat area

8. When diving to attack, always leave a proportion of your formation above to act as top guard

9. INITIATIVE, AGGRESSION, AIR DISCIPLINE, and TEAMWORK are the words that MEAN something in air fighting

10. Go in quickly – punch hard – get out!

Air Combat Formations

Air combat tactics were first developed during WWI and these same tactics were used at the start of WWII. Fighter Command prescribed six basic attack formations including Two-Ship, Vic, Fluid Six, Finger Four, Four-Ship Wall and Echelon. These formations were designed for attacking slow and poorly armed bombers but were redundant by the end of the war with advances in aviation technology.

These days, modern fighter jets generally use Two-Ship and Four-Ship Wall formations, spread much further apart, even out of visual range due to advances in digital technology. Close formations are generally reserved for aerial acrobatic shows or to deceive enemy radar.

William Brambleberry loved watching planes take off and land at RAF Perranporth air base on the top of Cligga Cliffs in Cornwall, England. Of all the planes, William liked the Spitfires the best. After befriending the Australian fighter pilots of No.453 Squadron, he dedicated himself to learning everything he could about Spitfires. Here is some of what he learned:

• The Supermarine Spitfire was a British-designed and built, single-seater fighter aircraft, used by Britain and its allies during WWII.

• R.J Mitchell, chief designer of Supermarine Aviation Works (a subsidiary of Vickers-Armstrong), designed the Spitfires as short-range, high-performance interceptors.

• The elliptical wings were a distinguishing feature of the Spitfires: their aerodynamic shape and thinness reduced drag while maintaining strength to allow for a retractable undercarriage, armaments and ammunition.

• The planes initially flew with powerful and distinctive sounding Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, upgrading to the Roll-Royce Griffon engines in later Marks (versions).

• Due to their design and powerful engines, Spitfires were able to reach higher top speeds than other British fighter planes such as the Hawker Hurricanes and were well-matched with the German Messerschmidt Bf109 fighters.

• Although the Hawker Hurricanes greatly outnumbered Spitfires during the Battle of Britain, Spitfires superseded the Hurricanes in fame and reputation due to their higher performance and lower attrition rates.

• The general tactic used by Air Command during the Battle of Britain was to direct Hurricane squadrons to attack German bombers while the Spitfires countered the bombers’ escort fighters.

• Throughout the war, Spitfires were used as interceptors, fighter-bombers, trainers and for photo-reconnaissance.

• 453 SQN flew Supermarine Spitfire Marks V, IX and XIV, providing defensive air patrols over Britain and surrounding waters, escort of Allied bombers over Europe, offensive strikes on land and sea, including over-watch for ground troops during the D-Day Normandy landings and throughout Operation Overlord, as well as bombing of German V1 and V2 rockets in the later stages of the War.

Former RAF Perranporth, Cornwall

Spitfire - Side On Flight View

453 SQN Spitfire - Normandy Beach Head, France

453 SQN Spitfire Mark IX

No. 453 Squadron was first formed in Bankstown, New South Wales, on 23 May 1941 as a fighter squadron under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme, to combat the growing Japanese threat in South East Asia during the early stages of WWII.

The squadron took part in combat operations throughout the Malayan and Singapore campaigns (1941-42) flying the Brewster F2A Buffalo. However, the unstable and overweight Buffalo was substantially outmatched by the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero.

Severe losses against the faster, more manoeuvrable Zeros, lack of pilot training and problems with the Buffalo’s poor build resulted in the nickname ‘the flying coffin’ and such heavy losses were inflicted that the squadron was disbanded in March 1942.

On 18 June 1942, the Squadron was reformed with Australian fighter pilots at RAF Drem Airbase in Scotland, under RAF Fighter Command and equipped with Supermarine Spitfires. Throughout the war, 453 SQN was responsible for the provision of defensive air patrols over Britain and surrounding waters, escort of Allied bombers over Europe, and offensive strikes on land and sea.

453 Squadron pilots engaged in air combat with German fighters, with frequent dogfights over the English Channel and the skies of France against German fighter aircraft including Messerschmidt Bf 109s fighters, Bf 110 fighter-bombers and Focke Wulf 190 fighters. Several Squadron pilots earned Distinguished Flying Crosses during their time with the Squadron.

