Air Letter No 7 Shovelling snow for the army

 

Air Letter No 7

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

13^thJan ‘45

Dear Mum,

                        Page No.1 of this letter must have sounded more like a medical history sheet than a letter so I had better write another containing a little of that very rare substance called news.

            Two days out of the several days I spent at the squadron between my first & second trips to hospital I worked harder than I have ever in my life. The reason being that the army wanted a lot of air support, & the wing couldn’t operate because the ‘drome was covered with three feet & more of snow so some bright spark decided that the easiest way out was to get a lot of shovels & a human body to fasten on the end of each & remove the afore mentioned snow.

Well the first morning we up with the sparrows or whatever birds get up too early over here & went down to the ‘drome. Unfortunately, the snow had started to thaw out the day before which meant that a shovel full of snow, instead of weighing a pound or so weighed as much as an equal amount of sand.

Before that day finished the shovels grew in size, the snow got heavier or I got tired.(I think the latter) because by tea time I had much more than enough. Next morning we were up with the birds again & by dinner time things were clean enough to fly. Anyhow the kites got off, the army got their support & everyone, with the exception of the ground staff of a certain wing in Italy, was happy. If I never see snow again it will be too soon.

My turn is around again to go off on leave but while I’m being treated for this finger I don’t think I’ll go. Anyway it’s too cold these days to sit in the back of a truck for eight or ten hours.

From the way things are going at present you can get the poultry fattened up for a party about June and I don’t mean Master Graham’s first birthday party. Anyhow I’ll be able to let you know more in six weeks or so.

Glad to know everyone was pleased with their parcels. By the way, never take any notice of the value on those parcels because we are only allowed to send a certain value’s worth each year & so the value marked on them is often only a sixth or an eighth of the value & another thing is that if a larger price is put on it is likely to get no further than the first post office.

Well, Mum, that’s all for now so I will close & write to Bet & a few others

                        Love to all,     Lovingly Yours,

                                                            Frank

  

Air Letter No 6 Xmas & passing for officers in Florence

Air Letter No 6

AUST. No 34171 

LAC Cooney, JF 

No. 3 Squadron 

R.A.A.F.,  

Cent. Medit. Forces 

30th Dec. ‘44

Dear Mum,

            It’s over a week now since I arrived back from leave but from then until Xmas we were getting things ready for the Xmas Party & since Xmas I have been getting over the party.

Everything for the party was very nice, including the eight bottles of beer, but, unfortunately, about eleven o’clock went out on a job & it wasn’t until three o’clock that they arrived back again & so by the time we got there everyone had eaten & gone back to their billets.

One good thing about getting there late was that there was plenty to eat. The cooks gave us a turkey for each crew, which consists of a pilot, fitter & rigger & believe me, by the time we had finished we were properly full. Another good thing about getting there late was that the C.O. arrived with a case of beer & as there was only a few of us there we did a lot better than if the whole squadron was there.

            After dinner we got dressed up & went around to the officers mess for a few drinks. And talking about getting dressed up, I don’t think I mentioned it before but three weeks ago we were issued with new battle-dress not made out of the old brown material but officer type Aussie Blue &, even if I say so myself, they really look smart, so smart, in fact, that all the time we were in Florence we ate at officers clubs, dran in their bars & went to their dances & no questions were asked. It was quite amusing to sit down talking to Brigs., Generals etc & them not even suspecting that they were talking to a common L.A.C.

Two of us did talk to a General for about an hour just because some of the others bet we wouldn’t do it. He even asked us to dine with him but we thought it best to tactfully decline his most generous offer.

While I was in Florence I had my photo taken & I got one of the boys to pick them up for me so when he comes back, if they are any good I’ll send you one.

In my last letter I told you about the Aussie Club the Padre opened in the village well, the day before Xmas one of the lads was married there to some Italian girl. I didn’t go to the wedding but believe me she was very nice but even so it’s not the sort of thing I would do so don’t worry about me on that score.

We had a real English Xmas this year as far as snow was concerned. We had several heavy falls just before Xmas & although it was clean & bright on Xmas Day we had to walk to the mess in four feet of snow. The most I’ve ever seen to date.

