With Our Airmen

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 177, 28 July 1944, Page 4

With Our Airmen

Excerpts Grave And Gay From Their Letters Home

BRIEF, pithy tit-bits from letters will find a place here cach Friday if addressed to "With Our Airmen," Auckland Star, P.O. Box 1409, Auckland, C.l. © HOMK . It is not just a matter of capturing Europe, and walking into Berlin. The faith in human nature, and the judgment of the suppressed people, have been so shaken that it will take years of hard work to get them on their feet again. I have spoken to many who have escaped, and it has made me glad that I have a place like New Zealand to return to.—Flying-Officer Frank A. Eden (Auckland). © UNGALLANT * After coming in from long flights we feel a bit hungry and tired, and sometimes the Waafs are conspicuous by their absence. At such times we just go down the town for our tea. I reckon, mum, the Waafs want a gocd kick in the pants.— Flight-Sergeant R.A.H. (Auckland;.

9 BEDLAM! To-day 23 of us went on a tour of New York conducted by the United States Navy League. We started off at the Empire State' Building, the largest building in the world. Standing on a floor 1250 feet up, we were still.about 50 feet from the top. We had to travel in three lifts to get up there. Our next stop was the Holy Trinity 1 Church, at the bottom of Manhattan Island. This is the third one which has stood on that ground—the first Holy Trinity was the first church in New From there Ave went to the New York Stock Exchange, which, as far as I'm concerned, is just a madhouse. We admired a couple of banks, including the Manhattan Co., which started out as a water company and is now New York's second largest bank. We also paid a brief visit to the museum in the rear of the subtreasury. It contains a great many relics of the life of George Washing-ton.—Sgt.-Pilot Lyall (Auckland). © ROBERT E. LEE During my stay at Washington, in company with a friend, we proceeded to Arlington Cemetery and Robert E. Lee's Mansion there. That sounds morbid, but, believe me. it is far from it, for it is a most beautiful spot. Getting about Washington is a little difficult now that petrol is rationed, and I was afraid no taxi would take us there, but we were lucky, and on Sunday morning —which 1 understand was one Qf the most perfect mornings Washington has ever had—we started off at about 11, were soon picked up and driven out there across the Potomac. The Mansion stands on a hillock, and its grounds, with, I think some additions, have been taken over by the United States Government as a final resting place for its soldiers, sailors and other nationals. _ The country is well wooded, and it is as unlike one's general idea of a cemetery as it can possibly be. The trees and shrubs in- their fresh spring green were a wonderfully refreshing sight, the dogwood—almost the national flower of the country, and it could not have a better—was out, lovely dainty pink of various shades or white; azaleas of brilliant hue, lilacs, and other flowering shrubs whose names I can't give you, and in places beds of tulips. A large circular trellis of overhanging wistaria in one part of the garden was a welcome sight, especially to me, as, since my arrival in Canada, I had seen very little of anything green. The spring season is later there. Below the house the Unknown Soldier's tomb of the last war, with its shrine and amphitheatre, all ot white Georgic marble, and a thing of great beauty, and an inspection of the Lee Mansion, Lee being one of my heroes of the past, took a little time. Then we just sat down on a seat and drank in the beauty of that lovely morning stene. —P/O J.B,N. (Auckland).

® GLORIOUS DEVON

Devon is a beautiful country. All along the railway line was like a garden. The weather has been as near perfect as it possibly can be, and although here in Cornwall ihe trees and flowers are not so prolific, there is a wonderful rocky coastline that reminds me of those bays around Auckland, like our T. orbay. I am living in a hotel overlooking a beautiful little cove, and we (the crew) are very fortunate to have got one of the finest rooms in the place. In pre-war days it used to cost about £20 per week to stay there Our window overlooks tne cove, and when I sit down at the table to write letters I loofo out and see the green waves rolling up the beach. Soon my "writing" mind goes blank and I cannot stay indoors any longer Of course you will understand that although it sounds as though life is just one long, glorious holiday there are other things to do, but I can't tell you about those yet. Flying-Officer O. M. Kendon. (Auckland).

• SWELL! SWELL!

In Conrad, en route to Great Falls, Montana, U.S.A., Ray and I met two school girls who invited us up to their school to give a talk on New Zealand. We went up to the school, where we were greeted by the headmaster, who took us round the various classes. He brought out a map of New Zealand and we gave our lecture on good old New Zealand. Before we left, the children assembled in front of the school and gave us three rousing cheers. We were guests of honour at the Montana Businessmen's Club, and once again we gave a short talk on New Zealand. We were taken into private homes, and the place where Ray and I are staying is sure like home. Our hostess is a swell lady, has done everything to make us feel at home, and insists that we call her "mom." The hospitality here is second to none, and we have been invited out to dozens of places.— R. B. Brady (Takapuna). © RIVERSIDE CHURCH After mooching around there for a while we decided to have a look at Grant's tomb, out on Riverside Drive. We rode out on a doubledecker bus, but owing to the multitude of traffic lights, it took us so long to get there that the tomb was shut when we eventually did arrive. However, we more than compensated for this by being shown over the nearby Riverside Church. This is a wonderful building of stone which will accommodate 3500 people. For a church, this is an amazing place. We went in one of the four lifts, up to the 20th floor, Where there is a lounge, from which an excellent view of New York may be had. On the other floors there are gymnasia, shower-rooms, libraries, children's nurseries, workshops, a bowling alley in the basement, and kitchens on the first and ninth floors. That's a New York church.—Sgt.-Pilot Lyall (Auckland).