Preparing for D-Day Operations

In the lead up to the D-Day Normandy landings, 453 SQN ramped up their ground attack operations against German supply, equipment and V-1 rocket installations. On D-Day, 6 June 1944, 453 Squadron provided over 40 tactical support and ground attack sorties for Allied troops landing on Normandy beaches as part of the air component of Operation Neptune, in the first stage of Operation Overlord.

453 Squadron moved to Longues-sur-Mer airfield, close to the front line soon after D-Day. From there they waged pitched battles against the German Luftwaffe fighters over the skies of France throughout June and July 1944, with heavy losses on both sides. The operational tempo was frantic with more than 50 sorties flown daily and up to 60 sorties flown on 18 July 1944, in support of the 2nd British Army attacks on Caen.

As the Lufftwaffe were pushed back towards Germany, 453 Squadron was withdrawn back to the UK in September 1944. Between November 1944 and March 1945, 453 Squadron concentrated operations on striking German V-1 and V-2 rocket assembly and launch sites.

On 2 May 1945, 453 Squadron flew its last mission, escorting the aircraft that returned Queen Wilhelmina back to the Netherlands, after she’d spent 3 years living in exile in the UK. By the end of the war the squadron had suffered 29 fatalities, 28 of them Australian. The Squadron was disbanded on 21 January 1946, and its Australian pilots and ground crew returned home.

453 SQN was reformed under 44 Wing on 16 February 2011 as an air traffic control unit, headquartered at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales.

Squadron Organisation

This excerpt on Australian Spitfire pilot training is taken from Australian War Memorial Records AWM173 7/4 Part 2 ‘Narrative of RAAF in Single Engined Squadrons of Fighter Command.’

In single engine fighter squadrons (Spitfire and Hurricane) the normal compliment of operational aircraft is sixteen held on initial issue and at least two or three aircraft held on immediate reserve. These aircraft are manned by about 25 pilots who are divided into two flights, A and B of approximately equal strength. The ground crew are similarly divided and service the aircraft allotted to their particular flight. In actual practice it is usual for each ground crew to have one particular aircraft as their charge. Each of the flights is commanded by a pilot of the rank of Flight Lieutenant and the Squadron is commanded by a pilot of the rank Squadron Leader.

An important man on any operational squadron is the Intelligence Officer. His work consists in seeing that all information which will be of use to the pilots in not only available to them but is actually brought to their notice. He has his Headquarters in the Intelligence Room which is usually established as close as possible to both flights. Such tasks as training in aircraft recognition, supplying the latest information concerning anti-aircraft defences both enemy and friendly, the latest information concerning the performances, armament and tactics of enemy fighters, the interrogation of the pilots after combat – to mention only a few of his many activities – clearly demonstrates the important part an efficient Intelligence Officer can play in a squadron’s work.

When William Brambleberry met and joined 453 SQN, the Intelligence Officer at the time was Flight Sergeant Gordon Henry “Catch” Catchpole of Guildford, Western Australia.

453 SQN Fitters Working on Aircraft

Intelligence Debrief

Squadron Missions

Several different types of missions were commonly flown by 453 Squadron pilots. Their code names were:

• Circus – daytime bomber attacks with fighter escorts against short range targets, to occupy enemy fighters and keep them in the area concerned

• Ramrod – short range bomber attacks to destroy ground targets, similar to Circus attacks

• Rhubarb – fighter or fighter-bomber sections, at times of low cloud and poor visibility, crossing the English Channel and then dropping below cloud level to search for opportunity targets such as railway locomotives and rolling stock, aircraft on the ground, enemy troops, and vehicles on roads

• Rodeo – fighter sweeps over enemy territory

• Rover – armed reconnaissance flights with attacks on opportunity targets

• Scramble – fast take-off and climb to intercept enemy aircraft

Take Off on Sortie

Pilot Training

This excerpt on Australian Spitfire pilot training is taken from Australian War Memorial Records AWM173 7/4 Part 2 ‘Narrative of RAAF in Single Engined Squadrons of Fighter Command.

The first step in the training of all aircrew is the Initial Training School. Here they are given a basic theoretical training and finally categorised as suitable for pilot, navigator, air gunner etc. Those selected as pilots then proceed to an Elementary Training School where they are taught to fly an aircraft such as the “Moth” and where some idea of their ability as pilots is obtained.