Well, Mum, that’s all for now but will write again soon?

                                                Love to Dad, Bet Leo & Jr.

                                                Lovingly Yours

                                                            Frank

  

Air Letter No 5 Tower of Pisa & billeted with an Italian family

 

 

 

Air Letter No 5

AUST. No 34171 

LAC Cooney, JF 

No. 3 Squadron 

R.A.A.F.,  

Cent. Medit. Forces 

12^thDec. ‘44

Dear Mum,

            Well, here I am again late again as usual.\ but it’s the same excuse as usual – no news.

I will be going to Florence again the day after to-morrow. It’s not my turn yet but one of the boys who was supposed to go was financially embarrassed so I changed places with him.

By the way, when I wrote to you & told you about Florence I forgot to tell you that one day whilst we were there we got in a truck & went about 60 miles to Pisa. We climbed on top of the Leaning Tower & kicked up a great din with the bells. Laurie Le Guay was there & he took several photos of us standing in front of the tower so you may happen to see our photo in the home papers.

             Since I wrote last I have received several air letters from you also a couple of letters by sea-mail & several parcels & papers was also a birthday cake from “the lad” which, I might add was about the best I have ever eaten over here. Unfortunately the cake you sent (No. 34 I think) was terribly knocked about & also mildewed. The opposite sides of the tin were touching one another. It just looked as if it had been used as a football by the post office. The parcel from DJ’s was well packed & carried very well. As did Master Graham’s cake. You were saying in airletter No.5 that they were sending some A.P.C. powders in a parcel & I may need them over Xmas & I think you may be right because for the past few months our beer issue has been  saved up & at present we have about eight bottles per man & we still have another issue & a special Xmas issue to come so we should have ten or twelve each & A.P.C. powders will be very handy I think.

            Since I wrote last we have moved further up & am now living in an Iti’s house with several other lads & the Iti family. I am sitting in front of the fire in the dining room & all the family is sitting around talking, which accounts for mistakes & the bad writing I write about two words & someone asks me something. I have been writing for about an hour & a half already. “Mum” has just about finished cooking us a big supper of spaghetti. She thinks we are the best fellows she has ever met.

            Our squadron padre managed to get hold of a large house here & turned it into an Aussie Club. Calls it Koala Casa (Casa is house in Iti) & from ten in the morning until ten at night we can get tea & cakes. There’s also a games room & writing room. Twice a week about seventy of us go to a dance & this afternoon three English gave us a concert there. 

No more room now so I will close & have my spaghetti supper.

            Love to Dad, Bet Leo & the Lad

                                                Lovingly Yours

                                                            Frank

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Air Letter No 4 Christmas presents from Florence

  

Air Letter No 4

AUST. No 34171 

LAC Cooney, JF 

No. 3 Squadron 

R.A.A.F.,  

Cent. Medit. Forces 

4.11.44

Dear Mum,

                        I have just finished packing up a few parcels to send home. One is for Jr. one for Betty & one for yourself. I don’t know if Betty has moved to Macksville yet so I’m posting them all to Cremorne. When I was addressing them I put your name on the wrong one so there is two addressed to you but the one labelled underwear is for Betty & the one with table linen & stockings is for you. In your parcel there is also a few mosaic brooches.

I didn’t know who to send them to so you can pick out what you want & give Bet the rest. I’m not sure but I have an idea that the stockings may be a bit small.

The parcel for Master Graham Bird contains a small fluffy elephant for him to throw out of his pram.

I don’t think the parcels will be there by Christmas but they should be there shortly after.

When I arrived back from Florence last night your air letter No. 3 was here for me. I’m sorry I haven’t been writing much the last six months but somehow I just can’t settle down to writing at all. It’s not only me either. I don’t think there is more than half a dozen fellows in the squadron who can settle down to it. I think it’s just because everyone is so fed up with this place & don’t look like getting home for some time yet.

            Florence is rather a nice place but most of the buildings along the river have been reduced to rubble by Jerry shell-fire. It’s the best city we have been in to date for organisation for troops. There is a club of some sort in almost every street. The A.C.F. have a beautiful hotel near the river & a club room nearby.

