{"id":1328,"date":"2023-08-12T08:00:52","date_gmt":"2023-08-11T22:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wepidgeon.com\/pidgeonpost\/?p=1328"},"modified":"2023-08-12T09:40:14","modified_gmt":"2023-08-11T23:40:14","slug":"war-letters-nw-australia-thu-12-aug-1943-at-a-beaufighter-squadron","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wepidgeon.com\/pidgeonpost\/?p=1328","title":{"rendered":"War Letters – NW Australia: 12 Aug 1943, Coomalie Creek; With the boys of a Beaufighter squadron"},"content":{"rendered":"

W.E. Pidgeon
\nC\/O DPR Unit
\nA.P.O. Darwin<\/p>\n

Thursday
\n[12 Aug 1943]<\/p>\n

Darling,<\/p>\n

How\u2019s my little pet today?\u00a0 Listening to Janie?\u00a0 Going to the pub?\u00a0 Reading to the Watsos? Or just thinking of Willie?<\/p>\n

Am at another camp where I stayed last night.1<\/a><\/sup>Coomalie Creek Airfield<\/span>\u00a0 Am moving up the road this afternoon where I shall pass the evening with the Sydney fellows from the Auto Club.2<\/a><\/sup>Believed to be Livingstone Airfield<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Bristol Beaufighter, No. 31 Squadron RAAF, Coomalie Creek, N.T.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The crowd of pilots fly Beaufighters,3<\/a><\/sup>No. 31 (Beaufighter) Squadron RAAF<\/span> a twin engined job used for strafing the nips on islands 300 to 400 miles from here.\u00a0 They are somewhat older than the Spitfire boys but are all in early twenties.\u00a0 The Commanding officer4<\/a><\/sup>Wing Commander C.F. Read<\/a><\/span> is youngish tall, dark & could easily pass for a brother of Good-O.\u00a0 Something about his face is remarkably like her.\u00a0 The air force COs are much more friendly than their counterparts in the army.\u00a0 I suppose this is so because they are much younger.<\/p>\n

An Army Liaison officer attached to this unit came up to me last night and asked if I was Wep. Said he thought he recognised me.\u00a0 Asked if I recollected trying to cook sausages with a blow lamp in the main street of Tamworth.\u00a0 He was at the dance at Tamworth Golf Club.\u00a0 Fancy coming 2,000 miles to have that brought up!\u00a0 Wep, my girl, is a name to be contended with! \u2013 A young chap of 23 took me in tow last night & fed me with a few whiskies.\u00a0 At ten o\u2019clock we suppered on toast, asparagus and SARDINES!\u00a0 Sorry I can\u2019t bring you any down but I am not supposed to buy anything from their mess store.\u00a0 In case you get the wrong idea that I am wallowing in epicurean luxury I might add that the usual mess meal is only too often blasted tinned bully beef \u2013 (tasteless goddamn stuff) & margarine which no one I have so far struck is inclined to eat.\u00a0 Dry Bread is the standing order now.\u00a0 It\u2019s 3 weeks since the troops have had any butter.\u00a0 You can imagine my sufferings.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Typical sketch made on the fly, possibly near Coomalie Creek, Northern Territory<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Sketch colour and tone notes; possibly near Coomalie Creek, Northern Territory<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is the best camp I have been in.\u00a0 Situated on the slopes of one of the few hills around this country it is sprinkled amongst delightful open forest.\u00a0 Beautifully green trees, plenty of palms \u2013 and birds galore.\u00a0 Dawn is a rare pleasure \u2013 you wake to the low and penetrating calls of the birds, and the air is as soft & cool as a whisper.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Possibly at camp near Coomalie Creek Airfield, north west Australia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The shower is the coldest I\u2019ve had up here \u2013 dispersed my crumbiness in a trice.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Camp shower, north west Australia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Gave the old sand fly bites their necessary scratchings & offed to breakfast of bully beef rissoles and tinned bacon.\u00a0 For heavens sake get some sucker down there to eat ours.\u00a0 I\u2019ve completely had it.\u00a0 Practically every morning since I arrived.\u00a0 I never want to see it again.\u00a0 It dished up like limp ham boiled in washing up water.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m afraid you and I will have a few guests when I return.\u00a0 So many of the lads have been very kind to me.\u00a0 I have asked them all to give us a ring if & when they are in Sydney.<\/p>\n

Hope to see you soon sweetheart.\u00a0 Better get all beautified for you birfday5<\/a><\/sup>Jess\u2019s 35th birthday, September 5th., 1943.<\/span> & little Will.\u00a0 Lots of kisses.\u00a0 Wish I was at Darwin in case I get a letter.<\/p>\n

Bye, bye darling<\/p>\n

Bill.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Beaufighter EH-Y, A19-70, No. 31 Squadron RAAF, Coomalie Creek, N.T.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Warming up, Beaufighter, No. 31 Squadron RAAF, Coomalie Creek, N.T.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Colour notes for Beaufighter, No. 31 Squadron<\/em>\u00a0RAAF, Coomalie Creek, N.T.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Bristol Beaufighter, No. 31 Squadron<\/em>\u00a0RAAF, Coomalie Creek, N.T.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Bristol Beaufighter, No. 31 Squadron RAAF, Coomalie Creek, N.T.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Bristol Beaufighter, No. 31 Squadron RAAF Coomalie Creek, N.T.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Coomalie Creek Airfield, 23 June 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Coomalie Creek Airfield, 23 June 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Notes:<\/h3>