Flying Officer T.R. Millar

MY FATHER - F/O Thomas Roberts [Bob] Millar RAAF Observer 422612

104 Squadron RAF Jan-July 1944 Foggia Main and 31 Squadron SAAF Aug-Oct 1944 Celone Foggia

My RAAF father was born in Sept. 1916 in Narromine NSW Australia and later lived in Sydney, attending schools and University there. He was particularly academic and was Dux [head scholar] of his school. He married my mother in January 1942 and enlisted in May 1942, being sent overseas to Britain, via US and Canada in March 1943, just after I was born. He sailed from Pier 21, Halifax, Nova Scotia to Bournemouth, England in April 1943. Sam Marshall, a training friend of his remembered the name of the ship "Pasteur" on which they both sailed to England.

My father trained in England and Scotland and was sent to Italy early 1944 where he was with 104 RAF and later 31 SAAF taking part in the Warsaw airlifts. He was the 31 SAAF Leading Bombaimer.

His 31 SAAF Liberator bomber KH158 was posted missing while on an Italian partisan supply drop mission in October 1944. The plane and crew are still unfound.

Below is an excerpt from a letter sent to me by Sam M., the ex-RAAF training friend of my father with whom he had sailed from Pier 21. Sam was in 150 Squadron RAF based at Cerignola, Italy.

"In later April 1944 [my memory is not clear enough to be exact on dates], Bob came to visit me in hospital in Naples. The Allied landing at Anzio was supported by the 205 group. We crashed at Foggia returning from this operation, lost our pilot & rear gunner & ended my flying. Bob apparently noticed my name on the list of casualties & hence the visit. Bob was a very dear friend & I admired him greatly & was deeply sad when I learnt he was missing."

I grew up in Sydney & came to UK in 1967. I have been researching my father's wartime life and disappearance for a few years. I am still in contact with many people around the world including Polish researchers and those whose wartime airmen relatives are also missing. In April 2006 my husband and I attended a search for the Liberator in Lake Bolsena, Italy. A contact in Italy and Romagna Air Finders thought the plane might have been blown off course into the lake. The Rome based British Defence Attache' organized an underwater search with ROV cameras. Also attended by Italian officials, SA and Australian diplomats and very welcoming and helpful local people. The search ended abruptly because of an ROV cable break but, one day, may begin again if sufficient funds can be found for a diving expedition. The lake is huge so that plane could still be there but I have learned not to place too much hope on possible eventualities.

A letter my father sent to me for my first birthday is below:

1/2/44 F/O T.R.MILLAR RAAF Aus 422612 - 104 Squadron RAF CMF Italy

My Dear Daughter, This is the first time I have written to you & although you are as yet too young to read it perhaps mother will save it up until the time comes when you can read it yourself. In 2 days time it will be your first birthday anniversary - a great event for your parents. My regret is that I cannot personally be there to help you blow out your single candle but believe me lassie I will be there in spirit.

I am writing this from a place called Italy which is far away from our fair land - a place where I would not be by choice so far away separated from a wife & daughter so dear to me. But I am here, precious one, because there is a war on caused by certain people who wished to rule the world harshly & despotically, imperiling an intangible thing called democracy which your mother & I thought all decent people should fight for. You will understand as you grow up what democracy means for us & how it is an ideal way of life which we aspire to put into practice.

All I ask of you, Anne dear is that you stay as sweet as your mother & cling tight to the subtle thing we call Christianity, which has been the core of her way of life & her mother's & mine. I hope that you will love & respect me as I love & respect my father.

That's all young lady. Have a happy birthday - may they all be happy birthdays. I hope to be home again one fine day. In the meantime lots of love to you & to mother.

From Dad
Bob Millar

Editor's Note:If you knew Flying Officer T.R. Millar or have any information about him, it would be of great interest to his daughter - A. Storm. Please contact her through Pier 21 by emailing library@pier21.ca