Diary of Flying Officer Clifford Timothy O'Riordan, 1942-1943 - Part 1
P/O. C.T. O'RIORDAN.
AUS 403397. R.A.A.F.
460 Squadron.
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AUSTRALIA HOUSE.
LONDON.
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No.2. I.T.S. SYDNEY. AUST.
NO. 2. E.D " "
NO. 2. ADS. EDMONTON. CAN.
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6. B&G MT. VIEW. ONT.
NO. 1 E:D. DEBERT. N.S.
NO. 1 E.D. HALIFAX. N.S.
3. P.R.C. BOURNEMOUTH. G.B.
6. B & G.STORMY DOWN. WALES
27. O.T.V. LICHFIELD. STAFFS G.B.
12. SQ. BINBROOK. CHM.
103. SQ. ELSHAM WOLD. LINCS
460 SQ BREIGHTON. YORKS
C.G.S. SUTTON BRIDGE. LINCS.
Back to 460
February 1942.
Thursday 26. Went to town with Bill
Orondoff & Charlie Dow. After the pubs
closed, we went to the sergeants mess at
Seaview. Very comfortable. Struck an
Aussie who is going home for air sickness.
Told me he wanted to personally protect
his little wife. Met the type before
Scared rotten, & looking for excuses. I
dont think theres a tail gunner yet, who
isnt scared each time he crawls into that
turret, & the doors are closed behind him,
but there arent many whose nerves fail before
being shot at a few times.
Friday 27. Flying on inner course. Spotted a
convoy. Guns jam as usual. Half the
equipment on this station up. Too many dam
WAAFs about for the ground men to keep
their minds on their work. Day off
to-morrow & was enquiring at lunch what
time trains go to Cardiff. F/O. Bentley of
blue bomb disposal squad, said hed drive
me there. Met him at 4 PM. He had
Flt Lt. Lewis. F/O Geoffrey & a WAAF with him.
We had drinks at Bridgend & later
at a pub that the WAAFs old man ran.
Name of Edwards. We played darts
February
and had plates of grand ham sandwiches.
All got a bit high, except the corporal
driver, who wasnt allowed a drink.
Finally got to Cardiff, & booked in at
Royal. Met two nice girls, Molly Jessat
& Peg Marriot, celebrating Pegs birthday.
Took them with us to the Angel,
where Dick Bentley became embarrassingly
familiar with their knees. The crowd
left around nine, & I saw the girls
home. Peg had a small flat & turned
on supper. Had trouble getting a
taxi back to the pub.
Saturday 28. Wandered round Cardiff Castle
for a while, & ran into young Stanley,
the Pole. Took him for a beer & met
two chaps who invited us to the
boxing that afternoon. English &
Welch amateurs. Pretty even contests
but the Welch always got the
decisions. Had arranged to meet
the girls with Geoff later and while
waiting for them got into conversation
with a group Captain, 'Taffy' James, one
of the aces of the last war. Seemed
a grand chap. Geoff & I bought
March
the girls some beer & just got Molly on
the 11PM train in time.
Sunday 1st. Flew air to sea exercise. Get
so dam hot and bothered getting into the
turret, that my temper is rotten for some
time afterwards. We have to carry three
loads of ammo, parachute, harness & mae
west, in addition to all our flying clothes
right to the dispersal point, usually a
couple of hundred yards or more, & by the
time you arrive, your muscles are in no
condition for the contortions necessary
to get into the glasshouse. the
ideal gunner is a cross between a pack
horse a dwarf & an acrobat. Im none
of them. Still, when you get settled down
its not so bad. You feel the dam turret
is suspended in space, & that at any
moment youre going to take a dive into
the drink. Each time the pilot noses
down you swing up in the air like a
rocket. Each movement of the ship
is eggagerated about seven times. Its
also dam cold even at low altitude,
& the sweat youve worked up getting
to the aircraft seems to freeze on you
March.
and makes you feel a bit sick. Some
of the lads have already gone for the
big spit. After lunch, went on
the 1000 yd range & shot at a moving
model something after the style of
a hin hare. Rondean is in
trouble for being late in the crew
room. Got a letter from Closs
Atkinson. She is sending me some
cigarettes.
