Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 31, 2012 23:07:42 GMT 12
Here's an interesting story of a reunion of a WWI crew, during a long distance Moth flight.
Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 144, 16 December 1930, Page 4
FAR FLYERS' REUNION
PILOT AND OBSERVER
ACTIVE SERVICE EXPERIENCES
(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.")
AUCKLAND, 10th December.
An interesting reunion of a wartime pilot and his observer who, after a thrilling campaign in Palestine, had not met since they were released from a Turkish prison camp in 1918, took place in Auckland. The pilot is Captain F. W. Haig, the Australian airman, who is accompanying Mr. Oscar Garden through Now Zealand, and the observer is Mr. V. Parkinson, of Auckland.
On learning that Captain Haig, of whom he had heard nothing for the past 12 years, was coming to New Zealand with Mr. Garden, Mr. Parkinson sent a wireless message to him on board the Ulimaroa, and a meeting was arranged. Mr. Parkinson was the first person to greet Captain Haig as he stepped from his Moth at Mangere. It was quite a commonplace greeting, and there was nothing in the hearty handshake and mutual remark: "It's good to' see you again, old man," to indicate that both those men had shared stirring incidents of the war.
Both were members of the Australian Air Force, Mr. Parkinson, although an Aucklander by birth, having enlisted in the Commonwealth. After having served in Palestine for some time as Captain Haig's observer, he was transferred early in 1918 to another unit. Not long afterwards, during a bombing raid, the bombing 'planes were attacked by enemy scouts, and in the combat Mr. Parkinson's pilot was shot dead. The 'plane crashed behind the enemy lines, and Mr. Parkinson was badly injured and taken prisoner.
A few months later, while on dawn patrol between Aman and the Jordan Valley, Captain Haig was captured. under exciting circumstances and ultimately taken to the same prison camp near Constantinople to which Mr. Parkinson had been sent from hospital. During his last patrol Captain Haig encountered three German scouts, and in the ensuing combat his observer, Challener, forced one down. In the meantime the escort machine piloted by Captain Rutherford, received a bullet through its petrol tanks and was forced to land in enemy territory. The other two Germans' machines having withdrawn, Captain Haig landed his Bristol fighter in an attempt to rescue his companions, who clambered on the 'plane, one on each wing, but the wheel, probably struck by an enemy bullet, collapsed and the 'plane was wrecked.
After an exciting time in eluding some Circassian soldiers they were captured by Turks and eventually imprisoned at Constantinople, where Captain Haig found Mr. Parkinson. They remained, there for about six months.
Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 144, 16 December 1930, Page 4
FAR FLYERS' REUNION
PILOT AND OBSERVER
ACTIVE SERVICE EXPERIENCES
(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.")
AUCKLAND, 10th December.
An interesting reunion of a wartime pilot and his observer who, after a thrilling campaign in Palestine, had not met since they were released from a Turkish prison camp in 1918, took place in Auckland. The pilot is Captain F. W. Haig, the Australian airman, who is accompanying Mr. Oscar Garden through Now Zealand, and the observer is Mr. V. Parkinson, of Auckland.
On learning that Captain Haig, of whom he had heard nothing for the past 12 years, was coming to New Zealand with Mr. Garden, Mr. Parkinson sent a wireless message to him on board the Ulimaroa, and a meeting was arranged. Mr. Parkinson was the first person to greet Captain Haig as he stepped from his Moth at Mangere. It was quite a commonplace greeting, and there was nothing in the hearty handshake and mutual remark: "It's good to' see you again, old man," to indicate that both those men had shared stirring incidents of the war.
Both were members of the Australian Air Force, Mr. Parkinson, although an Aucklander by birth, having enlisted in the Commonwealth. After having served in Palestine for some time as Captain Haig's observer, he was transferred early in 1918 to another unit. Not long afterwards, during a bombing raid, the bombing 'planes were attacked by enemy scouts, and in the combat Mr. Parkinson's pilot was shot dead. The 'plane crashed behind the enemy lines, and Mr. Parkinson was badly injured and taken prisoner.
A few months later, while on dawn patrol between Aman and the Jordan Valley, Captain Haig was captured. under exciting circumstances and ultimately taken to the same prison camp near Constantinople to which Mr. Parkinson had been sent from hospital. During his last patrol Captain Haig encountered three German scouts, and in the ensuing combat his observer, Challener, forced one down. In the meantime the escort machine piloted by Captain Rutherford, received a bullet through its petrol tanks and was forced to land in enemy territory. The other two Germans' machines having withdrawn, Captain Haig landed his Bristol fighter in an attempt to rescue his companions, who clambered on the 'plane, one on each wing, but the wheel, probably struck by an enemy bullet, collapsed and the 'plane was wrecked.
After an exciting time in eluding some Circassian soldiers they were captured by Turks and eventually imprisoned at Constantinople, where Captain Haig found Mr. Parkinson. They remained, there for about six months.
