Gordon Stanley Orchard 

SQUADRON LEADER 400732

Gordon Stanley Orchard was born on January 23, 1919, at the Thomastown Railway Station, Victoria Australia. His Grandfather was the Station Master and Grandmother the local Midwife which explained the unusual place of his birth.  He was the oldest of 4 boys born to Stanley and Annie Orchard. During the mid 1920's, Stanley moved his young family to the Victorian country town of Rushworth where the 4 boys enjoyed a great country life. Stanley and Annie both worked in local retailers so employed a nanny to look after the boys. Fishing was one of the favorite pastimes of the Orchard boys. Exploring old gold mines was always an adventure, much to the distress of their parents. Joining the local Scout troop helped to vent much of their adventurous enthusiasm.  

In the early 1930's Stanley moved his family to Geelong about 70 km west of Melbourne. They settled into a house overlooking Eastern Beach. Stanley joined the Geelong Council and was an esteemed Councillor for over 30 years. He bought a Printing and Stationery Business. Annie was a golfer scoring a hole in one on one round which she boasted for the rest of her life. Gordon's keen mathematical skills won him a scholarship to Geelong Grammar School. He was also an enthusiastic athlete and cricketer. All 4 Orchard boys attended Geelong Grammar School and all were eventually employed by their father in his printing business. Gordon became the Company Secretary.     

Basic training at Narromine, New South Wales, 1940  

Gordon was posted to Bradfield Park, Sydney, for ITS and then basic training Course No.5 EFTS Narromine. He then embarked for Canada on 22/2/1941, Disembarked Vancouver 16/3/41 and crossed the mighty Canadian Rockies via train which took him to 1 SFTS Camp Borden, Ontario. After graduating and being awarded his wings, Gordon then embarked for UK on 16/7/41. He then joined the many trainees in the RAF Pool until posting to 52 OTU Aston Down 23/8/41 and then 11 OTU Bassingbourn on 14/10/41. Practice bombing was common during training and one such city, Peterborough, had its fair share. Just south of Peterborough is a small village of Yaxley which had been volunteered to accept evacuee children from London. Unbeknown to Gordon whilst practicing over Peterborough, Yaxley and surrounds there was a young evacuee by the name of Eric Downs enjoying his stay on a farm near Yaxley. Eric would soon join the RAF as an engine fitter and serve with 20 Squadron RAF as part of the Allied Occupational Forces. He was based at an ex-Luftwaffe airfield renamed RAF Jever, 12km east of Wilhelmshaven, Northern Germany. Eric was later to father a daughter, Janet,  who would eventually marry Gordon's oldest son, Roland.  

After completing his Operational Training, Gordon was crewed up with Sgts Gordon, Barry Brooke, Ray Sawyer, Gallagher & Morgan and on 27 April, 1942, flew Wellington1c DV650 'F' Freddie from Harwell to Lynham. 28th April Lynham to Gibratar. 29th April Gibraltar to Malta. 1st May Malta to Cairo. A total of 18hrs 30 mins. flying time. 17hrs 45 mins deemed operational. About a month was spent at 2 METS Kabrit obtainting valuable flying experience.

 19th June, 1942, saw Gordon's first flight with 70 Squadron RAF and after a few orientational and operational flights as a 2nd pilot, Gordon was given command of his own crew on the 1st July, 1942. Coincidently this was the same date Rommel took El Alamein.  He and his crew then went on to fly operations which included bombing Benghazi, Tobruk and numerous Landing

It was while bombing Tobruk he told the story of he and his crew looking down at the blazing city on the starboard side of the Wimpy when he glanced up to see the port wing of another aircraft flying directly above him, a little too close for comfort. What's more the wing had a big black cross on it! As this German aircraft seemed to 'glide' past, Gordon caught sight of the enemy pilot glancing over his left shoulder. So close were the two opposing aircraft, the expression of sheer terror was clearly seen on the German's face. Gordon was on the intercom giving the front turret gunner some 'advice' as to what to do with his two .303 Browning machine guns, however before the bewildered WAG had a chance to bare his guns, the night fighter had peeled off not to be seen again that evening, thank goodness.   

Still with 70 Squadron and while at LG (Landing Ground) 60 (click on this link and zoom out to get your bearings - LG 60 is approximately 100 miles west of El Alamein) the Squadron was bombed by Heinkel 111s, one being shot down by ground Anti Aircraft fire. After the all clear was given, Gordon stepped out of the tent he was using as a shelter straight into a very deep crater. Gordon had mentioned that he had thought one of the bomb blasts had seemed 'quite close' as he was hiding under his bunk. He also thanked heavens that the Germans had dropped the type of bombs that blasted deep craters rather than the ones the Squadron used which detonated cutting through and destroying the surface for yards around.  

May 5 1943 1st air test in Wellington VIII. with 458 Squadron.

GORDON'S STORY WITH 458 SQUADRON AND BEYOND TO CONTINUE ..............