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Crew:

• P/O Bob McDonald - (Pilot)

• Sgt. John Talbot - (Observer)

• P/O Jack Sharpe - (WAG) 

• Sgt. Jock Chambers - (WAG)

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Brief Service History: 

• Embarked from Sydney for Canada 17/7/1941

• Disembarked at Halifax, Canada 16/8/1941.

• Trained in  Montreal, Canada under the Empire  Air Training( EATS).

• Embarked for the United Kingdom 1/5/1942.

• Disembarked in the UK 13/5/1942.

• Served with the RAAF 459 squadron mainly on Hudson and Anson Ventura aircraft.

• According to his log book, Joffre  participated in 78 sorties involving 435 flying hours in the air. 

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Abbreviated Biography - (Transcribed by his son Tony Chambers):

Joffre Thomas Chambers was born on 15/4/1916 at “Wrightville” N.S.W. This village no longer exists, it was located about 10 miles from Cobar. Moved with family to Tabulam in 1917. Remained at Tabulam until about 1926 when I was sent to Sydney to attend Canterbury High School. Attended this school until 1929 when I was sent to Casino High School for another year.

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On leaving school in 1930 I looked for work however, it being in the middle of the depression I could not find any despite looking in the country, Sydney and Brisbane. In 1936 I returned home to my parents place who were now located in Deepwater. I obtained a job in the store at 12/6 per week and supplemented by income working all night, every night at the local telephone exchange.

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I married a Deepwater girl MURIEL ISABEL SHARPE in 1939, by then World War II was raging and Australia became threatened. In 1940 I joined the R.A.A.F as a trainee wireless operator air-gunner.

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After a few months initial training in Australia I was sent to Canada to finish my training under the “Empire Air Training Scheme”. Most of my training was at Montreal. On graduating I served in Great Britain, West Africa and Middle East. Returned home in 1945 a few months before war ended.

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After discharge I returned to work in the Post Office at Armidale and was later transferred to Sydney where I eventually retired in 1981. In 1987 we moved to a retirement village in Narrabeen.

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Early Entries in Service Diary (Sydney to Balboa) - (Transcribed by his son Tony Chambers):

Leaving Australia:Thursday 17/7/1941

Arose early and we filed into double decker buses which transported us from Embarkation Depot
Lindfield, N.S.W. , Australia to the wharf where we boarded the Dutch ship –JOHAN VAN
OLDENBARNEVELT.
Passed through Sydney Heads at midday.
Had first meal at sea which was terrible. Although a nice big ship it was filthy. Calm sea till night fall,
but then it started to get choppy, never the less slept soundly.

 
Friday 18/7/1941
Beautiful day and lounged in the sun all day. Meals rotten.
Across The Tasman

Saturday 19/7/1941
Awoke to find hell of a rough sea. Escorted by HMAS Adelaide.

Sunday 20/7/1941
Call day today meals getting worse if possible. Received parcel of comforts.

Monday 20/7/1941
On guard duty last night and it blew and rained like hell, but I never saw any submarines etc.
We travelled in a complete black out.  Sighted land early in the morning and during the day we sailed
along the coast of NEW ZEALAND. Passing through a mass of islands. Sailed into Auckland harbour  
and birthed a Auckland at 5:30 pm.
Transferred to a beautiful ship called DOMINION MONARCH. Granted leave and toured Auckland –
not bad.

Tuesday 21/7/1941
Picked up New Zealand airmen and pulled out at 6:30 am. We have now two escorts – PRINCE
RUPERT & THE MONOWAI.
Meals fit for a king.

Wednesday 22/7/1941
Don’t know our destination but beautiful day, calm sea.

Thursday 23/7/1941
Been at sea for 7 days. Receiving lectures & boat drill. Beautiful day – Pacific very calm.
PACIFIC OCEAN

Friday 25/7/1941
Our escort has now left us and we sail alone. Saw a few sharks today.
This is our second Friday 25/7/1941. We have just crossed the international date line. Strenuous boat
drill. Still sailing South East – getting very cold.

Saturday 26/7/1941
Now six day out of Auckland – very cold.

Sunday 27/7/1941
Sea still calm.

Monday 28/7/1941
The boys put on a concert last night, Very cold but now have changed course to due E.

Tuesday 29/7/1941
Still sailing East, I was on guard last night but inside ship.

Wednesday 30/7/1941
Sailing north now.

Thursday 31/7/1941
First glimpse of sun today for quite a while.

Friday 1/8/1941
Sea & more sea.

Saturday 2/8/1941
Much warmer.

Sunday 3/8/1941
Concert last night – very good.  Slept in sun all today.

Monday 4/8/1941
Saw swarms of flying fish today.

Tuesday 5/8/1941
Very warm – crossed equator, saw strange sea birds.
BALBOA

Wednesday 6/8/1941
HOORAY – first sight of land today for 17 days.
After sailing down west coast of North America we pulled into BALBOA at mouth of Panama Canal.
Saw PANAMA CITY at a distance.
No leave but had good view from ship. Strange town, mostly machinery everywhere. much warmer.