Yeah, I know, Two Years in the Aviation Hall of Doom is pretty basically written. Remember, I was in my 30s then.
Statements like “Mandarins of the Molongolo” were classic Francis James – who helped me in writing the book.
I am sure there are some who will remember the wonderful Francis James, who was a WWII Spitfire pilot, and then a very famous journalist in Australia who was locked up by Mao in China for a number of years – until Gough Whitlam got him released.
He became a wonderful friend of mine and had similar views about the problems with the bureaucracy.
Francis died many years ago, but just a couple of weeks ago I called into his house at Billyard Avenue, Wahroonga, and saw his widow, Joyce. She is now 98 years of age and the house is still full of all the wonderful Francis James books.
I really miss people like Francis James and Jim Hazelton. I’m sure we all do.