In the club room there are billiards & ping-pong tables, reading & writing rooms. The woman in charge of the place is an Australian who has lived in Italy for the last eight years. She came over here with her son who took a music degree at Milan & owing to the war they could not get home again.

Th weather has not been the best for the last few days but as yet we have not had any more snow although I don’t think it will be long before we see some of it.

            We shouldn’t be as cold as we were last winter because we have moved into billets in a nearby town. We are not living in any mansion but it is a lot better than a tent & we are not walking around in mud up to our knees.

            There are three picture theatres & an opera house in the town & the programmes change twice a week so we are not stuck for anywhere to go of a night.

            Well, Mum, I’m afraid that’s all for this time & although I would like to be able to write again soon I can’t promise.

                                    Much love to Dad, Bet, Leo & Graham.

                                                            Frank

 

 

 

Air Letter No 3 So fed up with this place of late

 

Air Letter No 3

AUST. No 34171 

LAC Cooney, JF 

No. 3 Squadron 

R.A.A.F.,  

Cent. Medit. Forces 

6^thOct ‘44

Dear Mum,

            It’s ages since I wrote last & your letters have been arriving regularly but I’ve been so fed up with this place of late that I just couldn’t get enough interest in things to write.

            Up until a couple of weeks ago we had hopes of being home by Xmas or Easter at the latest but we had a visit from Group Captain Graham & he told us a few facts about this new replacement scheme. He said we should all be replaced by twenty (repeat 20) months. The way he said it one would think he expected us to throw our hats in the air but seeing as how we have already been overseas for more than thirty months we weren’t in the least impressed & told him so. It’s all right for him I suppose as he only left about two months ago & came over by way of America, England, France etc, & now living in Rome. Who wouldn’t be happy with the scheme if they were in his place?

Moan No. 2. The weather. For the last 2 ½ weeks it has hardly stopped raining for more than a couple of hours at a stretch & during that whole time I have been filled up with a beautiful cold & walking around in 8 to 10 inches of mud doesn’t improve things much at all. To top things off properly, last night it snowed. Not very much but enough to make it darned cold.

            One thing we have got to look forward to & that is that this winter we will be in billets & not in tents. We are just waiting until an archbishop or some such person says it’s all right for us to move into a big convent a few miles down the road. The sooner we move in the better we will be pleased.

            Our friend the Group Captain didn’t bring all bad news. He told us that very shortly we will be getting Aussie blue battle dress.

            I haven’t been able to get away to Florence as yet but hope to be able to do so in the next few weeks.

A couple of the boys out of the tent were up there & they said it’s not a bad place at all.

Quite a few papers arrived here a couple of days ago but no parcels – it’s just about time some arrived.

By the way the last Bodimead’s cake you sent me was so burnt that I had to throw it away. So next time you go up there have a few words with them.

I’m expecting to hear that you have received my last parcel of tobacco for Dad. I have about a thousand Yank smokes to send now so if Dad doesn’t want them you can put them away  for when I come home – sometime in the next 20 months.

Can’t think of anything else to moan about so will close. I won’t say I’ll write soon cause I have no idea when I’ll feel like it again.

Much  love to Dad, Bet, Leo & Graham.

                                                Lovingly Yours

                                                            Frank

 

 

  

Air Letter No 2 Harvesting season and a white rabbit in the tent

 Air Letter No 2

AUST. No 34171 

LAC Cooney, JF 

No. 3 Squadron 

R.A.A.F.,  

Cent. Medit. Forces 

5^thAugust ‘44

Dear Mum,

            It’s ages since I wrote last but there is absolutely nothing to write about, but in the last week I have received 4 airgraphs No’s 36 to 39 & 9 letters No’s 131 to 139 & so I had better hop in & answer them.

Sorry to hear that the infant has been sick, hope he is better by now. One of the lads in the tent has a sonnamed Michael who was born after we left home. Don’t forget to send some photos as soon as possible.