At the conclusion of this course those selected as Single Engine Fighter Pilots are transferred to a Service Flying Training School (SFTS) where they are given a course on single engined aircraft of the monoplane type such as the Wirraway or the Master whose performance and characteristics are approaching those of operational aircraft.

This course is fairly extensive and includes such items as air gunnery and navigation. On arrival in the United Kingdom these pilots are given what amounts to a refresher course at an A.F.U where the same type of aircraft are flown as at an SFTS and finally to a Fighter Operational Training Unit where they are taught to fly the type of machine, e.g. Spitfire or Hurricanes, which they will actually be using operations. They are posted to squadrons as operational pilots.

On arriving at their squadrons however they find that their training is by no means complete from the squadron point of view and that a quite extensive training programme still lies ahead of them. Besides an intensification of their ground training dealing with such matters as aircraft recognition, anti-aircraft defences etc., matters which fall into the province of the Intelligence Officer, considerable flying training is still necessary. At this stage, although the pilot has now quite a respectable total of flying hours in his log book comparatively few of them are in the operational aircraft he will now be flying. Further experience on this aircraft is consequently needed.

In addition, since team work is an extremely important factor in air combat he must be fitted into the squadron’s combat structure and must learn to operate as part of a unit and not entirely as an individual. To obtain these results a considerable amount of flying is necessary. He must fly both by himself and in squadron formations of all kinds from the pair which forms the basic combat unit to the full squadron formation. Also since ground control is a major factor in fighter operations he must gain experience of its working before being allowed to take part in operations.

All this training is organised into the normal squadron routine, but it will be readily appreciated what a large commitment a newly formed squadron has in this respect and that several months may elapse before a squadron can be regarded as fit for operations.

William Brambleberry Studying Hard

William Brambleberry befriended the pilots and ground crew of 453 Squadron while they were posted to RAF Perranporth from April to October 1943. His passion and determination to be the greatest aviator mouse there ever was, earned him the admiration of the whole Squadron and they built William his very own miniature Spitfire.

William was with the Squadron during some important events:

• F/Lt D.G. Andrews was awarded a DFC on 10 September for ‘numerous successful attacks on enemy shipping,’ he was then promoted to Acting Squadron Leader and Commanding Officer of 453 Squadron, replacing SQNLDR K.M. Barclay on the 28th of September

• During late 1943, Sunderland Flying Boats on anti-submarine patrols were constantly being attacked by land based “packs” of German twin-engine fighters operating from bases in southern France. 453 Squadron, then flying Spitfire Mk VBs from Perranporth, Cornwall, were ordered to fly offensive patrols over the Bay of Biscay to intercept and destroy these “packs.”  From (Bad Day Off Bishop’s Rock – Ross Currie – Spitfire Association)

• On 8 October, 7 Pilots of 453 Squadron, led by SQNLDR D.G. Andrews, engaged a Messerschmitt BF 110 formation west of Brest. Three of the pilots shot down five of their adversaries – two were destroyed by Flying Officer P. McDade in “FU-L” (EP-242), two by Pilot Officer Leith in “FU-C” (BM-243) and the other by Flight Lieutenant Ewins flying “FU-X” (EP-364). Unbeknown to the Australians, they were fighting against 11/ZG-1 led by its Kommander, the 24-year-old Hauptmann Karl Heinrich Mattern, an ace with 12 victories to his credit and a holder of the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross. No mean pilot, Mattern, at the controls of Messerschmitt BF-110 62-W/NR 120010, coded “S9+SP” and the others all failed to return from this operation. From (Bad Day Off Bishop’s Rock – Ross Currie – Spitfire Association). FLGOFF H.M. Parker was lost and listed as Killed in Action during this mission.

• The Squadron moved to RAF Skeabrae in the Orkney Islands on 15 October with not much action until 2 December, when FLTLT E.A.R. Esau and FLGOFF L. McAuliffe shared a kill of Ju88.

• On 19 January 1944, the Squadron moved to RAF Detling in Kent under the Second Tactical Airforce (2 TAF) in preparation for D-Day.

• From January to April 1944, 453 Squadron moved between RAF Hutton Cranswick, Yorkshire; RAF Detling, Kent; RAF Peterhead, Aberdeenshire; RAF Detling; RAF Ford, Sussex.

