Photograph kindly made available by Bill Sykes - thanks Bill. Comments are always welcome - send them to Eddy Norris at orafs11@gmail.com Ref. Rhodesian Air Force, ORAFs

Tommy Haddon (LRDG) WW2 Rogues Gallery SARGE READING IS GOING WALTZING WITH MATLIDA Alan \"Sarge\" Readings is spending 5 weeks in Perth and is very keen to have a few beers with as many of his old ORAF shamwaris. Flew out today till 27th Feb 2014....Roll up, Roll up. Contact on christinemcarthy@yahoo.co.uk FORD AND THE B- 24\'S Compliments of Dick Warton (RhArmy) - Thanks Dick NOW YOU WILL KNOW---\"THE REST OF THE STORY\"----AND WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THAT WE COULD DO THIS TODAY!!!! Bet you didn\'t know Ford had its own pilots to test the B-24 Liberators it was building for the ARMY at the rate of one every 55 MINUTES!! A little bit of history for aviation buffs. This was BEFORE Pearl Harbor ! Ford \'s B-24 Bomber Plant at Willow Run, Mich . Henry Ford was determined that he could mass produce bombers just as he had done with cars. He built the Willow Run assembly plant and proved it. It was the world \'s largest building under one roof. This film will absolutely blow you away - one B-24 every 55 minutes. ADOLF HITLER HAD NO IDEA THE U.S. WAS CAPABLE OF THIS! Visit http://www.youtube.com/embed/iKlt6rNciTo?rel=0 FRANK TYRRELL AND BARNEY BARNARD LUNCHEON Mark Jackson Writes:- Those are great photos of Frank and Barney. Next week, the 28th January will be the 40th year anniversary of 32 LAR’s signing up. Time really has flown by. I wonder how many of us are still in aviation. I started my shop in Nelspruit after leaving 7 Sqn and am still there. (Leading Edge Aviation). I’m still in touch with Tom Willows who runs a maintenance facility of his own. I’m based at Stellenbosch Airfield with my Huey (ZS-HLA) on fire-fighting duty until the 1st May, so anyone who is visiting these parts is please pop in and visit me. The flying club has good food and plenty of ice-cold draught beer! I’m here until the 1st May when we fly back to our home base of Nelspruit. Regards and best wishes to the 32 LAR chaps, Refer http://rhodesianforcesreunions.blogspot.com/2014/01/frank-tyrrell-and-barney-barnard.html GOOD SHOW AWARD Geoff Dartnall (RhAF) Writes:- Thanks for the memory! The \"Good Show\" was accurate as far as it went but did not cover the whole story. Mike and I were taking an Alo, carrying jacks and other ground equipment to Rhotair at Charles Prince for a major service, when we heard a civilian a/c report a possible engine fire. Salisbury Control offered them immediate clearance to land. For some inexplicable reason they refused and chose to continue to their destination at C.Prince. Mike then joined discussion and said he would follow them. Within minutes, the civvy reported a worsening of their condition and said they were going to attempt a landing at the Gliding Club strip at Tynwald. Mike immediately said that he would follow thin and altered course accordingly. When we arrived at the GC strip we found the civvy, twin engine 10 or 12 seater, flat on its belly having knocked off the u/c in a ditch short of the runway. There had been a grass fire, caused by the a/c around and under the stbd wing. I tried to put out the odd sparks and small flames with the Alo\'s fire extinguisher whilst I was running around the wing to get to the a/c door. It didn\'t work! We then found that their was no-.one inside the a/c. Then we heard shouting coming from about 300 metres away down the strip. The crew had obviously put as much distance as possible between them and the a/c as quickly as possible. In light of future events, this was a good move. When they got back to us we could see that they had superficial burns to their hands and faces from when they ran thru\' the fire around the stbd wing. I offloaded all the ground equipment to make room for them, got them aboard and prepared for take off. Mike was renowned for being meticulous and the 2 patients were obviously agitated at the time it was taking to get airborne. Despite that , they were still at Andrew Fleming with a team waiting for them in 15 minutes. Not bad- from crash to hospital in less than 30 minutes. Having dropped them off, we returned to the crash site to collect our equipment. The sight that greeted us proved how lucky we had been when we went rushing up to the crash. The a/c was a flattened pile of aluminum ash with only the fin and props being above waist height. It must have exploded whilst we were airborne. My fire extinguisher failed to work because the pivot pin for the handle had worked loose. I have no idea how. The crew\'s gratitude for the rapid recovery was less than enthusiastic. A grudging letter of thanks was eventually received by OC 7 some 3 weeks later and only after the head man at the Rhodesian Civil Aviation Authority,( I think that is what they were called) whose senior instructor was in the crashed a/c, instructed him to send one. Refer http://www.ourstory.com/thread.html?t=344139&comments=1 REFUELLING THE ALOUETTE 3 Erik Eilertsen (Signals) Writes:- In 2006 I was involved with a Helicopter company in Cape Town who had bought some HF radios for installation in some HUEY aircraft (reconditioned Vietnam era aircraft). I had to go there to oversee the installations (they worked first time after the intervention of a Rhodesian signaller!). I won\'t go into the details of it but suffice to say that the job was being approached incorrectly for the radio type. While I was there they learned that I had served in Rhodesia and in the course of conversation they took me to a Rhodesian HUEY that they had somehow obtained and they showed me the modification that you discuss in the article. These guys were not only helicopter technicians they were enthusiasts. They lived and breathed helicopters but they were truly, truly impressed by this pump – which I am sure is exactly the same mod that was used on the Alouettes. It surprised me that they should be so impressed and not have been aware of what was ultimately a very logical answer to a tactical need. They discussed several other innovations that they said they had seen on ex-RhAF equipment and were most complimentary in that regard. We, the Rhodesians, were the inventors of the mine protected vehicles and many other innovations large and small. From time to time one still comes across, or applies tricks, from Rhodesian days that surprise people when they see them for the first time. John Pringle (RhAF) Writes:- Methinks that genius was possibly Sandy Steel, but I could be wrong. Wobble (kamina – kawena) pumps and 44 gallon drums stirred some memories.... I never managed the great heights of Alouettes, but did spend plenty of time refuelling Trojans. We would head for the aircraft while rolling the drum at high speed. Just at the crucial moment, one leant down and with a deft flick of the wrist, jerk the drum upright and to a dead halt right underneath the wing requiring fuel. To the best of my knowledge, none of us ever did any damage. Well, no damage until my particular episode, many years later... I was then a WO, dug out of 1GTS, doing my regular two week stint as Tech Officer on a FAF. Eager to set high standards and to prove that even WOs can do the odd job, I enthusiastically got involved and propelled a 44 gallon drum towards a Lynx. I leant down and with a deft flick of my wrist created an eye-watering pain down my back, accompanied by an audible (to me) internal tearing sound... Somehow, I steadfastly stood there while the Lynx Tech (Jungs Forrester, I think) organised the putt-putt and refuelled. I don’t think he or anyone else noticed my clenched teeth, watering eyes or the silly grin on my dial... I got through that evening fortified only by the fine fare in the FAF bar. To this day I am regularly reminded by my back of that piece of stupidity and often repeat the story when remonstrating youngsters to avoid the temptation of showing off or being a smart-@rse. Mike Hamence (RhAF) Writes:- It was probably Brian Stead; \'Terence Henry\' would pass the buck on that kind of job. But we did have a brilliant TF in QA whose name eludes me. THE SOLDIERS BURDEN By Mike Hamence (RhAF) I read that one with interest since I have the book, \'Mimi & Toutou\'s Big Adventure\' - The Bizarre Battle of Lake Tanganyika by Giles Foden.* \'Mimi\' and \'Toutou\' were mahogany-hulled gunboats sent to Lake Tanganyika from England via Cape Town during WW1 to engage the intimidating German steamers on the lake. This incredible feat inspired the film \'African Queen\'. The two boats went by rail to Fungurume in the then Belgian Congo, where Rhodes\' Cape to Cairo railway dream ended, man-hauled overland and by river to the lake. * Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 2005. ISBN 1-4000-4157-0. The movie \'African Queen\' inspired Thornhill\'s No 1 Sqn\'s entry into the 1968 \'Gwelo River Boat Race\' which was held on White Waters Dam. 1 Sqn\'s boat was called \'The African Cow\'... Two single bedsteads bolted together, on inflated Canberra tyre inner tubes. The canopy was hessian supported by broom poles. The crew: Aubrey Staples, Leon Andrews, Myself & two others whose name escape me. Visit http://www.ourstory.com/thread.html?t=323811&comments=1 to read an account of the race and view a few photographs of the \'boat\' TRIBUTES TO JIM LIGHT Can be viewed/read at Visit http://www.ourstory.com/thread.html?t=1122551&comments=1 please scroll to and read the comments. HALTON AND ROGUES GALLERY Brian Goodwin Writes:- Just reading your latest newsletter I noticed the remarks about various Entries at Halton being mentioned. Just a reminder that the 76th Entry celebrated its 60th birthday this month. notable members of this entry from Rhodesia who I remember well are Derek Utton and Bernie Emms, also I believe there were a few others. Changing the subject, I don\'t think I ever made it into your Rogues Gallery, perhaps direct entry types don\'t qualify, or is it just that I was not Rogue-ish enough! No offence taken, Brian (Crack-One) Goodwin. Ex 76 Halton , Ex R.A.F. Secondment 1958-1960, ex Direct Entry 1970-1981. (A little unfair Brian, there has never been a difference to Regulars, be it via LAR , SSU, PTC, Direct Entry, TF, RWS or VR to ORAFs - all wore the same uniform. Also mention was made of 76 Entry as a reminder on December 01 - pity no one picked that error up. All records changed to November 19 on ORAFs. Eddy Norris Derek Utton Writes:- With reference to Halton Apprentices . I was a member of the 76th entry which joined Halton on the 19th January 1954, it was our 60th anniversary of joining 2days ago. The last remaining Rhodesian apprentices from the 76th entry apart from myself are Bernie Emms in Canada and Tony Whitten in California USA (All Halton), and John Robertson, still in Zim ( Locking). An Entry reunion is planned for October 2014 in Cardiff ,which I hope to attend. Regards Derek Utton 76th Entry Halton VIDEO/S YOU MIGHT ENJOY Now that\'s a toy Howard Parker (RhAF) recommends Quite amazing just watching the clip. Visit http://www.flixxy.com/huge-remote-controlled-airbus-a380.htm?utm_source=nl Darryl Burlin (RhAF) Recommends A380 Approach to San Francisco Visit Http://www.flixxy.com/pilots-view-of-airbus-a380-approach-and-landing-at-San-Francisco.htm PHOTOS - THANKS Bill Wardhaugh (RhAF) Writes:- I just wanted to say thanks to all the people who send in photos to the ORAFS and Umtali Folk sites .. we do really appreciate them. The Alouette at Sundown at Mana Pools and the Antarctica ones are great. We find John Britton’s photos very interesting indeed. We loved the Beira / Moz photos taken a while ago which shows just how things have changed over time. Until next time. (Thanks Bill - so many folk support us with wonderful stories and photographs but be assured there are still many out there lying in the closets. The Mossie Gary Fonternel (RhAF) Writes: The Mosquito was flown in WW II by a few Rhodesians. But besides this, it\'s a beautiful and incredible aeroplane. I thought you\'d like to include the link to this YouTube video for the ORAFS boys and girls to view as I am sure they will appreciate it! Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ha8h5Pfy_s REMINDERS Grand Get-Together in Cape Town in February 2014 Time is getting short - let John and Tony know if your coming or not. AFA (Cape) Monthly Braai First Friday evening of each month. Contact Johnny Ness and or Tony Cowell for details AFA (Gauteng) Monthly Prayer Meeting First Saturday afternoon of the month at Dickie Fritz Shellhole. Contact Cheryl Grover for details AFA (Natal) Social First Friday evening of each month. Contact Neville Mare (RhAF) for details SMILE A WHILE Ralph and Edna were both patients in a mental hospital. One day while they were walking past the hospital swimming pool, Ralph suddenly jumped into the deep end. He sank to the bottom of the pool and stayed there. Edna promptly jumped in to save him. She swam to the bottom and pulled him out. When the Head Nurse Director became aware of Edna\'s heroic act she immediately ordered her to be discharged from the hospital, as she now considered her to be mentally stable. When she went to tell Edna the news she said, \'Edna, I have good news and bad news. The good news is you\'re being discharged, since you were able to rationally respond to a crisis by jumping in and saving the life of the person you love... I have concluded that your act displays sound mindedness. The bad news is, Ralph hung himself in the bathroom with his bathrobe belt right after you saved him. I am so sorry, but he\'s dead.\' Edna replied, \'He didn\'t hang himself, I put him there to dry.How soon can I go home?\' \"At a Car Dealership: \"The best way to get back on your feet - miss a car payment.\" End of Newsletter Comments are always welcome - send them to Eddy Norris at orafs11@gmail.com Ref. Rhodesian Air Force, ORAFs