Monday 2. Lousy weather. No flying.
listened to more lectures on the browning.
Think thats where the term 'browned
off' must come from.
Tuesday 3. Snowing to-day and as cold
as the pole. The fire in my room
is very comfortable but goes out during
the night & in the morning you
shiver getting dressed.
Wednesday 4. Rondean is in the soup
again for not attending turret practice
last night. Hes a drip if ever there
was one. Told him later that wearing
a sweat shirt under battle dress was
not appreciated by the R A F in the
mess, that he should wear a collar
March
& tie. He seemed surprised. Dominion
airmen are regarded with some suspicion
by the R A F, and bad breaks by a couple
of chaps can brand the lot.
Thursday. 5. Still no flying. Worried
stiff about the position back home. Id
rather be fighting against the Japs with
a pea shooter, than against the huns with
four brownings. Would even be in the
infantry & thats going a long way.
Friday 6th Some of the sergeants went
to Porth cawl last night & couldnt get a
taxi back home. They slept in hay
stacks & the temperature below zero!
They looked sights coming in this
morning with straw sticking out all
over them.
Saturday 7th Went with a party to a
rugger match at Swansea. England v Wales.
It was a grand match England being overrun
in the second half. Had dinner at the
Mackworth & met Group Capt Walker the
captain of the English side. Hes only
twenty eight. Swansea has certainly
had it. Damn near all the shopping
district has been laid flat.
March.
Sunday 8th Weather clear. Did two trips in
a Whitley. Same old trouble with the guns.
Tuesday Monday 9th Did one trip on a
Whitley and then waited two hours for
a Defiant. Rudder control trouble & didnt
get off. A Lysander drogue ship got engine
trouble & went straight into the drink.
I didnt see it, but evidently it didnt
float at all. Sergeant pilot & AC drogue
man lost.
Tuesday 10. The two chaps from the
Lysander are OK. They got out of the
crate & were picked up by a straggler
from a convoy. One chance in a million.
Wednesday 11. The chaps in the mess are
easily amused. The popular programme on
the air is Tommy Handleys hour, Characters
in his sketch say "After you Claude" - "Good
morning, naice morning!" and "remember
the diver." at frequent intervals. The
chaps think this is a scream. I cant
see anything to laugh at at all. All
one does to get a laugh is to say
"Naice morning!”. If someone
replies with a devestating shaft of
wit "Remember the diver" the crowd
March.
go off in almost hysterical laughter.
Had dinner at Johnnie Walkers place.
Thursday 12. On tarmac at 8 and waited all
day but no flying. Gunners sometimes
fly.
Friday 13. Weather still bad. Over at crew
room waiting for it to clear a bit so that
we could go up, but it didnt & I cant say
Im sorry. Im not superstitious but
lots of chaps are & they half convince
you that if youre due for a prang it
is more likely to come on a 'black Friday'
than any other day.
Saturday 14. Did a series of oral tests.
Got potted with Bryan Smith. He has been
through it, & is now a flight lieut with
a D.F.C. Hes the first air gunner
Ive seen with that rank & I dont think
many last long enough to get it.
Sunday 15. Did three trips in Whitleys
six hours in the air make you as tired
as hell. One Defiant with Gannon
aboard cut out over Porthcawl. The
inter com wasnt working & the pilot
gave him the red light to bail out.
He either didnt know the signal or else
March.
disregarded it & stuck there.The pilot
made a long glide & just made the
drome, cutting off an other Defiant which
was about to land. The second
ship with Kirby in it pranged the fence
& tore large hunks out of it but settled
down safely. Lots of luck.
Monday 16. Flying all day. Last
detail at 6.30P.M. Done to a frazzle.