• On 18 March, FLTSGT Brian Gorman was killed while practising dogfighting with another spitfire over Duffington.

• On 14 April, PLTOFF R.E. Yarra was shot down and killed by flak while attacking V-1 sites near Abbeville in France.

• SQNLDR D.H. Smith replaced SQNLDR D.G. Andrews as commanding officer of 453 Squadron

• On 21 May, FLTLT John Olsson was shot down by flak over France and escaped injury but was captured by the Germans.

In the first weeks of June 1944, 453 Squadron’s pace of operations became frenzied as they provided air support on D-Day and throughout Operation Overlord. Stay tuned for the next post on 453 Squadron’s preparations for D-Day.

Skeabrae - Setting Up

Laughter Lightens the Load

Change of Command

Operational Sortie

Roger Bush was the 453 Squadron Engineer Officer who built William Brambleberry’s Spitfire in ‘The Adventures of William Brambleberry: Aviator Mouse.’ In real life, he was also rather an interesting character.

Roger was born in England in 1918. His family migrated to Sydney NSW the next year. Roger was the eldest of four siblings; two brothers, and a sister. When WWII broke out, Roger enlisted in the RAF and joined 453 Squadron in England as an Engineer Officer, where he was responsible for the maintenance and serviceability of the 453 Squadron Spitfires.

I have not been able to find out much about his service but he does have a Wikipedia entry, which reveals that he met his wife while he was in England and she came back to Australia with him. They had two children, Peter and Lesley.

Roger worked at BHP in Woolongong before he was ordained as a minister with the Australian Methodist Church. During his time as a minister, the Wikipedia articles states that,

He became an early talkback radio minister on Connections, a three-hour talkback program he devised and hosted on 2CH. Bush wrote a column for the Sydney Sun newspaper for 12 years. From the opening of the Sydney Opera House in 1973 he was responsible for the Christmas program of celebrations.

He received several honours such as:

• Officer – Order of the British Empire 1981 for service to the community

• Member – Order of the British Empire 1973 for service to the community

He also published several books including:

• The Open Line Bedside Book – (Sydney, 1984)

• The Origins of Christmas: Fact, Fiction and Myth – Reed Publishing (Sydney, 1982)

• The Origins of Easter: Fact, Fiction and Myth – Reed Publishing (Sydney, 1982)

• A Bush Christmas – Rigby (Sydney, 1980)

• All the trees were green – Rigby (Adelaide, 1979)

• Prayers for Pagans – Hodder & Stoughton (Sydney, 1968)

If anyone has any information about Roger’s service history, I would very much love to receive it and I will update this entry accordingly.

Article from The Canberra Times, Friday 21 August 1964, p. 12

The Reverend Roger Bush, compere of the weekly radio programme ‘In Between,’ will visit Canberra at the weekend. While in Canberra, Mr. Bush will speak to a number of church groups and will contact Canberra listeners to his programme who have written to him. He will also record interviews with young people for the programme.

The youth groups will meet Mr. Bush at the National Memorial Methodist Church Fellowship Centre tonight. This meeting had been arranged by the Youth Committee of the Canberra Council of Churches.

In Between, presents discussions with teenagers ranging in topic from Sydney beaches to university colleges.

Pilot Officer Roderick Lyall is the third pilot that William Brambleberry met on the tarmac at Perranporth Airbase in ‘The Adventures of William Brambleberry: Aviator Mouse.’ You will meet him again in the third book of the series when he and William Brambleberry get shot down over France at the start of another dangerous and exciting adventure. In the meantime, enjoy this potted history of Roderick’s service with 453 Squadron.

Roderick Lyall was born on 3 April 1922 in Geelong, Victoria. He was a student at the Geelong College Cadet Corps and was 19 years old when he enlisted at 1RC in Melbourne, Victoria as ACII Aircrew. In January 1942, Rod arrived in Rhodesia (current day Zimbabwe) to commence flight training at 1 Training Wing, 24 EFTS and 20 SFTS. By 10 December of that year, Rod disembarked in the UK at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre and then No. 17 Advanced Training Unit at Watton. He was promoted to Flight Sergeant before transferring to No. 61 Operational Training Unit on 25 May 1943.

Rod joined 453 Squadron on 21 August 1943 and was described by one of his superior officers, E. A. Esau as a “very quiet and reserved officer who shows excellent form in the Air.” He had the nickname of ‘Froggie,’ and wore this title written on his helmet.

