Flight Lieutenant Colin Keith Astbury

On 20 December 1944 nine year old Avoca school boy Neville Astbury wrote to the Melbourne Argus newspaper claiming his “Daddy is the Best Bomb-Aimer in the World”.

                                                                             Avoca
                                                                             Dec 20 1944

The Editor
The Argus
Melbourne

Dear Sir

Every week I read in the Argus Week-end Magazine the story of our Airmen and I wonder when you will tell the story of my Daddy Flight Lieutenant C.K. Astbury DFC and bar. I think my Daddy is the best Bomb Aimer in the world because he flies with Wing Commander Cheshire the world’s greatest Bomber Pilot.

I am nine years old and attend the Avoca school

Yours Truly
Neville Astbury

The Argus responded by featuring Neville’s father Colin Keith Astbury  in their pictorial feature.

"My Daddy is the Best Bomb-aimer in the World"
FLT. LIEUT. COLIN KEITH ASTBURY
As a Flying Officer he won the D.F.C. in July 1943, promoted to Flight Lieutenant he received a bar to his award in March 1944 for gallantry in operations.

This letter from a proud young Australian speaks for itself. We tell the story of Flt. Lieut. Astbury, not only for Neville, but for all other boys whose fathers are on service.

Before the war Colin Keith Astbury worked in the Victorian Railways. He enlisted in the RAAF when the German armies were marching on Paris.

Commissioned in May 1942 he won the DFC for his coolness and courage on bombing raids. “He is undeterred by danger of any kind” said his superiors.

Always ready with a quip and a joke, Astbury inspired his crew with a confidence that did much to ensure the success of operations.

However heavily the target was defended he refused to release his bombs until he was sure of a kill. His achievements won him a bar to his DFC in 1944.

His outstanding ability caused him to be selected with other Australians when the RAF attacked and destroyed the German battle ship Tirpitz.

F Lt Astbury RAAF DFC (‘Aspro’) flew a tour of 29 ops with 49 Squadron as a Bomb Aimer before volunteering for a second tour with 617 Squadron.

Keith enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in November 1940 and was sent to Canada in February 1941 for training as a bomb aimer. By September 1941, he had been posted to England to complete his instruction as a bombardier.

In April 1942, he joined No. 49 Squadron RAF, then operating Avro Manchesters from RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire. The squadron converted to Avro Lancasters in July 1942, and on 24 October that year took part in a nine-hour daylight raid on Milan, with Keith among the crew.

He completed his first tour with 49 Squadron in March 1943 and was subsequently assigned as an instructor, training bomb aimers until November 1943. Returning to operational duty in December, he joined No. 617 Squadron RAF at RAF Scampton, flying Lancasters.

While with 617 Squadron, Keith flew alongside Wing Commander Leonard Cheshire and Squadron Leader Les Munro. He completed 39 operations with the squadron, his final mission being the attack on the German battleship Tirpitz on 12 November 1944, during which he dropped a Tallboy bomb from 18,000 feet and achieved a direct hit.

For his two operational tours with RAF Bomber Command, Keith was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses. He returned to Australia in February 1945 and, after a period of rest, was posted to RAAF Headquarters at Morotai in a non-flying role. In December 1945, he was discharged from the RAAF, having completed 63 operations in Europe.

Keuth Astbury is remembered locally with a plaque on the Avoca cemetery gates.

Wikitree: Colin Keith Astbury (1911-1987)

Newsreel: RAF sinks Tirpitz