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Wine, Women and Song - a Spitfire Pilot's account

• Message 1. 

  Posted by Caro (U1691443) on Sunday, 9th October 2011

  Naturally just as I pressed "post" I saw I hadn't put a heading, so am re-posting this, otherwise it will drive me mad. Sorry. Caro.
  
  
  I have just been hearing a review of a spitfire pilot's letters and reminiscences edited by his son. Wine Women and Song: a Spitfire Pilot's Story, by Hamish Brown is the story of his father Doug Brown who trained in New Zealand and Canada, and was a Spitfire pilot with No. 485 Squadron. He flew over the Normandy beaches during the invasion of mainland Europe. He later joined, and led, No. 130 (Punjab) Squadron. So I am told on one site: aircrewbookreview.bl...
  
  The reviewer I was listening to, who said he read a lot of accounts of wartime pilots, said this one was a little unusual in that they are generally about people whose exploits include becoming an ace pilot and shooting down other planes. This man writes of how he was always in the wrong place or something went awry and his attempts were not always very successful. (Though, surely if you get to lead a squadron, you must have done something right.)
  
  I read quite recently Laddie Lucas's memoir of his time in Malta and that was good, so I might look out for this one too, as the reviewer said it had a lot of social history in it, as well as war experiences. And of course I like reading of NZers' experiences.
  
  Have any of you read this - I think it was published earlier this year? Or know of him?
  
  

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by CASSEROLEON (U11049737) on Wednesday, 12th October 2011

  Caro
  
  Three entire threads and not a single response must be some kind of record..
  
  All I could do was look up the Indian Air Force- established 1932 as the Royal Indian Air Force with 200 men. It grew to 27,000 men with both fighter and bomber aircraft and "fought gallantly over Burma from 1942 onwards."
  
  Cass

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by Caro (U1691443) on Wednesday, 12th October 2011

  There was only supposed to be ONE post, Cass! Fighting gallantly always sounds fine, until you remember it actually means doing your best to kill your fellow men.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by CASSEROLEON (U11049737) on Wednesday, 12th October 2011

  Caro
  
  
  Well the quote is from my favourite 1947 Indian History of Modern India.. And your pilot with his NZ connections may have felt it his duty to do what he could in the air to support "British" troops on the ground in Burma..
  
  "Some have greatness thrust upon them"
  
  Cass

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by somewhatsilly (U14315357) on Wednesday, 12th October 2011

  But the sensible ones thrust it right back!

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by Harpo (U14643022) on Wednesday, 12th October 2011

  Wrong war, wrong nationality, wrong plane!
  
  
  An Irish Airman Foresees His Death
  
  I know that I shall meet my fate
  Somewhere among the clouds above;
  Those that I fight I do not hate,
  Those that I guard I do not love;
  My country is Kiltartan Cross,
  My countrymen Kiltartan's poor,
  No likely end could bring them loss
  Or leave them happier than before.
  Nor law, nor duty bade me fight,
  Nor public men, nor cheering crowds,
  A lonely impulse of delight
  Drove to this tumult in the clouds;
  I balanced all, brought all to mind,
  The years to come seemed waste of breath,
  A waste of breath the years behind
  In balance with this life, this death.
  
  
  
  
  

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