Airgraph No 23 Party to celebrate our two years abroad.

 Airgraph No 23

AUST. No 34171 

LAC Cooney, JF 

No. 3 Squadron 

R.A.A.F.,  

Cent. Medit. Forces 

6^thApril  ‘44

Dear Mum,

                  Quite a time since I wrote to you last but it’s the same old story of “no news”. That was until the mail arrived about four days ago. It arrived just as we were getting things prepared for the big party to celebrate our two years abroad. I’ll tell you about the party later but first I must answer your airgraphs 20 & 21 and letters 118,119,120 & 121.

The cutting from the W.Weekly that you sent me in letter No 118 is not about our squadron at all. It is about 450 squadron. The one Alan Sherwood is with.

Vivi & Maureen have certainly grown. I received a letter from Vivi in this mail & there was a photo of them both in it.

The party  was a great success. The canteen saved up our beer issue for the last six weeks with the result that we had about 1200 bottles & a 27 gallon keg of Vermouth – all free – Needless to say, there were very few who could walk a straight line towards the end of the night. – a lot couldn’t walk at all. The cooks did a royal job again with oyster soup, steak & all the trimmings & a supper of tarts, pies, sandwiches etc.

It was held in our mess to which was added a couple of tents so it would hold the whole squadron. A really good time was had by all from the C.O. down.

No more now. Love to all at home

Lovingly Yours     Frank /

 

Letter No. 114 Squadron Leader Barr escaped from a prison camp & returned to the squadron

  

Letter No. 114

AUST. No 34171 

LAC Cooney, JF 

No. 3 Squadron 

R.A.A.F.,  

Cent. Medit. Forces 

21^stMarch ‘44

Dear Mum,

                  This is not going to be a very long letter but it is such a long time since I wrote to you by sea mail that I thought I had better make an attempt.

Squadron Leader Barr, a former  C.O. of ours who was shot down & taken prisoner during the retreat in June ’42, returned to the squadron yesterday afternoon.

He was in a prison camp in Nth Italy & escaped when the Iti’s decided they had had enough. Last night he told us what had happened to him since he escaped. Of course I can’t tell you how he got back but, believe me it was really thrilling. He certainly had had some experiences which just about made our hair stand on end. He hopes to be going back to Aussie very shortly.

Went to another concert yesterday afternoon. A South African one this time & quite a good show. We have been fairly fortunate in the way of entertainment the last couple of weeks with concerts & pictures a couple of times a week.

We built a large pre-fabricated hut in the middle of our dispersal area & it was opened as 239 Wings Welfare Club. It is all laid out with chairs & tables, draughts, chess, cards, darts, etc. a cup of tea & a bun can be bought at any time of the day, for a small charge.

Group Captain Duncan is expected at the squadron in a few days time & as he’s the guy in charge of all RAAF in these parts we are hoping that we will get a bit of news on how long we are going to be over here.

No more now but will send an airgraph in a couple of days.

                  Love to all at home,             Lovingly Yours,                     Frank

 

NOTE: If you want the full story of Squadron Leader Barr’s adventures, see 

https://www.3squadron.org.au/subpages/barr.htm

 

Airgraph No 22 Quite a bit of sea mail arrived

 Airgraph No 22

AUST. No 34171 

LAC Cooney, JF 

No. 3 Squadron 

R.A.A.F.,  

Cent. Medit. Forces 

19th March ‘44

Dear Mum,

                  Quite a bit of sea mail arrived a couple of days ago but the medical orderly pumped another needle into me & my arm has been too sore to write until to-night. From you I received No’s 113,114,115,116,117. Also airgraph dated 1^stMarch.

In an airgraph I had from Norm Dunn last week he told me he was going up to have a yarn with you. Has he been up there yet?

There is still a chance that I may get to see John Curtis before I come home. Still hoping anyway.

I sent the Buxton family a Xmas card. Do you happen to know if they received it. I’ve had no answer. The airgraph is the only word I’ve had from Mrs Carter but I’m expecting a letter by sea mail.

Seeing as how it was so easy for the ‘great corporal’ to get home makes me sorry that I’m not married.

Tell Dad that I’ll probably be able to keep up a steady flow of those things that are making his mouth water even if you do get a surprise each time.

