Remembering the Telegraphist Air Gunners
Remembering WWII Veteran Robert Edward Norman Geale (1925-2009)
Bob
Geale
was
a
friend
of
the
Wartime
Heritage
Association
and
was
involved
in
sharing
some
of
his
wartime
experiences,
photos
and
historical
information,
which
contributed
to
the
Association’s
wartime
theatrical
stage
musical
productions.
It
was
an
honour
to
have
known
him
and
he
will
be
remembered.
Our condolences go out to all family and friends.
From the RAN (Royal Australian Navy) Radio Mechanics Association Newsletter
# 70, December 31, 2009:
Robert
Edward
Norman
Geale,
known
affectionately
to
all
as
"Windy",
was
born
in
Welland,
Canada
on
19th
March,
1925
and
was
deceased
in
Nowra,
NSW
on
Sunday, December 6th, 2009, at age 84 years.
During
ww2
Windy
served
in
the
Royal
Navy
as
a
Telegraphist
Air
Gunner
and
maintained
his
own
airborne
radio
equipment;
as
such
he
was
a
?Radio
Mechanic.
Later, Windy married Kathleen (Kit) Ryall who was a WREN Radio Mechanic (Air).
Subsequently,
Windy
served
in
the
Royal
Canadian
Navy
Fleet
Air
Arm
and
later
still
he
joined
the
Royal
Australian
Navy
and
served
in
its
Fleet
Air
Arm.
Windy
became a Lieutenant Commander.
In recent years Windy was very active in support of the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Nowra where he was a Curator and Historian.
Windy
was
awarded
Life
Membership
of
the
Fleet
Air
Arm
Association
of
Australia
at
their
Federal
Council
Meeting
in
October,
2009
in
recognition
of
his
work.
However,
sadly,
Windy
was
not
well
enough
to
personally
accept
the
award.
Windy
had
a
wealth
of knowledge on Naval Aviation matters and was a friend to many!
A
memorial
service
for
Windy
was
conducted
at
the
Fleet
Air
Arm
Museum
on
Wednesday,
9th
December,
2009
followed
by
a
private burial service at the Cambewarra Cemetery.
Windy Geale To Be Farewelled Today
December 9, 2009
Article in The South Coast Register (Australia)
FLEET
Air
Arm
historian
and
Navy
legend
Bob
‘Windy’
Geale
will
be
officially
farewelled
at
11am
today
at
a
funeral
service
held, most appropriately, at the Fleet Air Arm Museum.
The
much
loved
and
respected
man,
who
passed
away
on
Sunday,
was
well-known
for
his
remarkable
service
to
three
navies
over
his
lifetime,
in
particular
his
voluntary
service
to
the Fleet Air Arm Museum.
Just
last
month,
on
November
13,
at
the
HMAS
Albatross
Ceremonial
Divisions
Windy
was
recognised
for
his
past
efforts
and
presented
with
a
Commander
Fleet
Air
Arm
Commendation
by
the
Reviewing
Officer,
RADM
Neil
Ralph
AO
DSC RAN (Rtd).
Commodore
Tony
Dalton
CSC,
RAN
commended
Windy’s
“tireless
and
exemplary
performance
in
his
role
as
the
Honorary
Historian to the Fleet Air Arm Museum between 1985 and 2009”.
Windy’s
forethought
and
diligence
meant
that
invaluable
research
material
remained
available
for
historians,
individuals
and
institutions seeking detailed information about the history of the Fleet Air Arm.
As a result, future generations of Australians will more fully understand the role of the Fleet Air Arm’s service to the nation.
Born
Robert
Edward
Norman
Geale
in
Ontario
on
March
19,
1925,
Windy
went
on
to
forge
a
considerable
and
significant
navy
career.
He
began
as
a
young
Canadian
Naval
Airman
2nd
Class,
who
joined
the
Royal
Navy
Volunteer
Reserve
and
graduated
in
1944
from
Number
59
Royal
Navy
Telegraph/Air
Gunners’
Course
at
HMS
St
Vincent
[He
also
spent
time
training
in
Yarmouth,
Nova
Scotia
in
Canada].
He
flew
the
Fairey
Barracuda
torpedo-bomber
from
the
carrier
HMS
Formidable
in
1946
and
over
the
next
four
years
he
also
flew
the
Firefly
and
the
Mosquito,
serving
in
Ceylon
(now
Sri
Lanka)
and
Northern
Ireland
and
flying
from
the
Royal
Navy
carriers
Colossus, Triumph and Victorious.
He
transferred
to
the
Royal
Canadian
Navy
in
1950
and
opened
the
second
chapter
of
his
flying
career,
qualifying
as
an
observer
and being promoted through to Lieutenant Commander.
The
Royal
Canadian
Navy
carriers
HMCS
Magnificent
and
HMCS
Bonaventure
were
two
of
Windy’s
ships,
as
was
HMCS
Terra
Nova
for his Bridge Watchkeeping training upon being commissioned.
The
final
chapter
in
Windy’s
flying
career
was
written
here
in
Australia
after
he
joined
the
Navy
as
a
Tracker
Tactical
Coordinator
in 1969.
He
went
on
to
be
the
Senior
Observer
on
both
851
and
816
Squadrons
(HMAS
Melbourne
II)
and
in
1978
served
as
the
Commanding Officer of 851 Squadron.
He
retired
in
1985
after
nearly
43
years
continuous
service
in
three
navies,
only
to
commence
his
voluntary
role
with
the
Fleet
Air Arm Museum with barely a break in service.
Windy Geale was held in the highest regard by everyone with whom he was associated and his reputation remains without peer.
The original article is from the South Coast Register at:
http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/news/local/news/general/windy-geale-to-be-farewelled
today/1699909.aspx?storypage=1
RADM Neil Ralph, AO DSC RAN (Rtd) & Windy Geale