SAAF ASSOCIATION

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WARSAW FLIGHTS (Cont) The religious service was moving - it was conducted by no less than 5 priests. Bryan Jones, a veteran of the Warsaw Flights, Rev Don Watson, Bishop Stan Dziuba – the Catholic Bishop of KZN, Bishop Gill and Reverend Bogdan Wilkaniec. Thank you for your very wise words. The Hercules C130 flypast left us all breathless – a chilling reminder of the dangerous missions carried out by the SAAF, RAF, RAAF and Polish crews in their Liberators in September 1944. Our speakers did us proud – Andrzej Romanowicz as MC, Clive Mitchell who gave the keynote address and Bryan Jones who always manages to come up with the perfect speech for the occasion – Thank you so much. We were very ably assisted by the Glensand scouts who carried and presented the many beautiful wreaths that were laid. Thanks must go as well to the Dziembowski brothers for so expertly doing the live Podcast for us – we received many positive comments from around the world. Thank you finally to Odoardo Bacchelli, Costa Qually, Ian Andrew and Carol van Rensburg for your superb photos – we appreciate your support. The reception was once again a wonderful party. Krystyna and her helpers cooked up a storm and we all enjoyed the Polish dancing. Sadly, we had to bid farewell to both General and Leone Gagiano and General and Heather Page – thank you for everything. We will miss you very much, but will definitely be seeing you all again soon. The customary tot or 3 of very good Polish vodka did a lot to warm us up and we left the museum in very good spirits. See you all next year and until we meet again may God hold you in the palm of his hand. WARSAW FLIGHTS CEREMONY A CHANCE MEETING PLACE OF OLD FRIENDS WHO HAD NOT SEEN EACH OTHER FOR SOME 50 YEARS Ivan Erasmus (SAAFA JHB) and Ronald Mahon JACK FEATHERSTONE 93 23 RD SEPTEMBER Congratulations Jack, we know you had a very special and lovely birthday with family and friends. Hope to see you and Maren at many more lunches and Golf Days. Hope you win the SAAFA Trophy next year for a third time. (He won it 20 years ago and in 2011). Jack has been in hospital with a lung problem and we wish him a speedy recovery! SAAFA JHB LUNCH 31 ST AUGUST 71 people, including 17 from NOASA, the Naval Officers Club attended our lunch in August. It was the most we have had this year. It is sad that the attendees at lunches have dropped over the last two years and we hope that 2013 will show a resurge of interest. Speaker Dr Tony Turton gave us much to think about with a fascinating talk about his escapades in the 1960’s on the Angolan Border. He offered us his book “Shaking hands with Billie”. We sold 10 copies (which he signed) at a special price. He then donated most of the proceeds to us. A very vibrant Tony Turton amuses the Chairman at the lunch. He was introduced by member Roger Else who was at school with him 4
IN MEMORIAM IVAN DAVIS 24 September 2012 Our condolences go to the family of Ivan Davis who joined SAAFA Cape Town in 1945, transferring to Johannesburg ten years later. He served in the SAAF during World War Two, joining up in 1941. SAAFA JHB LUNCH 28 TH SEPTEMBER Only 45 people (the smallest turnout ever) were treated to a wonderfully moving and informative talk by ‘Lin Barratt who regaled us with a description of his experiences on his trip to China and South Korea. They even visited a POW-type camp which is now used for Christians who refuse to “recant”! ‘Lin and Rosemary had gone with their church to visit Missionaries over there and those who missed it really lost out as it was one of the best talks we have ever listened to. Unfortunately ‘Lin caught a strange virus over there and is only now recovering from being really ill. We wish him well! THREE SAA CAPTAINS AT LUNCH Franklin (‘Lin) Barratt, Karl Jensen (who introduced ‘Lin as our speaker) and Hennie van der Walt (who thanked him and handed him his gift) REMEMBER! Please let us have your wartime s tories and service records to keep on file. It is so distressing when we look for obituary reports and can find NO details for our members who have died. For this edition we received many contributions but mainly for 23, 31 and 34 Squadrons and many interlinking stories featuring Celone Air Field – Thank you, but what about all the other squadrons and stories ? Keep them rolling in!! DON’T WAIT TILL ITS TOO LATE! GET THOSE STORIES AND DETAILS TO OUR OFFICE CELONE AIRFIELD ITALY 31 and 34 Squadrons, SAAF By Martin Urry 31 and 34 squadrons were formed in April 1943, these were the two heavy bomber squadrons of the SAAF flying US-built Liberator B24 aircraft. After the first few months of training and their first operations in North Africa, the squadrons were transferred to the Celone airfield, part of the Foggia complex, some 20 miles inland from the Adriatic sea in Puglia, Italy, in March of 1944. From here they flew missions to the Ploesti oilfields in Rumania, they mined the Danube so as to restrict the flow of oil to Nazi Germany, and, in the most catastrophic missions, supplied the Polish Home Army during the Warsaw uprising in August and September 1944. The last combat operations were flown in late April 1945, and the airfield closed in October 1945. The Celone airfield was located 3.5km northeast of a farm called San Nicola d'Arpi on the banks of the Celone River and formed part of the Foggia Airfield Complex. It was likely built by the Italian Air force, in the summer of 1943 it was in use by the Luftwaffe. The airfield was taken by the Allies in September/October 1943, and construction of a new PSP runway by the United States Army Corps of Engineers began almost immediately. In July of this year Jean and I had the opportunity to holiday in Puglia, and we determined to see if we could find the Celone Airfield. We searched the Internet for references to Celone and found a site ‘Abandoned & littleknow airfields of Italy’, including this September 1943 map assessing the airfield for Allied use. From Neil Orpin's book - Airlift to Warsaw - we had this picture of 31 squadron's headquarters as sketched by Albert Plane. (An anecdote is that the day after the sketch was made the pigeons appeared on the mess table in a pie). 5
Page 1 and 2: SAAF ASSOCIATION JOHANNESBURG BRANC
Page 3: SAAFA GOLF DAY (Cont) Tanya of Abso
Page 7 and 8: ALPINE 44 14 TH OCTOBER 2012 (Artic
Page 9 and 10: WING COMMANDER CLIVE MITCHELL’S S
Page 11 and 12: IN MEMORY OF 3 LOVELY LADIES (Cont)
Page 13 and 14: FAREWELL HAROLD THEUNISSEN (Cont) S
Page 15 and 16: NOVEMBER - THE MONTH OF REMEMBRANCE

SAAF ASSOCIATION

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