Post by fwx on Apr 8, 2020 15:37:25 GMT 12
Can you imagine the inestimable cool-ness of being a boy growing up with a grand-dad who is a Spitfire pilot AND owns an ice cream factory???!
Well, John J. Caulton's grandson (also John) had that wonderful experience.
John J. "Johnny" Caulton flew around 200 op's in Spitfires with 132 Squadron.
On 24 April 1944 he was shot down over Holland by a famous night fighter pilot, Major Hans-Joachim Jabs, who drove from his nearby airfield to meet him at the crash site. Years later, the two pilots would become good friends. Johnny became a POW and spent the rest of the war at the infamous Stalag Luft 3.
After the war, he brought his English WAAF bride Marie back to New Zealand and eventually they purchased Rush Munro's Ice Cream Gardens in Hastings, operating this Hawke's Bay icon for 38 years.
Sadly John Sr. passed away in 2015.
Three weeks ago John Jr. combined his research with interviews he made with his grandfather, photos that he kept, stories passed down and a whole lot of love and respect, to create a fitting, permanent tribute to a great New Zealander:
john-caulton-spitfire-pilot.com/
Highly recommended!
Well, John J. Caulton's grandson (also John) had that wonderful experience.
John J. "Johnny" Caulton flew around 200 op's in Spitfires with 132 Squadron.
On 24 April 1944 he was shot down over Holland by a famous night fighter pilot, Major Hans-Joachim Jabs, who drove from his nearby airfield to meet him at the crash site. Years later, the two pilots would become good friends. Johnny became a POW and spent the rest of the war at the infamous Stalag Luft 3.
After the war, he brought his English WAAF bride Marie back to New Zealand and eventually they purchased Rush Munro's Ice Cream Gardens in Hastings, operating this Hawke's Bay icon for 38 years.
Sadly John Sr. passed away in 2015.
Three weeks ago John Jr. combined his research with interviews he made with his grandfather, photos that he kept, stories passed down and a whole lot of love and respect, to create a fitting, permanent tribute to a great New Zealander:
john-caulton-spitfire-pilot.com/
Highly recommended!
