Letters

FROM Roy Clark, A/G, Fairy Meadow, NSW

Dear Editor,

This arrives to you courtesy of my youngest daughter Gillian. Although I am not an Odd Bod member, it has been my privilege to join you on every Anzac Day for these last eighteen years. I was Odd Bod Pat Kerrin's mid-upper gunner on 115 Squadron during 1944-45.

Pat and I were reunited when I emigrated to Australia from UK. I could only remember that Pat lived in Tatura, Victoria. In March 1974 my eldest daughter Marion and her new husband Noel were on their honeymoon, and stopped at Tatura. They enquired in a shop and soon located Pat. I may add that there are not many people who do not know Pat. He is still trying to teach me to drink like an Aussie, but with not much luck – I will keep trying!

We were close to England's shores, returning from a night over Germany, when a loud splat almost made me leap through the perspex of the mid-upper turret, which was now covered with frozen urine. Some of the lads up front kept a 'comfort' can and usually emptied same through a bottom hatch, but this time they used the top one. I can't claim to have been urinated on from a great height, but AT a great height. To this day I wonder, were the lads up front passing an opinion as well as water? The gunners never had the luxury of a comfort can. That apart, vital equipment should never be exposed to sub-zero temperatures anyway!

What a great bloke George Smith is. Nothing is too much trouble for him.

Yours sincerely,

Roy Clark, aka Nobby.

P.S. Despite the address, I am NOT one of the fairies!

(ED: Pat Kerrins OAM and his mate Roy Clark are featured in Michael Veitch's book "FLY". Nobby, you coulda bin an Odd Bod years ago. We do admit Poms from time to time! We'd be pleased to have you on payment of a modest fee. Speak to George again.)

From Odd Bod Jack Bell of Surrey Hills, Vic

Dear Walter,

Please find enclosed a money order for $130 of which $120 is a donation from my 90th birthday and $10 for Odds 'n Ends annual sub.

The Stalag IVB 1983 programme I have enclosed is very interesting. I remember a few of the names mentioned. My friend Tom Swallow is not the best and is struggling to keep going. Please return the programme at your leisure.

My apologies for arriving a day late for the Annual Meeting! Old age?

Kindest regards from Jack Bell.

(ED: Jack and I were PoWs in Stalag IVB but we did not meet there. Jack made a generous donation to Odd Bods to celebrate his 90th birthday this year. Many thanks, Jack. He was a bit red-faced to turn up at the Naval & Military Club a day late for the AGM in March. Well - could happen to anyone eh?)

From Odd Bod Hilton Nicholas, AM, OBE, of Howlong, NSW, to the Secretary:

Dear George,

I was very interested to read in the latest Odds 'n Ends the article on the "Manna" campaign towards the end of WW2. I have just finished reading a fascinating book entitled "The Flying Grocer" which covers the same ground but has quite a romantic touch.

The book also covers a very interesting account of RAAF 460 Squadron the deeds of which are legendary. I have downloaded the gen on the book in case your readers may be interested in following up on this story should you care to mention it in the next edition of the journal.

I won't be attending the ANZAC march as I will be involved in our little town of Howlong. You would be amazed at how many turn out for the Dawn service and subsequent activities.

With kind regards,
Hilton Nicholas

THE FLYING GROCER by Rupert Guinness
The remarkable story of Keith Bennett, DFC, his crew and a Dutch girl's letter that would change their war.

This is the true story of the Lancaster G2 bomber crews in World War 2, and their humanitarian drops over Holland, through the eyes of one 19 year old Australian pilot. Dubbed "The Flying Grocer" by the Dutch recipients of their supplies that were dropped over Holland in what was called Operation Manna, Keith Bennett passed away in late 2003.

However, Flying Officer Bennett's amazing story remains alive through revealing flight logs, personal photographs and correspondence - itself rich in military history. There is also the correspondence Bennett had with Dutch survivors especially one Jannie van Splunde.

Bennett and other crews in Bomber Squadron 460 devastated cities like Dresden and Cologne and scarred any romantic ideal about the war. However, from the 30 sorties he carried out for Squadron 460, Bennett was certainly proud of the last three he made - the humanitarian drops over Holland.