The weather has been much better this last few days & the squadron has done quite a few good jobs. It’s a pity I can’t tell you about them. Would at least be something to write about.

No more now. Love to Dad & the family

Lovingly Yours     Frank /

 

Airgraph No 21 The main star was Sandy Powell

 Airgraph No 21

AUST. No 34171 

LAC Cooney, JF 

No. 3 Squadron 

R.A.A.F.,  

Cent. Medit. Forces 

14th March ‘44

Dear Mum,

                  Quite a few days since I wrote to you last but it’s the same old story of no news. We have at least had a couple of good days in the last week which is at least a bit of a change.

I received an airgraph from you yesterday, No. 17 & another one to-day dated 25/2/44. Also received one each from Norm Dunne & Fred Lowe.

John Day certainly must have made a hit with Qantas to get sent where he did. He must have a good job now. If you can find out his address you can let me know & I may drop him a few lines.

I’m glad to hear that the two  parcels arrived Ok. I had no idea what colour the bedroom was when I obtained the bedspread. If I had known that it was green I could have got a green one of the same design. Sorry you were disappointed when you opened the one containing the ‘linen’. I thought I had written & told you about it. Don’t be surprised if you get something similar in the very near future. Tell Bet not to be surprised if she receives some too.

A couple of days ago I went to a good concert at a nearby town. The main star was Sandy Powell. It was quite a good show.

No more now. Love to Dad & the family

Lovingly Yours     Frank

 

 

 

 

Airgraph No 20

 Airgraph No 20

AUST. No 34171 

LAC Cooney, JF 

No. 3 Squadron R

.A.A.F.,  

Cent. Medit. Forces 

4th March ‘44

Dear Mum,

                  Yesterday afternoon I received two airgraphs from you (No. 16) & one from Aunt Molly then this afternoon I received two from Betty.

Glad to hear that the book about the Vatican City arrived home OK. I can’t remember what snaps it was that I sent you so I can’t tell who the boys are.

The parcel containing the bedspread & one full of things for Dad were sent about the same time & they should be home by now. Looks as if that five quid has gone west.

The weather has been quite warm for the last two days & so we have been rather busy. However to-night has brought more wind & the sky is very overcast so we will probably get some more rain. This Italian weather is almost as bad as Melbourne’s.

I sent two more parcels for Dad this morning No.3 & 4. The first two were sent about a week or so ago. If you are able to get any Cocoa will you put some in my next parcel. The last lot was pretty good. We used to be able to get it at the canteen but we can’t get any more now.

No more now. Love to Dad & the family

Lovingly Yours     Frank

Airgraph No 19 Tell him that his second cake was as good as the first

 Airgraph No 19

AUST. No 34171 

LAC Cooney, JF 

No. 3 Squadron 

R.A.A.F.,  

Cent. Medit. Forces 

2^ndMarch ‘44

Dear Mum,

                  More mail arrived yesterday. I received two from you, No’s 111&112 written 2^ndJan & one from Betty.

The £40 also arrived yesterday. I don’t think I’ll need it now but will hang on to it for a while.

Next time you see Sam Bodimeade tell him that his second cake was just as good as the first one. I finished it off on guard last night.

I have been expecting to hear that the two parcels & the book that I sent about Xmas time, had arrived. Have No’s 3 & 4 for Dad packed up & ready to send. Will probably get them away to-morrow morning.

There’s still not enough news to fill a long letter but don’t worry as soon as something worth writing about turns up I will send a long one.

I don’t think I mentioned that a week or so ago I sent you five copies of “Parade” magazine that is issued to us.

Rather cold here again tonight – have got the old coke fire going & its warm enough in the tent.

‘Stork’ had a letter from Ivan Hansen yesterday, Ivan doesn’t seem to think much of home stations after being over here for so long but says he will put up with it.

No more now. Love to Dad & the family

Lovingly Yours     Frank

 

Airgraph No 17 Dave (the debt collector)

 Airgraph No 17

AUST. No 34171 LAC Cooney, JF No. 3 Squadron R.A.A.F.,  Cent. Medit. Forces 

21st  February ‘44

Dear Mum,

                  I only wrote to you yesterday but I’m writing again to-day, not with any news, but to get you to do something for me & this is it.

