Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Geoffrey Jonathan Oakeshott was born on April 20, 1922, in St Peters, South Australia. He lived at 40 Hauteville Terrace, Eastwood and Geoffrey had a brother named Horace Oakeshott. At the time of his enlistment, he was single. Prior to enlisting, Geoffrey worked as a Clerk for the South Australian Gas Company. 

At the time of enlistment, he was 19 years and 1 month old, stood 5 feet 7 and a half inches tall, weighed 130 pounds, had a chest measurement of 34 inches, fair complexion, brown hair, blue eyes, and carried a distinctive scar on his right breast from birth. His religious denomination was the Church of England, and he was a British subject.

Geoffrey enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) on May 24, 1941. He was appointed to No. 1 Training School at Somers. After completing initial training, he embarked from Australia for England on May 16, 1942, arriving in the UK on August 15, 1942. Geoffrey was assigned to No. 460 Squadron, RAAF, and was most proficient at flying the Lancaster bomber. 

No. 460 Squadron was formed at Molesworth in the United Kingdom on November 15, 1941, as part of the Royal Air Force's Bomber Command. The squadron was heavily engaged in strategic bombing against Germany, Italy, and Nazi-occupied Europe, operating from airfields at Molesworth, Breighton, and Binbrook.

He was later posted to No. 7 Group Headquarters in 1944. No. 7 Group was responsible for controlling the Heavy Conversion Units, which trained aircrews to operate heavy bombers like the Lancaster. This training was necessary for preparing crews before they joined operational bomber squadrons.

He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on probation on October 23, 1943, promoted to Flying Officer on April 23, 1944, and to Flight Lieutenant on October 23, 1945. For his excellent service, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal on December 7, 1943, recognizing his many successful operations against the enemy and demonstrating high skill and devotion—"Flight Sergeant Oakeshott has completed many successful operations against the enemy in which he has displayed high skill, fortitude and devotion to duty.”—  During the war, Geoffrey was admitted to Anbridge Isolation Hospital from February 18, 1945, and discharged on March 5, 1945. He was also married while in the UK to "Miss A. G. Oakeshott" on 1st July 1944.

After the war, Geoffrey embarked from England for Australia on September 17, 1945, and disembarked in Australia on October 17, 1945 Upon his return, he was granted 39 days leave, including 37 days of disembarkation leave and two days of travel. He was discharged from the RAAF on December 3, 1945, while posted to the 1662 Conversion Unit.