These pages are personal experiences of F/sgt R W Barkla and F/Sgt V R W Andrews. Bob Barkla sent notes on Peter Howards book and here a few of them. One of the initial group of pilots he recalls a Flight Lieutenant J R Kinnimont who prior to joining 86 sqn was awarded the DFC while serving with 21 Squadron in Singapore. Editors note: This pilot along with another Pilot Flight Lieutenant G A Cooper were to become two of the highest commissions with 81 Fighter Wing the major commissions of BCair group BCOF Japan. Glen Cooper promoted to Group Captain DFC Commandind Officer 81 (F) Wing and F/L J R Kinnimont DFC and Bar was promoted to Wing Commander Commanding Officer 381 Base Squadron Bofu Japan.
Bob's Log book shows that his P40 was one of the first to land at Merauke on the 1st of July 1943 at this time the strip was consisted of coral-grit, it was later covered with metal plates. Telling of the first strikes against the Japanese was on November 18th 1943 this was on the village of Iworep map. This attack was led by Sqn/Leader W J Meeham, who had earlier carried out a reconnnaissance of the area confirming that the Japanese had a built a camp and was training natives in armed combat. The weather was clear and we went into the attack, our aircraft were fitted with belly tanks and we were told to release these when the Red Fuel Warning Light can on. After I had changed fuel tanks I noticed that the warning light did not come on and the fuel levels in the main tanks was falling, I realized that the fuel was draining back into the belly tank and that if I jettisoned it I would not be able to rerturn to Merauke, so I retained the belly tank and becided to attack the target after coming this far. I waited until all the other aircraft had dropped their bombs and fired their ammo so that I would not get in their way. Then dropped my six bomb on the adjacent camp area and made a few runs on the wharf they had built on the side of the river using up all my ammo.
After the attack the main party left the area so I headed for the coast leaving on of the hut a fire however, as these built of green coconut trees and roofed with their leaves although they were distroyed they would not burn, I encountered no enemy fire heavy or light, this reasured me for if even my belly tank was punchered I would not of made it back to Merauke. I got back to base and landed my aircraft with the belly tank sill on. ( Side note.) I was told many years later that the C O har typed up a citation putting me up for a "Distinquished Flying Medal" which I didn't receive it must of got lost in the mail.
On another occasion F/O Don Maguire and I were sent to Horn Island to try and destroy Jap "Recco's" that were flying over the Island at night at high altitude and the 84 Sqn Boomerangs could not up high enough to intercept them. A squadron of Thunderbolts P47's with a mother aircraft a Mitchell Bomber called in on an overnight visit, the next morning as they were ready to depart I was standing on the strip opposite our parked P40's The mother A/C followed by four P47's took off then another P47 started to take off lifting of the strip with plenty of runway did not climb away but flew close to the strip I was standing opposite our aircraft and realized that get up a little or he would hit our P40's, he did climb but not enough his belly tank was sliced open by the perpendidclar blade of a P40, a great sheet of flaming fuel fell onto other aircraft which were destroyed.
After all the excitment died down I was standing near the buggered aircraft when a voice behind me said, "Who's in charge of these aircraft" I turned and Said,"Me Sir." Here was a RAF Wing Commander in full RAF Uniform who had been flying the P47 that had hit our aircraft. He had selected his belly tank for take off (an offence) continued on until the carby was drained and put his aircraft down into a forest of four foot tree stumps, a miracle he wasn't killed, our C O asked me for the details on my return to Merauke. But we didn't hear any more about it the Yanks were too embarassed I guess. The RAF type had been attached to the Yanks for experience in the Phillipines.
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