Tuesday17. Did two trips in morning
wearing darkened goggles that Air Ministry
wanted to have tested. Wrote a detailed
report on them.
Went to the Observer Corps in Cardiff
in afternoon. Most interesting place.
They plot every aircraft that goes over
the sector.
Wednesday18. Aircraft recognition exam.
Wish some mail would arrive. Get
a bit depressed when no word comes
for a time. When it does arrive
the spirits soar. Due for one from
Nicki.
Thursday 19. Did four trips to-day. Landed
at 7.15. PM. as the fog had come in from
the channel & cut visibility down to
March
a few yards. We just got in in time. As we
were walking away from the aircraft we heard
another ship coming in, but couldnt see
it. At the Control tower they were
sending off signals & flares but the plane
couldnt seem to find the drome. The
ambulance & fire equipment jobs were revved
up waiting on a certain prang. I said a
few quick prayers for the poor devils.
We heard him make another approach
& then he was suddenly on the ground not
fifty yards from us. It was an extraordinary
landing. Perfect three point & we didnt
see him until he actually touched down.
They dragged the pilot out & took him
to the mess & bought him beer.
What happened was this. He got a glimse
of a little pub about two miles from the
drome & with only that as a guide & his
altimeter, put the old Whit in a flat glide &
trusted to luck. Considering the fact that
the drome is on a hill & anything but
even, the feat was remarkable.
Friday 20. Got a fourteen day pass pending
posting to an OTU. Went with Charlie
Dow & stayed at Cardiff for the night.
March
Saturday 21. Caught midday train to London
& booked in at Paddington hotel at 5 oclock.
Met Nev Sinclair, Shoesmith, Aussie, Haken &
the boys at the Regent Palace.
Sunday 22. Quiet day. Went to Mt Royal &
took a flat with Charlie. London seems
terribly crowded.
Monday 23. Went with the boys to the
Ludgate club in the afternoon. Its a hang
out for Australians. Norm Dwyer's picture is
stuck on a mirror with ‘Dwyers bonzer beer -
Royal Hotel Randwick chalked up. Sang
songs & had a good time. Went from
there to the Bristol grill. Bill Orendoff
& Jack Kirby were competing for a WAAF
& I took malicious joy in pinching her
from both.
Tuesday 24. Met the WAAF at Jack Doyles
'Swizzle Stick'. She took me to a
wedding reception at the Dorchester. I think
I was the only Christian in the place.
Wound up at the 400 club.
Wednesday 25. Struck Rod [[Manud?]] at
Cumberland. Convalescing after an operation.
Tells me that Triggs & Badham have
had it. Wonk, Dyason & Lairway have
March
been posted to boats. Lucky dogs. They may
get back to Australia. Went to the
Bristol Grill. Charlie put on a turn
- stood on his head in the middle of the
dance floor. Neville played the drums &
I kissed the barmaids hand.
Friday 27. End of Warships week. London
collected £150,000,000. Struck Blue Truscott
at the Ludgate. He's bats. Saw Paul
Brickhill. He's flying spits. Just got
through a court martial for flying under
a bridge with another guy in formation.
Saturday 28. Jimmy the barman at the
Carlton invited Chas & self to his daughters
21st birthday. Went along & had
a good time.. Got home around 1.30.
Chas decided to go out again. Came
in at 4AM plastered. Hed been to
the hut House & I think must have had
some crook liquor. Theres plenty of it
around. He thought he saw a
chair move & I was pretty worried.
Sunday 29. Chas went down to Livindon
to see his old governess & I went over
the Tower of London with Ray Woodhouse
& Tom Landy. The old Beefeater
March
talked too damn much & we left the
bout half way through.
Monday 30. Moved quarters to the Winston
Hotel. Met Frank - an Aussie P/O at
the Blue Pencil. He had a date with
a couple of girls & we took them on
a pub crawl. Charlie of the Letroy
Lavean is a corporal in the RAF. He
entertained us. Finished up at the
Bristol where Franks girl tried to
get of with Charlie Dow.
