More from Nkosi
In the dark of the night I sometimes recollect my childhood in Kenya, and especially my time with my uncle who had returned after spending time in POW.
He took me once to Lake Naivasha, a stopping off point for the 'boats' transiting my part of Africa for, I believe Cape Town. I can almost remember the size, smell of the interior of the aircraft and the cockpit, filled with more dials and gauges that you could poke a stick at.
However, you mentioned, Danny, that books on the conflict that you were a part of, RAF wise, were not around. I have managed to get hold of a dog eared copy of a book entitled 'the War In The Air, 1939 - 1945' edited by Gavin Lyall. Within the editors preface he indicates 'this is intended simply to be an anthology of writings from, and about, the British and Commonwealth Airforces in the 1939 -1945 war' it contains songs, poems and extracts from flight reports, from all types and persons, famous or otherwise.
One song mentioned sung to 'I aint a-gonna grieve My Lord no more' which goes:
You'll never go to heaven in a Deffy Two
You ought to see that glycol spew
And that refers to the Defiant II. And there are many more.
It's a great read and if anyone can get their hands on one I recommend it.
Nkosi