JAN GOULEVITCH
460 SQUADRON RAAF
MILITARY SERVICE DURING WORLD WAR II
21 Feb 1919 - 24 Dec 1994
Ян Гулевич (John Goulevitch)
(21.02.1919 Благовещенск, Россия – 24.12.1994 Townsville, Австралия) 20 июля
1941 г. был зачислен в Королевские Австралийские ВВС (RAAF). В конце августа
1942 г. прибыл в Шотландию, где продолжил службу в качестве летчика в 460
эскадрилье бомбардировщиков RAAF. Участвовал в налетах на Германию.
Born
at: Blagoveshschensk, Siberia on: 21 Feb 1919
Occupation:
Retired Cabinet Maker
Spouse's
Name: Julia Goulevitch (nee Bell)
Married
at: St. Christophers Ch., Albion, Brisbane, QLD on: 30 Aug 1941
Children:
John, Ian, Kay, June
Died
on: 24 Dec 1994 at RSL Nursing Home at Rowes Bay,
in Townsville
Buried
at: Belgian Gardens Cemetery, Townsville
Father:
Basil Goulevitch
Mother:
Josephine Goulevitch (nee Katsuba)
Brothers:
Albert (Ted), Felix
Sisters:
Joyce Mary, Katherine
Jan's
parent's lived in Ayr, in his early years. They lived in Standard Flats at one
stage.
Jan
played the double bass in St.
Francis's School Band in Ayr. In later years he continued to play in bands
including the Townsville RSL Band.
Jan
was a cabinet maker and carpenter. He built many homes in Ayr, Mount Isa and
Townsville. He once made coffins for Lear and Blumson Funeral Directors which
were located near the present Mansfield Hotel in Townsville. He also built his
own home at 7 Evans Street, Belgian Gardens. When he built the home it was
originally numbered as 5 Evans Street. When he died, his daughter June found
the original house plans that he used to build their home amongst his personal
papers.
John
Goulevitch often led
the Anzac Day Parade
in Townsville
John
went for a holiday to Darwin in October 1992 where he stayed with his son John
and his family.
On
6 June 1993 John advised his family that he had sold his home at 7 Evans
Street, Belgian Gardens. After selling his house, John initially moved in with
his son Ian and his family at Bushland Beach. On Tuesday 14 September 1993 he
moved to Flat 5, 104 Mitchell St., North Ward in Townsville. The people who
bought his house in Evans Street, used to visit John from time to time.
John
was due to enter a Unit at The RSL home at Pallarenda in Townsville. He fell
ill with suspected Gall Bladder problems until it was pointed out that he had
already had his Gall Bladder removed. He went into hospital on 6 Nov 1994 and
had two bad falls in hospital hurting his arms.
Jan
died in his sleep on Christmas Eve 1994. He had lost a considerable amount of
weight in recent months and was about to be shifted into the hospital or an
infirmary. He had only recently just moved into Unit 101 at the R.S.L. War
Veteran's Home at 9 Havana St., Rowes Bay,
QLD 4810.
His
Death Certificate (QLD 95/50480) states that he died on 24 Dec 1995 from
Myocardial Infarct and Bronchopneumonia.
TOWNSVILLE
DAILY BULLETIN Wednesday 28 December 1994
FUNERAL NOTICES GOULEVITCH, JOHN (JAN) (SNR), D.F.C. 414019 FLYING OFFICER,
late of R.S.L. War Veterans Home, Rowes Bay
and formerly of North Ward and Belgian Gardens. The relatives and friends of
June and Michael Horner and family, Kay and Peter Dunn and family (Brisbane),
John and Marilyn Goulevitch and family (Darwin), Ian and Margaret Goulevitch
and family, Kath and Noel Kichler and family, Ted Goulevitch and Joyce and Clem
Lesyszyn and family are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral Service of
their beloved Father, Father-in-law, Grandfather, Brother, Brother-in-law,
Uncle, and Friend, JOHN (JAN) GOULEVITCH (SNR) D.F.C., which will commence at
10 o'clock TOMORROW THURSDAY MORNING (29/12/94), at the Woongarra Crematorium
Chapel.