You were saying in letter No 137 that ground staff was going to be gradually home, but hope my turn doesn’t come until I have a chance to see Italy, well, I’ve seen all of this country I want to see & the sooner I get away from it the better I’ll be pleased. The only towns worth seeing are Rome, Naples & probably Florence. But they have been so systematically looted by the Huns that there is practically nothing worth buying. I went up to the front past Arezzo about a week ago to see a few lads from the Canadian Div. & while I was up there I got myself a motor bike so as soon as Florence falls, which should be in the next day or two, I will go up & have a look at it.

            All the papers that you send seem to get here alright also the parcels. I sent you a parcel a few days ago containing a few scarves & those Rosary Beads for Aunty Molly & Vivi & Maur.

            It’s harvesting season in the district around here now & after we finish work each night we go to wherever the threshing machine is working & give them a bit of a hand. At first the Iti’s. couldn’t understand us but now they expect us each night & if we don’t turn up one night they think we’re sick. The thresher stops at each farm for about two days & after it has finished at each place a great Thanksgiving feast is turned on with plenty of wine, turkey, chicken etc. The meal is set up in the yard & there is usually about 90 to 100 sit down to it.          The way the girls work is marvellous. They start about 5.30 in the morning & finish at 9.30 at night & work just as hard as the men all the time.

About two weeks ago we were all resting on our beds when a white rabbit hopped into the tent & started eating a slice of my bread & since then he hasn’t left the tent. Nobody knows who it belongs to or how it came to get here.

            Since we have been on this ‘drome we have been able to have a hot shower every afternoon because a mobile bath unit is now with the wing.

            Well, Mum, I’m afraid I can’t think of anything else to write about so I will close.

Owing to the lack of news I don’t know how long it will be before I write again but don’t worry ‘cos I’m all right.

                            

                                Lots of love to Dad, Bet, Leo & Graham.

                                                                            Lovingly Yours

                                                                                            Frank

Airgraph No 29 Betty, Leo & Junior

Airgraph No 29

AUST. No 34171 

LAC Cooney, JF 

No. 3 Squadron 

R.A.A.F.,  

Cent. Medit. Forces 

 5^thJuly ‘44

Dear Mum,

                  Do not know if I have the right number on the airgraph because I have been a bit mixed up with my mail of late. I sent you an air mail letter a couple of days ago. We only get one a week as yet but may be able to get more later on.

Your airgraphs No’s 33, 34 & 35 arrived here this morning. It’s good to hear that mother & child are both doing so well but I can’t say I like the crack about the child’s ears. Tell Betty that if there is anything she wants for him & thinks I may be able to get over here just to let me know what it is.

I went up to see Alan Avery this morning but he is in Rome for the day. I will probably see him to-morrow.

                  We haven’t received any parcels or papers for quite a while now but some should happen along soon. I hope so anyway because I’m getting a bit sick of the same tucker day after day.

The weather the last week or so has been extremely hot but we are fortunate that we have a small cool stream quite close to our camp & we can have a dip between jobs, while the kites are being   XXCENSOREDXXX.

I have quite a bit of washing to do sometime today so I had better get on with it whilst I have the chance.

         

                        Much love to Dad, Betty, Leo & Jr.

            Lovingly Yours                                         Frank

 

  

Air Letter No 1 Leave in Rome, blessed by the Pope

  

Air Letter No 1

AUST. No 34171 

LAC Cooney, JF 

No. 3 Squadron 

R.A.A.F.,  

Cent. Medit. Forces 

30^thJune ‘44

Dear Mum,

            It’s ages since I wrote to you last but to-day we were told that we had been into Rome on leave so that gives me something to write about.

As yet we have only had one day leave in there but we are hoping to get a bit of leave organised which will extend over several days but at present there is to much work to permit anything of that sort. Things should quieten down a bit shortly.

The first day we were in there we spent more than half the day at St Peters Cathedral. I could never explain in writing just what it was like but it was the most magnificent & imposing building that I have ever seen. There are 33 chapels in the church & each one is as big as an ordinary church. The floor space will accommodate sixty thousand people.

            On Sunday the wing padre arranged to say Mass in the Vatican Chapel for this Wing. Anyone could go whether they were Catholic or not so I went. After Mass we went into the Reception Room of the Vatican City & were blessed by the Pope.