Unknown RAR Member Rogues Gallery CARGOMAN PHOTOGRAPH Mike Daly Writes:- Response as a result of the photograph being circulated to ORAFs. Anyone know where Richard Hayes is now He was at PE with me and also in the Air Cadets. The last I heard he was in Hong Kong. He also flew for Air Rhodesia when I worked there. If you can assist Mike please mail him at dunsandl@iafrica.com Chris Higginson Writes:- Thanks for the picture, but which one is the chimp? Dave Hann (RhAF) Writes:- All I can say is that Jack provided the FE\'s (Flight Engineer\'s) with good quality fur coats. MOSQUITO - BORNE DISEASES I am a specialist in mosquito-borne diseases. I am interested in the history of malaria at altitude in sub-Saharan Africa. I would be very grateful to get in touch with anyone who has information on the disease in Harare (Salisbury) around the time it was founded at the end of the 19th century. I am writing a book on this theme; any contributions will be clearly acknowledged. Kindest regards Paul Reiter, MPhil, DPhil, FRES Please contact Paul direct on paul.reiter@pasteur.fr BETRAYED WAR HEROE FORCED TO LEAVE UK Please visit http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2547043/Betrayed-Gulf-War-hero-forced-leave-UK-Soldiers-Canadian-wife-three-children-told-no-longer-military.html to read the entire article AIRCRAFT INCIDENT Gordon Hall (Air Rhodesia) writes on behalf of Doctor Dave that was stationed at the Wankie Colliery Reading that ORAFs material brought to mind a question that has occupied the back of my mind for many years – perhaps you have a way of finding an answer. I was stationed at Wankie Hospital from Feb.1969 to March 1971 and there was a fair bit happening at the time. Sometime during that period an airforce plane went down somewhere in the vicinity – it could have been in the game reserve. There were a couple of crew members who were brought into the hospital but none of them was seriously injured. It was one of those jet aircraft of the time and I wonder if you can tell all these years later what the aircraft was and what went wrong. I can remember the pilot being a bit apprehensive about what was to come after having written the plane off. Nobody was going to talk about it at the time. If you can assist Dr. Dave please mail Gordon at josh2@telkomsa.net and please copy ORAFs at orafs11@gmail.com ADVERTISEMENT - THE LAKE VIEW INN- KARIBA Andy Walker (TF - AFV intake 1974 -1975. ) Writes I remember the Lake View Inn so well. I was at the Kariba FAF in 1975 and once a week there were movies shown on the Lake View\'s verandah and there was a disco by the pool on Friday nights. The guy who ran the disco was also the captain of the hydrofoil ferry as I recall. I used to get quite hairy driving back to camp at night as there were often elephants crossing the dark road. Refer http://rhodesianadvertisements.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-lake-view-inn-kariba.html ABF TO AFRICA Terry Bennett (RhAF) Writes:- My trip to RSA/Zim is finalsed. Cape Town 6 to 11 Feb. (I wonder why!!) Jo’burg 11 to 17 Feb . Harare/Goromanzi 17 to 24 Feb. Look forward to seeing you and many others. (Enjoy the holiday Terry. Eddy Norris) MILITARY PENSIONS Julie Denham (Rhodesian Women\'s Services) Writes:- I heard that ex Military Rhodies were getting pensions paid out monthly. Do you have any information on this or can you steer me in the right direction to get some info. If anyone has information to share with Julie please mail her direct on julied@webmail.co.za REFUELLING THE ALOUETTE 3 Dave Jenkins (RhAF) Writes:- This mod must have come in after 78, as I left in January 79, and we were still using the old “putt putt’s”. Refer http://www.ourstory.com/thread.html? t=1122935&comments=1 VIDEO/S YOU MIGHT ENJOY Bill Teague (SAAF and RCAF) recommends A journalist and his typewriter Visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25970267 32 LAR ANNIVERSARY Graham Patterson (RhAF) Writes:- 32 LAR Anniversary – 40 Years, where did it go. Good to see a few of our numerous Old Boys from 32 LAR have communicated recently Best regards to all, remembering those who have Passed On especially our course mate Rob Nelson who lost his life during the Bush War See http://www.ourstory.com/thread.html?t=379383&comments=1 ROYAL MARINE WINS MILITARY MEDAL Dave Jenkins (RhAF) Writes:- Very proud of this lads bravery. He and his elder brother were at school with my son Brian, and we knew his folks well. They farmed not far from us. Sadly their dad was killed in a road accident at Mt Hamden. [collided with a train on the crossing at Mt Hamden]. However, Don, I am sure was watching from above. Lesley Cliffe (Umtali) Writes:- Craig\'s Dad was Don Buchanan and his Mum is Barbs ( nee Christian) - both of whom went to the Umtali High Schools and farmed at Odzi when they first got married, so he is a local boy for sure!!! We are VERY proud of him and happy to be related too!! Joe Holmes (UBHS) Writes:- just to add a snippet to it – his late dad was Don Buchanan, an old boy of Umtali Boys High! Refer http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Westcountry-based-Royal-Marine-receives-Military/story-20495347-detail/story.html#ixzz2rh8aZVHC REMINDERS Grand Get-Together in Cape Town in February 2014 Time is getting short - let John and Tony know if your coming or not. AFA (Cape) Monthly Braai First Friday evening of each month. Contact Johnny Ness and or Tony Cowell for details AFA (Gauteng) Monthly Prayer Meeting First Saturday afternoon of the month at Dickie Fritz Shellhole. Contact Cheryl Grover for details AFA (Natal) Social First Friday evening of each month. Contact Neville Mare (RhAF) for details SMILE A WHILE Woman buys a new Sim Card. Puts it in her phone and decides to surprise her husband who is seated on the couch in the Living room. She goes to the kitchen, calls her husband with the new number: \"Hello Darling.\" The husband responds in a low tone: \"Let me call you back later Honey, the stupid woman is in the kitchen \"In the front yard of a Funeral Home: \"Drive carefully. We\'ll wait.\" End of Newsletter Comments are always welcome - send them to Eddy Norris at orafs11@gmail.net Ref. Rhodesia

39 LAR photo

Campbell I.M. (4RR) Rogues Gallery AIRCRAFT INCIDENT FOR DOCTOR DAVE Ken Edwards (RhAF) Writes:- I retired from the Rhodesian Air Force in 1979 as an Air Commodore. I think the event was when a Canberra ran out of fuel and the crew had to abandon the aircraft. They were on an exercise that I had planned when I was D.G. Ops. They were operating out of New Sarum to Wankie on a simulated bombing run I think. Somehow they got uncertain of their position. I was called to the control tower at Wankie and tried to help them with their predicament. We were not sure if they had overshot Wankie and were over Zambia so they were told to turn South They bailed out when the aircraft ran out of fuel. I could clearly hear the buffeting when they got rid of the canopy. We got a report that someone at Main Camp had seen red flares which was set off by one of the crew who were eventually picked up. Even though it was the Navigators responsibility to keep track of their position the captain of the aircraft was court marshalled, I think it was Polly Postance. Another issue was that this aircraft was the only Canberra with a new frame 21 ? Canberras had to be restricted to a low “G” factor because of the Frames limited life as evident when Roughhead and his navigator were killed after take off at New Sarum. It is a long time ago so some of my may be a bit sketchy, I am sure there are other s out there who could elaborate. Vic Wightman (RhAF) Writes:- That was probably Jim Stagman and David Postance who, while flying in appalling thunderstorm weather in a Canberra B2, became unsure of their position (in retrospect their position was probably pretty bloody desperate) and abandoned the aircraft when they ran out of fuel. John Andrews (BSAP) Writes:- I might be completely wrong but I seem to remember it was a Canberra that ran out of fuel on a training flight and the pilot was Dave Parsons who was later an Air Zim pilot. Bill Sykes (RhAF) Writes:- Herewith the excerpt from \'A Pride of Eagles\'... If you want more of the story come back to me... Let\'s see if anyone else writes in. During Operation Irish Stew, in October, Air Lieutenant Jim Stagman (pilot) and Flight Lieutenant Dave Postance (navigator) ejected from their Canberra over Wankie National Park. The trouble began just about dusk when they entered a line of storm clouds, unusual at that time of year. They experienced repeated flame-outs and re-lights each of which meant taking the aircraft to lower altitudes and then climbing again. During these emergencies, they made several changes in course, so that eventually they were unsure of their position and ran out of fuel. A Dakota from No 3 Squadron and aircraft from Nos 2 and 4 Squadrons were involved in the search and rescue and the crew were picked up early the following morning south of Victoria Falls, having spent a very uncomfortable night amongst the only too audible wildlife of the Park. George Wrigley (RhAF) Writes:- The aircraft that went down was a Canberra bomber and the accident was reported by games department staff at Robin’s Camp, who heard an explosion. The pilot was Jim Stagman and the navigator was Dave Postance. I believe that the aircraft was on a night cross country training flight but am not sure why it went down. At the time I was an instructor on the piston Provost and was busy conducting some night flying refresher training for one our qualified pilots at Wankie airfield. We had just completed a couple of circuits when we were called to fly to the area where the explosion had been heard. We flew to the location and was attracted by a bush fire set off by the aircraft crash near a long vlei running north south that could be clearly seen in the moonlight conditions. However, despite circling over the area for over an hour before we had to return to base, there was no evidence that anyone had survived the accident. The next day I was asked to guide the pilots of an Air force DC3 that had been sent to the Wankie airfield and shortly after arriving overhead the vlei, we soon saw both the pilot and navigator, who were later picked up by helicopter. When I had a chance to speak to Dave Postance, the navigator, he informed me that while we had circled overhead the area the previous night, it had disturbed a pride of lions and driven them towards his position. Apparently this had made it difficult for him to get a decent night’s sleep. I believe that the pilot, Jim Satgman, went on to fly for the Emirates and shortly after, Dave fulfilled his ambition to become a pilot and flew for Air Rhodesia and eventually ended up flying for Qantas Airlines. I am sorry that I can’t give you more details but no doubt there others who may be able to shed more light on the matter. KEN DE GOVEIA NEWS No further news on how Ken is doing remember he is tough little bugger so will be back on his feet in the blink of an eye. IMPALA ELECTRONICS Rob Picton (INTAF) Writes:- Thanks to you and Phil Tither for the Impala Electronics article - a great read, and interesting to have some of the blanks filled in on how the graft was done on the ground. Mike Hamence (RhAF) Writes:- See also: \'Don\'t Let\'s Go To The Dogs Tonight\', book by Alexandra Fuller. Nick Baalbergen (INTAF) Writes:- Most Rhodesians who served in rural areas will remember the superb \'Agic Alert\' system. This personal account records a little know part of the Agric Alert story - good material! Refer to http://rhodesianheritage.blogspot.com/2014/02/impala-electronics.html for the complete article and comments IAN HENDERSON \"ANGEL\" Some friends alerted me to some new postings in ORAF regarding the late Flt Lt Ian Henderson in mid January. This in turn reminded me of a short verse written specifically for Ian not long after he died in 2008. It’s written from a soldier’s perspective and may ring bells for some of your followers. It’s called “Angel” and I leave it to you to use, or not, as you see fit. Best regards, Neville Vickery. Angel Death’s hornets swarm and cut through the air - Fight to the LZ, just over there . Angel of mercy, down from the sky, Darting and flitting: giant dragon fly. Dash for the chopper across open ground, Scramble to safety, last look around. Browning guns hammer, hold back the foe, Slap pilot’s shoulder, let’s go, go, go, GO! Engine a-howling, curtain of dust, Lift us away from assegai thrust. Hearts still a-thudding: dirt, sweat and tears, Fingers a-tremble, undisguised fears. Up, up to heaven, quick take us away, Leave far below the waste of the day. Clouds red and scarlet, as blood-streaked foam, Into the sunset, fly us safe home……. Rhodesia 1978 For Ian ‘Hendo’ Henderson, chopper pilot 7 Sqn 1954 - 2008 Refer http://www.ourstory.com/thread.html?t=322360&comments=1 Suggested reading http://www.ourstory.com/thread.html?t=441455&comments=1 JOHN IN ANTARCTICA Trevor Smith (RhAF) Writes:- I have very fond memories of time shared with John when Air Force attached us as temporary instructors to the Outward Bound School in Chimanimani. Our early morning run would leave footprints in the frost – yes quite chilly but then the sun would come up and warmth would be restored. The photos are marvellous – I would love to experience such a trip but no way could I endure plodding along in a deepfreeze. Thanks to John GREETINGS FROM PERTH Dave Panton Writes:- My wife and I have arrived in Perth last Saturday after spending a wonderful month in Brisbane and Surfers Paradise with my family who reside there. We are now staying here with my daughter ,husband and two granddaughters who we haven\'t seen for 8 years since they left SA ! I noted that Alan Readings posted that he is also visiting Perth and would like to meet up with some of his old RhAF mates ,I likewise would like to see if any \"Old Tops \" are around to share a yarn and \"cold one\" ? Can you put us in touch ? I celebrated my 80th Birthday here last Sunday , cant believe it is 62 years ago since I first joined the \"Blue Jobs\" (RAF) !! Contact Dave on dpanton2@yahoo.co.uk GREETINGS AND CONGRATULATIONS Simon Maitland (RhAF) Writes:- To all the Golden boys, a very hearty greeting and best of wishes for the celebrations. At the same time, congratulations to John and Tony for pulling off this up coming fabulous reunion. I also pause in thought, for all those who are in the \"great hanger in the sky\" I feel privileged to have been part of this super heritage. VIDEO/S YOU MIGHT ENJOY Bulawayo From the Micklewood\'s of Cape Town fame and fortune http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO6jVGc8fMI ORAFs SEEKS YOUR HELP Can anyone assist with information regarding Rhodesia Motor and Car racing. I am looking for the information of Rhodesian Champions and Year, winners of races, both in Rhodesia and South Africa. I have the information regarding our winners from the overseas circuits. I appreciate am beginning to sound like a broken down old record but I am desperate now for a Roll of Honour of the TF\'s that gave their lives. Important is the date. REMINDERS AFA (Cape) Monthly Braai First Friday evening of each month. Contact Johnny Ness and or Tony Cowell for details AFA (Gauteng) Monthly Prayer Meeting First Saturday afternoon of the month at Dickie Fritz Shellhole. Contact Cheryl Grover for details AFA (Natal) Social First Friday evening of each month. Contact Neville Mare (RhAF) for details SMILE A WHILE Welcome to Budget Airlines Attendant: Welcome aboard Ala Carte Air, Sir. May I see your ticket ? Passenger: Sure. Attendant: You\'re in seat 12B. That will be $5, please! Passenger: What for ? Attendant: For telling you where to sit. Passenger: But I already knew where to sit. Attendant: Nevertheless, we are now charging a seat-locator fee of $5. It\'s the airline\'s new policy. Passenger: That\'s the craziest thing I ever heard. I won\'t pay it. Attendant: Sir, do you want a seat on this flight, or not ? Passenger: Yes, yes. All right, I\'ll pay. But the airline is going to hear about this. Attendant: Thank you. My goodness, your carry-on bag looks heavy. Would you like me to stow it in the overhead compartment for you? Passenger: That would be swell, thanks. Attendant: No problem (grunts). Up we go, and done! That will be $10, please. Passenger: What? Attendant: The airline now charges a $10 carry-on assistance fee. Passenger: This is extortion. I won\'t stand for it. Attendant: Actually, you\'re right - you can\'t stand. You need to sit, and fasten your seat belt. We\'re about to push back from the gate. But first I need that $10. Passenger: No way. Attendant: Sir, if! You don \'t comply, I will be forced to call the air marshal. And you really don\'t want me to do that. Passenger: Why not ? Is he going to shoot me? Attendant: No, but there\'s a $50 air-marshal hailing fee. Passenger: Oh, all right, here - take the $10. I can\'t believe this. Attendant: Thank you for your cooperation, sir. Is there anything else I can do for you? Passenger: Yes. It\'s stuffy in here, and my overhead fan doesn\'t seem to work. Can you fix it? Attendant: Your overhead fan is not broken, sir. Just insert two quarters into the overhead coin slot for the first five minutes. Passenger: The airline is charging me for cabin air? Attendant: Of course not, sir. Stagnant cabin air is provided free of charge. It\'s the circulating air that costs 50 cents. Passenger: I don\'t have any quarters. Can you make change for a dollar? Attendant: Certainly, sir! Here you go! Passenger: But you\'ve given me only three quarters for my dollar. Attendant: Yes, there\'s a change-making fee of 25 cents. Passenger: For cryin\' out loud. All I have left is a lousy quarter? Whatever will I do with it? Attendant: Hang on to it. You\'ll need it later for the lavatory. \"We hang petty thieves and appoint the great thieves to public office.\" End of Newsletter Comments are always welcome - send them to Eddy Norris at orafs11@gmail.com

