大象传媒

PATHFINDER REMEMBERED
Result of a Book borrowed from the Lane Cove Library

Australians Flight Lieutenant Bill Neubeck and Tom, the author of the book, 鈥榁oice from the Stars a pathfinders story鈥� had been fellow Australian pilots flying with a Pathfinder Squadron in Italy during World War II. They had carried out many attacks together but on this occasion Bill did not survive. It was February 1945 and the Pathfinders lead the bombers into attack on the Italian Naval Base of Pola.
The Pathfinders flew into a terrifying concentration of exploding gunfire that damaged Tom鈥檚 aircraft but Bill Neubeck鈥檚 aircraft exploded. Flaming pieces made an awesome arc of fire as they fell into the target area below. When the battle was over the German army gathered the shattered bodies of the crew and buried them. Bill鈥檚 body had no identification discs so it lay for a long time in a grave without a name.
On page 247/8 of Tom's book 鈥榁oice from the Stars鈥� there is a graphic account of the loss of the WWII pathfinder aircraft and all but one of its crew. An anonymous reader borrowed the book from the Lane Cove Library in Sydney. Gripped by the account of the loss of the flyers, he saw the name Neubeck as the pilot who was lost with the plane. He photocopied the page and sent the copy to a woman whose brother Bill had been lost in an air battle during WWII. The family had only scant information as to what had happened.
The sister, Dorothy, lived in Canberra. She received the copy and recognised the story as being about her long lost brother. Determined to obtain the book, she made urgent phone calls to bookshops and inevitably tracked down the author. Late in the day she made contact with him in Perth. Amidst flowing tears Dorothy pleaded for a copy of the book 鈥榁oice from the Stars a Pathfinders story鈥�. And please also could Tom and his wife visit her and her husband in Canberra.
Eventually, Tom and his wife were able to spend a very fulfilling day in the Canberra home of Dorothy and her husband Des. The result of their visit has been such a joyful one. Dorothy has experienced a freedom and release about her brother鈥檚 death and also she鈥檚 been able to obtain Bill鈥檚 war medals, including his coveted award of the gilt Eagle of the Pathfinder Force of the RAF. The honour of this award has been termed by the late Group Captain Leonard Cheshire VC as next to that of his highest honour, the Victoria Cross. They have also discovered Bill鈥檚 final burial place - the War Cemetery at Udine (pronounced Oodinnay) in Northern Italy.
ELMA - BILL NEUBECK'S FIANCE has now read the book "Voice from the Stars". She has written an amazing letter to Tom the author. She gave a fascinating account of her last letter to Bill Neubeck in 1944. Bill had replied to that letter but his reply only came to Elma after she heard of Bill's tragic loss. Elma then discovered that Bill had carried her last letter in the pocket of his uniform. It was there when German soldiers eventually prepared Pathfinder Bill Neubeck's body for burial. Elma's persistence to discover the facts finally enabled her to come to peace about the loss of her fiance in 1944.
That last letter of Elma's to Bill was eventually delivered to the Australian authorities. However, to this time, the authorities have not been able to release it. Bill and Elma's very special wartime romance was highlighted in that letter and Elma still covets its return to her. It is all she has left of the man she loved.
SEQUEL - THE NAVIGATOR KEN MEPHAM
Flight Lieutenant Ken Mepham was the Navigator of Bill Neubeck鈥檚 aircraft lost in the naval base attack on February 21st 1945. Edith had been married to Ken for just a few days in 1944. Then he had to fly off to join 614 Pathfinder Squadron in Italy.
In March 1945 the RAF advised Edith, her Ken was missing and presumed killed. Edith returned to her job in a printery in wartime Britain. There she grieved alone and wondered,鈥淏ut what really happened to Ken?鈥�
Edith yearned to receive more specific information about her husband鈥檚 loss but without success. Many years went by and then she advertised for information about Ken in a newspaper. Amazingly, one person responded by sending her a copy of Tom's book, 鈥榁oice from the Stars a Pathfinders Story鈥�. The unfolding narrative gripped her as she read its pages. Her gladness and appreciation overflowed. She could picture the Pathfinders and her Ken flying with Flight lieutenant Bill Neubeck on their last operation. She and Ken had only been married for such a short time and her grief over his loss had been long. But now she had peace.

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