            The Pope gave each of us a set of Rosary beads & a photo. I bought three sets for Aunty Molly, Vivi & Maureen & got them blessed as well.

            They are not very expensive beads but they are the best I could buy at the church. I will send them & the photos as soon as I parcel them up.

            It will give you some idea of how elaborate the church is when I tell you that they started to build it two hundred years ago & they are still working on parts of the interior.

            We met several Australian priests who are being ordained at the Vatican. They have been there for the last eight years & all seem anxious to get home again.

            I spent the rest of that day just wandering around & having a look at the city. It is beautifully clean & rather modern & there is no sign of any bombing except at the railway yards.

The next day that I went in I went to the opera house & saw Irving Berlin in his show “This is the Army”. It was a very elaborate show but one that was well worth seeing. I believe that it will be going to Aussie when it has finished its tour over here.

            The New Zealanders has taken over one of the biggest hotels in Rome for a club. It is a huge place containing six hundred bedrooms. It’s open to any Aussies that are in these parts. We met a Lt Col. From the A.C.F. & he said he was over here to fix up a club of our own.

            I’m rather mixed up with my mail of late & do not know what I have answered & what I haven’t but letter No 130 & airgraph No 32 arrived a couple of days ago.

            We had a visit from a R.A.R.E. Liaison Officer about a week ago & we had to fill in forms with details of our pre-war job, what we want after the war in employment, housing, education etc. I will send you one of the forms if I can get hold of one.

            I suppose you feel a bit older now that you are a Granny. I’m anxious to hear a bit more about my young nephew.

            No more room now so will close. Much love to Dad, Betty, Leo & Jr.

                                                                        Lovingly Yours                                         Frank

 

 

Airgraph No 28 No news that I’m able to write about

 Airgraph No 28

AUST. No 34171 

LAC Cooney, JF 

No. 3 Squadron 

R.A.A.F.,  

Cent. Medit. Forces 

 30^th May ‘44

Dear Mum,

                  It’s quite a while since your letters No 128 & airgraph No 28 arrived but ever since I wrote to you last, that was several weeks ago, we have had a terrific amount of work with this latest push that has been going on. We are very short of armourers & the crews have had to help with lifting the bombs & believe me that’s not easy work. The kites fly anytime between 4 o’clock in the morning & 9 o’clock at night.

    The weather lately has been marvellous. The days have been extremely hot & we often have a swim while the kites are away. Our new camp site is in the middle of a big wheat field & a swift flowing river is about 150 yards from the tent.

                  I had a letter from Norm Dunne in the last mail also a photo of the wedding group. The bride seems to be quite a nice girl.

    We have great hopes of being in Rome before this letter arrives in Aussie. There’s some talk of us getting leave to see it when it falls but whether we do or not remains to be seen. I’ll write you & tell you about it if we  happen to get to see it.

                  No news that I’m able to write about so I close.

Much love to Dad, Bet, Leo & Jr

                                                      Lovingly Yours                                         Frank

 

 

 

Airgraph No 27 Needles every two or three months

  

Airgraph No 27

AUST. No 34171 

LAC Cooney, JF

 No. 3 Squadron 

R.A.A.F.,  

Cent. Medit. Forces 

8^th May ‘44

Dear Mum,

                  I received letters No’s 125,26 & 27 yesterday afternoon, also airgraphs 26 & 27. It wasn’t until I read your airgraph No 24 that I understood what you meant by the Ready R. but I think I can do something about it. Will let you know next airgraph.

                  You were wondering if I had been sick because I had had some needles. The last ones we had were something new, a typhus preventative, but we get a needle of some sort about every two or three months because their usefulness only lasts a limited period.

I had no idea the Buxtons had moved because I haven’t had a letter from any of them since I left home.

I haven’t had any word from George Brissett either. I hear from Fred Lowe quite often so I told Fred to look for George & to tell him it’s about time he answered my letter.

                  The weather has continued to be warm but the water is still too cold for swimming. Most of the winter snow has disappeared & the waters have run down into the sea so you can imagine how cold it is in the water.

    When Ivan Hansen left here we all expected him to be discharged as soon as he arrived home because he had Tinea (?hard to read this word) so badly. He still seems determined to get out of it & into some essential job. Hope he can make it.