John Kevan (LRDG) WW2 Rogues Gallery IMPALA ELECTRONICS Phil Tither Writes:- I got in contact with one of the ex Impala guys and it turns out that he was Shot at while up a radio mast ! See http://rhodesianheritage.blogspot.com/2014/02/impala-electronics.html to read the complete article. RHODESIAN AIRCREW WHO WERE LOST IN WW2 ORAFs has loaded a photograph of the following member who was lost in WW2 Surname - SHATTOCK Christian Names - Nicholas Corydon Rank - Pilot Officer Date of Death - 9-Jan-43 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron Pilot Aircraft - Lancaster Mine Laying Operation - Killed on Air Operations during Mine Laying Operation off North Sea the Danish and German Coasts. Aircraft lost without trace. Named on Runnymeade Memorial. Please note that no photograph of Nicholas as and adult was located but Margaret Shattock kindly supplied one of Nichols from his Ruzawi School days. Visit http://www.ourstory.com/thread.html?t=297112&comments=1 but please scroll to the end of the comments SANCTIONS SPY Mike Gardener (RhAF) Writes:- Further to your ORAFs our story updates regarding Macintosh escaping custody in 1975 ,on 22Feb 1975 I was tasked by PRAW to fly to Perrems airfield in Umtali with two Special Branch members to collect an escapee and return to Salisbury. I was flying for Techair at the time and for PRAW (Copper 167) I departed in ZS-EIG a Techair Aztec and enroute the senior SB officer told me the story about MacIntosh and we were going to bring him back. If I remember correctly he had been picked up by Frelimo in Mozambique and handed over to the Rhodesian Police. The weather was bad at Umtali and we had to fly really low in order to get to Perrems. About an hour after landing the SB guys returned with Macintosh in irons and we returned to Charles Prince airport. One of the SB guys was really scary and I was glad I was not the prisoner. CAPE REUNION Bert and Janet Keightley (RhAF) A very big thank you for all the effort put into the reunion, a fantastic occasion, Was really great to catch up with people I had not seen for over 30 years, I am glad we had name tags as I am sure we recognized faces, but put a name to them and visa versa , plus we are all many years older. The Hunter flying was magnificent , when she started up brought back memories and goose bumps. And when she turned out after take off and the high speed run that was something else. In spite of her age the Hunter in flight is a beautiful sight airborne. Once again a very big thank you to you and all the people involved in making the weekend a most enjoyable a memorable occasion. Last but not least Eddy keep up the good work. Wayne Ferreira (RhAF) Writes:- Congratulations to Johnny, Tony and all involved with the 50th reunion. The emotion stirred by the Hunter was clearly visible and the pride amongst those who attended showed. Well done to you all. Very much appreciated. Cousin Smallman and myself do apologize for our course leader \"Prophet\". Thanks to all involved. Wayne Ferreira. Nigel Fotheringham (RhAF) Writes:- I have just arrived home in Oz from attending the Air Force Reunion held in Cape Town over the last weekend 7th to 9th of Feb. Could I please use your excellent resources to express my sincere thanks to Tony Cowell, Johnny Ness, Penny Ness, Alan Ferguson and all of their team for a wonderful and very well organized weekend. It would have to go down as one of my best life experiences to date. All of the facilities used were top class and just catching up with all of the guys and girls after all this time was wonderful. I am sure that I speak to for all of those who attended and I am positive that they all had the best weekend. The thrash at the AFA Pub at Tony’s office after the Hunter flight was as good as any I have ever attended at the Mess. There were so many hilarious antics going on all around the place it was hard to take it all in, and Wally Wallace was in vintage form. Good on you McWol. Thanks must go to all those who attended as well, for without them the weekend could not have been as good as it was. I would not have missed it for quids. Eddy, if you have not got them already, I am sure there will be many piccies available shortly for you to post on the website. Thanks again to Tony and everyone involved in the organisation for a wonderful weekend. Good job guys. See you at the next one!!!! Terry Bennett TtheB visited ORAFs on Feb 13, 2014 and his only words regarding the Reunion - \"could not bettered.\" I cannot understand hw Terry keeps his age and always finds time to visit - thanks Terry. Eddy Norris (ORAFs) Writes:- Now you have read the reports please consider clicking on the link below to view a number pod photos graphs which were made available by Bob Manser - Thanks Bob Visit http://rhodesianforcesreunions.blogspot.com/2014/02/reunion-february-2014-in-cape-town.html MISSING PERSONS Shumba Taylor (RhAF) Writes:- I am looking for an email address for a Phil and Jeannie Clarke. They lived in Borrowdale in Sby. Phil did his call up’s with Army Payroll. If you can hel my email is ltinbc@telus.net CANBERRA ACCIDENT Derek de Kock (RhAF) Writes:- I remember this incident because Boet Swart and I were in the Dak that found the two aircrew. If memory serves me they were standing in a sandy river bed and had scratched out the word WATER in the sand. In the Dak we had a crate of the old type cokes in glass bottles and we proceeded to drop these to them from a very low and slow altitude. I do believe that some if not all actually survived the drop. A long time ago and the memory is now becoming a bit foggy. Soft Landings Mike Hamence (RhAF) Writes:- (Re: N/L Feb 9): A couple of minor comments... The accident is described verbatim by Jim Stagman in the RhAF part of the book: \'Canberra in Southern Africa Service\'. (Currently out of print.) \'Boss\' Ken Edwards states that the aircraft was the \"only one with a new center-section forging, \'FR21\'\". I would dispute this: while the majority of the B2s sold to the RRAF in 1959 had been back previously to BAC Warton/Salmesbury for \'FR 21\' non-destructive testing & stop-gap measures, the project: \'New Canberras for old\' was not born till much later. (Interested parties should contact Steve Beeny - Facebook - \'The Canberra Experience\'.)(Steve has my Open University video: \'Something in the air\') which details the project. MH) Perhaps the two replacements received in 1981: 2250/1 had been rebuilt. Jim Stagman states that one of the root causes for the accident was that the ADF (radio compass) antenna was struck by lightning. Another point (raised later) was: why was the \'Becker Homer\' (apologies to non aviators) in the Trojan at FAF 1 not used to get a \'back fix\' on the Canberra and thus give the Nav a position? Thinking back, I do recall being shown the two Canberra replacements by Wg Cdr Roy Simmonds, MD Airwork Svcs in 1981; I was on leave from SOAF. They were in beautiful condition and had no doubt been through the BAC \'New Canberras for old\' project. LATE ALAN DEWSBURY Pete Woolcock (RhAF) Writes:- Ellen Dewsbury and Family have asked me to put out a very special thank you to all who sent messages of condolence to them on the loss of their dear husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. REMINDERS Dale Collett\'s Motorcycle Ride to Raise Money AFA (Cape) Monthly Braai First Friday evening of each month. Contact Johnny Ness and or Tony Cowell for details AFA (Gauteng) Monthly Prayer Meeting First Saturday afternoon of the month at Dickie Fritz Shellhole. Contact Cheryl Grover for details AFA (Natal) Social First Friday evening of each month. Contact Neville Mare (RhAF) for details SMILE A WHILE Paddy was in New York . He was patiently waiting and watching the traffic cop on a busy street crossing. ? The cop stopped the flow of traffic and shouted, \'Okay, pedestrians.\' ? Then he\'d allow the traffic to pass. He\'d done this several times, and Paddy still stood on the sidewalk. After the cop had shouted, \'Pedestrians!\' for the tenth time, Paddy went over to him and said, \'Is it not about time ye let the Catholics across?\' \"I am a marvellous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man I keep his house - Zsa Zsa Gabor.\" End of Newsletter Comments are always welcome - send them to Eddy Norris at orafs11@gmail.com

By Pete McCabe (RhAF) As John Britton travelled from the south to the north, I am currently travelling from the north to the south, from Las Palmas to Rio De Jinerio, Brazil SEE PHOTOGRPH Photo of yours truly with King Neptune, crossing the line (Equator) ceremony at 05:30 this morning, February 17, 2014 End Thanks to Peter for sharing his photograph and experience with ORAFs.

PASSING OF DR. JIM REDMOND From Tania Cochrane I'm writing to let you know that my dad, Dr. Jim Redmond, passed away on Wednesday 12th February, 2014 at Leopardstown Hospital, Dublin. I would be most grateful if you would pass this info on to your members. As is often the case with families of Old Soldiers, we have learned more about our Dad in the last couple of days than we ever did through his lifetime. We would love to hear any anecdotes or stories anyone has to share. Tina Cochrane If you can help Tania please contact her direct on peteandtina@btinternet.com Dr. Redmond was born in Dublin and during World War II was a rear gunner with Squadron No.35 in the Royal Air Force. Flying Officer James William Redmond, Number 179011. He moved to the then Northern Rhodesia after the war and at the break up of the Federation moved to Australia for a short spell. We moved to Gweru in 1963 where dad worked as a GP, first on the Railways and then in private practice. He was a Reserve with the RhAF and attained the rank of Squadron Leader during his time with them. End Our deepest sympathy to the Redmond family. Thanks to Tania Please also see http://www.ourstory.com/thread.html?t=1116437#1242785 Ref. Rhodesia

Vic Fenton (RhAF) Writes:- I must inform you of the passing of another member of RhAF – Orlando Magro (16/03/34 – 19/02/2014) in Coventry, UK. He served as a F/Sgt at the Thornhill Airbase as a Radar operator and technician. Regards to all Thanks to Vic for sharing this news and photograph with ORAFs. Our deepest sympathy to the family. Ref. Rhodesia, orafs

Rick Van Malsen BCR (RhArmy) Rogues Gallery RHODESIAN - GUATEMALAN CONNECTION My name is Tulio Soto; I live in Texas, and I am a co-founder of a website on Latin American Aviation History (www.laahs.com) Going through unclassified CIA documents, a friend has found a reference to Rhodesia, in connection to the CIA's invasion of Guatemala, in 1954. I am seeking your help in trying to identify the aircraft involved, and if possible, the persons involved. Almost 60 years later, I don't believe that it poses any risk to their well being to identify them. In any case, the supposed airplane smuggling did not take place. The information is being sought for a book being written on the 1954 invasion of Guatemala. This is the paragraph that makes reference to Rhodesia: "2. The F-51's would be obtained by [Name Deleted] from Lend Lease supplies in France. Lend Lease AT-6's are already owned by [Name Deleted] in Rhodesia. Other arms and ammunition would be procured by [Name Deleted] from Israel through London Contacts, or direct from the [Name Deleted] arms pile in Israel. It was planned that the F-51's would be sold legitimately by [Name Deleted] to Dominicans who would sell and equal number of their planes to him. He would then send them to Costa Rica for overhauling and ferrying to Guatemala. The AT-6's would be sent directly from Rhodesia to Costa Rica. The arms would be transferred to a Guatemalan ship from a [Name Deleted] vessel on the high seas." Any help you can render, will be credited and of course, appreciated. Tulio Soto Brookshire, TX If you can assist please contact Tulio direct on ningues1010@gmail.com DOUBLE DECKER BUSES Mike McGeorge Writes:- I used to drive a truck from a quarry my brother an I had past Epworth , delivering crushed stone to various building sites in Salisbury, travelling down the old Widdecombe Rd, in Cranborne, and often saw these buses , am sure they went over that low level bridge, that is behind the present Macro in Hillside, one had to give way to oncoming traffic as the bridge was only a single lane affair. This was in the early 50s. Very little traffic problems, and vehicles continuously being checked by VID (vehicle Inspection Services), that is the trucks and buses, any sniff of black diesel smoke, one was stopped, straight to the VID, tow the vehicle away , and get it fixed, before returning to the road, they would have a field day today!! Refer http://rhodesianheritage.blogspot.com/2014/02/london-buss-in-salisbury.html to read the complete article SAPPERS In the meantime if you could let all your members know that I also have a blog that is an account of my ever-fading memories as a Rhodesian and South African Combat Engineer. I would appreciate some visits and encouragement as we all do. There will be mention of RhAF in numerous postings and perhaps you members will be able to help me with more detail. Please have a look at:fatfox9.wordpress.com Mark Craig BARRY ROBERTS AND STEVE PROPHET Can you fellows please confirm receipt f this letter - as you well know, a fair amount of mail addressed to you has taken a walk a bout in cyber. Please confirm by sending an email to orafs11@gmail.com POSTING OF COMMENTS ON OUR STORY AND RHODESIAN BLOG I understand some are having difficulty in posting comments to the sites, please note that I do offer you the choice in mailing those comments to me for loading. All that I ask is for you to place a sentence asking for it to be loaded - otherwise we end up with someone saying I never asked for it to be loaded. Interesting to note that many hundreds of folk manage to manage to post comments and also search for posting? REMINDERS Dale Collett's Motorcycle Ride to Raise Money AFA (Cape) Monthly Braai First Friday evening of each month. Contact Johnny Ness and or Tony Cowell for details AFA (Gauteng) Monthly Prayer Meeting First Saturday afternoon of the month at Dickie Fritz Shellhole. Contact Cheryl Grover for details AFA (Natal) Social First Friday evening of each month. Contact Neville Mare (RhAF) for details SMILE A WHILE 1st woman: Hi, Wanda! 2nd woman: Hi, Sylvia! How'd you die? 1st woman: I froze to death. 2nd woman: How horrible! 1st woman: It wasn't so bad. After I quit shaking from the cold, I began to get warm and sleepy, and finally died a peaceful death. What about you? 2nd woman: I died of a massive heart attack. I suspected that my husband was cheating, so I came home early to catch him in the act. But instead, I found him all by himself in the den watching TV. 1st woman: So, what happened? 2nd woman: I was so sure there was another woman there somewhere that I started running all over the house looking. I ran up into the attic and searched, and down into the basement. Then I went through every closet and checked under all the beds. I kept this up until I had looked everywhere, and finally I became so exhausted that I just keeled over with a heart attack and died. 1st woman: Too bad you didn't look in the freezer---we'd both still be alive. "You're only young once, but you can be immature forever.." End of Newsletter Comments are always welcome - send them to Eddy Norris at orafs11@gmail.com End Ref. ORAFs, Rhodesian Air Force

