Page 1730 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1944

Thursday 15th July

A very Busy day. Fort in morning & in office all day working till dinner
time, various messages about plane, first arranged to go by ordinary
flying boat, & then after various changes arranged to go on a Wellington
bomber leaving 4.30 am.

Saw Maddams, RC padre. After tea went along to the hospital & saw Dr
Doeg, Miss H was busy, & then to the Gunns & then to the Agency.
Finished packing & tidying up things. A very busy tiring day.

Friday 16th July

What a day. Was called at 3.30AM & after a meal of sorts went to the Mhq
aerodrome, A. Merza & A Kerim came too. Smith & MG wre there to see me
off - very nice of them to come out at such an hour, also a Banco
Canadian & friend both showing after effects of a thick night. Waited an
hour & then boarded A Wellington bomber, not very big & horribly cooped
up, we had to climb in through the bottom & clamber along the machine to
where there were two narrow seats, also two RAF men. Set off & flew half
way to Sharjah & then returned owing to signals of bad weather at
Sharjah!! Met by Smith & MG who had been told of return. Drove to bank
& spent some hours there & breakfasted & then told she might start later
& then rung up from aerodrome to ask if I would go in a Commodore -
accepted. Off again to aerodrome & met a pleasant very young red haired
USA Captain.

Saturday 17th July

Weather very thick still. The huge Commodore escorting a crowd of
"Lightnings" & going straight through. Chase & Wakefield there. Stayed
4 hours on aerodrome waiting for weather reports & for Americans to make
up their minds, finally decided not to fly so back to lunch at the Gunns,
Smith & Phillips there - by this time extremely sleepy & tired so