‘Proud Tasmanian’: war hero, tourism visionary Brian Winspear passes away aged 104
The family of Brian Winspear says the WWII veteran will be remembered as a war hero, celebrated tourism pioneer and proud Tasmanian as the Rockliff government consider a state funeral. TRIBUTES >>
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The family of Brian Winspear says the WWII veteran will be remembered as a war hero, celebrated tourism pioneer, and proud Tasmanian, following his passing aged 104.
Mr Winspear AM, a former air force pilot, navigator, and gunner who survived the Japanese bombing raids on Darwin in 1942, died peacefully in Hobart over the Anzac Day weekend.
As the Rockliff government considers honouring Tasmania’s oldest war veteran with a State Funeral, family members paid tribute to the man born Roger Brian Winspear in Burnie in 1920.
“Brian was the last aircrew survivor of the bombing of Darwin and is thought to have been Tasmania’s oldest veteran and possibly the last survivor of the Pacific theatre of war,” loved ones told the Mercury.
“Brian was well known for his business enterprises, almost single-handedly putting Bicheno on the tourist map.
“He was the managing director of Innkeepers, and most famous for the Silver Sands resort at Bicheno and for the renovation of the Lenna Hotel.
“In 1993, he received an Order of Australia for his services to Tourism and Hospitality.
“Brian remained active in the community. He will be sorely missed.”
A spokesperson for the Tasmanian government confirmed it was engaging with the Royal Australian Air Force and Mr Winspear’s family on appropriate arrangements for the veteran’s farewell.
Mr Winspear enlisted in the air force pilot in 1940 at the age of 19, and was eventually deployed to Darwin from Victoria on the same day Pearl Harbour was bombed by the Japanese.
Earlier this year, ahead of his attendance at a war commemoration event in Ross, Mr Winspear told the Mercury about his experiences of the 200 hours he spent flying Diane, one of the planes of the No.12 Squadron.
“There were 12 planes all flying vertically, and they couldn’t see the targets so between the pilots’ legs there was a trap door and you could look down at the bombing,” he said.
In 2022, after flying to the Northern Territory as the guest of honour at an 80th anniversary commemoration of the Japanese raids on Darwin, the then-101-year-old said he still had vivid memories of the attack, during which he suffered shrapnel injuries to his hands and eye.
“We were in a trench, about fifty yards from the aerodrome and you could see the Japanese in their cockpits,” the veteran said.
“I looked up and the sun glinted on the bombs as they were falling, and it was just like confetti.
“They started bombing the hell out of the aerodrome and the bay.
“They sank about 12 ships, it was a pretty scary time.”
After the being discharged from the RAAF in November 1945 and retuning to Tasmania, Mr Winspear moved to Bicheno to establish a retail business, and was awarded an Order of Australia for his service to tourism and the community for his work in the motel and fishing industries.
Five years ago, along with all other living Australian WWII veterans, Mr Winspear was awarded a Commemorative Medallion and Certificate of Commemoration to mark the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific Day.
After receiving the award, Mr Winspear told the Mercury that his new medal would be treasured because “all my efforts for five years in the air force have finally been recognised.” “I was very crabby because I received another medal by the president of the United States for what the 2 and 13 squadrons did in Darwin and the Australian government did nothing,” the veteran said.
Originally published as ‘Proud Tasmanian’: war hero, tourism visionary Brian Winspear passes away aged 104
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