THOMAS (TOM) LOFTHOUSE
Australind, Western Australia
Having joined the Citizen Military Forces a year previously, Tom transferred to
the RAAF in June 1942 in Claremont, Western Australia, attracted by the
overseas travel opportunities it promised. Tom flew a thirty-six operation tour
as an Air Gunner in No. 466 Squadron RAAF, later completing ten operations
of a second tour as a Rear Gunner with No. 77 Squadron RAF. Originally on
draft to serve in North Africa, heavy losses necessitated his transfer to
Bomber Command.
As a Rear Gunner, he provided direct support to the D-Day landings, targeting
coastal guns and railway yards. His crew flew three missions in the 48 hours
surrounding D-Day, which included bombing the railway marshalling yards at
Château Dun on the evening of the landings, only to find that the area had
already been taken over by British paratroopers the very same day.
Describing his tours as lucky, Tom only had a few close calls. The most
serious of these occurred on the crew’s first operation, when their plane was
coned, hit and damaged by anti-aircraft fire. They made it back to England,
and remarkably all of Tom’s crew survived their first tour of operations. Sadly,
Tom’s Mid-Upper Gunner, Bert Golden, was killed on the last operation of his
second tour. Tom will always remember the pride that all of his squadron,
regardless of individual rank, had in their service with Bomber Command.
Tom was discharged in March 1946 at the rank of Flying Officer. Upon his
return to Australia, he recommenced his pre-war employment as a survey
hand. Taking advantage of various opportunities for further training, he carved
out a long career in that area, which led him to take up a position in
Queensland as an engineering surveyor. Years later, he finished his career as
a field officer in the Department of Lands and Surveys in Western Australia.
Tom is very much looking forward to visiting the old areas of operations at
ground level.