AIR FORCE UNIT’S MASCOT

Southland Times, Issue 25334, 10 April 1944, Page 3

AIR FORCE UNIT’S MASCOT

MISS GLORIA LYONS RECOVERING (R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service) BOUGAINVILLE, April 7. When Miss Gloria Lyons from her sick-bed in the Christchurch , Public Hospital answered an advertisement from two young airmen, lonely for letters from girls back home, she little imagined she had started a chain of events which was to transform completely the dreary prospect facing her. Stricken by tuberculosis of- the spine she was not fit to undergo the delicate bone operation which would set her on the early road to recovery and she was resigned to a long stay of two years in hospital. , How a Royal New Zealand Air Force servicing unit in a forward area of the Pacific adopted her as their mascot and gave her name to a Warhawk fighter was told in an article in the newspapers of the Dominion last January. What followed is best told by Miss Lyons herself and she writes _to the senior n.c.o. on whose suggestion she became the servicing unit’s mascot: — PATIENT’S GRATITUDE "You may think me rather longwinded in answering your very welcome letter, but the truth of the matter is that I had an operation on February 15— a bone graft where 5J inches of bone was taken from my leg and put in my spine. I might add just here that I have you to thank for this also. You might think me crazy. Yes, I am crazy —with gratitude. When I first came into hospital I was told that never would I be in any condition for this operation and that my stay would ’ be for 18 months to two years. Two days after my picture appeared in the paper my doctor told me I could have an X-ray and then he would operate. I have heard from several that I have only the newspaper article to thank for the tide turning as it did. This may or may not be true, but I certainly think it possible and I want you to know how very very grateful I am to you and all your boys for bringing me such happiness. When I answered the advertisement in our evening paper it was in my mind to bring, or do my best to bring, a little happiness in my own small way to some of the boys who are doing such a wonderful job of work overseas. Since then the correspondents have grown into one big happy family and you and the. boys have done so much for me. I only wish I could do so very much more. So please realize how very grateful I am. “I am pleased to say that the operation was successful and I may (if fate is kind to me) ’have only another six months to lie on my back. All I am living for now is the end of those six months and then to live all over again. I can well imagine how you too must feel being away from everything which made up your life and you too must be living for the day when you will be able to return to God’s Own Country and those you love. It will certainly be a great day. My very best .wishes to you and lots of luck. Your very grateful mascot. —Gloria Lyons.”.