In his best suit too
MORE information comes in about that long-ago incident when a photographer fell out of a Harvard trainer aircraft and parachuted into the sea off Durban. The photographer definitely was Stanley Gee, as recalled by the family of Graeme Schwikkard, who piloted the aircraft.
There had been a suggestion that his name was in fact Stan Bunn. There was indeed a Stan Bunn who was a photographer in Durban at the time. Bill Daly, a sprightly 85-year-old, knew them both. It definitely was Gee who fell out of the Harvard, he says.
What's more, Daly was in another aircraft with Stan Gee just weeks before this incident. He could have fallen out that time too.
They were in a Sunderland flying boat and they flew up the coast to Zululand for Gee to do some filming for the newsreel, African Mirror. (He was a highly competent all-rounder). Daly went along for the ride, the jaunt organised by his brother, Dudley, who was with the Sunderland squadron in Durban harbour.
The Sunderland fuselage had a "blister" where the machineguns had been housed. The aircrew removed the blister, leaving an open space through which Gee could film.
"It was quite frightening. I thought he was going to fall out so I grabbed him by the belt and held him."
Oh boy, the blood runs cold.
Daly had with him a new cine camera which Gee showed him how to operate to best effect by slowing down the film. He got some splendid footage, especially of the two Spitfires which escorted them as far as the Tugela River. They flew on to Richards Bay and landed on Lake Msingazi, an air force launch having to chase away the hippos.
"I saw Stan parachuting into the sea that day. My mother called me to watch from our balcony. Of course, I wasn't to know at the time it was him. He ruined his suit. He was all dressed up to go to a wedding afterwards to take photographs."
Wow, them were the days!
Caterpillar Club
MEANWHILE, reader Colin Camp says he also knew Stan Gee who in his later years worked as a photographer in the land survey section of the City Engineer's Department. He often spoke of the Harvard incident and was proud of a lapel pin signifying membership of the international Caterpillar Club – available to people who have parachuted to safety from an aircraft. (The caterpillar is in fact a silkworm, signifying the silk of the parachute).
No more stripping
THE MALE STRIPPER chucked it up. "I just couldn't bare it any more," he explained.
Frame-up
THIS off-beat limerick by Kirk Miller was supposed to appear last Wednesday. But some production gremlin had it set as prose. In that form it didn't make much sense. To resolve the bafflement of readers, here it is again:
The painter had falsely been blamed
For forging some pictures. He claimed
That the charges weren't true.
When in court, the judge threw
Charges out 'cause the painter was framed.
Tailpiece
IT'S THE LAST Chance saloon in Dodge City. A pianist is playing in the corner. This dude from out East is there, wanting to become a gunslinger. He's clipped a coupon from a newspaper and done the course by correspondence. He's dressed for the part – buckskins and all. He accosts an old-timer at the bar.
"How do I become a gunslinger?"
"Waal, sonny, ya got the right gear but can ya shoot?"
At which the dude draws his Colt 45 in a split second and shoots off one of the pianist's cufflinks.
"Sonny, ya sure can shoot with ya right. But can ya shoot with ya left?"
At which the dude's left hand drops for another split second draw and he shoots off the pianist's other cufflink.
"Sonny, ya sure can shoot. Now some advice. Take those pistols o' yourn round back to the kitchen and get the cook to dip 'em in a tub of lard. Get 'em nice an' greasy."
"Why?"
"'Cos when Wyatt Earp finishes playin' that piece on the piano, he's gonna ram them pistols where the sun don't shine!"
Last word
Work is the curse of the drinking classes.
No comments:
Post a Comment