About this objectPainting of Vic in Air Force uniform, with hat. Simple blue background. Framed with a wooden frame. Brass plaque attached to bottom of portraits on the frame with "432557 F/L Victor John OATES RAAF WW2 ATC".
MakerAnne Marie Ingham
Medium and MaterialsAcrylic on canvas
Subject and Association DescriptionVic Oates enlisted in Molong aged eighteen, on leaving Orange High School. He trained at Parkes and then in England. He eventually joined an RAF Squadron, with a bomber crew of three Canadians and two English air gunners. The crew was transferred to night bombing raids over Europe in Halifax Bombers.
After the war, Vic served in the Air Force Reserve and was closely involved in the Air Training Corps where he obtained the rank of Flight Lieutenant while he was Commanding Officer. Vic maintained contact with his Canadian crew and they were able to meet again in 1995. Vic died in 2007.
Dedicated to Victor John Oates
Service: RAAF ATC
Service number: O211119 (432557)
Rank: Pilot Officer / Flight Lieutenant
Date of Birth: 30 January 1924
Place of Birth: Orange NSW
Date of Enlistment: 2 January 1943
Place of Enlistment: Sydney, NSW
Locality on Enlistment: Molong, NSW
Next of Kin: Arnold Oates
Date of Discharge: May 1945