Gaining An R.A.F Pilots Brevet In WW II
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Ontario Canada
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While the Gestapo flexed their muscles( they were put in charge of all prisoners after the Great Escape, however they never took full control, but for the most part left the Luftwaffe to continue to be responsible for their charges, only intervening on occasion), the POW,s managed to let their captors know they were not going to quietly sit and accept their orders without a fight. In fact, the Germans considered the airmen to be many times more troublesome than army pow,s, and segregated them whenever possible
Two instances of the humiliation imparted by the prisoners come to mind; one perpetrated by a single prisoner, one in which Dad participated in a group.
In the first instance, an opportunistic pow actually managed to steal the trousers of the Gestapo officer conducting a search! Apparently, the officer got his trousers wet, and took them off to dry. They were pinched, and the Germans went crazy and tore the camp apart searching for them, unsuccessfully as it turn out .This episode was chronicled in sketches made by a pow, in a book called 'Handle With Care', about 60 or 70 pages of sketches of camp life in Hydekrug, Thorn Poland, and Fallingbostle. Amazingly, these sketches were carried by the artist throughout the forced evacuation of these camps. I would have liked to have included this sketch in this post; however I did some home renovations several years ago and put my copy in a safe place-too safe it appears as now I cannot locate it. Perhaps another reader might oblige and post it-it show a trouserless officer addressing a German soldier, who is trying unsuccessfully to hide a snicker behind his hand, saying 'Well, what are you staring at' as a single figure is running in the distance, pant flapping in the breeze.
In the second case, again the Gestapo called a snap search of the camp. The prisoners were confined to their barracks; in Dad's case it was to the large tent holding about 150 men. A guard was posted at the window flap, facing out to the camp. The pow,s started a game to see who could sneak up behind him and touch the rifle without the guard noticing. It soon escalated to dropping debris down the rifle: wadded paper, sand, even a lit cigarette. The final topping was a dandelion placed in the muzzle of the rifle.
This was ok until the search was over, and an officer came to collect the men. He noticed the flower, snatched it out of the rifle, and practically shoved it up the guards nose, screaming at him. Then he noticed the cigarette smoke wafting out of the rifle, and lost it. I,m not sure if the officer snatched the rifle from the guard, or ordered him point the gun down; in any case with each shake more and more debris fell out. Both the prisoners and guard feared he was going to be shot on the spot, but after a whole lot of screaming, the officer sent him off to a fate unknown.
Two instances of the humiliation imparted by the prisoners come to mind; one perpetrated by a single prisoner, one in which Dad participated in a group.
In the first instance, an opportunistic pow actually managed to steal the trousers of the Gestapo officer conducting a search! Apparently, the officer got his trousers wet, and took them off to dry. They were pinched, and the Germans went crazy and tore the camp apart searching for them, unsuccessfully as it turn out .This episode was chronicled in sketches made by a pow, in a book called 'Handle With Care', about 60 or 70 pages of sketches of camp life in Hydekrug, Thorn Poland, and Fallingbostle. Amazingly, these sketches were carried by the artist throughout the forced evacuation of these camps. I would have liked to have included this sketch in this post; however I did some home renovations several years ago and put my copy in a safe place-too safe it appears as now I cannot locate it. Perhaps another reader might oblige and post it-it show a trouserless officer addressing a German soldier, who is trying unsuccessfully to hide a snicker behind his hand, saying 'Well, what are you staring at' as a single figure is running in the distance, pant flapping in the breeze.
In the second case, again the Gestapo called a snap search of the camp. The prisoners were confined to their barracks; in Dad's case it was to the large tent holding about 150 men. A guard was posted at the window flap, facing out to the camp. The pow,s started a game to see who could sneak up behind him and touch the rifle without the guard noticing. It soon escalated to dropping debris down the rifle: wadded paper, sand, even a lit cigarette. The final topping was a dandelion placed in the muzzle of the rifle.
This was ok until the search was over, and an officer came to collect the men. He noticed the flower, snatched it out of the rifle, and practically shoved it up the guards nose, screaming at him. Then he noticed the cigarette smoke wafting out of the rifle, and lost it. I,m not sure if the officer snatched the rifle from the guard, or ordered him point the gun down; in any case with each shake more and more debris fell out. Both the prisoners and guard feared he was going to be shot on the spot, but after a whole lot of screaming, the officer sent him off to a fate unknown.
