LIFE OF A GUNNER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 177, 7 November 1941, Page 3

LIFE OF A GUNNER

NIGHT FIGHTER WORK IN

ENGLAND

LETTERS FROM LOCAL FLYER

(Continued from last issue)

The following is a continuation of the letters received by his parents from Air Gunner W. Henderson, who for the past 12 months has been serving with a Night Fighter Squadron in England. Late May We are getting used to our new quarters, and of course they are progressing all: the time towards completion. Have just got mail. Are the New Zealand blackouts just coastal? I w r ill be cabling next pay to ask you to send me some shoes. These are now rationed in England and it will' be hard for the service personnel to get them as officially we are issued with boots. The scheme took the civilians by surprise overnight, and it was amusing to hear the things they had been "just going to buy." Shoes and hankies affect us, but we will be issued with service hankies soon. We are having lovely days now, but fog and cloud and no flying at night. I have had my first sunbath in England. All the boys are down at a bit of a canal, taking a dip. Only five days now till full moon, but no action if the nights don't improve. My pilot has! held out a bait for 20 cigs a day for a month if we get one this. moon. As cigs are like gold I let my mind wander round the pleasure I will get smoking them if „ . -. .! We have a new G.O. now, the old one being transferred to another squadron. June I made only two night trips this tnocn, the weather being so foul at night. I have now made the 100 hour mark on Defiants. Last Friday was the 13th. (You remember I left Whaka that day and date) . Well this one sure Avas Black Friday for the lad, from Whaka. My pilot and another, myself and another gunner all went into a village for the evening. Late in the evening we lost our pilots, missed the bus 1 while hunting for them and walked 15 miles, arriving home at 6 a.m. My pilot took me down to a bomber drome on Sunday, where I spent the night -with, four of the boys who came ever in the boat with me. Wc had a great reunion. Monday noon he picked me up and avc flew to another night fighter station Where there were two more of the lads from N.Z., but we couldn't linger as we had to fly that night. Officially I was on five days leave, but I won't be leaving here till the last two days. I have realised one of my ambitions lately, that is to travel over 400 m.p.h. We touched 410 the other day. lits great to hear the wind shrieking past; the '"G" was a bit tough when we pulled out. I felt as if I were being shoved through the floor. Now I am off for a sunbathe. It doesn't get dark here now till 11.30. How do you like that? 25/6/41 There was and still is, a real heat wave, and the gang are burnt to a cinder. We are flying in shorts and shirt sleeves. I have been transferred to another flight together with my pilot and the second gunner. My pilot is now a flight commander, with the rank of acting flight lieutenant. There is nothing doing this moon. One boy brought down a Heinkle last night, the first this month. I have to do duty pilot today, and must toddle off. j (To be continued) . J

"Essential to Asthmatic and Bronchial patients" —Dr. Hair's renowned remedy. F. G. Miacklow, Central Pharmacy, Whakatane.