Dykstra Rfn (DRR) Rogues Gallery DOUBLE DECKER BUSES Ian Jack (RhAF) Writes Reference Mike McGeorge and the quarry past Epworth. Would that be the same disused quarry we used as a swimming hole in the 60's much to the dismay of our mothers who always thought we would drown and it also became a great dumping ground for stolen cars and things as well. If so this quarry was instrumental in my arrival in Rhodesia as a wee lad of 4 years old. My uncle worked as quarry manager for I think those Scottish landowners Keir @ Cawder. He was sent out in to manage in in the early 50's. He liked it so much my father accompanied my Aunt Queenie in 53 to take up a position with the Salisbury Municipality as an electrician he took the Suez route and I have photos of them sitting on a camel at the great Pyramids. We followed in the July of 55. It was at my Uncle Alistair's house in Park Meadowlands believe it or not that I saw my first lion it was lying on a rock in the back yard. We were scared to go outside for days. One of my moist exciting memories was when I would spend the day at the quarry and when the conveyor belt became jammed uncle would just non-chalantly chuck in a stick of (dynamite) to clear the blockage. The quarry closed and he was sent to another in Malawi. Years later that closed too and he managed a third in Bethlehem in the Free State,. They did not like it there and he moved to Durban where he became the manager of the hotel Edge of the sea for the rest of his days. Refer http://rhodesianheritage.blogspot.com/2014/02/london-buss-in-salisbury.html to read the complete article REMINDERS FROM OUR RHODESIAN PAST Closure of Border James Archibald Writes:- Just to add to your snippet today (27th February) re the arresting of railway staff at Malvernia and the subsequent border closure. “The Mozambique border closure happened so suddenly that Rhodesia Railways had five locomotives, 1,897 wagons and nineteen staff trapped in that country. The staff were subsequently returned through South Africa but the rolling stock remained in exile until July 1980 when the locomotives and all but 230 wagons were returned, these 230 having succumbed to lack of maintenance.” Source: Railways of Zimbabwe; 2nd Edition; 1982 Boet van der Walt Writes:- I was station foreman on the Railways and was sent to Malvernia to relieve one of the foremen there just before the border was closed. When I arrived there was no water in the house where we were to stay and we had to use a 44 gallon drum to collect the water and roll it back to the house, warm it on the stove in order to have hot water for a bath. This was unacceptable to me and I climbed onto the next train out. As far as the train went Bulawayo control told the station foremen that I was to return to Malvernia but I refused. 3 Days later Fred Ford and all the other foremen and the crews of the trains that were in the station were arrested and spent I can’t remember how many months in Maputo jail. I was very lucky. Refer http://www.ourstory.com/thread.html?t=375283&comments=1 PHOTO OF PARACHUTE TRAINING SCHOOL STAFF MARCH 1980 Derek de Kock (RhAF) Writes:- I think Kevin Milligan was the one who joined the PTS in 1974. I joined PTS in 1961. I was one of the originals and I was trained at RAF Abbingdon. I handed over to Frank Hales in 1979 (Derek - Error was from ORAFs - Eddy Norris) PHOTOGRAPHS - HOW LOW CAN YOU GO? Andrew Walker Writes:- Thank you to ORAFs and Christopher Hudson for the great low level photos. I immediately recognized the photo of the Spitfire and the boy on the bicycle as I was watching the movie ‘A Bridge Too Far’ at the weekend! OLD UMTALI PHOTOGRAPH Mary Palframan (UGHS) Writes:- Sir John Kennedy Primary School is in Kadoma. They tried to change the name to Kadoma Primary School after Independence but that has been totally ignored by the Kadoma residents and to this day it is still called SJK. I taught there for over 15 years and was a very happy time for me. My two eldest daughters Philippa and Jaimy went there. You will be pleased to hear that it has a high standard of education and the children are very polite and well disciplined. There is a Sir John Kennedy School Facebook page if anyone is interested. Neill Storey (RhArmy) Writes:- You are aware that England's youngest ever cricket captain is buried in this cemetery? More to follow from Jonty Winch once he has had time to do a bit of editing. Added by ORAFs Montague Parker Bowden(better known asMonty Bowden) ( 1 November 1865- 19 February 1892) was an English cricketer and wicket-keeper, who played two Test matches against South Africa in 1888/ 9. Bowden, aged 23 years 144 days became England's youngest captain on 25 March 1889, when he captained England to victory in the second of his two Tests. Three years later he died in Umtali Hospital. Officially he died of epilepsy, although a fall from his cart, leading him to be trampled under the hooves of his own oxen contributed to his death. Umtali Hospital was nothing more than a glorified mud hut where his body had to be protected from marauding lions prior to being interred in a coffin made from whiskey cases....more on Wikipedia about "Monty Bowden" Refer http://www.ourstory.com/thread.html?t=1123642&comments=1 PER ARDUA Mike Hamence (RhAF) Writes:- I think you will find that 'Per Ardua' (in the RAF Motto) means: 'Through Difficulties'. Another comment: Reading through all those 'Talks About Talks' that you published, it still amazes me that all of us carried on, the guys at the front and us earth-bound mortals. I still have the 'Defence Levy' certificate we had to pay. For what? (Mike - I think that many believed in Rhodesia's cause Eddy Norris) BOOT (VELLIES) by bloganoceros Compliments of Mike Longuet-Hggins (RhArmy) and thank to bloganoceros for the use of his material Let me tell you something for free. When it came to being a world leader in the hugely important stuff, it wasn't just having the best tobacco and meat that set us apart. Over and above the world's largest deposits of coal, copper, chrome, Matopos cheese, your orange mivi and being number one in Bengal Juice, not to mention our ability at sanctions-busting, there is another Rhodesian institution that still fails to get the recognition it so well deserves, and I don't mean the tinned sausages from Colcom, because let's face it that kak had enough nitrate in it to make a topnotch landmine. No man. Catch a wake up or you'll kitchaklap one time ekse. I'm obviously talking about the velskoen. Let's also make one thing very clear right from the start. It is velskoen, hey. Not veldskoen. The whole teapot-shaped spot we lived in was veld except for the Barbour's tearoom cochlea lap aside Bemba bloody Zonked and us Rhodesians do not like stating the obvious. We left that to the Pomes who called their version the veldskoen, pronounced felt-scoot-when. Our velskoen is so named because it is made from leather, which is vela in Africa and, as any good Rhodesian will tell you, it is pronounced vellie to rhyme with smelly, which it usually was. Rhodesia offered okes a wide range of recreational footwear; your basic Bata takkie with white toecap, which was for chops. Next was the black hockey boot, as favoured by hockey poofs and various members of the armed forces, mostly the ones who could kill you just by looking at you. There was the Super-Pro, worn largely by Rhodesia's Greek community and anyone else who played basketball. But above all came the vellie. When I was a when-we, every oke I knew had a pair. Vellies came in one colour - beige - had two lace holes each side, with colour-coordinated laces and a long tongue that always fucked off sideways no matter what you did. Grown-ups would rock the vellie with the long sock that matched the incumbent safari suit and possibly a comb or pipe in said sock to look extra suave, which we pronounced swave. Main okes would wear the vellie with no socks whatsoever, because if you went bundu-bashing in your vellies with socks on, you soon discovered that Rhodesia had more blackjacks than all the coal, copper, chrome and other put together, and once a sock, even a world famous in Rhodesia rugby tigers sock, has been attacked by blackjacks it is *%$I for keeps, strue'sbob. This is true even if all the bundu-bashing you ever did was in the vlei there by Kohll's spot in McMeekan Road, Milton Park. Also, the main main okes who never washed or shaved and were, in true Rhodesian fashion, the best soldiers the world had ever seen, never ever wore socks, and we liked to copy them. They took their vellies seriously hey, those mabroeke. A number one shamwari of mine needed to be cas-evacced in the hondo, and his only worry was that they'd leave his vellies behind in the rush to get him medical attention. Breaking in a pair of vellies was maningi indaba. You always got a blister on your heel, always. I don't care who you are. A blister that popped and rotted and seeped and oozed. But you just had to when-we your way through it with a dab of red muti to help, until you could pick off the piece of hard skin and chew on it thoughtfully. Eventually your feet got used to the vellies, never the other way round. Why are you limping Steven. Gorrablisterma. A what Steven? A blister ma. What from Steven? What's what from ma? The bloody blister Steven, that's what. How did you get a blister? Oh that ma, sorry hey. My new vellies ma, it's eina hey? Have you thought of wearing socks my boy? Socks ma? With vellies? No ways man. Who wears socks with vellies? Normal people Steven. Not in Rhadeezja ma, nowaysI'mtellingyou. With time, the inside of your vellies would turn a dark shiny smooth brown, varnished by sweat, blisters and in the worst cases infection, and then they were at their very best. Fitted like gloves, even if they did klunk a bit. Are those your feet Steven? June would ask suspiciously, sniffing the air cautiously. Ja of course ma, how would I get someone else's feet? I mean that stench my boy. Is that your feet I can smell? No ma, it's not my feet, it's my vellies. Well put them outside then. What ma? My feet? Not your feet man, your vellies. Oh. They are outside ma. Sorry ma. Didn't I tell you to wear socks? Ja ma, you did, but no-one wears vellies with socks. I alredditoljoo. Those broken in soft-as-slippers vellies were stupendous man. Horse-riding there by Waterfields, riding your bike, wearing into town to the flicks, trout fishing in Inyanga, any occasion up to and including semi-formal. The *^&$est footwear ever. When I had my bar mitzvah, June and I had a murra fight because she would not under any bloody circumstances let me wear my made-to-measure by Solly grey bar mitzvah suit with my vellies I don't care how bloody clean they are do I make myself clear Steven? If you wore your vellies with shorts you looked like a farmer or a big white hunter. If you wore your vellies with your Lee jeans, you looked so smooth you could slide up the kopje. But if you wore your vellies with your speedos, you just looked like a doos. That's what slip-slops were for. These days you can buy vellies in every colour under the sun, made from kudus and zebras and all sorts of whatnot. Even gwarras wear them. I'm as emancipated as the next when-we and see nothing wrong with same-sex marriage and etcetera but gwarras in vellies? They'll want to bloody vote next. I just want a pair of vellies in original beige, made from the outside of a mombi, thick sole stitched on, with two holes in each side for the matching laces, a tongue that *&%^ off sideways no matter what I do and a murra blister waiting in the back of each one. They'll last me until the end of my days or at least until my memory goes, whichever comes first. REMINDERS Dale Collett's Motorcycle Ride to Raise Money AFA (Cape) Monthly Braai First Friday evening of each month. Contact Johnny Ness and or Tony Cowell for details AFA (Gauteng) Monthly Prayer Meeting First Saturday afternoon of the month at Dickie Fritz Shellhole. Contact Cheryl Grover for details AFA (Natal) Social First Friday evening of each month. Contact Neville Mare (RhAF) for details SMILE A WHILE A mother took her five-year-old son with her to the bank on a busy lunchtime. They got behind a very fat woman wearing a business suit complete with pager. After waiting patiently for a few minutes the little boy said loudly, "Wow, She's fat!” The mother bent down and whispered in the little boy's ear to be quiet. A couple more minutes passed by and the little boy stretched his arms out as far as they would go and announced, "I bet her bum is this wide!" The fat woman turned around and glared at the little boy. The mother gave him a good telling off, and told him to be quiet. After a brief lull the large woman reached the front of the queue. Just then her pager began to emit a "beep, beep, beep" The little boy yelled out, "Run for your life, she's reversing!!!""You're only young once, but you can be immature forever.." End of Newsletter Comments are always welcome - send them to Eddy Norris at orafs11@gmail.com Ref. Rhodesia, ORAFs

This notice is to advise that my eldest brother passed on today after a short illness. I know that he was not involved with ORAFs but I know that he had a lot of friends in the air force. May he rest in peace. Any messages of condolence may be sent to me on boblucia@polka.co.za for onward transmission. Bob Mumford End Bill was a direct entry member of the Radio Section and was commissioned during his service. Thanks to Bob for sharing this information with ORAFs. Apoogies for the poor quality of the photograph. Ref. Rhodesian, ORAfs

Alf Cuttler (RhSigs) (RSM at Brady) Rogues Gallery DOUBLE DECKER BUSES Mike McGeorge Writes:- Dear Eddie, Ref Ian Jack's memories of swimming in the old quarry past Epworth. Yes that was my brother John and I, our quarry on the Ruwa river, just past the lowlevel bridge, we took over the defunct quarry in early 1952, worked it for 5 years, taking out about 60 cocopans of granite a day, making crushed stone for the builders we supplied for the many jobs in the Salisbury area. One of our clients was Keir and Cawder,s new quarry in Epworth, where we supplied all the stone for the concrete work for the bins and related structures. This quarry was established to supply aggregate for Rhodesia Railways ballast needs, a rail spur being laid for this purpose. The manager was Jimmy Robertson from Perthshire, with whom we became friends, he joined us in our bachelors mess, which was made up of gliding members, as we had joined the Salisbury gliding club in early 56 when the club was at Thorn Park, on the Golden stairs Rd, about 6 miles from town. Jimmy became a keen member, mounting up many hours of gliding. The manager of Keir and Cawder was George Turk, another Scot, and good friend. He lost a daughter Margaret, when an Express Motorways Bus was ambushed on the Kariba road near Makuti about 1978. Further to this incident, my good friend Peter Dawson, Tengwe, was in a land rover as escort, nailed two terrs with his browning by spraying the bush with his fire. Peter was honoured for this. After packing up the quarry for various reasons, we established a small transport business, tip trucks where we worked mainly for the Roads Department gravelling roads from Mtoko, down to Somabula and in between, going rate was 8 pence a yard mile! Jimmy Robertson had left Keir and Cawder also ran his own transport in conjunction with us, finally doing well setting up a truck spares business next to Leyland Albion on the Beatrice Road. Eventually he returned to UK, where my friend Peter Dance, ex CAA rep in Natal, also a one time gliding club member, kept in touch with him. I haven't been back to the quarry site in years, but do remember Ivor McCormick, ex Hurricane pilot, was active taking sky divers up from Danny Deports farm just across from the quarry, also Ivor gave me my first ride in the gliding club's T31 2 seater, in July 1956, introducing me to over 40 years of gliding and towing. Where else could one do these things other than in Rhodesia!! Refer http://rhodesianheritage.blogspot.com/2014/02/london-buss-in-salisbury.html to read the article and comments ROLL OF HONOUR ORAFs seeks your assistance to clarify its records. The daily reminder that was distributed on March 09, 2014 indicates these entries:- March 09 1977 - Mr. CA Capell - Shamva - Farm Murder and March 09 1977 - 14444Z Field Reservist Capell, Colin Andrew – BSA Police Field Reserve - KOAS - shooting accident RofH I understand that most farmers did their military commitments serving in the BSA Police Reserve so in a case like the above I use the BSA Police entry The clarification ORAFs requires. The two names registered below - are they same chap? February 08 1979 - Mr. DC Rosenfels - Marula - Farm Murder and V3945 2 Lt D. C. Rosenfels (3 Cdo, Manica Province, Mozambique) 8 February 1979 Replies to Eddy Norris at orafs11@gmail.com SEEKING JOHN ANNAN Next year is the 50th Anniversary of 88 Entry from the RAF College Cranwell. one of our colleagues was John Annan from Umtali who subsequently I believe joined the Rhodesian now Zimbabwe Air Force. Wondered if John was still around. If you have contact with him I would be grateful if you would forward my e-mail address to him with an invitation to contact me Regards Wg Cdr Ian Gawn RAF PS Made contact last year with my Rhodesian flying instructor Vic Wightman If you can assist Ian please mail him direct on ian.gawn@orange.fr THE BATTLE FOR SALISBURY Thank you to all that responded regarding converting the ORAFs file to PDF format - within half an hour of sending the article I was receiving converted files - some of you are amazing and I thank you. The article has proved very popular with visitors to the blog. Mike Norton, please take a bow. A TRUE FRIEND TO ORAFs IS REMEMBERED Over many years Peter Petter-Bowyer supported ORAFs, he kicked my butt on occasions', picked me up when I was down but he was always there for advice and guidance. Sadly, he left us, for the Big Hangar in the Sky, on March 08, 2013 but his legacy lives on with ORAFs. Rest in Peace PB Please see http://www.ourstory.com/thread.html?t=1114372&comments=1 MEDICAL UPDATE ON RODGER THOMAS Ray Haakonsen (RhAF) Writes:- Many thanks for posting on ORAFs site re Rodger's situation. I have an update for all concerned. I visited Rodger in Sunninghill hospital yesterday afternoon and read out the numerous messages from guys on ORAFs site. He highly appreciated the feedback and glad to hear from some he hasn't heard from for years. I will forward each of those responses to Rodger and when he has time he will get back to you. Other than the loss of the Proteas to the dominant Aussie team in the cricket and the fact that he has to go pee every 2 minutes due to the bladder infection he was in good spirits. Great news in today, is that he has been told he can be released Sunday and he has been screened as Cancer free!!!! Cheri and Rodger asked me to send thanks to all those who have had them in their thoughts and prayers and give glory to God for this awesome news! Here's trusting for this to be final diagnosis and they can get on with his total recovery and moving forward again in good health. Thanks again for all the responses. ORAFs would like to also thank all those good folk who dropped Rodger a note, now that he has to reply we could be increasing his typing speed. Eddy Norris MEDICAL UPDATE ON MIKE ONGERS Neville Mare has advised that Mike should be released from hospital any day now. Special thanks to Neville for keeping ORAFs updated. Eddy Norris ARTICLE/VIDEOS RECOMMENDED FOR VIEWING Tom Krummell recommends:- Bravery was the creed by which they lived, and often suffered and died. click below: The Flight of Old 666" Gordon Keith Writes:- Nice for the clan to see, reminds me of the days when the Beavers used to fly out of Kumalo in pairs daily The Beaver Ballad Pictures of DeHavilland Beavers doing their thing set to the kinda hoaky "Beaver Song" performed by the Fretless Bar Girls. Visit http://youtu.be/3w_v0k57KhE CALLING ALL AVIATIONS BUFFS Compliments of Ron Jarman (RhAF) Good stuff here. Pick your area of interest and there is a lot of the best facts I have seen to date, Be sure you have ample time to view these wonderful records. Thank Ron Aviation Pioneers World War I Aces Hall of Fame of the Air WW2 European Theater (ETO) WW2 Pacific Theater (PTO) WW2 US Marine Corps WW2 US Navy Aces WW2 Mediterranean (MTO) WW2 German Aces Korean War Aces Russian Aces Vietnam Era Aces Airplanes World War I Planes 1930s Aircraft photos WW2 Fighters WW2 Bombers WW2 German Planes WW2 Airplane Pictures History of Airplanes blog Nose Art Postwar Jets World War Two WW2 Facts and Firsts WW2 Medals WW2 Museums WW2 Pictures WW2 Ships WW2 Weapons RECOMMENDED ARTICLES AND VIDEOS Norman Frodsham Recommends RAF Typhoon pilot Jamie Norris shows you how it is done. Visit http://www.flixxy.com/how-to-fly-a-typhoon-jet.htm RHODESIAN MILITARY FORUM ON FACE BOOK Erik Eilertsen (RhSigs) Writes:- Someone asked if jet aircraft, specifically Hunters and Canberras, could operate from such airfields as Buffalo Range and Grand Reef. I think that the question was actually asking if they ever used those fields OPERATIONALLY. The consensus is that although jets could land and take off at places like these, and Kariba, the logistics to support them at FAFs was just not worth it. With the country being so small they could be anywhere in pretty short order from their normal bases. Comment from the RhAF on this? It has been a looong discussion so the comment could cover what bases COULD have been used, if they ever were, and why they were not used (logistics and distances as commented) I will then copy the replies to FB or just give them the link to have a look at the replies themselves. ORAFs replies - I do not represent the RhAF. Regarding this matter, I would be out of my league trying to reply especially when one knows that we have the Squadron Commanders from both these Squadrons along with their WO1's and many Pilots and aircrew - so I will excuse myself and respectfully request these fellows to answer the question. Thanks Replies to Erik on eriktheready@telkomsa.net CLOTHING STORE REQUIREMENT Brian Snyman, via Bill Sykes, Writes: I am looking for an NCO's no1/2 uniform dress cap (ie for me as a Cpl) to wear on our Anzac Day parades. I am representing the Air Force this year as a flag bearer and know that a dress cap will compliment my RhodAF jacket. The most affordable ones available are surplus RAF caps on e-bay and look pretty close to what ours were. Ours would have been taken from the RAF anyway I would imagine? The cap I have my eyes on obviously has an RAF sewn on badge in the centre which I'll replace with our metal badge. If you can help I would suggest you let Brian know the cap size, all replies direct to Brian on bsjsnyman@tpg.com.au REMINDERS Dale Collett's Motorcycle Ride to Raise Money Gauteng - All Forces Bash, March 29 2014 Contact Carol Doughty for details. AFA (Cape) Monthly Braai First Friday evening of each month. Contact Johnny Ness and or Tony Cowell for details AFA (Gauteng) Monthly Prayer Meeting First Saturday afternoon of the month at Dickie Fritz Shellhole. Contact Cheryl Grover for details AFA (Natal) Social First Friday evening of each month. Contact Neville Mare (RhAF) for details SMILE A WHILE Moe: 'My wife got me to believe in religion.' Joe: 'Really?' Moe: 'Yeah. Until I married her I didn't believe in Hell.' "Men have feelings too. For example, we feel hungry.." End of Newsletter Eddy Norris Irene, RSA Ref. Rhodesia, ORAfs

