Category: 1942/11
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November 30th 1942 – Cairo
Trip postponed 48 hours and then reduced to 28 hours. I go to a party at 17 sqn Mess and introduce my ‘Burma Roadster’ notes. Also get rather tight on their rum punch. Eventually we get off at 4am on 26th, via Gwalior and make Karachi that evening. We put up at the Carlton and […]
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November 24th 1942 – Calcutta
We have a party in the Mess the other night with Greta, McBlain and his girlfriend. Hugh Moule and his wife and Elizabeth Elsmlie (Jackie too) who gets a bit weary on her first John Collins, Pink gins and her first glass of port. Hammerbottom posted to 225 Group Bangalore, in some S/L A/C job […]
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November 15th 1942
Signal in: ‘S/L H (JDW: Hammerbeck) to report supernumary to 221 Group”. Nicholson and he do nothing about it. Eventually “P” staff ring up, but H in bed (hospital) with malaria so Mann made acting S/Ldr and C.O. 28 squadron. I and Henry take over A and B Flights respectively, but our promotion not yet […]
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November 8th 1942
I take to the air again. Doc Matheson gives me a medical yesterday which is a complete farce, beyond a little mercury blowing. Then I go off and do two landings and then beat up the 56th at Milestone 12 past Ratu Tanh. This morning I do a few circuits and glide approaches, but not […]
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November 5th 1942
W/C Nicholson V.C. arrives to take over this new 171 Wing, which at present consists of him and five other ‘Penguins’. He shoots the most dreadful and uncalled for line in the mess one evening, and I consider him very definitely a ‘chap’. Played cricket yesterday and scored 12. Sergeant Doughty brought back my .455 […]
A Story of War 