Tuesday 31st Harsh & Caskey have arrived
up from Mambry. Charles has joined
them on their spree but I have pulled
out. Went to the Eagle Club & then
to 'Louisiana Purchase' at the Haymarket.
Went to 1000 Club & met Mrs Laski
with a R.A.F chap.
April 1. Had cocktails with Mrs Laski
at Claridges. Struck Peter Crisp
who was at school with me. He
is an Army Major & liason officer to
the Australian forces here. He lent
me a copy of 'Alma Mater.' Dont
know where they got that picture
of me from. Its bloody terrible.
April
Caskey got coshed & robbed when coming home.
Had about fifteen quid in his wallet.
Thursday 2. Still no telegram re posting
so went to Air ministry to inquire. They
couldnt tell me anything. Was reading
a paper in the Savoy when Charles &
a naval chap came in full to the
eyebrows. I got away quickly. Met
Alan Dougall in street. Hes on Spits.
Moved to the Waldorf Hotel.
Friday 3. Got a letter from Closs Atkinson
& a cable saying to come back to
Stormy Down. Struck John Harris in
the strand & told him I might see
him if they extend my leave. Went
to the Stations of the Cross at Westminster
Cathedral. Caught 9.25 train for Stormy.
Shared compartment with Rondean. From
his talk it seems he was living on women
during his leave. Got to Bridgend at
4.AM. & didnt get to Stormy till 6.
Saturday 4. Slept all day. Some of
the lads who went to Bournemouth
tell me that they got an air raid
dam near every day. What a
holiday.
April.
Sunday 5th Went driving with Chas Dow in
afternoon. Country looks lovely. When we
got to Porthcawl the air raid sirens started.
We went to Louis' & had fish & chips.
Monday 6th Nothing much doing on the
station. Went to Newton in the evening.
Tuesday 7th Pume has been posted & got awfully
full. Chas put him on the train & then
decided to go as far as London with him.
Caught the 1.5.5. back.
Wednesday 8th Barrel of accidents. A defiant
landed short. An A.C. saw it coming &
flung himself on the ground. The tail
weel got him & broke his hip.
One of the Whitleys was firing practice shots
over the channel & a richochet hit an ATS
girl in Porthcawl who was walking with
two chaps & killed her instantly.
Friday 10. Left for Manchester on the 1.55.AM train
Saturday 11. Got to Manchester at 8.AM. booked
in at Queens but John Harris not there.
Spent a most boring day just wandering
around. Manchester has certainly had it.
Its the dullest place Ive been in.
I ran into Joe Coen at the Midlands
Hotel.
April
Sunday 12. Caught train to Crewe thinking I might
get an earlier connection to Cardiff. Had to
wait till midnight. Manchester was bad, but
Crewe - Hell.
Monday 13. Arrived back at 7.AM. Find we
have been given another seven days leave.
Slept in morning & in afternoon caught
train with Chas for London. Going to
Edinburgh to visit Lord [[Nairne?]] to whom Chas
has an introduction. Booked in at
the Park Lane & had a quiet night.
Tuesday 14. Ran into Caskey & Pat Burke. Chas
wants to stay one more night so we booked
in at the Mapleton. Went to the
Mently Club & found an American girl as
full as a bull. Put her on her train.
Back at the Mapleton, heard that some
guy got his throat cut. When Caskey
& Chas arrived I said 'De boys have got
Butch’. Caskey put on a great act -
sobbing on the wall & wailing. “He was
me pal - he was me pal.”
Saturday the Wednesday 15 They call our
gang the ‘O'Tooles’ Charlie is Chas B. O'Toole.
Caskey is plain ‘O’Toole’. Pat Burke & Dick
are ‘the South African O’Tooles’ & I am the
April
Australian O’Toole. We went to Pat Howards
place where her father made us the best
curry Ive ever had. He lived in Madras
for some years & is quite a chef.