"The Flying Grocer goes straight up there with the best, including Don Charlwood's No Moon Tonight" - The Age.
ISBN: 9781741665314 rrp $34.95 paperback (with acknowledgements to Random House Australia)

FROM Affiliate John Eacott, Riddells Creek Vic.

A grandfather, father and son went to the country club for their weekly round of golf. Just as they reached the first tee, a beautiful young blonde carrying her bag of clubs approached them. She explained that the member who brought her to the club for a round of golf had an emergency that called him away and asked the trio whether she could join them. Naturally, the men all agreed.

Smiling, the blonde thanked them and said, 'Look blokes, I work in a topless bar as a dancer, so nothing shocks me anymore. If any of you want to smoke, have a beer, bet, swear, tell off-colour stories or do anything that you normally do when playing a round together, go ahead. But I enjoy playing golf, consider myself pretty good at it, so don't try to coach me on how to play my shots."

With that the men agreed to relax and invited her to drive first. All eyes were fastened on her shapely bottom as she bent to place her ball on the tee. She then took her driver and hit the ball 270 yards down the middle, right in front of the green. The father's mouth was agape. "That was beautiful," he said. The blonde put her driver away and said, "I really didn't get into it, and I faded it a little."

After the men hit their drives and their second shots, the blonde took out an eight iron and lofted the ball within five feet of the hole. The son said, "Damn, lady, you played that perfectly." The blonde frowned and said, "It was a little weak, but even an easy seven would have been too much club. I've left a tricky little putt." She then tapped in the five-footer for a birdie.

Having the honours, she drove first on the second hole, knocked hell out of the ball, and it landed nearly 300 yards away smack in the middle of the fairway. For the rest of the round the statuesque blonde continued to amaze the men, quietly and methodically shooting for par or less on every hole.

When they arrived at the 18th green, the blonde was three under par, and had a very nasty 12-foot putt on an undulating green for a par. She turned to the men and said, "I really want to thank you three for not acting like a bunch of chauvinists and telling me what club to use or how to play a shot, but I need this putt for a 69 and I'd really like to break 70 on this course. If one of you can tell me how to make par on this hole I'll take him back to my apartment, pour some single malt in him, fix him a steak dinner and then give him a very good time for the rest of the night."

The yuppie son jumped at the thought! He strolled across the green, carefully eyeing the line of the putt and finally said, "Aim about 6 inches to the right of the hole and hit it firmly. It will get over that little hump and break right into the cup."

The father knelt down and sighted the putt using his putter as a plumb. "Don't listen to the kid You want to hit it softly 10 inches to the right and let it run left down that little hogback, so it falls into the cup." 
The old gray-haired grandfather walked over to the blonde's ball, picked it up and handed it to her and said, "That's a gimme, sweetheart."

The blonde smiled and said, "Your car or mine?"

From Odd Bod Jack Coventry of Fairfield, Vic

This is what Jack told us about his grandson Blair Coventry, who became an Affiliate Member last year. "Blair is the great-grandson of Syd Coventry, a Collingwood legend. Blair is similar to our Immediate Past-President Walter, who ditched his aircraft in the Aegean Sea. Blair chose the Bass Strait when sailing!

Blair's sailing record: he was a crew member of "SKANDIA" in Sydney to Hobart trips. Winner 2004. In 2005 lost keel, also lost wallet. Came third in 2006 (vessel hit a whale). In the "Rolex" Fastnet race (UK): 2 trips, 2 second places. Blair is a keen rugby footballer for St Kevins, Melbourne"

and Jack is a proud grandfather.

AFFILIATE MEMBERSHIP

Odd Bods are reminded that affiliate membership is available to their children, grandchildren and other adults in their family circles, as well as to friends who may be air-minded and wish to join our illustrious association. (Yes, well, somebody has to blow our trumpet for us don't they?)

Affiliation fee is $25 per year, inclusive of the quarterly newsletter. A nomination form is included with this one. Go ahead, the recruiting drive is on. We have 32 affiliates currently.