BATTLE OF BRITAIN one of the |   |
 After the war, John decided to move down under, and was to make his home in Perth, Western Australia as did many other ex pilots of the Battle of Britain.
John is one of those that, even today is still able to talk about the events of 1940. A reminder of those years adorns the wall behind him.
Prior to the Battle of Britain, John spent time with his squadron in France. Conditions were far from ideal, and grossly outnumbered, very few spares, and orders still coming from England and not from the fighting front, it was impossible to to slow the German advance, let alone win the war from France at that stage. | In six years of war, John spent the first two in England, and the last four in the India / Burma theatre. The first were the most memorable and dangerous.Firstly, France, where in four days John learnt what war was all about . He is convinced that what he learnt here saved his life later on in the Battle of Britain. After France the next big experience was the Battle of Britain which is covered in "Pilot Account" and in John's story of his life with 253 Squadron during the Battle of Britain in "Come One, Come All" which John actually wrote himself, both of which are on this website. Following a spell of instructing, John volunteered for Catapult Ships, which was thought to have been suicidal, but turned out to be very boring. After another short spell instructing, John travelled to India with 615 squadron. He was there for the longest four years of his life. During this time he encountered the following : six parachute jumps; a severe reprimand; a Court Martial; shot down in a Hurricane over Arakan; suffered malaria, heat stroke, ringworm, septic prickly heat and dhobies itch ! On his way out to India, John celebrated his 21st birthday on a troopship in Freetown harbour. He believes the best years of his life were spent living like a pig. His only sex was when on leave in brothels ! Johns war years, he saw in two parts . Firstly the unforgettable, terrible, but of great importance. The second he saw as four wasted years as he did practically nothing for the war effort. He will NEVER return to India. Even if he has to fly on a plane that transits India, he will refuse to get off !!  This photograph, possibly not of 253 Squadron, but taken at Kenley during 1940, shows pilots more relaxed and waiting for that 'dreaded telephone'. John states that life, (and tactics) during the Battle of Britain was made far easier for those Hurricane pilots because of the lessons learnt in France.  Sixty years on, and John makes another pilgrimage to England, this time for the 60th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Here is John in front of one of the replica Hurricane and Spitfire at Hendon RAF Museum. A reminder that Britian fought alone with, and won in the Battle of Britain with aircraft like this. |