                  

                No more now but will write again soon. Love to all the family                Lovingly Yours     Frank

 

 

 

 

Airgraph No 26 No news and a broken finger

Airgraph No 26

AUST. No 34171 

LAC Cooney, JF

 No. 3 Squadron

 R.A.A.F.,  

Cent. Medit. Forces 

1^stMay ‘44

Dear Mum,

                                    It’s about 10 days since I wrote last but the reason for not writing is the same as usual – no news.

Letter No124 & airgraph dated 12/4/44 arrived here yesterday & parcel No 30 a few days previous. Also received another letter from Mrs Palmer.

    You have probably received the airgraph in which I told you that the £40 arrived OK. If not you know now.

Although the Padre put in his airgraph that an answer was not necessary he has had dozens of answers from the boys’ people. Don’t know whether you answered it or not but if you did the Padre said he will not be able to write again for a while.

    I was playing baseball after tea a few nights ago & got a rather hard crack on the finger. I went down to the hospital yesterday morning & had it x-rayed & found it was broken. It’s in plaster now & will be for the next couple of weeks.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXX     3 lines censored out of the letter here  XXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The weather is continuing to be fine but still not warm enough for swimming but it shouldn’t be long now before we can have a dip.

                    No more now. Love to all at home                                                                         Lovingly Yours

                                                                                                                                                                  Frank

 

Airgraph No 25 The Yanks certainly wreck a girl

  

Airgraph No 25

AUST. No 34171 

LAC Cooney, JF 

No. 3 Squadron 

R.A.A.F.,  

Cent. Medit. Forces 

22^nd April ‘44

Dear Mum,

                  I received letters No’s 122 & 123, airgraph no. 24 & parcel No 29 from you yesterday. The cake just got here in time because it was just starting to go bad.

                  I’m glad you like the bedspread so much. Re the price it actually cost me very little but on the stall they were listed at about 30/- sterling. I think I forgot to pay for it. In fact that’s what I did do.

                  The wedding cake carried very well & naturally didn’t last very long at all.

Received a letter from Bill Alfonso in this mail. He said he has been up in the islands for quite some time & doesn’t seem to think much of the place. Also had a letter from Mrs Carter (Randwick). She told me that Betty N. had been out to see her the week previous. She said it was hard to imagine how a girl could change as much as Betty had. She lost her baby but said she didn’t want it anyhow. Her Yank husband has left her & Betty is hitting the hot spots. Mrs C said the yanks certainly wreck a girl’s life. If I can find the letter I will send it to you.

The weather’s still quite warm here but the surf is still too cold.

No more now. Love to all at home                                                                         

                                                Lovingly Yours

                                                                          Frank

 

Air graph No 24 Learning to play chess & Mt Vesuvius erupts

 Airgraph No 24

AUST. No 34171 

LAC Cooney, JF 

No. 3 Squadron 

R.A.A.F.,  

Cent. Medit. Forces 

12^thApril ‘44

Dear Mum,

                  I received another airgraph from you to-day dated 23/3/44. Some sea-mail arrived also but it evidently wasn’t my turn because I didn’t receive any of it. Maybe some more will turn up to-morrow. Some parcels are due.

Speaking of parcels, I have one ready to send Dad. Will put it into the post office to-morrow & get it away. I made the tin for it myself & soldered it up all round so open it up with a tin opener round where I’ve marked it.

    Bob Jay & Ken Jacobs, the writers of the letters in the W. Weekly are both from here. Ken Jacobs was posted from here to 450 squadron about a week ago. 

   

     Mt. Ves (ie Vesuvius)certainly kicked up a fuss for a while. Ashes from it were landing over on this side of Italy which is about a hundred miles from the place. Some of the boys from here were on leave in Sorento when it all happened. They said it was a great sight. 

    I have been learning to play chess the last couple of weeks & each night we sit for hours on end playing.

The weather has been much better of late which of course means more flying & so more work for us, which is not bad because the business of sitting around all day with nothing to do is very monotonous.

No more now. Love to all at home.                                    Lovingly Yours

                                                                                                                              Frank