Stokes 'Stuka ' MLM MC MM LRDG WW2 Rogues Gallery DOUBLE DECKER BUSES Skippy Mitchell (RhArmy) Writes:- As an ex skydiver of Mashonaland Skydiving Club at Delport Farm, I did many a dive from the Cessna (WCP – Charlie Pops) with Ivor “the Driver” piloting. The advice to the new first jumpers then was that you would rather get out the aircraft than come back down with Ivor who would put the nose down and engage dogfight tactics while heading full speed towards terra firma! I remember the Quarry well, and today wonder how much “katundu” is still lying at the bottom, as during 1982/3 we were getting quantities of ammo, revolvers, rifles, uniforms etc being given to skydivers to “dispose of” as we passed over the quarry while climbing. Refer http://rhodesianheritage.blogspot.com/2014/02/london-buss-in-salisbury.html to read the article and comments REMINDERS FROM OUR RHODESIAN PAST March 13 1956 - Provost T52 (RRAF 140) Crash - Provost T52 (RRAF 140) Air to Ground 0.303 machine gun exercise. 48 rounds. Engine failure during turn in to target. Forced landing in vlei. - Occupant Christopher Hudson - Source http://www.ourstory.com/thread.html?t=232166 Christopher remembers:- Good Lord! 58 years ago! I remember as if it was yesterday Alan Bradnick thundering towards me across the vlei, carrying a first aid kit, as I crawled out from the upturned Provost. A most welcome sight, for which I have been eternally grateful; he really cared. CAPTAIN JACK MALLOCH - RHODESIAN EXTRAORDINAIRE I worked for Jack Malloch from 1966 to 1970 and I am wring a book which I am calling Captain Jack Malloch – Rhodesian Extraordinaire. I am looking for photos of the Air Trans Africa hangar or the Air Rhodesia Hangar and Salisbury city and Salisbury Airport. Any help would be most appreciated. Regards Dan Remenyi PhD Director - Academic Conferences & Publishing International and Academic Bookshop dan.remenyi@academic-publishing.org SKYPE: dan.remenyi Tel: 44 (0) 118-972-4148 CLIFF POTTER UPDATE Cliff celebrated his 85th birthday on March 03. He and Ken Salter share the same date but Ken is a year younger. The notification of Cliff's birthday was received after the Daily Reminder for that date had been distributed. Should you wish to send Cliff message - he is on clifford.potter@gmail.com PLUMTREE PHOTOS John (Gomo) Hill (BSAP 6017) Writes:- If you can assist Gomo please contact him direct on frombyrne@porkypete.net MAKOMBE PAX DAKOTA - March 11 1970 - Reminders from our Past Ivan Holshausen (RhAF) Writes:- Further to this story I was also there in A Dak. It was quite a story. The people that were young and the able had to walk out. They were formed up in a long file and disappeared into the bush with their bundles on their heads. Put me in mind of what it must have been like in the old slave days. The ones that we flew out were the old, sick & very young. -- and very dirty & smelly. They were all very small and scrawny so this must be taken into account when we look at numbers carried. When I got back to NS I phoned my wife and asked her to fill the bath and pour in a bottle of Dettol. I climbed into the bath in full camo having just removed my boots. I'm not trying to upstage Bob, but my one load I had 101 pax plus their meager bits of luggage. The airstrip was very short and it was always a short t/o. There it is if you want to add it to the story. To read the article and comments received please visit http://www.ourstory.com/thread.html?t=335097&comments=1 READ THE FACTS Barry Roberts (RhAF) Writes:- A glass of wine To my friends who enjoy a glass of wine, and those who don't and are always seen with a bottle of water in their hand: As Ben Franklin said: In wine there is wisdom, In beer there is freedom, In water there is bacteria. In a number of carefully controlled trials, scientists have demonstrated that if we drink 1 litre of water each day, at the end of the year we would have absorbed more than 1 kilo of Escherichia coli, (E. Coli) - bacteria found in feces. In other words, we are consuming 1 kilo of poop annually. However, We do NOT run that risk when drinking wine and beer (or rum, whiskey or other liquor) because alcohol has to go through a purification process of boiling, filtering and fermenting. Remember: Water = Poop, Wine = Health Therefore, it's better to drink wine and talk stupid, than to drink water and be full of Sh*t. ARTICLE/VIDEOS RECOMMENDED FOR VIEWING History Photographs Colurised by Computer Tom Krummell recommends:- Visit http://www.liveleak.com/ll_embed?f=d6d9d5385aee Alan Smith Recommends:- Murmuration - The Genius of Birds - Beautiful and amazing! It’s hard to believe what’s happening here. Put your sound on for the narration. Visit http://www.youtube.com/embed/88UVJpQGi88 ISS SPACECRAFT - CURRENT LOCATION AND VIEW Recommended by Eddy Norris (ORAFs) Keep this on your desktop and zoom in to the ground location any time you like Also click on SNAPSHOT when they are over populated areas, then move in until you can see cars and people. This is absolutely fascinating Keep this link on file and check the position in a couple of hours or days from now – or anytime you wish What wonderful technology to put this in our hands so we can see what the astronauts see in real time and updated as it is Current position of the International Space Station (ISS) and the view from the spacecraft......in real time Visit http://iss.astroviewer.net/ An illustrated guide to the Atomic Bombs... Tom Krummell recommends this site Great pictures of a wartime necessity These are declassified Historical WWII photographs: Visit http://www.alternatewars.com/Bomb_Loading/Bomb_Guide.htm ORAFs endorses Tom recommendation, well worth the visit and enjoy OUR RHODESIA HERITAGE Vs ORAFs Eddy Norris (ORAFs and Our Rhodesia Heritage) Writes:- I believe it is time for me to advise you all that interest on ORAFs is slowly down to snails pace. Several contributing factors are, perhaps after 15 and a half years ORAFs has accumulated what photos and stories there are on the RhAF, many subscribers are running Face book operations so please do not be alarmed if the newsletters etc get smaller and smaller The good news is that the Our Rhodesian Heritage has grown and continues to grow. Weekly people ask for their names to be added to that mail list. Believe it or not but the Our Rhodesian Advertisement is proving to be the most popular blog at present. The Daily Reminders seems to be well received - a little background on it. Over the past 15 years I have always asked for dates - well that request is now proving it's worth. With a date it would not be recorded. I would request you all to please consider jotting down any items of interest you might recall. Let me know about it please. Dams, bridges, buildings, schools etc are only some that I recall at present. a fair amount of work has gone into the Reminder file, I have populated it with many items that should click in fairly shortly - be prepared for plenty of reading on November 11. Be assured, sick notes and death notification are still the number priority on my schedule. REMINDERS Dale Collett's Motorcycle Ride to Raise Money Gauteng - All Forces Bash, March 29 2014 Contact Carol Doughty for details. AFA (Cape) Monthly Braai First Friday evening of each month. Contact Johnny Ness and or Tony Cowell for details AFA (Gauteng) Monthly Prayer Meeting First Saturday afternoon of the month at Dickie Fritz Shellhole. Contact Cheryl Grover for details AFA (Natal) Social First Friday evening of each month. Contact Neville Mare (RhAF) for details SMILE A WHILE UK Floods My wife, children and I have been sitting upstairs in our Somerset home, totally cut off from the outside world, with the downstairs flooded for the last five weeks. Today the Red Cross pulled up outside in a boat. "Thank God!" I shouted"Have you come to save us?""No," They replied "We're collecting donations for Syria.""Gone are the days when girls used to cook like their mothers. Now they drink like their fathers." End of Newsletter Comments are always welcome - send them to Eddy Norris at orafs11@gmail.com Ref. Rhodesia, ORAFs

Message forward to ORAFs by Roland Charles - Thanks Roland From Peter Hughes This afternoon (20/3/2014) in Stanford in the Cape my stepfather Group Captain Arthur Donald Brenchley formally of the Royal Air force and The Rhodesian Air force friend and advisor to Ian D Smith passed away - A great man and my father - I shall miss him terribly - Enjoy the rest Dad lots of love. Ref. ORAFs

Farmer JW (RhSigs) Rogues Gallery MESS TIN UMFURUDZ1 Rob Burrett Writes:- I wonder if you could assist trying to locate someone who was in the forces whose damaged mess tin I located while doing a job in the Umfurudzi Park. The site was obviously a contact site and the typical Government issue mess tin has a name and four figure digit stamped onto it. It was stood on and I am unsure of when and in what contexts. I am concerned that the story may not necessarily have a happy ending. Would be great if I could make contact with the owner or relatives. The name is Dipenaar and the number is 6134. If you can help Rob, please contact him direct on projects@khami.co.zw ROD SMITH UPDATE Rod Writes:- My son Alex has just qualified as a Commercial Pilot and is on the job hunting mission. Would it be possible to spread the word in the ORAFs community for any leads, opportunities or advice on a career in flying.? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Kind regards Rod Smith (sparky on 32 L A R) 0825947709 If you can assist please ail him direct on email smith-r@mweb.co.za PASSING OF ROWAN CRONJE Ian and Shirley Findlay Write:- I am sad to have to record the death of Rowan Cronje, Minister in the Government of Ian Smith in Rhodesia and a Senior Minister in the Government of Bophuthatswana, South Africa. He died in his sleep on the night of the 10/11 March 2014 in Pretoria South Africa and his funeral will be on Saturday 15th March. RECOMMENDED SITES AND VIDEOS A Story not known by Many ORAFs recommends The only FOUR (4) Airplanes Israel had when the War of Independence (May 1948) began were smuggled from the Czech Republic. They were German "Messerschmitt Bf-109's." They were assembled overnight in Tel Aviv and were never flight tested. This is a short video about their pilots. Watch it. You will not be disappointed. Contrary to popular perception (by the people who do not know history), the United States' assistance to Israel during the War of Independence was quite different. Americans were not allowed to join the fight and an arms embargo had been established and enforced by the FBI. At the same time Arab armies were very well supplied by the same countries who maintained arms embargo against Israel and of course had great advantage in manpower. Watch this video... http://vimeo.com/54400569 (The Video is also on YouTube) Merlins Over Malta - The Defenders Return Compliments of Tony Smith (RhAF) Published on 1 Feb 2013 Between June 1940 and December 1942 Malta became one of the most bombed places on Earth. The battle for this tiny island proved to be one of the most decisive turning points of World War II. Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ldQzW8WmDk CHAMPAGNE Bill Teague (SAAF and RCAF) Writes:- Barry Roberts “Read the Facts” is a good read and straight to the point...and a bloody scream; how marvellous. Here is a tit-bit I gleaned from the internet several years ago, which adds to the fire. Champagne: "I drink it when I'm happy and when I'm sad. Sometimes, I drink it when I'm alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I'm not hungry and drink it if I am; Otherwise I never touch it - unless I'm thirsty." Madame Bollinger, the "Grande Dame" of French champagne. 1884-1977 REMINDERS Dale Collett's Motorcycle Ride to Raise Money Gauteng - All Forces Bash, March 29 2014 Contact Carol Doughty for details. Gauteng - Rhodesian Air Force 44th Anniversary on April 08 2014 Contact Cheryl Grover for bookings AFA (Cape) Monthly Braai First Friday evening of each month. Contact Johnny Ness and or Tony Cowell for details AFA (Gauteng) Monthly Prayer Meeting First Saturday afternoon of the month at Dickie Fritz Shellhole. Contact Cheryl Grover for details AFA (Natal) Social First Friday evening of each month. Contact Neville Mare (RhAF) for details SMILE A WHILE One day a policeman stopped a Harbour worker who was walking out of the dockyard gates pushing a wheelbarrow with a suspicious looking package in it. The policeman opened the package and found it contained nothing but some old bits of rubbish, sawdust and floor-sweepings. The next day he stopped the same worker who was again pushing a wheelbarrow containing a suspicious looking package. Once more it contained nothing of any value. The same thing happened several days on the trot, until the policeman finally said, "OK, I give up. I know you dock workers are sharp and you are up to something, but I just can't tell what. Please, I promise not to arrest you, but put me out of my misery; tell me what you are stealing.""Wheelbarrows," smiled the dock worker, "I'm stealing wheelbarrows.""A meal without wine is called Breakfast." End of Newsletter Comments are always welcome - send them to Eddy Norris at orafs11@gmail.com Ref. Rhodesia

From Alastair Honeybun It is with great sadness to report that Dave Young passed away on Monday 17 March 2014. in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom. Dave was with Station Sick Quarters in New Sarum. End Our deepest sympathy to Pat and family. Dave also lost a sister in one of the Viscount disasters. Thanks to Alastair for sharing this news with ORAFs.