R.S.L. OF A. TOWNSVILLE SUB BRANCH Members of the above are respectfully
invited to attend the Funeral Service of their late Comrade-in-arms, JOHN (JAN)
GOULEVITCH (SNR.) D.F.C. 414019 Flying Officer (460 Squadron) which will
commence as above.
C. Titmarsh Sec.
BRISBANE
COURIER MAIL 30 December 1994
DEATH NOTICE GOULEVITCH, John (Jan) (Snr.) D.F.C. 414019 Flying Officer, Late
of R.S.L. War veterans Home, Rowes Bay.
In Townsville, Sunday 25th December, 1994. Cremated in Townsville, Thursday
29th December, 1994.
Fight
Sergeant Goulevitch became one of the Station's personalities and was often
seen wearing a funeral director's hat. He obtained the hat when it was left
behind on a chair in a bar. He used to take it with him in the aircraft. It was placed on a shelf
between himself and the navigator just behind his shoulder.
While with 100 Squadron (RAF) he
once discovered that his top hat was missing from his locker. After the
briefing for the next Sortie, the Commanding Officer asked "Were there any
questions?". John stood up and said that he was not going on the mission
that night. After some initial surprise, the CO asked him why. John told him
that "Some Pommy bastard had taken my lucky charm", his funeral
director's hat. The CO told him to stay behind for 10 minutes and he would get
his hat back. The CO then turned to the rest of the crews and told them
"You know what has to be done", and sure enough, he had his hat back
within 10 minutes.
A number of authors of books have
referred to John and his funeral director's hat in their books. Unfortunately
they have not obtained their information first hand and are repeating a few
things that never happened. For instance a few books have stated that he used
to wear his hat to briefings. John said that this was not the case as the hat
used to be kept in his locker with all his flying gear and this would only be
picked up after briefings. Some authors also have stated that he used to wear
the hat in the aircraft. John said that because of the hat's size and the fact
that he had to wear his flying helmet, he never wore the hat on a mission. The
following is from the book on 460 Squadron RAAF, called "Strike and Return" by
Peter Firkins:-
Goulevitch,
like most aircrew, had an eccentricity of rather an unusual nature. He had as a
good luck token an undertaker's top hat which he piously wore all through
briefing and kept on during the whole of an operation. (this is not true - see
above) When taking off he would religiously dip his lid to the control tower as
his heavily-laden bomber passed by, and when over enemy territory, if he was
forced to take any sort of evasive action, he invariably had one hand on his
hat to stop it from falling off, using the other one for what he regarded as
almost the less important task of flying the bomber
Jan (John) Goulevitch back in the cockpit
of "G" for George
on 1 April 1985
Jan
Goulevitch flew "G" for George on a
bombing mission over
"G" for George has been
progressively restored on the inside over recent years, and John was able to
assist with the proper location of fittings, etc. in the aircraft. John's name is shown on an Honour
Board of "G" for George
pilots. This board is on display in front of the aircraft.
He is also mentioned in a small
booklet produced by the Australian War Memorial. The booklet also has a
photograph of him wearing his funeral
director's hat in front of a Lancaster.
"G" for George at the
Canberra War Memorial
John
and Julia Goulevitch
Anzac Day 1985
During his visit to the Australian
War Memorial on 1 April 1985, Jan Goulevitch was taken inside "G" for George and had
a number of Official photographs taken by the War Memorial's photographer. When
he sat in the pilot's seat and then put his head out of the cockpit window, he
was amazed at how high off the ground the aircraft had been.
Simon Dunn, grandson of Jan
Goulevitch, at the Canberra Memorial on 22 September 1984, pointing at his
grandfather's name on the Memorial Board in front of the famous Lancaster "G" for George
Источник: http://www.ozatwar.com/goolie.htm