Burma Star Association - B.C. Chapter
This item deals with an exciting annual reunion of RCAF 435 and 436 Burma Squadrons at the Harrison Hot Springs Resort Hotel on Harrison Lake in beautiful British Columbia. This is a marvelous hotel in a spectacular setting facing Harrison Lake. Relatively low wooded mountain ranges surround the hotel on three sides. The hotel boasts several beautiful, naturally heated, spring-fed sulphur pools with a range of temperatures to suit all tastes.
Although I am not a member of the either of these squadrons I was invited to be a guest by several of our Burma Star Association, BC Branch members who belonged to these two squadrons during the Burma Campaign. These squadrons performed outstanding service during this war, dropping essential supplies to the armies below. Without these men and the missions they flew, the outcome of the war would have been vastly different, an unthinkable possibility.
Strangely, I do have a distant connection with RCAF Squadron 436. While serving with my own RAF Squadron 258 (Thunderbolts) on an improvised airstrip in the ‘jungle’ terrain of Ramree Island in Burma I became aware of another airstrip occupied by 436 Squadron which was flying much needed supplies in atrocious conditions. But to continue – once we had completed our ground staff duties of preparing our Thunderbolts for the bombing run of the day and outfitting them with long range belly tanks, we were left almost twiddling our thumbs for most of the day until their return.
A couple of buddies and I decided to use this time to 'pop over' to the Canadian squadron, mainly to see what they were up to, but also to facetiously enquire about the possibility of switching to the Canadian Air Force; they had superior pay, amenities and above all, better food. The CO laughed good humoredly in turning down our request but did suggest that we might help them in their task by volunteering to fly with them on some of their missions; to be employed as ‘kickers’ – the term used for the men who ran down the fuselage pushing the loads of supplies out of the open doors. On these occasions we wore only the clothes we used daily, namely sandals, shorts and a bush hat. This was fine on the ground where temperatures were unbearably hot, but at 12000 feet (oxygen be damned) we were glad to run up and down the fuselage to try to keep warm. Of course parachutes were out of the question and neither were we harnessed to a ‘life-line’, so we had to be careful with the last push that we did not hurl ourselves into oblivion!
Many times I noticed white puffs of smoke on the ground below our drop zone and assumed it was artillery fire between the 14th Army and the Japanese forces. However when a crew member ventured back to us we showed him the smoke puffs and he merely pointed skyward above the Dakota to show us black anti-aircraft shells bursting a short distance above us. As a consolation he told us that the Japanese were rotten shots anyway!
Sometimes we could not find a marker for the drop zone and instead we took chances on landing in rice paddies and hoped that this temporary landing strip was in friendly hands for the time being. On landing like this our wheels sent up sprays of water past the windows and into the open door while the pilot slithered and skewed to a stop (on one occasion he made a tight U-turn to avoid hitting a fuel laden Bowser: the wing narrowly skimming over the top of the tanker truck). At times a Dakota seemed more like a flying boat. A take-off under these conditions was equally daunting – but luckily we were now flying ‘light’.
After serving in the RAF in Burma my sole intention was to get back to blighty to resume my life without ever thinking of emigrating - anywhere, so the thought of meeting up again with members of 435 and 436 never entered my head. But slowly that changed. After two years in England myself and family had a chance to emigrate to Canada in 1949 and we grabbed it. For twenty years we happily lived in London and St. Thomas, Ontario without any connections to military or veterans organizations. In 1969 After a brief vacation in British Columbia we liked what we saw; picked up stakes once more and headed west where I have been ever since. Now, by a strange fluke, a neighbour invited me to join a recently formed Burma Star Association and here I regained contact with some BSA branch members who flew with 435 and 436 squadrons in Ramree. It is highly likely that unknowingly I actually might have flown with these very members fifty years ago. Some events in our lives are certainly stranger than fiction.
But I digress, so back to the reunion. About 114 members, wives and guests attended this two night/three day event coming from all across Canada. I overheard it being cited as the “best reunion yet”. We all found it to be absolutely enjoyable. It was a perfect mixture of good comradeship, excellent amenities and food – and all in an incomparable setting with a bonus of warm and mostly sunny weather. Who could ask for anything more?
The local and National committees worked very hard to bring this about and I, along with the other hundred or so registered guests, would like to raise a glass to you for your untiring and unstinting efforts.
One very pleasurable part of the reunion occurred on the night of the formal dinner banquet when the Lt. Governor of British Columbia, The Honourable Iona Campagnola kindly graced us with her presence. This charming lady delivered a memorable speech from her heart to assure us that we men and women of the Forgotten War will now always be remembered for our sacrifices. To read her speech, please click here.
In spite of a very hectic schedule this day, which included giving the ‘Speech From The Throne’ in the BC Legislature in Victoria, plus many more activities surrounding this event, the Lt. Governor took the time to fly to a local airbase and continue by car to the hotel hosting our reunion to attend our opening banquet. Then, apart from delivering her well received speech and enjoying dinner with us, she afterwards took the time to sit at every table for ten to fifteen minutes giving a chance to enjoy a real tête-a-tête with each group. You can well imagine the lasting impression this lovely lady made upon us.
On our one free day, some members chose to relax in the hot pools; some played, or played at golf, while others enjoyed viewing the sand sculptures on the beach which are part of an International competition held here each year. Some physically handicapped members were obviously restricted in their activities but still managed to enjoy many things such as sharing a drink and reminiscing with old squadron buddies, or quietly enjoying reading a book beside the many pools – and watching all the girls go by!!.
All in all it was a very pleasant interlude, appreciated by all and ending with friendly embraces and handshakes with a sincere hope that we can all meet for a repeat performance next year.
Reflections of Joe Arblaster, Webmaster,
Burma Star Association, BC Branch
Click on photo for larger view
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