FRIENDLY FRENCH

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 41, 18 February 1943, Page 4

FRIENDLY FRENCH

IN NORM AFRICA

AUCKLAND PILOT'S WELCOME

The friendliness of the French people and Arabs when the Allies landed in North Africa is commented on by Flying-Officer Jack Torrance, in a letter to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. Torrance, of Epso'm. A member of a Hurricane fighter squadron in the R.A.F., he took part in the Dieppe operation before going to North Africa. He writes: "We've had a lot of fun here and the squadron has done pretty well. A couple of days ago, after chasing a few J.U. 88's, I ran out of petrol and had to make a forced landing along the coast. The kite was a bit knocked about as the only field I 'could find was 120 yards long and very narrow. However, I was quite O.K.

"I got out of the kite to find myself surrounded by about 50 French people and Arabs. They were all most concerned as to whether I was hurt, and were all definitely proBritish and American. They gave me a meal about every two hours — bags of eggs, tomatoes and onions— and bottle after bottle of wine to wash it down. Wine, by the way, is 1/ a quart and it's good stuff. "When a couple of boys came in a car to pick me up the next day, we left, smothered in kisses, good wishes and even roses. Practically all the French people have been wonderfully friendly to us, although the first four days there was a bit of sniping—mainly by native troops, I think." The writer goes on to say that shortly after this episode, he again had to come down in a hurry, after a long trip, though this time it was on an aerodrome. "Once again," he writes, "the aircraft was slightly bent, while I stepped gaily out, all safe and sound. "We discovered an orange and tangerine grove the other day, which was deserted by its owner on the first bomb falling a mile or so away. You should see the old wogs run if a bomb falls within hearing distance. They go so fast their flowing robes stream out like flags behind. North Africa is far more civilised —on the coast, at least—than I expected. There are a number of fine towns with most beautiful buildings."