A_F_2015_01_02_

was early 1944 and, by then, the air war

had just about finished. There were very

few Japanese fighters around. So I did

that for nine months, then they pulled

you out. They reckoned that nine months

was about enough time before you’d go

troppo. By the time I got back home, the

war had just about finished.

“Back at home, Qantas was favouring

multi-engine pilots, which is understandable,”

says Bert. “So it was a bit harder for fighter

pilots to get a job with them. But they

ended up letting me in, and I went on to fly

with Qantas for 30 years, then retired and

moved down on to the farm.”

Between selling the Baron and sliding

himself into the tiny cockpit of his little

Brumby, 15 long years had slid by.

New generation flying

On our sandy little deck, we’re now

watching the golden orb of the sun sink

low in the Kimberley sky and I get the

feeling I should leave my new friend in

peace. He has relived many years of his

incredible life for me, and I feel privileged

that he has taken the time to share them

with me today. I was keen, however, to

24 Destinations

AUSTRALIAN FLYING January - February 2015

“The thing about this trip is all the

magical things that have happened.”

ABOVE: A simple gesture. Thanks to the compact dirt at Cape Leveque,

Rossy and Bert bond over the tie-down pegs.

Android

Now Available!

avplan lite

Untitled-2 1 18/11/14 3:20 PM