A dog’s story from Emirau 1945

[pd1]

At the time of No 8 Squadron, RNZAF ops from Emirau in 1945, PBJ VMB 433 Squadron (Fork-tailed Devils) lost there much revered mascot Whiskey. Whisky was adopted by the newly formed squadron at Peter Field Point near Jacksonville, NC in November 1943. The pup was named for his propensity of frequenting the officers mess and upseting unattended glasses of whiskey then proceeding to lap up every drop.

Whiskey was smuggled out of California aboard a flight transferring 433 squadron aircrew to the Pacific. On Emirau Whiskey had free rein on the island. In order to travel from his quarters to the flight line Whiskey would stand patiently on the service roads. Whiskey’s place as a mascot for 433 on Emirau was well know and vehicles would routinely stop to pick up the dog and transport him to the flight line.

Whiskey’s commitment to 433 squadron was never in doubt. The dog had his own flight logbook with over 400 flight hours mostly on PBJ’s including 35 combat missions. Sadly, on 5 March 1945, Whiskey was run over by a truck and killed whilst heading to the flight line. The loss was mourned by the 433 aircrew.

Whiskey ready for ops on Emirau

[Dave Homewood]

Wow, great story, and a sad end. 35 combat missions is amazing!

[davidd]

Cannot recall any particular animals being "adopted" by RNZAF units in Pacific, but it is likely that some such liaisons took place in some faraway tent. Small dogs would have been most likely candidates I think (perhaps strays already in area), although such things as lizards and turtles may have been adopted - the local lizards were a permanent feature in most huts and tents, and were welcomed because of their predeliction for eating the insects which would have been most annoyinng to airmen inhabiting enclosed (or semi-open) quarters. Cannot imagine large hairy spiders of coconut crabs becoming favourites, but stranger things have happened around the World. In sub-tropical Queensland many years ago, I also noticed that some species of very large moths were quite friendly and were quite happy to rest on your shoulder - they had remarkably intricate marking schemes (although only in various shades of brown) which I greatly admired. However cannot think they would be able to put up much of a fight if a wasp or hornet should happen along.

[Dave Homewood]

No. 5 (GR) Squadron had a pet parrot that they brought back from Tonga to their base in Fiji during the Short Singapore III days, and it liked to get drunk. I have a feeling they may also have had a dog on the squadron in Fiji too. But I am sure Fiji was a bit different and more civilised than the bases up near the forward area.

Every veteran I ever spoke with who mentioned the coconut crabs did so with hatred. They were very much disliked by all, I think, as they were aggressive, and ignorant of anything that was happening around them (i.e. they would march en masse through a tent rather than go around it because that is where they'd always marched before the war turned up there). And the worst thing was trucks or Jeeps would run them over on the roadways, and in the backing sun and moist air the stench of dead and decaying crabs was apparently one of the worst things about life up there.

[McFly]

"No. 19 Squadron pilot Sergeant KW Wright playing with the squadron's mascot at Torokina, Bougainville." (PR3048) April 1944


"Group of 19 Squadron personnel in front of the 'Club Kiwi' tent. Torokina, Bougainville. Back L-R: K.L. Armstrong, R.W. Paterson, G.R. Youngs, G.R. Bertram, J.E. Sanders, A.M. Hollings (Intelligence Officer), N.A. Pirie, D.M. Hutton, H.J.B. Veint, A.A. Watson. Centre: C.C. White, D.A. Youngs, P.S. Green, H.R. Wigley, J.R. Court, P.D. Gifford, D.E. Hogan DFC. Front: C.E. Palmer, J. McR. Calder, C.F. Tappin, J.M. Knight (with dog), R.L. Bayly, K.W. Wright, R.W. Smith, F.T. Symon." (PR3054) April 1944

"Image from the KF Davies personal album collection. "Ray with parrot". A member of 1 Servicing unit feeding his pet parakeet." (ALB86260057) Circa 1943/44.

[Dave Homewood]

That dog is so cute.