Karl James, Senior Historian at the Australian War Museum describes the events leading up to and after a most hair-raising event in Rod’s service with 453 Squadron. 

He [Rod] was hit by flak on 12  July and crashed south-east of Falaise.  After two days on the run, he was caught by four members of the German SS and  was kept in various prison camps near  Alençon.  As the Germans began their  withdrawal in early August, Lyall, in company with an American and wearing American clothes over his RAAF uniform, jumped from a moving lorry and escaped into the night. Hidden by French villagers near St Denis-sur-Sarthon, the two airmen were picked up by American soldiers on 13 August. Five days later Lyall was back with the Squadron, now operating from ALG B19 near Lingevres.

The next William Brambleberry adventure and third book in the series is entwined with Rod’s so stay tuned…

Clarrie enlisted in at age 18 in Gatton, Queensland on 11 October 1941. Not much information about Clarrie’s service is available, though the circumstances around his death are well-known. Below is a letter, from the Aircrew Remembered website, regarding Clarrie’s death written to Clarrie’s parents by 453 Squadron’s Commander, D.H. Smith.

26th July 1944

Dear Mrs. Seeney,

Before you receive this letter you will have been informed by the Air Board, Melbourne, that your son Warrant Officer C. A. Seeney was reported missing, believed killed as a result of operations in France.

It is with sincere regret that I am writing to confirm this tragic news and to let you know something of the circumstances under which Clarrie was believed to have lost his life.

On the morning of July 25 Clarrie, with three other pilots of 453 Squadron was carrying out an Armed Reconnaisance behind enemy lines in France. In the course of attacking enemy targets on the ground, it was believed that his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire, as it was seen by the pilots flying with him at the time, to crash on a road near the scene of his last attack. From the nature of the crash I regret to inform you that we consider it most unlikely that your son could have survived.

The loss of Clarrie has deprived the Squadron of a keen and promising pilot, whose characteristic cheerfulness, skill and courage, were an example to all the pilots of the Squadron, who with the ground staff wish to join me in this expression of sympathy in your sad bereavement.

Your son’s personal effects have been carefully collected and will be forwarded to the Royal Airforce Central Depository and in due course you will receivefurther communication concering these, from Australian Air Board.

May I again express my sincere personal sympathy to you in this tragic loss you have suffered.

Yours Sincerely, Donald H. Smith, C.O. 453 Squadron

An entry for Clarrie on the Aircrew Remembered website reveals that Clarrie was one of four pilots “strafing German ground movements on the Argenton-Vimoutier Road.”

During an interview with the Mayor Msr. Duclos he stated that the aircraft came in very low and struck the powerlines bordering the Argenton-Vimoutier Road – and crashed at 06:45 hrs bursting into flames. The Germans handed the body over to the French locals for burial together with his id discs, pocket book and ring.

The Squadron lost two other aircraft during this mission. Flying Officer Colin Leith was shot down, captured then escaped and returned to England on 22 August 1944. Warrant Officer Alan William Dowding baled out at 800ft with a broken hip, was captured by German artillery and interred in a PoW camp.

Clarrie was 21 years old when he was killed. He is buried in Coulonces Churchyard, Coulonces, Normandy, France.

WGCDR Donald G. Andrews DFC, called Don in the Aviator Mouse book, was the first person to befriend William Brambleberry while they were based in Perranporth, Cornwall UK. Don dreamed of flying his whole life saying at one time, “I was always keen on flying even as a kid, and used to sit in a tree and pretend I was a pilot.”

Donald George Andrews came from Southport in Queensland, Australia. He enlisted on 8 November 1940 at the RAAF Bradfield Park Initial Flight Training School in Sydney under the Empire Air Training Scheme. He was then sent to RAAF Narrandera No. 8 Elementary Flying Training School in December 1940 to train on Tiger Moths. In June 1941, Don was sent to the Service Flying Training School at Camp Borden in Ontario, Canada flying Harvards and Yales. He was granted his wings and commissioned then shipped to Llandow, Wales in the UK in November 1941. Due to a shortage of instructors, Don served as an instructor for one term and was then given his choice of Squadron. Don chose to fly Hurricanes first for 615 and then 245 Squadrons.