By Lewis Walter ( Intaf). I first became acquainted with the well-known Sable badge in 1942, when my father Charles Walter enlisted in the Southern Rhodesia Reconnaissance Regiment. This later became the SR Armoured Car Regiment, and the story is told in "Umtali to the Alps." The young recruits who frequented our house in Salisbury on their way to or from the training camp in Umtali regaled my brother Austin and me with tales of the bravery of the sable, and how he could vanquish even a lion in battle. This, they said, was the reason for the choice of the sable as their regimental emblem. Years later I received a sheet of drawings by our family's "honorary uncle," Arthur Elliot Dudley, dating from the early 1940's. These were based on illustrations by E. Caldwell in the earlier editions of "Jock of the Bushveld, and I was struck by the resemblance of their sable to the SRACR badge. The following illustrations are, I like to think, the genesis of that well-known and honoured badge: 1. The sable, as drawn by E. Caldwell, from Percy Fitzpatrick's "Jock of the Bushveld," in 1907. 2. As drawn by Arthur Dudley, based on Caldwell's drawing, early 1940's. 3. Cover page of "The Sable," Regimental Magazine of the SRACR. July 1942. 4. Badge of the Southern Rhodesia Armoured Car Regiment, 1940's. 5. Badge of the Rhodesia Armoured Car Regiment, 1970's. The sable on the cover page of the Regimental Magazine, though unsigned, bears a strong resemblance to the drawing of Arthur Dudley, who was an accomplished artists, and member of a well-know family in Umtali where the SRACR's training camp was. He was a long-time friend of my father, and I think it probable that he was asked to design the badge. Many thanks to Lewis Walter for this story. Comments are always welcome, please mail orafs11@gmail.com.

Bill Teague recounts what must have been an incredible flight- This is Derek and Linda Kay's tobacco farm called “Chiparawa”, at Marandellas. It must have been taken many moons ago. I spent a night staying there in April 1950. Derek had a Tiger Moth, registration VP-YIG in Salisbury, and he asked me to fly it to the farm for him. John Heap flew me back to Salisbury in Ercoupe VP-YHA the next day. Picture one shows the farm and welcoming committee. Picture two was taken by Bill from the Tiger Moth of the Ercoupe en route.