When Ivan Hansen left here several of the boys owed him money & he wrote to one of the chaps in my tent asking him to collect it & send it home.

The money has been collected & now the trouble is to get it home. We decided that if Dave, (the debt collector) gave me the money I would be able to write to you & you could draw the money & send Ivan a cheque for the money. The amount involved is £13 sterling or £16 Australian so if you send a cheque for £16 everything will be square. Ivan’s address is Mr I.W. Hansen, 74 Wood St, WARWICK, QLD.

Let me know if you can’t follow this but I think everything is clear enough.

The money you are sending hasn’t arrived yet & now I won’t need it. I’ll let it build up a bit & then send it back again together with a bit more.

Love to all at home                                   Lovingly Yours   Frank

Airgraph No 16 5pence a day colonial pay

Airgraph No 16

AUST. No 34171 LAC Cooney, JF No. 3 Squadron R.A.A.F.,  Cent. Medit. Forces 

20^th  February ‘44

Dear Mum,

                  At long last some airgraphs have arrived about 2 ½ thousand came in & out of those I received five – three from you 13,14 & 4/2/44 & two from Betty.

We could do with a bit of your warm weather over here. I haven’t been so cold for so long in my life. At present it’s snowing rather heavily & has been doing so for several days.

Haven’t received an airgraph from Aunty Lizzie yet but Aunt Molly’s arrived some time ago.

The money didn’t arrive in time for my Naples leave. In fact it hasn’t arrived yet & I don’t really need it now because to-day we were told that we are to get 5d a day colonial pay since we landed at Suez & that amounts to over £13½ sterling or £16½ Aussie. However I’ll be able to use the other alright. Probably to buy things for Dad. There’s only about 200 smokes left out of the thousand I had to send Dad so I got another thousand to-day. They are only 37/6 sterling a thousand so will probably send them regularly. About five hundred a week. May even be able to build up a supply for me out of that. I’ll need them when I get back from what we read in the papers about the shortages.

I’ll probably write to Bert in a day or two. Wrote to him about six months ago but didn’t receive any answer from him. Must write to Norm Dunn also.

No more now so I will close.

Much love to Dad & the family                                             Lovingly Yours                    Frank

 

 

Air graph 15 A bath-tub out of a 44 gallon drum

 Airgraph No 15

AUST. No 34171 LAC Cooney, JF No. 3 Squadron R.A.A.F.,  Cent. Medit. Forces 

15^th  February ‘44

 

Dear Mum,

                  I have been waiting for several days in the hopes that some mail might arrive but, as none has come to hand yet I had better see if I can find enough news to fill this form.

I sent you an airgraph the other day which was written by the padre. Also sent one to Betty.

The bad weather hasn’t broken since I wrote last. Yesterday it was overcast & we were released for the afternoon so a party of us walked about a mile from the ‘drome & spent the afternoon in the snow. We had snow down our necks & in our boots & everywhere else by the time we had finished a snow fight. The weather doesn’t look like clearing up for a long while yet.

The nights have been extremely cold so a few days ago we knocked a lot of holes in a kero tin & fill it with coke. Now it is so hot that we start the night off in full clothing & as we get warm we disrobe. I’m at present down to my u/pants & they look like being removed shortly. We made a bath-tub the other day out of a 44 gallon drum & now each night we bring it into the tent & lay back in steaming hot water, up to our necks. 

There is no shortage of water because we have a well outside our door & can use as much as we like.

No more now but will write again when some mail arrives.

Love to all at home                                                  lovingly yours,     Frank 

 

 

Air graph 14 - 2 Please don't stop sending papers

Airgraph No 14 - 2

AUST. No 34171 

LAC Cooney, JF 

No. 3 Squadron 

R.A.A.F., 

 Cent. Medit. Forces 

11^th  February ‘44

 

Dear Mum,

                  It’s ten days since I wrote to you but news has definitely been scarce. However to-day I received three letters from you so that at least gives me something to write about. Letters were 108, 9 & 10. I received an airgraph from Ivan Hansen about ten days ago but he didn’t say anything about ringing up home. He told me he was on 40 days leave & had to report to the Bris. C.O. the following Monday for medical board for a discharge. I suppose he will be out by now. Ivan was one of the best blokes in the squadron.