Met Ray Gregory at the Regent Palace also
Bruce Damon. Went to their place & played
gramaphone records till all hours.
Thursday 16. The O'Tooles met at the Falcon
and after many other calls got to Mirandos
Charlie & Dick were trying to do hand-
springs & South African Pat was seeing
how high he could kick & fell on
his ass at five minute intervals.
Two show girls that John had
found somewhere were in an advanced
state of intoxication & Caskey was
on the balcony with a whisky in
one hand & a bunch of flowers in
the other which he alternatively ate &
drank & in the interim harangued an
imaginary crowd below. What a day.
Friday 17. Met Graham Woods & Tom Landy
at Australia House. Carted them all
over the 'jernt' & finished at the Bristol
Grill. Ghaham didnt like old Nick
the Greek & wanted to put him on the
April
knuckle. There was a naval lieut at
the bar with a fine goatee beard. I
bought him a drink, thinking he must
be a submarine commander at least.
It turns out he is an ex-yachtsman &
patrols the Thames in a 30 ft pleasure
cruiser. I felt like clocking the bastard.
Saturday 18. Repeat of yesterday, only worse.
Sunday 19. Packed up and caught the train
back to Stormy. Chas is interested in
a blonde who joined the OTooles yesterday
& is going to have an extra day or so.
Monday 20 Find that Im posted to
Litchfield O.T.U. Chas is going to Lossiemouth.
During the last week two chaps were
killed in a lizzie. Hit some high tension
wires. Two other crates complete write
- offs. Two Canadians on a court martial
charge want me to defend them. Told
them I would if the Group allow me to
come back for it! Went down to
Newton in the evening.
Tuesday 21. Had to catch train at 10AM
so had many beers with the lads before
leaving. Had to change three times
to get to Litchfield. Arrived 7.P.M.
April
Wednesday 22. Just a year since we sailed
out the heads. Feels a lot longer than that.
There was a formal mess drummer to-night
with all the old fashioned bull turned on.
After dinner there were songs at
the piano that were anything but formal.
“Salome" “Goodbye Litchfield” and “Sammy Hall”
were some of the favourites. I thought it
a bit tough on the little WAAFs who
were serving drinks. Needless to state
it was almost exclusively an Aussie sing
song. The evening finished up with
mess rugger. Dont know what the
damage totalled up to, but there were
plenty of bruises & bumps among
the players. Being my first night I
didnt join the revels but played snooker.
Thursday 23. Met Ian Richardson, Ken Ard +
Nick Dan+ & Jim Crockett+. Had a few
pints at the Acorn and chewed the rag for
a couple of hours. Nick is quite OK
after his bad crash but looks a lot
older. Jimmy is the same old Crockett.
He said hes got to get back from
the war someday as hes on a promise.
They were amazed that I could get
April
a taxi to drive us back. Ian reckons
Ill have the whole station sewn up in a week.
Friday 24. The ground course here consists of
stuff weve done over & over. We demonstrated
our knowledge to the two Flight Sergeant
instructors & they decided to give us the
good gen on ops instead of fooling with
guns & theory. Dicky Bird one of the instructors
is a kid with 49 ops. He also has a
gong. He was front gunner in "Target for to-night."
Saturday 25. Anzac Day. went to the Goats
Head where the boys were congregating.
Saw Col Shade & Joe Levett. They were
night flying & only stayed for one pint.
Bill Sponbery+ was there & Jack Swain.+ Have
met nearly all the boys from Bradfield
wow. Went to the hop at the drill
hall & held the bar up till 1.AM. Stayed
night at Goats Head.
Sunday 26. Paid my bill for supper, bed, and
a delicious chicken dinner - 4/6! Bit different
to the usual charge. In the evening.
I stuck two cute little WAAFs, Sandra
& Marjorie. Bought them a couple of
beers & saw them to the WAAFerie.
Mustnt make a habit of it though.
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