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Often in Jersey, but mainly in the past.
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Ladies and Gentlemen, may I crave your indulgence for a moment for a bit of Thread Drift?
I have been advised, via 'certain sources', that tomorrow [10 Nov] is the birthday of a certain major contributor to this Forum. Accordingly I post ....
Ah, Danny42C … raconteur, wit, living history, incisive mind ... a man who has been where few have been before: from Arnold Scheme, Vultee Vengeance, Spitfire and other historic aircraft types to CATCS Instructor and even ATC Leeming … and an insomniac to boot! [we have seen the timestamps on your posts!]
We wish you a very happy day, Danny42C, and we hope that the wider PPRuNe community might spare a moment to raise a glass to you tomorrow
I have been advised, via 'certain sources', that tomorrow [10 Nov] is the birthday of a certain major contributor to this Forum. Accordingly I post ....
Happy Birthday
to
Danny42C
from the RAF ATC “Old and Bold” Fraternity
to
Danny42C
from the RAF ATC “Old and Bold” Fraternity
Ah, Danny42C … raconteur, wit, living history, incisive mind ... a man who has been where few have been before: from Arnold Scheme, Vultee Vengeance, Spitfire and other historic aircraft types to CATCS Instructor and even ATC Leeming … and an insomniac to boot! [we have seen the timestamps on your posts!]
We wish you a very happy day, Danny42C, and we hope that the wider PPRuNe community might spare a moment to raise a glass to you tomorrow
Danny.
May I add my voice to the rest of your fan club in wishing you a Happy Birthday. Shall raise a glass of finest malt in your honour;
Onwards and upwards'
John
May I add my voice to the rest of your fan club in wishing you a Happy Birthday. Shall raise a glass of finest malt in your honour;
Onwards and upwards'
John
May I second all the above!! 
It has been a real pleasure and an education to read all your contributions, truly fascinating. Thank you Sir.
FZ
"Old & Bold" East Anglia branch
(Sometime member of S.O.D.C.A.T.)
It has been a real pleasure and an education to read all your contributions, truly fascinating. Thank you Sir.FZ
"Old & Bold" East Anglia branch
(Sometime member of S.O.D.C.A.T.)
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Posts: n/a
To all my fellow-PPRuNers who have, or who may, associate themselves with the generous sentiments so ably expressed by MPN11 andyou all on the occasion of my 94th birthday, may I say a heartfelt thank you !
It has been my pleasure to try to keep you amused and interested in the story of one who was a a small part of a war which is now slipping into the history books.
I think my resident Mess Committee may remit my Mess Bill this month, which will leave me in funds to cover the purchase of a four-pack of "Guinness" (or even two).
So, Cheers ! to you all,
Danny.
It has been my pleasure to try to keep you amused and interested in the story of one who was a a small part of a war which is now slipping into the history books.
I think my resident Mess Committee may remit my Mess Bill this month, which will leave me in funds to cover the purchase of a four-pack of "Guinness" (or even two).
So, Cheers ! to you all,
Danny.
Happy Birthday, Danny!
You have energised this thread throughout, with every subject imaginable and unimaginable. We have been taken from wartime Britain to Canada, the USA, India, Burma, back to the UK, thence to Germany and Austria. We have explored the minutiae of equipment, issued and invented alike. We have discussed aircraft, cars, radars, portable beds, and married quarters alike. What awaits us in the second half I have no idea, but I am certain it will be equally as informative and entertaining as in the first half.
Just one small cavil though. Any chance of getting barrack stores to revamp the furnishings of our virtual crewroom? There's a spring poking out of the seat of my armchair! Not complaining, you understand, but it does rather distract one from your entertaining bon mots. Just a thought...
Have a great day!
Chug
You have energised this thread throughout, with every subject imaginable and unimaginable. We have been taken from wartime Britain to Canada, the USA, India, Burma, back to the UK, thence to Germany and Austria. We have explored the minutiae of equipment, issued and invented alike. We have discussed aircraft, cars, radars, portable beds, and married quarters alike. What awaits us in the second half I have no idea, but I am certain it will be equally as informative and entertaining as in the first half.