Don, now a Flight Lieutenant, joined No.453 Squadron in December 1942 as the Flight Commander, replacing ‘Bobby’ Yarra who was shot down and killed in action. Don was the first 453 Squadron pilot to earn a Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).

On 15 August 1943, 453 Squadron was escorting American Marauders over Belgium when they were bounced by a dozen German fighters. Don was separated from the rest of the Squadron and was then jumped by six German fighters. Though his Spitfire was peppered with bullets, he managed to make one kill, shooting down a Focke Wolfe 190 and landing safely at RAF Manton. Unfortunately, one 453 Squadron pilot was shot down and killed during the skirmish, Pilot Officer F. T. Thorny.

453 Squadron moved to Perranporth, Cornwall UK on 20 August 1943, which proved to be an eventful posting (it was here that they met the bravest and most adventurous mouse, William Brambleberry). Don was awarded his DFC on September 24 and was promoted to Squadron Leader, becoming Squadron Commander on October 8 when Squadron Leader Kevin Barclay posted back to Australia.

During that time, they had one of their largest-ever victories.

Operating from Perranporth in Cornwall, Don, as 453 Squadron Leader, was leading seven Spitfires on an offensive sweep near Brest, France when the Squadron achieved it greatest single victory. They had almost reached their turning point at 0830 hrs, when eight Me110s were seen in formation low on the water. As the Spits dived to intercept, the enemy scattered but were easily brought to combat and five were shot down, two by F/O Pat McDade, two by P/O Rusty Leith and one by Russ Ewins. Soon afterwards engine trouble forced Russ Ewins to bale out over the sea. About an hour later, two Spitfires flew around about five miles to the South and one was piloted by Don and the other one by Ross Curry. They pin-pointed where Russ was splashing around and luckily for him he was soon rescued. Australian Spitfire Association

Unfortunately, 453 Squadron lost another pilot in this skirmish, Flying Officer H.M. Parker.

On October 15 the Squadron moved to Skeabrae in the Orkneys Islands to rest. They were there for three months and didn’t do much flying due to winds averaging 60 mph. However, on December 2, Flight Lieutenant E.A.R. Esau and Flying Officer L. McAuliffe shared the kill of a Junkers Ju88.

In October 1943, 453 Squadron moved to Detling, Kent and was incorporated into 2nd TAF in preparation for the D-Day Normandy Landings, where 453 and 451 Squadrons would provide air cover to the beaches during Operation Neptune, part of Operation Overlord. While waiting for D-Day orders, the Squadron provided protection to American bombers.

The Spitfires were occasionally fitted with high explosive bomb loads, either one 500 lb or two 250 lb bombs. Don ruefully said,

“If your bombs did not release over the target you had to bring them back home. Then you had to land with them and much faster than you would wish and make sure it was as smooth a landing as possible.”

Don had been flying for two and a half years on operations when he handed over command of 453 Squadron to D.H. Smith on 2 May 1944 and posted out for a well-earned break instructing at Central Gunnery School.

D.H. Smith led the Squadron through the D-Day Normandy Landings and high-paced operations until September 1944, when Squadron Leader E.A. Esau took over command of the Squadron.

Don was promoted and returned to operations in February 1945, where he led the Australian Wing (453 and 451 Squadrons) as the Wing Commander based at RAF Station Matlaske, Sussex. The Australian Spitfire Wing was tasked with counter-measures against the V2 long-range rocket bomb. It operated from bases in Britain and on the Continent, flew 1,328 sorties over Holland, bombed and strafed launching sites, workshops, and transport, and cut railway lines leading to the firing sites.

At the end of the war, Don returned to Southport, Queensland, Australia, where he went back to work for the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, eventually retiring in October 1983.

According to the Australian Spitfire Association’s website, when questioned, Don said that he preferred flying Spitfires as he considered them vice-free whereas by the later years of the war, the Hurricanes had been superseded. He also flew Mustangs which he thought were ‘marvellous,’ but heavier to manoeuvre and more solid than a Spitfire. He even tried out a Thunderbolt (nicknamed the Jug) and found them also very comfortable. Other aircraft flown were Vultee Vengeances and Tempests.

Detailed information about Don Andrews’ service in addition to his service with 453 Squadron can be found on the Australian Spitfire Association’s website.

