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Post by smithy on Sept 17, 2017 7:07:46 GMT 12
Hello all,
I was wondering if any attempt has been made to collate and publish Jack Stafford's writings about his experiences during the war. I first read a couple of Jack's stories back in 2002 on that Hawker Tempest site and even back then I was struck by what a capable and expressive writer Jack was. A number of years later with Jack's death Errol posted a very moving piece that Jack had written describing his farewell to his family and his leaving NZ for the war in Europe - it was enough to bring a tear to the eye.
I was wondering if Jack had written more, it would seem that such a gifted and natural writer would have, and if so, are any plans afoot to publish these.
Perhaps just my own opinion, but if there are enough existing I really think his writings deserve a wider audience than bits and bobs on the odd website here and there. I actually used to work in publishing and still have a few useful influential contacts if I could help!
Cheers,
Tim
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Post by Damon on Sept 17, 2017 21:33:48 GMT 12
I had not realized that Jack had passed away , 1st August 2015.
I had the pleasure of meeting him and discussing his wartime service at Warbirds Over Wanaka 2008. So much enthusiasm and seemed to still have the life spirit of two people . I am sure that there have been a few articles written by him or from his interviews that have appeared in the Flypast and Aeroplane Monthly magazines in recent times ,in particular his experience's flying the Hawker tempest.
Son of a Tempest Pilot by Flight Lieutenant Jack Stafford DFC is a small illustrated book(let) published in 2008 and also has a few images of Tempests and FW 190's ,perhaps from the authors collection. This may provide a different perspective .More about a sons journey to find out more about his father .
Jack had signed the book after the show and sent it up a few days afterwards. Still a treasured memento from the show. That and the memories of gassing up the Corsair and crewing on the P-40E.Great show !
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 17, 2017 21:54:54 GMT 12
Jack told me in 2011 that the six articles that he'd written for Microsoft's Flight Simulator webpage back in about 2001 about his wartime experiences had only meant to be online for a year in their contract, but Microsoft loved them so much they left them there and they were still there in 2011. The articles had also attracted a huge amount of interest from all round the world and he told me he was receiving fan mail from across the globe constantly even then. He was a really fantastic gentleman.
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Post by smithy on Sept 18, 2017 6:14:52 GMT 12
That really doesn't surprise me Dave as he actually was a very gifted writer, almost poetic - and I mean that in the best of senses and not in the flowery sense, he could use a phrase to convey a lot of meaning and elicit emotion.
Damon, I wonder if you could confirm that that book was a collection of all of Jack's writings. If so then that's all there is. But I might be wrong but someone who writes that well usually has a boxful of scribblings and pieces so I was wondering whether anyone knows just how much Jack wrote and if anyone has thought of publishing them. I don't know Jack's family nor am I in contact with them but I'd urge anyone here who does know them to find out just how much Jack wrote and to suggest the idea of getting his writings published if there are enough.
There's a lot of pilots who have written books and they've been enjoyable affairs for the enthusiast (I myself devour WWII pilot memoirs) but then every now and again you get the odd pilot who can actually write and those are the books which are even more memorable and atmospheric and stand above the more run of the mill memoirs. From what I have read of Jack he's in that latter category.
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Brodes
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 6 
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Post by Brodes on Sept 18, 2017 14:19:22 GMT 12
Jack was an amazing writer. He spent a week at a course at Massey University when he was in his eighties covering short story writing. He was top of the class, I don't think they could teach him much.
I have all of his stories. They have never been published in their entirety. It is something on my list of chores to do, with approval from his family.
He states that Son of a Tempest Pilot was fiction but he told me that it was all based on fact but he would not say say the names of the people involved. He felt it was not fair to do that.
He was one of the most gifted writers of the war in the air.
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Post by smithy on Sept 18, 2017 18:50:59 GMT 12
Brodes, please do get the ball rolling in terms of getting Jack's writings collated and published - with the approval of the family of course. It would be wonderful to be able to read and enjoy such a book.
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Post by suthg on Sept 19, 2017 7:54:48 GMT 12
I have been buying the monthly copies of the ORB's for 486 Sq at the moment in 1943, but I can go ahead and get all of 1944 and 1945 as well. I convert them from pdf into jpgs which I can digitally edit to make reading and retyping better for our Typhoon Project historical element Which I sporadically post. I take it he did fly for 486 Squadron? These would be a worthwhile addition andif his logbooks were available would certainly build up the picture and stories.
Graeme
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 19, 2017 9:04:11 GMT 12
Jack did indeed fly with No. 486 (NZ) Squadron.
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Post by pjw4118 on Sept 19, 2017 17:15:25 GMT 12
Amongst his 486 material I have a copy of Death by Daylight 2004 , a couple of lines
Like Falcons onto a crippled duck
and
German mothers also cry
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