Just one small cavil though. Any chance of getting barrack stores to revamp the furnishings of our virtual crewroom? There's a spring poking out of the seat of my armchair! Not complaining, you understand, but it does rather distract one from your entertaining bon mots. Just a thought...
Have a great day!
Chug
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Posts: n/a
Chugalug,
Thanks for the birthday greetings !
I'm afraid our beloved Crewroom in Cyberspace is beyond human aid. It exists in a sort of time-vacuum (like Doctor Who), in which nothing ever changes (the ashtrays are never emptied, and £sd is the currency) and those priviliged to enter therein miraculously regain the age of the happy years of their service. Age does not wither us, nor......
Needless to say, the Barrack Warden would not touch us with a bargepole, for everything therein was scrap or knocked-off. Even a blown light bulb was exchanged with reluctance, and then only provided the dud was identified as service issue. I'm sorry about your loose prong, but a couple of old magazines and a parachute seat cushion (these used to be available in abundance from scrapped 'chutes) should fill the bill. Better yet, nick someone else's armchair in true Service fashion.
Our Nissen hut has the faculty of disappearing altogether at inconvenient times (AOC's visit, say), so it does not offend the sensibilities of over-zealous Wingco (A)s or SWOs. In short it was a sort of Shangri-La, or an Everyman's Garden Shed.
Danny.
Thanks for the birthday greetings !
I'm afraid our beloved Crewroom in Cyberspace is beyond human aid. It exists in a sort of time-vacuum (like Doctor Who), in which nothing ever changes (the ashtrays are never emptied, and £sd is the currency) and those priviliged to enter therein miraculously regain the age of the happy years of their service. Age does not wither us, nor......
Needless to say, the Barrack Warden would not touch us with a bargepole, for everything therein was scrap or knocked-off. Even a blown light bulb was exchanged with reluctance, and then only provided the dud was identified as service issue. I'm sorry about your loose prong, but a couple of old magazines and a parachute seat cushion (these used to be available in abundance from scrapped 'chutes) should fill the bill. Better yet, nick someone else's armchair in true Service fashion.
Our Nissen hut has the faculty of disappearing altogether at inconvenient times (AOC's visit, say), so it does not offend the sensibilities of over-zealous Wingco (A)s or SWOs. In short it was a sort of Shangri-La, or an Everyman's Garden Shed.
Danny.
94 - talk about durable!
Danny, Sir,
Birthday salutations to yourself from this reader in "The Auld Sod" - a glass of Uisce Beatha will be raised in your honour (only after the hangar door is closed of course).
Ian BB
Birthday salutations to yourself from this reader in "The Auld Sod" - a glass of Uisce Beatha will be raised in your honour (only after the hangar door is closed of course).
Ian BB
sua cuique voluptas
Happy Birthday, Danny, SIR!
It obviously gives you great satisfaction to entertain us youngsters with your fascinating tales of yesteryear. I'm certain that you are well aware of the appreciation and respect that comes back to you via this best of threads and virtual crew room which so many of us quietly inhabit and return to daily. You are also part of a hugely interested audience for these subjects and also a significant contributor to the same. Our store of contemporary History would be the poorer without your thoughtful and lucid writings.
I stand in awe.....and thank you again.
Hope that you and Mrs. Danny42C (not forgetting Daughter) had a lovely day!
Ripline
Once a King always a King,
but once a Knight is enough....
It obviously gives you great satisfaction to entertain us youngsters with your fascinating tales of yesteryear. I'm certain that you are well aware of the appreciation and respect that comes back to you via this best of threads and virtual crew room which so many of us quietly inhabit and return to daily. You are also part of a hugely interested audience for these subjects and also a significant contributor to the same. Our store of contemporary History would be the poorer without your thoughtful and lucid writings.
I stand in awe.....and thank you again.
Hope that you and Mrs. Danny42C (not forgetting Daughter) had a lovely day!
Ripline
Once a King always a King,
but once a Knight is enough....