Random drug testing, no I’m not a fan of it either, just another tax. I remember the episode of Capt Lyle’s, and at the time we all thought poor bastard, he’s a gonna. Indeed a very pleasant surprise to hear of his recovery and selfless enthusiasm in helping his fellow man. Mrs Lyle must rate a mention as a very special person too, spot on.
In our outfit dope was zero tolerance, however alcohol was viewed more tolerantly, imbibed way too much in many cases. I’ve no doubt the bottle to throttle linkage was less than nominal, at times; however touch wood never with a problem.
One sad event we had was a young bloke who was exceptional as a driver but was a casual user of dope. He had been very careful and kept it away from his work, however one day he sets off on a long x country, a-smoking-on-the-way. He misses his one waypoint in three hours, gets lost, lands after dark facing towards lights 9 K’s distant and walks. It’s thick, medium level brush, he gets lost and four days later, in delirium and on the verge of perishing we find him. Needless to say EVERYONE knew about it so how we handled it was being VERY closely watched.
The boss and I shared the commercial view that we should try to keep him. The CP was not happy about it, anyrate as soon as the kid gets home he says to me, “Am I sacked?”
I says, ‘No, just go rest up a few days, talk to your parents (who of course were beside themselves by now) and settle yourself down a bit.’
When things were calm I gave him 24 hours to respond to a simple question, which was, ‘Can you give us a guarantee that you won’t do it again?’ I figured and was thinking of the arguments to use that we would somehow muscle this through with the authority if, as I hoped, he would say yes. Such was not to be.
Now after reading Lyles report I reckon we may have handled it better rather than losing a top young bloke to a milk delivery truck. Live and Learn!
FL asked if after accident blood testing was done in OZ and I don’t know that it is, but I am quite sure that a deceased pilot will be tested. I know of one case many years ago where an action was commenced by a passengers widow some years after the accident (about five I think). (It was a fw lightie in Tasmania) The pilots’ body was exhumed and in a cutting edge bit of work the pilot was positively tested for alcohol.
However as heliport has asked about our Aussie sobriety I’ll go back to some of our genetic pool and tend the following (anecdotal) evidence for consideration. It’s a bit of history from some archives of my old man’s. I’ve copied a couple of passages from the squadron (tongue in cheek) diary which was kept for posterity beside the official ones. Note the punctuation.
The event is 77 sqdn RAAF moving from Darwin to MilneBay, via leave in Sydney, ground party have already departed leaving the flying types behind.
31/01/1943
‘So after having seriously depleted security guards grog supply, and with they, our hosts, becoming more and more intolerant of us, it was an extremely happy day for all concerned when 19 kittyhawks and one Douglas transport took the air on the morning of the 31st. and headed south for Daly Waters; leaving 457 squadron of spitfires to hold the fort; as far as Livingstone field was concerned anyway. After a fast and uneventful run to Daly pilots were refreshed with a couple of icy cold brews, (Cracking show!) very thoughtfully provided by the mess there, and after a splendid lunch the squadron departed, with Hudson escort, for Cloncurry. After quite a tedious journey provided by “K” type Dingy Cloncurry hove in sight.’ ---
Not much grog in the Curry apparently, seems it was a poor show!
‘An early start was made for Charleville next morn -- we arrived safely, tho’ it is true
That many had some anxious moments with the tricky wind gradients on that ‘drome’ and Tom Watson taxied in with flaps down, thus laying himself open to a demand of “drinks all round.”
Naturally no time was wasted in heading toward the nearest Pub where an ample supply of beer seemed available, so all and sundry proceeded to get “stuck into it”, and it is not to be wondered at that when they departed from Charleville some three hours later, these same pilots appeared to be in an exceedingly happy frame of mind. ---
That night Amberley received quite a good doing over in one way and another.
Feb 2nd.
That evening the C.O. spilled 2 stupendous items of news. –
Firstly seven members of the squadron had been promoted to the exalted rank of Flight Leuitenant. The lucky ones – (Jim Joe Bill etc, etc) - Fearfully Good Show Chaps!! Particularly noteworthy was the way these types kept our glasses filled during the session that followed.’
The second item was - three weeks leave.
Their trip to Sydney had a couple of gems,
‘A couple of very dapper Dutchmen hove out of the murk and took charge of the kite, and we were soon taxying at no mean speed across the ‘drome’. For those that had not already had their nerves shattered by our “ride of death” provided by the Amberley Transport Section the take-off that followed supplied the finishing touches. No such pansy business as running up or testing magnetos for these boys and three point takeoffs seem to be their speciality. So with a couple of too cold “cyclones” struggling manfully we staggered off the deck, with the cabin floor at such an angle as to make us wonder whether Pythagoras knew what he was about. Maybe these blokes had never heard of Angle of Attack, but we had 500 ft over the hangars, which is pretty good going for a “Lodestar.”
As for the types in Sydney, their life held but one purpose, that being to consume the greatest quantity of grog possible in the shortest possible time. In this regard they were extremely successful, the Longbar of the ‘Australia’ providing an ideal rendezvous. We were firmly established at this self-same spot on the morning of the 4th. Feb; when the C.O. burst in, and after making his way to the bar, and smartly downing a couple of ales, he revealed to us the very latest Good Guts. The news was so surprising that several of the lads very nearly spilt their brews~ Bad show! Anyway we learned that we had been allotted 24 brand new P40K’s, so we made a further spirited attack on the “Australia’s” grog supply, before removing our various semi intoxicated persons towards “Silvers”, in search of a spot of nourishment.’
And in such vein it continues.
My mum, wistfully said a few years ago that many of their number were unable to kick the ‘Drinking Jag’ after the war, I don’t know whether so much in sorrow for them or more for my benefit ~ at the time. I don’t say all Aussies and esp. the air force of today is like this but I am not too ashamed to admit that I’ve taken the odd cold shower trim change and am glad to have come out of it. There you go. It’s the act of addiction that was the problem for me, beer, caffeine or tobacco was only the vehicle. For others of course it can be a simple craving from a body chemical imbalance, if only the right supplemental jag could be found?
Cheers TET.