Thunderbolts over Burma by Angus Findon

Author:Angus Findon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Aviation & Nautical
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books
Published: 2020-09-29T00:00:00+00:00

We arrived in Karachi where I was introduced to curry, and a very hot one! Soon, we were off again on our way to Poona and, in readiness for the Jungle Self-preservation Training School, we were issued with bush hats. Those who had returned from Jungle School were showed us the leather headband inside their hats, darkened with sweat.

‘That’s what yours will look like if you use them now,’ they said.

The journey from Poona in three-ton trucks was a marvellous experience. Jungle School was very well organised, staffed by people who had lived in Burma, including a number who were Burmese hill tribesmen. Tho taught us a tremendous amount about living off the land and personal survival. We learnt Burmese phrases; how to ask for the basics and other useful expressions. We also learned about Burmese etiquette.

For those who were not content with the catapult, there was the Burmese bow, which was made from a piece of bamboo, even the string, and fired a mud pellet. Until you learnt to twist the bow on releasing the string you had a very painful time, as a little ball of hardened mud, which could travel a hundred yards, broke itself to bits on your thumb nail.

You also learnt how to avoid being entertained by the Naga head hunters. The Naga Regiment was part of the Indian Army and a few specimen shrunken heads were available for inspection, together with a necklace of Japanese ears. We were told they wouldn’t object to British ears ! We made several treks through the local shrubbery, including sections where Japanese booby traps of every description had been laid and where snipers had concealed themselves in trees. We were expected to spot them, but we never did. Finally, we were divided into groups of four or five, driven a considerable distance from base, and left to make our own way back over the next three days. The grand finale was a climb over a 2,000 foot, miniature mountain known as ‘The Saddleback’ and after that it was easy going to reach base. The leather band inside our bush hats was very dark by then.

Upon returning to Poona, I found a message instructing me to report to the orderly room and there a corporal said, ‘Your commission has come through, sir.’ Suddenly, I felt very sad. I had been very happy amongst my sergeant pilot companions and even happier since, a few months ago, I had become a Fight Sergeant. But several of the officers on the course at Fayid had repeatedly urged me to apply for a commission. One of them had said, ‘Don’t you know it’s your duty to seek promotion.’ So, I applied and then promptly forgot about it. I didn’t expect that an application made in the Middle East would catch up with me in India. I went out and bought myself an officer’s cap and the rank markings for my epaulettes and there I was – Pilot Officer Findon.

That evening, I found the

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