Shortland, Donald

Donald SHORTLAND

RAF

Don Shortland rates a mention. I was flying with  F/O Griffiths in Australia, 1944 and the details of their escapades have been sent to ex 548 Squadron fellow Ken Taylor.

As Don said, "Many of us Poms were very upset we could not be in at the D-Day back home as we felt our efforts in Darwin were not always appreciated.  Don't get me wrong, I loved the life there and you Aussies".

He went on to say that , "while at Darwin most of us wore boiler suits over shorts and shirt, and army boots as a safeguard against being brought down in the jungle or bush.  We also wore a bush knife strapped to the leg and carried gear to make a bow and arrow, fishing gear, plus the mandatory .38 Smith and Wesson (6 shot revolver) protected from immersion by a "froggy"

Written by Bruce Read and edited by David Hamilton

The Spitfire Association