Category: 1942/12
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December 31st 1942 – Ranchi
We fly to Calcutta on B.O.A.C. “Cleopatra” and then by train to Ranchi. Calcutta was recently bombed a few times – 3 to 8 hostiles, a few on Kidderpore docks, all the coolies flee, and some also dropped near Dalhousie Square. We see a few broken trees and pock marked buildings near the Great Eastern […]
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December 25th 1942 – Christmas in Karachi
We have a good party with 244 squadron who have a very well stocked bar, one of the best in the Gulf, and are very hospitable. Next morning about 0730 the only rainstorm this year arrives and pelts down through the chattai roofing of the mess. We can eventually stand it no longer and retreat […]
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December 22nd 1942 – Sharjah
We leave for Cairo and are told to wait at 22 P.T.C. Almaza, near Heliopolis. In the meantime A.H.Q. fix us up with a trip to the Western Desert, but later cancel it and put us on a Hudson on the 21st. 22 P.T.C. – christ! We get a paliasse “skin” and four blankets and […]
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December 18th 1942
We progress from 4+1 pr to 3+2 pr to 2+3 pr to 2+4 pr and I get an odd 88% and 75% on 4+1 and 3+2 respectively. (JDW: does anyone know what this means?) Tomorrow we leave for Cairo, and presumably go back on the next ship or flying boat. Not much on here: flying […]
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December 11th 1942 – Shandur
Much firing on the range, but I never hit the target – a cloth tank. They all seem to fall short, firing at 500′, though I do get an occasional bracket of no value. Perhaps I ought to open fire a bit nearer the target than 500′ as laid down. Yesterday Burt Mann and I […]
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December 7th 1942 – Cairo
We drive up to Cairo on Saturday afternoon to see a tank demonstration on the Sunday. We stay at Pension Stanley as all the hotels are full. A nice bed and a bloody breakfast for 55 piastres – expensive. A few drinks at the Continental, dinner somewhere, then Henry and I go about asking dragomen […]
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December 4th 1942 – Shandur
I do half an hour yesterday in a Hurricane I. The landings OK the second trip as the first time I don’t throttle back enough. Yesterday up to 15000′ and I have to close the hood as too damn cold. Down the Canal to have a look at Suez and Port Tewfik. Today we get […]
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December 1st 1942 – Shandur, Egypt
I go to the ‘Badia’ after Tommy’s Bar on Saturday night, but am not much impressed. The mantlepiece with my name on has been wiped away at Tommy’s Bar. Met McDowell, a Major now, in the Continental. On Sunday we leave Cairo on a truck and come down here to Shandur where 6 squadron’s training […]
A Story of War 