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Christmas 1943, and 150 Squadron had just moved to Cerignola #3 (Torretta) aerodrome in Italy from the desert of North Africa. Cerignola was a raw airfield, the tents were old and tattered, it was cold and snowy and generally everyone was not "keen in the service". Christmas cards were being sent home and Doug "Yip" Chapman (R.A.A.F.) (centre in the above picture), a gunner with the crew of Laurie Sullivan, had one Christmas card left over. Being somewhat browned off he sent it to the then Prime Minister of Australia, wishing him a Merry Christmas and adding "wish you were here with us in sunny Italy".

A reply soon came from Canberra. In the photo above John "Legs" Daly (R.A.A.F.) Pilot, and Ron Turner (R.A.A.F.) , Navigator for Max Thompson's crew, enjoy a laugh with Doug as they read the reply from the Australian P.M.

It was obvious that the response had been written by some bureaucrat and that the P.M. had not read Doug's cryptic comment. However it did provide a laugh in conditions where laughs were often few and far between!

Christmas at Cerignola #3 1943 - and it snowed!

(photo: Stu Dyson)

No wonder Doug was chuffed! 

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