Hi Daffnetters,
I guess that we have quite a few golfers — of varying ability , amongst our daffnett family.
I have been a keen golfer for about 35 years — but struggle to find enough time – daffs are a higher priority.
My late father was also very keen , we were both left-handers –Bob Charles in name only.
The British Open – THe OPEN Championship, is currently being playedat Turnberry, a links course on the south
west coast of Scotland. It,s great viewing , our Otaki course (near the coast ) is also a links.
In 1940 , about this time of the year, my father was at Turnberry — but not for golf.
Turnberry links was an airfield , the clubhouse – hotel was quarters for airmen doing officer training.
It was the early years of W W II and after initial training in Ontario , Canada , and some further training in the U K,
dad was with a batch of airmen , mostly Kiwis,testing the establishment as they tried to change the — Wild
Colonial Boys , — into Officers and Gentlemen — to becme 804 squadrion Fleet Air Arm –flying off Aircraft Carriers,
From turnberry, then their airstrip, a very common training exercise was a navigational and bombing run , going west.
About 300 miles into the Atlantic gales is a very small, completely isolated island that was their target, – – bombs away
and navigate (no radar then ) back to Turnberry.
I I first heard this story when I called at my parents , after a show in Lower Hutt. I was asked how the show went ,,
and mentioned that I had won a premier with ??? .
Dad and my godfather, another F A A pilot who was visiting,both laughed , said — is it still standing , –and told me
the full story of this tiny island.
They had to photo it to prove they hadn,t just ditched their bombs.
There are 9 photos of this daff on daffseek — they do not even slightly resemble dads photo.
Obviously it is a very famous daff — and has been an exceptional parent — seedlings from over a dozen different
hybridists, and also many grand-children. Raised in 1955 , still seen around today.
The name of the daff and the island is ???
John
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