For goodness sakes please don’t stop sending papers & reading material over here even if the P.O. is under-staffed. Papers are all we have to read at night & in our spare time. The more reading matter you can lay your hands on the better.

The dozen or so photos I sent weren’t in the letter I sent from Cairo, so that’s two letters you’ve missed out on.

The cash hasn’t arrived yet but it should be here soon, I’m not in any particular hurry for it.

Bruce Crabtree must have had a good spill off his motor bike. I received an airgraph from Aunty Molly a couple of days ago & she told me all about it. I can’t find enough news to fill an airgraph in answer to Aunty Molly’s

No more now, love to all at home                                                         Frank

 

Air graph 14 Any of those boys who envy me can swap places too.

 Airgraph No 14

AUST. No 34171 

LAC Cooney, JF 

No. 3 Squadron 

R.A.A.F.,  

Cent. Medit. Forces 

3^rd  February ‘44

 

Dear Mum,

                  It’s only two days since I sent you one of these airgraphs but to-day I received three letters from you & this is just in answer to them. The letters I received were No’s 105, 107 (1.12.43) & 107 (6.12.43). no doubt one of them is meant to be No. 106.

Glad to hear that the green material I sent Bet was suitable. Haven’t seen anything over here yet but may get hold of something shortly.

I haven’t seen Alan Sherwood lately. I must go down there one of these nights. The squadrons keep pretty much to themselves & the only times we see one another is at the two-up, & then it’s only a certain few.

Next time Tom Williams rings up tell him that, if I can get a couple of weeks home leave, I’ll change places with him anytime. Any of those boys who envy me can swap places too.

With a bit of luck I may get to see Johnnie Curtis shortly, seems as if we have a good chance.

Have you got all the letters that I have sent since I came over here? If so, hang on to them ‘cos I want to go through them when I eventually get home. No more now so I will close.

Much love to Dad & the family                                             Lovingly Yours                    Frank

 

 

Air graph 13, What could have happened to Betty's pyjamas & kimono

  

Airgraph No 13

AUST. No 34171 

LAC Cooney, JF 

No. 3 Squadron R.A.A.F.,  

Cent. Medit. Forces 

1^st  February ‘44

 

Dear Mum,

                                    I haven’t much to tell you this time except that I am having a book sent to you. It is a book on the doings of the RAAF for 1943. I don’t know what it will be like but last year’s was rather good. We pay for it here & it is posted to you from somewhere in Aussie. Let me know if you receive it alright.

                 

 The couple of parcels that I sent from here should just about be home by now. I will be looking forward to an Airgraph saying that you have received them. Can’t understand what could have happened to Betty’s pyjamas & kimono. They should have arrived long ago. Should hate to lose them now after keeping them for so long.

I had hopes of being home in time for Betty’s blessed event but can’t see it coming off now.

We look like staying here until it’s all over.

Received an airgraph from Mrs Palmer to-day so must set to & answer it.

Much love to all at home.  Lovingly Yours                     Frank

 

 

Air graph 12, Cold enough for chilblains

 Airgraph No 12

AUST. No 34171 LAC Cooney, JF No. 3 Squadron R.A.A.F.,  Cent. Medit. Forces

24^st  Jan ‘44

Dear Mum,

                  Your airgraph No 12 (9.1.44) arrived here to-day. Also received two from Betty. I woke up to the fact that letters No 91 & 94 were airgraphs I think I sent you an airgraph to tell you so.

Tell Dad that it’s been cold enough over here to give anyone chilblains but somehow I haven’t had any at all. The weather at present is very good the sun is quite warm & the nights are cold but not windy like they used to be. We were issued with leather jackets the other day & they keep us warm.

I received a cake to-day from a couple of sisters in Wagga. I wrote to them some time ago & told them if they didn’t send me a cake soon I wouldn’t write any more. I only said it as a joke but they up & made me one. I’ll have to try it on others.

If I have time to-morrow I will write & tell you about my leave. Had a rather quiet time so the letter won’t be a long one.

It’s good to hear that Bet is still keeping well I still keeping well I still have hopes of being home in time for the coming event.

Much love to all at home                                      Lovingly Yours    Frank