The photo above is from the Australian War Memorial Archives and depicts the four 453 Squadron characters befriended by William Brambleberry in the book The Adventures of William Brambleberry: Aviator Mouse. It was taken in Cornwall, England on 14 October 1943 at RAF Station Perranporth. They were having a last game with the Squadron mascot “Sprog” who had to be left behind when the unit moved to a new location at RAF Station Skeabrae in the Orkneys.

From left to right: 414519 Flight Sergeant (FLT SGT, later Warrant Officer[WO]) Clarence Alfred Seeney, Gatton, QLD (lost on operations over France on 25 July 1944); 15326 Flying Officer (FO) R. Bush, Sydney, NSW, Engineer Officer; 409147 F SGT K.C. Kinross, Essendon, VIC; 413296 F SGT H.F. Watts, Milton, QLD; 409160 F SGT R. Lyall, Geelong VIC; Warrant Officer “Jock” Young, RAF Radio Officer; FO F.J. Catchpole, RAF Intelligence Officer; 261892 Flight Lieutenant H. Sharp, Sydney NSW, Medical Officer.

Donald George (D.G.) Andrews DFC

Don – Donald George Andrews (404795) from Southport QLD, came to 453 Squadron as a Flying Officer, was promoted to Squadron Leader and later to Wing Commander and Commanding Officer of 453 Squadron. Don was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for fighting off an attack from 6 enemy aircraft and shooting down a Focker Wolfe 190 after being separated from his Squadron. For more information about Don click here.

Clarence Alfred Seeney

Clarrie – Flight Sergeant and then Warrant Officer Clarence Alfred Seeney (414519) from Gatton QLD. Unfortunately, Clarrie was killed in action over France on 25 July 1944, just over a month after D-Day. For more information about Clarence click here. Photo from http://www.aircrewremembered.com/seeney-clarence-alfred.html

Roderick Lyall

Rod – Flight Sergeant Roderick Lyall (409160) from Geelong VIC. Rod, nicknamed ‘Froggie,’ was hit by flak on 12 July 1944 and crashed south-east of Falaise in France. He spent two days on the run but was eventually caught by four members of the German SS and was imprisoned in various Prisoner of War camps in the region. Rod managed to escape, evade recapture and made his way back to 453 Squadron on 18 August 1944. For more information about Rod click here.

Roger Bush

Roger – Flying Officer Roger Bush (415326) from Sydney NSW, was 453 Squadron’s Engineering Officer. He was responsible for managing maintenance and aircraft availability, as well as leading the Squadron’s Aircraft Technicians. For more information about Roger click here.

The Adventures of William Brambleberry: Aviator Mouse is a historical-fiction children’s picture book. It was first published as a softcover book in 2015 and then through Geneviève’s independent publishing imprint Brambleberry Press in its current hardcover form in 2017. Not long after, Geneviève produced the soft toy aviator mouse to accompany the book.

This book is about William Brambleberry, who was a very small mouse with a very big dream. He was determined to fly a Spitfire and he practiced until he really did become the bravest most adventurous aviator mouse in all the world. It is based on 453 Squadron, an Australia Spitfire Squadron stationed in the UK during WWII, which saw distinguished service in the D-Day Normandy landings and over the skies of the UK, France and Germany.

Visit the Military Shop to learn more about the book and purchase the book, toy or box set!

Research Notes

Geneviève did a large amount of research to ensure the accuracy of locations, names and events on which the book is based. She has provided her notes below:

• The History of No. 453 Squadron RAAF

• No. 453 Squadron Operations

• The Boys from No. 453 Squadron

• SQNLDR Donald George Andrews DFC - Pilot

• WO Clarence Alfred Seeney (KIA) - Pilot

• WO Roderick Lyall - Pilot

• FLGOFF Roger Bush - Engineer Officer

• No. 453 Squadron Mascot ‘Sprog’

• Spitfire Squadron Organisation and Training

• Air Combat Tactics

• Spitfires: History and Engineering

Book Reviews from the Military Shop

Heather (6 May 2022) - “A brilliant little book, everyone in our family loves it. The sketches are beautiful and the inclusion of real RAAF pilots and engineer is wonderful. Five golden stars from this RAAF family.”

Toy Reviews from the Military Shop

Schroder (15 Jul 2021) - “Cutest pilot in his squad, what a sweetie. Well made, lovable, soft”