Forward by John Meikle, nephew of Ian Meikle - Ian Meikle was born in Umtali in 1916, the youngest son of John and Bertha Meikle. John Meikle emigrated a child with his parents and elder brothers Tom and Stewart from Scotland to Natal in 1868 and entered Rhodesia in 1892. Ian was educated at St. Andrews College, Grahamstown before joining his brothers Douglas and Jacky on the Monarch Mine just over the border at Penhalonga. He married Helen Barry, daughter of Pioneer D'Urban Barry and had one son the late Tony Meikle. He joined the R.A.F. in 1941, first at Hillside Camp, Bulawayo and then at Moffat Gwelo, hoping to become a pilot, but when he realised that he would have to wait five months for a pilot's course, he volunteered as an air gunner. As an officer he was able to take his wife Helen to Britain where they landed in December 1941. He started his training at R.A.F. Manby in Lincolnshire, before being posted to R.A.F. Finningley near Doncaster and finally to R.A.F. Bircotes, a satellite station to Finningley. While at Bircotes and still in training, he took place on the 1000 bomber raid on Cologne, flying as front gunner in a Wellington. According to Henry Probert in his book "Bomber Harris. His Life and Times" there were two 1000 bomber raids, the first on May 30/31 1942 and second on June 1/2 1942 and it is not clear whether Ian was on the first or second. It is worth quoting Bomber Harris's message to air crews before the raid "The force of which you take part is at least twice the size and has more than four times the carrying capacity of the largest force ever concentrated on one objective. You have the opportunity, therefore to strike a blow at the enemy which will resound not only through Germany, but throughout the world." In J.F. MacDonald's "The War History of Southern Rhodesia", it stated that Bomber Command dispatched 1091 aircraft on May 30th for an attack on Cologne. A third of the great city, the capital of the Rhineland, was laid waste and 250 factory buildings utterly destroyed with in 90 minutes. The cost in bombers was 43. That Rhodesians were involved in a major point in the war, must be a source of pride. Ian's first operational base was to Scampton near Lincoln in July 1942, even though he had taken part in the Cologne and Essen raids while still training. He had hoped to be posted to Waddington flying Lancasters where 44 Rhodesia Squadron was based. I am not sure as to what squadron he was posted while at Scampton or what aircraft they were flying. In September 1942 he was transferred to 82 Pathfinder Squadron flying Lancasters based at Wyton, Huntington. Ian had volunteered and been selected for an elite force that was to face extreme danger. Bomber Harris originally opposed creaming off picked crews for a special force, preferring that each Group maintained its own Pathfinding Force, but was overruled. However, once the decision was made he put all his efforts to attract the best men and to reward them with a special badge and a step-up in rank. Of this elite corps Harris wrote "The force has already paid a rich dividend by successfully locating and marking targets and enabling the remainder of the Command to saturate defences and go straight in without spending time searching for their target." In flew as air gunner in all 3 turrets of the Lancaster but often in the rear turret from which he told me the remains of the gunner were often hosed out. He writes graphically of his raids over Germany, France and Italy, but unfortunately there are many missing letters. He did tell me that their aircraft's bomb on a mission to Hamburg sealed a bomb shelter killing thousands. Ian was a tall man, well over six foot and had difficulty fitting into the turret to the extend of having to forfeit the use of a parachute for which there simply was no room. The rear turret was the most vulnerable, isolated and bitterly cold. These letters written to his parents John and Bertha in Umtali also reveal how a young Rhodesian felt during those war years. The longing to be among his own people and under African skies, his hopes and fears, and his adapting to the English way of life and the fact that he found little in common with local people. He mention the kindness and hospitality shown by local farmers and the factory works at the Lancaster factory, but overall the local people resented the influx of foreigners. But what comes through clearly is his resignation to his probable fate considering that of the 10 from his course that he went over to Britain with, only 2 survived the war. My uncle was a brave man who was awarded the D.F.C., but also a sensitive man who showed the mental scars long afterwards. He returned to Rhodesia after 2 tours of duty of 90 sorties in 1943 and served the rest of the war instructing. He represented Rhodesia at the Victory Parade in London in 1947. He went farming at Odzani where he and Helen grew vegetables and died prematurely in his sixties. Controversy has raged ever since over the ethics of area bombing advocated by Harris. Pacifists and others sought to portray this as a war crime, which was deeply hurtful to those who served. As a result no campaign medal has ever been awarded to Bomber Command which is a travesty considering that 55 000 aircrew out of 125 000 serving died, the highest casualty rate of any unit. Harris was vindicated by post war analysis of Reich Security Services files which stated that after the Cologne raids, the morale of the German people was shattered and shook their belief in victory. Belatedly a statue was erected to Bomber Harris and a memorial built recently to Bomber Command in Green Park, London. Bill Sykes in Heritage of Zimbabwe No.30 gives a robust and telling riposte to the nay-sayers and critics of Arthur Harris and the brave men of Bomber Command, who went beyond the call of duty and deserve better. IAN MEIKLE'S WARTIME DIARIES. HILLSIDE CAMP 20/08/41. My Dear Mother and Father, Nothing startling has happened since you passed through and I haven’t heard anything further about the pilots course. We are having a big inspection in camp today, some big bug from Salisbury, so I had better be getting along. R.A.F. MOFFAT GWELO - 20/9/41. We have very queer hours here, starting at 7 in the morning until 9 and then we have three quarters of an hour for breakfast and then until 2.30, with a quarter of an hour break in between. We are supposed to have the rest of the afternoon off for swotting, but there always seems to be something on, PT or kit inspection. It is not so bad really as the course only takes a month. If all goes well regarding the exams, I will be a sergeant with one wing up in a fortnight’s time. We are being sent to England so I sincerely hope I will see you before I go off. I had the opportunity of taking a pilot’s course, but was told I had to wait 5 months before I start flying, so didn’t think it worthwhile. Perhaps I will get a chance once I get overseas. I am not looking forward to it very much, but still it is my duty after all. We have started flying here already. I was up for about two hours yesterday shooting at ground targets from the air, it was quite good fun. I haven’t heard yet whether I hit any or not. We are due up again tomorrow to shoot at drogues towed by other aircraft which ought to be more difficult. R.A.F MOFFAT GWELO - 4/10/41. We have only a fortnight to go to complete our course and I believe we are being sent straight off without any embarkation leave at all. It is a bit of a blow to me as I did want to see the old town again before I left. I was interviewed by our C.O. a few days ago and was told that I had been recommended for a commission. Three of us have been recommended and two are getting it, so I hope you will hold thumbs for me. If I do get it I want to take Helen over with me as officers are allowed to. Helen is pretty keen on going and it will make all the difference in the world to have her over there with me. The only snag is that the Mine is so hard up at the moment. I have written to ask them if there is any chance of raising enough for Helen to go over but I doubt whether they will be sympathetic about it.* They will probably think mine is a selfish view, but I hope they realize what it means to me. I might be stuck over there for years. *He obviously had to ask his brothers Douglas and Jackie for money to pay for Helen’s boat ticket. R.A.F. MOFFAT GWELO - 12/10/41. I hope you received my wire about the Commission. I am a Pilot Officer now and feel quite proud about it. We are leaving here this week on Friday night for Cape Town. Helen is going down with me. I have managed to wrangle 3 days leave to go to Umtali to fix things up at the Mine. c/o RHODESIA HOUSE, STRAND STREET - 14/12/41. Well, I have just returned from leave and am now at Bournemouth awaiting posting to a O.T.U. Helen is staying with Noeline* at Uxbridge for the time being as we find it pretty expensive moving around the country. At the moment I am billeted with a crowd of officers in a hotel. I only pay 2 shillings a day messing. The last crowd of gunners from Rhodesia have been here for 5 weeks awaiting posting, so it looks as if I will be here for the duration. It makes me so wild as I might just as well be at home with you for all the good we are here. We have about 1 hour drill every morning and have the rest of the day free. This is quite a pretty spot, but everything is different over here, give me good old Rhodesia every time. Helen is of the opinion they won’t see us for dust when this war is over. We spent most of our leave in London, which we found too crowded for our liking. It is far better to stay indoors during blackout time for it is so difficult to find places of amusement. We spent 2 days out at Uxbridge with Noel and stayed at a very old Inn “Yee Olde Kings Arms”. The food and beer was very good considering the rationing of same. We had lunch with Kay’s father** (John Oswald) and had a very jolly time together. He thinks the world of Kay and of course was very eager to hear all the news about her and the family. We are longing to hear news from home. I haunted Rhodesia House during our leave but no such luck. Still I am hoping to hear before Christmas. This will be my first Christmas away from home, but I will be thinking of you all. We have been invited to stay with Noeline’s in-laws over Christmas which will be nice. They are living at Cambridge and have a beautiful place, I believe. I hope you are all keeping fit and looking after yourselves and everything is going well with the mine. I wonder how long it will be before we see it all again. Helen is thinking of taking up Red Cross work. *Helen’s sister Noeline Barry married Cecil Buttress who later farmed at Concession. **Kay emigrated to Rhodesia in 1936 and nursed at Salisbury and Umtali hospitals She married Toosie Meikle in 1939. UXBRIDGE - JANUARY - 1942. The cigarettes have not arrived yet, but they will be very welcome when they do. They are such a price over here being 2/- for 20 and they are pretty inferior at that, so it will be a real treat to have a decent make again. I have been to Lincoln twice since I have been at the base, it is about 6 miles away, there isn’t much to it although it is full of ancient buildings. The Cathedral seems to be a pretty impressive building and I must try and have a look over it one day. The people are the same everywhere regarding us as if we have just crawled out of cheese or worse. Life is still going on the same here and wish this nasty business would end, am sick and tired of it. We both get so homesick at times and at the present rate of progress we shall be here for years to come. We aren’t too badly off really and I could never settle down, this life is so different somehow. Anyway, it will be a great day when we see you all again. Helen and I would give anything to be back with you all, but there is a big job to be done here and the sooner it is over the better. The news isn’t too good these days but I am still very optimistic about an early cessation of hostilities. I have to announce some news of great importance. Helen is going to have a baby. (Tony was born on 13th August 1942). UXBRIDGE - 26/1/42. They don’t appear to want us at the moment but I expect once we do start work again we won’t get very much time off. Helen and Noel are safely settled into their house about a mile from Uxbridge. The owner has left all his furniture, cutlery and also a small stock of tinned provisions which is proving very useful indeed. The dining room has been converted into an air-raid shelter which has spoilt things a bit, but still we are very comfortable. Helen is doing all the house work and Noel spends all day at school. It certainly is a full time job doing all the housework and lighting of fires for the baths and the sitting room. Helen won’t know herself when she gets back home and has the good old servants to do the work. We are not so badly off for food, Helen and Noel had a good laugh when they purchased their first weeks food. The amount looked so small but it is amazing how well one can come out on it. Bread isn’t rationed and there is always that to fall back on. The egg ration amuses me, measly little egg e week and they come from Uraguay. They must go in for native fowls out there judging by the size of the eggs. Helen is wishing she could have smuggled a few of her fowls over. The fowls at home will have to work overtime when they get back. We had a very heavy fall of snow last week but it has cleared up in the last few days. The country side looks very beautiful, but give me good old sun anytime. We are both very optimistic about the war and hope to back with you for next Christmas. Our opinion seems to be shared by many others, so here’s hoping. R.A.F. MANBY, LINCOLNSHIRE - 10/3/42. I have completed my course at Manby and posted to Finningly which is near Sheffield on the seventeenth to do my course at the O.T.U. We will be trained on Lancasters and Manchesters there before going to operational station. This will be the No. 44 Rhodesia Squadron, I hope, as they will be the first to fly in the new .......(missing page). I am sending a photograph taken at Manby of 2 of our squads. They are all Rhodesian in this one with the exception of one Canadian. We have one of our sergeants staying here at the moment Dick Rundle* from Bulawayo. He hasn’t been posted yet so I am hoping he will stay for a while as it is pretty lonely for Helen with Noel away all day. We had an air raid warning here this morning, but all clear went a few moments later. I was amused at the old Char who wasn’t taking any chances and scuttled off home as fast as she could go. She was through the Blitz on London, so I can’t blame her. This is quite a long day when one has to concentrate all the time. There is more to this flying game than meets the mind. Aircraft recognition is one of the chief subjects. It seems to get worse with all the new machines they are bringing out. I have mastered the lot pretty well and can at last tell friend from foe so won’t be caught napping. Hitler appears to be calling up all available manpower this spring perhaps he will overstep the mark this time and bring about his downfall. *There is a C.R. Rundle listed in the Roll of Honour in MacDonalds book. UXBRIDGE - 16/3/1942. My leave is up and I am off tomorrow to Finningley. I am certainly seeing England on my travels. Spring is here at last, at least everybody thinks so. I hope it lasts. It was really quite hot in London on Saturday. Helen and I went up on Saturday and spent the night in town. It was Noel and Cecil’s first wedding anniversary so we thought we would make ourselves scarce. We went to see Vic Oliver’s show (Take a load of this) in the afternoon which was jolly good. The seats cost 12/6 each but we thought we would be devils for once, it was certainly worth it. In the evening we went to see “Dive Bomber” at the Marble Arch Pavilion which was quite good. Typically Yankie though. We spent the night at the Waldorf just off the Strand and came out on Sunday morning. We are both full of beans, but both wish this beastly war was over so that we could get back to you all. I will come through O.K. the devil looks after his own you know. R.A.F. FINNINGLEY DONCASTER - 23/3/1942. I arrived here five days ago on the last stage before reaching a squadron. It is about the best camp I have been in so far. The food is jolly good. I don’t know where they get the butter from because it isn’t rationed at all, much to my satisfaction. We have been doing nothing but duties ever since my arrival, though necessary I suppose, get very monotonous after a while. It won’t be long thank goodness as we should start flying very soon. We do both day and night flying here so I hope for my future salvation that I manage to secure a good pilot. All the crewing up is done here and the individuals choose amongst themselves. Rest assured I won’t pick a dud. I met a chap called Baker here last night whom I met at College.* It was a pleasant surprise and it makes all the difference having a friend or two at these stations, especially those who come from one’s own country. He is a pilot and has been over here about six months. There are only ten Rhodesians here, the rest of the course have been scattered all over the country. There a several Canadians here who we don’t get on too well with, as with Canadians in general. I think it is a big mistake to split men from the same country as they have done in our case. *St. Andrews College, Grahamstown R.A.F. FINNINGLEY, DONCASTER - 14/4/1942. I wish you were over here to see the country, it is really beautiful with all the different flowers out in bloom. The daffodils are a wonderful sight. We are having wonderful weather at the moment and as it doesn’t get dark until 9.30, it is very pleasant to go for a stroll after dinner. It is a treat to be able to discard one’s greatcoat, its a pity we aren’t allowed to wear shorts. I have done a bit of flying lately, but only on cross countries for map reading purposes. We are expecting to be crewed up shortly, so it shouldn’t be long before we are on operations. I had quite a good trip the other day, we went cross country to (censored) , it took 2 and a half hours. I have never known it to be so bumpy before and we ran into heavy rain storms. The old Anson leaked like a sieve but we didn’t mind very much. Jerry has been pretty active round here for the last week, we often hear bombs dropping round about. I hope he keeps away from here. He certainly is getting a few nasty knocks from us at last. I will have the satisfaction of seeing a few tons dropping on Germany. R.A.F. FINNINGLEY DONCASTER - (undated). I have been doing quite a lot of night flying the last couple of days. We had rather a hair raising experience last night when one of our tyres burst on landing. Fortunately the pilot kept his head and managed to right the machine. Most of the night trips have consisted of bombing exercises on the range near here, from 8000 feet. My job has been to keep off any intruders as they have been knocking around recently. None have shown up thank goodness. R.A.F. FINNINGLEY DONCASTER - 18/5/1942. I had some very sad news the other day when I heard that Hugh Marillier, a Rhodesian lad I trained with, had been killed in a plane crash. Helen and I are both pretty cut up about it but I suppose one must get hardened to these things in wartime. You probably noticed Hugh in the photograph I sent you. Life is still going on the same here with bags of flying day and night. I think I have seen most of England from the air so far, it now remains for me to see Germany!! We have a wonderful crowd of chaps here, and that seems to me to be the only advantage of war creating new friendships. I have palled up with a couple of New Zealanders, they have just finished their first 200 hours on operations and are resting here for six months. They have had some pretty hair-raising experiences but seem to treat them as a matter of course. Both were on the Scharnhorst raid in the Channel, but said they only saw the ships once, owing to bad visibility. A few of the local farmers invited a dozen of us to a darts match the other night at their local pub. Very few of us had ever played the game before, but we didn’t mind as they gave us plenty of good beer. In all, we have been having a gay time lately, the local Lancaster factory people, hearing that we were flying in their machines, invited us to several parties. They have been good fun and they are a decent crowd and very hospitable. We are expecting to move to our satellite “drome” Bircotes soon to complete our training. We crew up there and after three weeks will be posted to an operational station. R.A.F. FINNINGLEY, DONCASTER - 27/5/1942. I am over at our satellite “drome” at the moment completing my course which should take another fortnight or so weather permitting. I have crewed up at last and my new crew consists of an English pilot, Canadian observer, Canadian wireless operator, English bomb aimer, and of course me in the tail. We get on quite well together and I think I have been pretty lucky in my choice of pilot, he seems a very steady type. Not one of the medal seekers who go in for 0 feet over the target to release the bombs! The ground is a mass of Blue Bells at the moment, it really is a sight for sore eyes. There is no water laid on so we have to walk down to the mess for baths. The exercise is doing me a world of good. We have been having rather rotten weather lately and it is not too pleasant walking around knee deep in mud. R.A.F. BIRCOTES - 6/6/1942. You will no doubt be surprised to hear that I was on the Cologne raid last Saturday night. It came as a surprise to me as I haven’t finished my training yet, but all the O.T.U.’s had to contribute a number of machines to swell the number. We were kept in the dark for five days and all confined to camp. Although we knew something big was on, didn’t dream that it would mean our initiation to night bombing of Germany. I wouldn’t have missed it for anything as the destruction of Cologne was a sight I shall never forget. We flew in our training machines Wellingtons, which have done such good work in the past and I was fortunate to be crewed up with an excellent pilot S. Leader Stewart D.F.C.. I was front gunner and of course had the best view of all. We started off at 10.40 p.m. with 2000lbs of incendiaries on board and headed out to sea towards the Dutch coast. We were in no hurry as we couldn’t bomb until 1 . 10 a.m. as some of our big stuff had to drop theirs first to start the blaze going. We could see the fires when 40 miles away, and they gradually increased as we flew nearer. There was ack-ack everywhere and the search lights were weaving everywhere obviously completely demoralized by our numbers. It was rather terrifying for me sitting in front watching the flak come up all around us but we weren’t hit once. We eventually arrived over Cologne and the sky was absolutely full of machines, as you may well imagine. The chief difficulty was to find a space to drop our incendiaries, eventually the navigator sighted one right next to the cathedral, so the pilot headed towards it. Before dropping them the navigator had to wait for 3 of our machines to get out of the way immediately below us. His aim was good and our contribution set up a nice little blaze. There were bags of fighters about and we saw one shoot one of our chaps down in front of us. Two more exploded in mid –air, evidently direct hits from shells. We then turned for home, but what an inferno. I wouldn’t be down below for anything. We were flying at 16 000 feet and the fires were terrific even from that height, so you can imagine what it was like at ground level. We arrived home at 4.30 without any incidents and were all pretty deadbeat. It certainly takes it out of one having to be alert the whole time. We were on the Essen do two nights later, but only got as far as the Dutch coast, when we had to turn back, owing to a short in the electrical system. We cursed like anything but nothing could be done about it, as all the various lights were failing including the wireless which is most necessary. Complete failure would have meant that the bombs could not be fused or the bomb doors operated. Anyway, we got back safely and landed with 4 500lb bombs we were carrying. We only lost two machines from here on the two trips which was jolly good going considering the state of the number of machines sent from here. Quite a few of them were shot up badly but managed to reach home safely. Two Rhodesian lads who were with me are missing from the Essen raid, I hope they are alright. One was George Reid* whose father works on the Railways at Umtali and the other Johnsone* from Salisbury. I saw most of Scotland yesterday when we did a five hour cross-country from coast to coast. I was really surprised by the nature of the country being so hilly. It is a bit of a contrast from the country down here which is as flat as a pancake. We just skirted the Lake District on the way back and were sore tempted to go to Strathaven* to have a look, but unfortunately time would not allow it. (*The Roll of Honour in the War History of Southern Rhodesia includes G.T. Reid and P.D.D. Johnsone, but I have no way of checking) FINNINGLEY SATELLITE, BIRCOTES -13/6/ 1942. I feel a lot older in more ways than one, it certainly gives one a different outlook on life in the Air Force. It is not a bad outfit really but I definitely wouldn’t want to make it my career in life and shall be sick of the sight of aeroplanes when this war is over. I doubt whether I shall ever want to go up in one again. They say only birds and fools fly and I think it is very true, there is nothing like a good old terra-firma. We had quite a hair-raising experience a few nights ago whilst on a five hour cross-country. Our route lay to a point off the Welsh coast and then back twelve miles past Liverpool. The weather was terrible and we must have drifted off course for we landed up in the middle of a balloon barrage. We don’t know to this day how we got out of it, but there were balloons all around us and it was not pleasant. The squeakers attached to the balloons kicked up an infernal row over our T.R.9 radio which didn’t improve matters at all. Anyway we got out safely that was the main thing, but I certainly don’t want another experience like it. It is a good thing the Jerries don’t go in for balloons on the same scale as we do. I forgot to tell you that Eddie Banks turned up at Finningley just before I left. I didn’t see very much of him as he was in a different flight, anyway he hasn’t changed much as is just as bumptious as ever. I received a very welcome parcel of cigarettes, tea, sugar etc from D’Urban and Betty Barry*. The tea and sugar will go a long way in augmenting Helen and Noel’s rations as they are pretty meagre, believe me. BIRCOTES - 20/6/1942. I have at last finished my O.T.U., but we are being held back for some reason. We were at Rhodesia House on Saturday morning and met quite a few boys we knew, including a number of Army chaps we are over here doing a special course at Sandhurst. It sight for sore eyes to see good khaki again and bush hats. We haven’t the fainted idea where we are being posted to yet, but hope it will be Waddington on Lancasters. I am not worrying at all now that I have broken my “duck”, let the Jerries do their worst. They have kept clear of these parts for some time now and think They must be too scared to penetrate far inland (* There is an E.W. Banks in the Rhodesian Roll of Honour. *The Meikles originate from Strathaven in Lanarkshire) . SCAMPTON NEAR LINCOLN - 11/7/1942. I was on the Bremen raid before going on leave, this was our first raid as a crew it wasn’t too pleasant at all as the opposition was fierce, one big shell burst just under my turret and blew us up quite a way, didn’t feel too happy as I could smell it. Which according to the old timers means that it was pretty close. Anyway, we got back safely which is the main thing. They certainly put up a terrific barrage as if one could forget there was a war on and weren’t shooting at you, it would be a pretty and impressive sight. I arranged to broadcast to you after we had lunch, but we had to wait until 7.15 to talk. I hope you heard me O.K. I had a cable from Toosie* to that effect. I am afraid I was a bit nervous and left out a few things I had to say to you. Anyway I will do better next time. Usually there is only a handful of people at these broadcasts but on this occasion there were hundreds as the hall was packed. Hence the stage fright. Anyway, I hope you gathered what I had to say which is the main thing. Ten of the chaps I came over with are either killed or missing, it is a bad show but still one has to expect these things. Lets hope this business won’t last much longer. I am sick and tired of it already. There will be bags of fun and games for me from now on, especially if they start the Second front we have heard so much about. The sooner the better, I hope they keep it up the whole time. We will be flying in the latest four engine machine** which are absolutely first class and a vast improvement over the old Wellingtons we have done our trips on. I am sharing a room with a chap I went to college with Basil Baker, he was at Finningley when I first arrived there. He is a jolly decent sort and we get on well together. I am sorry we were not posted to Waddington but we don’t have much choice these days. Chips Holland* and Doug Rail** are still there and I expect I shall be seeing them soon, as they are only 8 miles away. Father, it must be a job getting around these days owing to petrol rationing. Not many cars are seen on the roads here. Even the people who do run cars will never give you a lift, after I have been walking alone and empty cars have passed. They are certainly a funny crowd out here, give me a bunch of Colonials every time. The atmosphere in the mess’s is rather amusing, providing one has a sense of humour. All the big cheeses congregate in one corner of the room, usually near the fire place and the mere P/O’s herd in the other like a flock of sheep. There is no feeling of comradeship and I shall be darn glad to get out of it. I shall probably be promoted to Flying Officer in a few months time, the extra half a crown a day will help the family budget along very nicely. (*His brother Toosie Meikle of Mountain Home, Penhalonga.) (**Lancasters.) (*Chips Holland was the son of John Holland of Umtali and brother to Binks Holland.) (** There is a W.D. Rail on the Rhodesia Roll of Honour.) R.A.F. SCAMPTON LINCS - 19/7/1942. It was nice seeing Chips Holland and Doug Rail from RAF Waddington and we had a good old chat over a couple of beers. I am sorry we weren’t posted over there now, as there are still quite a few Rhodesians left. It seems a far better station than this. R.A. F SCAMPTON LINCS - 3/8/1942. I was on the Dusseldorf Raid last Friday, it was quite good fun except for a few narrow shaves. We nearly crashed on take-off when the machine with 4 000lb bomb and a load of incendiaries started to swing but we just managed to clear another machine at the end of the drome. All went well after that until we were about 60 miles from the target when a single engine fighter appeared on the scene. It was obviously expecting to catch us napping but I spotted him immediately from my mid – turret position and gave the pilot the order to take evasive action and even though we threw him off for a few minutes he was back on our tail until we got to the target. He was forced to give up then, as the flak was pretty terrific. This bloke was carrying a light on his wing which helped matters a lot, this was obviously used to signal to the ground defences. We got over the Rhine at 20 000ft. The bomb aimer went down to his position, but we discovered afterwards that his oxygen supply was faulty and he had gone all the way without it and was naturally dopey. Anyway in this condition he pulled the wrong switch and everything fell out before the bomb doors were fully open. There was a terrific thump and the machine went into a nose dive with all the engines out but they all picked up again fortunately. We all thought we had received a direct hit and wouldn’t have had a chance if it had been so. The bombs fell in the target area O.K., so we turned for home. After getting out of the flak belt another fighter, a twin engine this time tagged on to us, but we lost it after 10 minutes. This was due to the wonderful turn of speed these machines have when empty. We were jolly glad to get back and have a good meal of bacon and eggs. We certainly made a good job of it for some of the fires were terrific. The Jerries were pretty active over the last day or so. We were having tea the other afternoon, when gunfire shook the windows and we dashed out and saw a D.O. 217 cruising along under the clouds. The ack-ack fire wasn’t very accurate but he soon disappeared when a fighter appeared on the scene. He was shot down into the sea later we learned afterwards. Doug Rail was here for a few days doing a special course but left yesterday. I am quite sorry as it makes all the difference to have ones fellow countrymen to knock around with. These people don’t speak our language here so are pretty difficult to get on with. Chips Holland is still going strong at Waddington, I have seen him a few times down town. He is getting married next month at his station so I expect I shall attend the ceremony. His future wife is in the W.A.A.F.’s and her people have pots of money so he should be well away. Thank you so much for the razor blades you have been putting in my letters, they are very welcome indeed as they are pretty difficult to obtain here. R.A.F. SCAMPTON LINCS - 11/8/1942. We are expecting to be shifted from here soon on a very special job. I can’t tell you anything about it now, but hope to do so later. We will be much nearer London which will be a good thing and although the job will be pretty dangerous, it will mean promotion and will be worthwhile in the long run.* (*He refers to his transfer to 82 Pathfinders Squadron, flying Lancasters.) R.A.F. SCAMPTON LINCS - 21/8/1942. Helen went into the home on the 12th and the babe arrived at 5.15 next morning. We are calling him Ian Antony and its really hard to believe that I am a proud father. We finished our last six hour cross-country yesterday, it was a very interesting trip right up to Scotland down past the Isle of Man to Lands End. The coast is really beautiful over the later part and we got quite a scare there too as two Spitfires got suspicious and shot up to identify us, they were really too business like. We are expecting to move from here tomorrow to a station down near Cambridge, were we will have a special and rather dangerous job to do. You will probably hear about it in due course but it is very secret at the moment. R.A.F. SCAMPTON LINCS - 1/9/1942. We are still hanging about here waiting for orders to move to the new station. The snag is that they won’t accept us, except as a complete crew, we are still 2 short and so have to wait for them to join us. Chips Holland is getting married this Saturday and has asked me to take Doug Rail’s place as his best man. Doug is under open arrest at the moment for a low flying offence. It is taking place in the morning and there won’t be a reception, worse luck. His prospective bride , a farmer’s daughter, seems a very nice girl and appears capable of keeping him in order. What a senseless existence this is, not one of the aircrews is keen on going over Germany, it is just treated as an unpleasant job that has to be done. One has only to glance round the mess before a raid and note the expressions on the chap’s faces, to realize the job we have got to do. There is one thing though, one never fears a grave, they all seem to be fatalists and know I am one now. There isn’t much in the way of news this week. I’m afraid, we are still being very well fed with three good meals and a huge afternoon tea every day. What more could one wish for but this isn’t the life or the country for me, we all want to be back amongst our own kind. R.A.F. WYTON, HUNTINGTON - 23/9/1942. I hope you having been receiving my telegrams now that the service has been started from this end. You will probably hear from me more regularly this way as there is always the uncertainty of letters reaching home safely. I am lucky being on the new station as London is only an hours train journey away, so if I get a day off at any time will be able to pop down. We have been here 4 days and are just settling down. Our mess is very comfortable, but the food disappointing compared with other stations I have been on. Still we are jolly well off considering the rations the civilians get. Nothing is rationed here of course and I always feel like helping myself to a spot of butter and sugar for Helen and Noel. I expect you have heard the sad news about Chips Holland missing ten days ago. Let us hope he got away with it and feel so sorry for his wife separated after only 8 days of married life. I was at the wedding as I told you. I spent the Saturday evening with them in Lincoln and she went the following night. Another friend of ours was killed in a raid about the same time. He was Dick Rundle from Bulawayo who spent several of his leaves at Hillingdon. The best always are the first to go in these outfits and he wouldn’t have harmed a fly. It certainly isn’t a pleasant experience, if you call it that, with friends at your pub disappearing one after another. One has to expect these things though. I am quite hardened these days. I am due to be promoted Flying Officer on the first of the month, the extra four bob will come in very handy. As a matter of fact from our point of view I am very satisfied with the way things are going. The war must seem very distant to you out there as it did to me. It is pretty hard to realize even here sometimes, but one comes to earth with a bump when floating over the other side. R.A.F. WYTON,HUNTINGTON - 19/10/1942. Life has been treating me pretty well on the whole here, I have been on 2 trips lately, Osnabruck and Kiel. We should be averaging about three a week but the weather has been against us. We didn’t have very much excitement at Osnabruck although Jerry did his damnest to hit us and very nearly succeeded on one or two occasions. The raid was quite a success and we observed out bombs dropping in the middle of the target area. The Kiel raid wasn’t so funny at all, for apart from the cold the temperature at minus 30 degrees and we nearly got in a spin and crashed. This happened just as we were approaching the target when thirty search lights caught us and they naturally started shooting at us. Smithy my pilot, tried to evade them by turning away, when a shell burst near one wing and turned the machine over on its back. He says he doesn’t know how he righted it again as it was just about to go into a spin. Anyway, thank goodness he managed it. This was a pretty good effort on his part considering we had 9000lbs of bombs on board, not a word was spoken for quite a few minutes after that. The flak at the target burst all around us and all we received was one hit in the starboard inner which didn’t do any damage. The docks and town were pretty well lit up, so we dropped everything in the centre and made for home. I could still see the fires burning from 100 miles away and the reflection on the clouds from well over 120. A few flak ships opened up on us when we were out to sea, but we soon lost them. I didn’t see any of my friends the fighters except over the target chasing some unfortunate in another type of aircraft. They seemed to steer well away from us for some reason or other and I am not sorry. It is very sad hearing about poor old Chips going west, he was one I did think would get through. The machine crashed on the other side somewhere and the only survivor was the Flight Engineer.* Chips wife phoned me up the other night and said she had not given up hope as they could find no trace of him in the machine and I hope she is right, but the chances are pretty remote. It is easier for the other members of the crew to get out if there is a slight chance at all. We have started playing rugger here and I have had 3 games so far. We had quite a job getting a team together as most of the chaps seem to play soccer. I was wondering if they would publish that photo in the Herald as half the chaps have gone west. It is exactly a year and a day since we saw you last but it seems years and years to us. It makes us feel we have left the old life a long way behind but our thoughts are always with you. Don’t worry it won’t be long before we are united again. We were on the Genoa raid last week and it was easily the best trip I have been on so far. The take-off was in the late afternoon and it was still light when we crossed the French coast, much to our consternation, but apart from a few guns popping off at us nothing else was seen. (*The Lancaster of 44 Squadron that Chips Holland was piloting was shot down over Holland. The people of the village of Epe erected a memorial in his honour and the Holland family were invited to a memorial service.) We quite expected a herd of fighters to swoop down on us but they must have thought better of it thank goodness. The moon was full and the visibility very good, it was really wonderful flying at 20 000 feet towards the Alps. Our biggest thrill of course was to see the lights of Geneva, we skirted the place so had a really good view of what was going on down below. It really was a pretty sight with all the different coloured lights and the Neon signs flashing on and off. The Swiss naturally took an extremely dim view of the intrusion, so fired a few guns at us to show there was no ill-feeling. I think they were pointed in the opposite direction, but still. Everything showed up extremely well including Lake Geneva. From this point we could see the Alps looming up in front of us and what a magnificent sight they presented and wish you had been there because no words of mine could describe them. We crossed with 4000 feet to spare and even then the peaks seemed to be reaching up trying to draw us down. We flew directly over Mount Blanc and it was very easy to distinguish from the others from its shape and height. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky as we crossed Italy and the coast line could be seen sixty miles in front. When this was reached, the old Ice cream merchants* opened up, but their fire was inaccurate and they appeared to be pretty jittery down there. We were half an hour early so decided to stooge up and down the coast to pass the time away. Everyone else had the same idea until there was a regular procession which should have given the Ities* a bit of target practice but didn’t take advantage of it. When the time was up we waited for the first flares to be dropped then went in, these were not really necessary owing to excellent visibility. The flak was pretty intense as we flew over the target at 10 000 feet and seemed to burst all around us. It must have been close as the powder could be smelt. Our bombs fell on a nice built up area and must have blotted out a few inmates, a pretty cold blooded thing to say, but war is war. There were some terrific explosions as a few bombs hit some oil tanks – really pretty watching and as we set course for home the fires were going pretty well. One of our chaps from here went down to 50 feet after dropping his bombs to give his gunners some practice shooting at the numerous villas on the coast. I bet they were mad. The return trip was quite uneventful until we had passed over Paris when we saw 5 fighters in formation coming for us about 800 yards away. I didn’t wait for any more so told Smithy to dive into the clouds which he did at about 300 m.p.h. and that was the last we saw of them, thank goodness. We were ready for bed with a vengeance on our return having been in the air for eight hours ten minutes. (*Derogatory term for Italians.) R.A.F. WYTON,HUNTINGTON - 24/11/1942. My Flying Officer has just come through and it is quite a sensation strutting around with a thick stripe being one above the alleged “lowest of the low”. It happened to be stand down yesterday, meaning there were no operations for us and I took the opportunity to go down and see Helen and Tony. We usually have these stand downs twice a week depending on circumstances and weather of course. The train leaves Huntington at 12.27 and arrives at Kings Cross at 2.40, the Tube takes an hour to Uxbridge. We were on the Turin raid last week and it was a great success as regards the bombing. Our ground staff were working on the machine until just before take-off but we managed to get away on time. It was quite moonlight, and our course was 6 miles off Paris, owing to cloud covering the landscape it was impossible to get a pin-point to assist the navigation at all. We of course thought that we were well away from the danger zone but we haven’t reckoned with adverse winds. Without any warning, there was no means of telling of course with a cloud cover beneath, they opened up with us with heavy stuff, as we were at 16 000 feet. I thought we had had it as the puffs kept floating past we could smell it which means it too close to be healthy. I told Smithy how they were bursting behind so he decided to stick the nose down and fortunately it was just the right thing to do as they had a proper barrage just in front so we should have run right into it. Anyway, we heaved a sigh of relief when it was over and I must confess I shut my eyes once or twice as mine is a very exposed position and one can see “too” much. We lost 6000 feet in that dive and had to battle up to 20 000 feet to enable us to cross the Alps in comfort. They were even more beautiful than ever as more snow had fallen since our previous visit, we could see the target about 20 miles away with flares dropping and bombs bursting as we were slightly late. It was as bumpy as blazes dropping down to the target, the light flak was pretty concentrated but not at all accurate. It gave one the impression of a person chucking a handful of sand around trying to hit someone. Anyway, we pressed on and bombed and then turned for home, everything stood out very well especially the Cathedral. We discovered next day that the machine had been hit twice, once in the port outer engine and the other missed me by 2 feet at the back of the turret, but still a miss is as good as a mile these days. We were picked up by a fighter near the coast on the way back but soon lost him as I saw him first. The weather over here was lousy so we were diverted to a fighter station on the coast. The cloud ceiling was only 800 feet but we managed to get down safely. On trying to take off the next day the immersion pump failed so we had to hang around for another 24 hours before it was repaired. The food etc was pretty good down here, but we looked awful sights not having shaved for 3 days, especially being officers you know!!! Anyway, it was a real treat to go round looking like a tramp for once, just like old times in fact. It was pretty cold that night in spite of having full kit on. The snag is that I have to be literally pushed into the mid-upper turret owing to my size and if I had to bale out, well it would be just too bad. Anyway, for your peace of mind I hope the seats will be modified to enable me to get out easier. We are getting pretty severe frosts now which is a sign of things to come and I am not looking forward to it a bit, but still we can stand this winter easily with the knowledge that victory is just around the corner and that we shall soon be home again. It will be a grand day. I certainly don’t like war as a pastime but am only hoping that I am doing my bit. R.A.F. WYTON, HUNTINGTON - (undated). (Pages missing)........ I have great faith in Smithy so if we are unlucky to be hacked down it will be no fault of his. They are certainly getting it in the neck these days and I can’t see how thay can last much longer. These 4000lb bombs of ours must be having a deterrent effect, it would be on me I know. Helen and I have been talking over things and I have decided to take a chance on coming out when I have finished my two tours. There wouldn’t be any objection from these quarters, as quite a few of the overseas tours have gone home recently. There is certainly a risk attached to it but for that matter we might easily have a bomb dropped on us over here. It wouldn’t be for at least another four months, so perhaps by that time the U boat menace will have been solved. It would be grand seeing you all again. It seems years since we saw you last and makes me think that we are living in a different world, perhaps we are, but our thoughts are always with our dear ones at home. Look after yourselves, we’ll see you soon, keep the home fires burning. R.A.F. WYTON, HUNTINGTON - DECEMBER (undated). (Missing pages. Several letters probably also went astray considering that ships carrying mail could have been sunk by U boats) I have been on four trips since I wrote, just over to Frankfurt and three to Turin. We did the latter in four nights which wasn’t bad considering the distances involved. The Frankfurt trip went off pretty well although conditions at the target were pretty rotten. I managed to bag a fighter on the way in. It was a J.U. 88 and had shadowed us for some time. We managed to evade him on his first attack, but on the second he kept on after us so I got in first. I only had one gun as the other was u/s but I got in first and let him have it* Only about (missing page, so frustratingly we don’t know what happened next) (missing page)........ a barrel of beer which I am sharing out between the ground staff and a few selected soaks, I will see I get my share anyway** The first two Turin trips were an outstanding success, the fires started were colossal. I haven’t seen anything like that since Cologne. No wonder the Ities are getting out of it, as on the second trip fires were still burning and a huge pall of smoke hung over the town so we had no difficulty in locating it. The last however was a complete shambles, the cloud was up to 20 000 feet and the target was completely obscured. All we could see were some search lights on the ground so we bombed them. (*I believe Ian was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross for this action) (** Sounds like a celebratory barrel of beer donated by the mess) We were pretty severely iced up so it would have been suicidal to have ventured below. Coming back the cloud was higher and we had to climb to 25 000 feet to clear them. I haven’t been so cold in all my life, our rear gunner fished a chunk of ice out of his oxygen mask on our return. It was clear over the channel and we were interested spectators in a naval engagement down below. The worst part of these trips is the first stage crossing the French coast and the first 60 miles or so inland. The first night we saw 2 of our aircraft shot down in front of us so we gave that place a wide berth. There are always bags of fighters about also as with one of the trips when bursts of tracer flashed all around us which wasn’t too pleasant. I am getting hardened to it however and as I have done 12 trips so feel quite a veteran. Only another 33 to do that is “all” and then I am going to keep 2 feet on the ground. R.A.F. WYTON, HUNTINGTON - 28/1/1943. I am sorry to have missed a week writing to you but I haven’t had much time to spare with 2 trips to Berlin and one to Dusseldorf. I was very glad to be on the two Berlin do’s although I didn’t feel too comfortable about them. We were first over the target on both occasions but had to fly around for some time before locating it, owing to poor visibility. They were shooting at us the whole time which wasn’t very comfortable but we were fortunate enough to get away without a scratch. The city was damaged pretty well judging from the huge fires started and the palls of smoke, which we estimated went up to 10 000 feet on our departure. One of our chaps came back on two engines and has been awarded the............., pretty good going. In comparison Lorient* was quite a pleasant target on both occasions. I don’t think there is much left of the place by now. The Jerries are certainly getting it in the neck these days and I shouldn’t care to be in their shoes when the bombing offensive starts in summer. Dusseldorf a few nights ago was also very successful, it is one of the hot spots of the Ruhr. We were again extremely lucky, nothing came dangerously close unlike Berlin where we could smell the stuff. I forgot to tell you that we got a photograph of the centre of the target on the second night. There were the usual fighters about but they left us severely alone for a change. I feel quite a veteran these days having done nineteen trips, only with my forty fifth is over I am done with. It shouldn’t take very long once the fine weather starts as we should average ten or twelve a month later. The winter has been extremely mild so far with only two falls of snow. We only suffer when up in the air with a temperature of minus forty. It doesn’t seem to matter how much clothing one puts on and the electrical heating only works in spasms for some unknown reason. I have been invited to another pheasant shoot in a couple of days. There is bound to be something to prevent me going. It is a real treat to get out on these excursions, as they are the nearest approach to home life we get over here that I miss so much. This country has treated us very well, it is difficult to judge it under wartime conditions. I will always have a soft spot for it but there is no place like home. (*In Brittany) R.A.F WYTON, HUNTINGTON - 5/4/1943. We have done one trip since being back and that was to Kiel (Canal) a place with a few unpleasant memories for us. We were turned upside down on the last raid there last October. It was always been a hotspot but we got away without any serious mishaps even though we were first in. We have been to all the hottest parts on the other side so there is no reason why the next trips shouldn’t be like the first thirty. They are increasing their defences in one big way. ................... (missing pages) R.A.F. WYTON, HUNTINGTON - 23/5/1943. I went to Rhodesia House with Helen to see about some clothes for herself and Tony from the Royal School of Needlework, who supply almost anything in the clothing line, free of charge to wives of officers providing coupons are produced. I went to see Ticky Baggot at Rhodesia House about getting home at the end of my trips and it looks as though everything will be arranged. It would be an easy matter for myself but Ticky said he would pull a few strings to get us back on the same boat. If this falls through I am afraid we shall have to stay for the duration, as we naturally prefer to face the risk, if any, together. Ticky wanted me to go down to Ipswich on Saturday as a guest of Sir Cecil Rodwell* and his wife, the idea being to appear at the local Wings for Victory Week. Anyway I was dead off. I am afraid rather disappointed him rather, as I am the only Rhodesian in this racket now poor Eddie Banks has gone. We had ten air-raid warnings the first five nights which rather disturbed ones slumber. The gunfire was pretty terrific at times and on one occasion at four in the morning, one appeared to be coming too close. I went out to investigate in case it should have been necessary to dash into the shelter. Anyway the barrage must have put the wind up them as he dropped everything he had about four miles away so we heard later, but even then the windows shock. Quite a change to be on the receiving end!! I have only another six to do now and shan’t be at all sorry when they are over. It will take some time for my nerves to settle down after all this, all my pals but two have gone which doesn’t help matters very much. It has been a great experience in spite of everything and I shouldn’t like to have missed it. Thank you very much for sending the photographs, Father which also arrived today. They are jolly good but the only snag is that they make me feel so homesick. (*Governor of Southern Rhodesia). R.A.F. WYTON, HUNTINGTON - 29/5/1943. I haven’t done a single thing since coming back from leave, but I hope to get cracking and finish the remaining six very soon. The snag at the moment is that they have pushed our navigator to another squadron, we have been together since O.T.U. We are very fed up but couldn’t do a thing about it. Let us hope his successor is as good. Please give all the family our love, we hope to see you soon. Look after yourselves. All our love. Your loving son, Ian. ORAFs extends it thanks to John Meikle for allowing us to share this with our readers. It is hoped in time that we will be able to add some photographs to the article. Thanks to Bob Manser for initiating this.