Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum  

Go Back   Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum > Discussion > Allied and Soviet Air Forces

Allied and Soviet Air Forces Please use this forum to discuss the Air Forces of the Western Allies and the Soviet Union.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 11th July 2019, 15:52
rof120 rof120 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 252
rof120 is on a distinguished road
Ken Charney - An anecdote on the Orkney Islands

In Clostermann's book mentioned in the preceding thread on Ken Charney (starting on 31st May) there is an anecdote which some of you might find amusing. I hope humour and fun are allowed.


602 Squadron including Charney, Clostermann and Jacques Remlinger were transferred to the Orkney Islands with the main task of protecting Scapa Flow and the Home Fleet there against German reconnaissance AC and possibly air attacks (?).


They collected all eggs they could get from the farms in the area (using a "Tiger Moth" to get there). Quotation from "Le grand cirque 2000", bottom of page 163:


"After two weeks with eggs for breakast, lunch and dinner everybody finds eggs nauseating. Ken even claims that feathers are beginning to grow on his back."


A side note: the name Ken Charney doesn't really sound Argentinian or Spanish but very British. His parents most probably had emigrated to Argentina like numerous other Britons. Does someone know more on this?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11th July 2019, 16:25
Chris Goss's Avatar
Chris Goss Chris Goss is offline
Alter Hase
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 11,195
Chris Goss has a spectacular aura aboutChris Goss has a spectacular aura about
Re: Ken Charney - An anecdote on the Orkney Islands

Because of the beef industry, many Britons lived in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay before WW2
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11th July 2019, 21:27
keith A keith A is offline
Alter Hase
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,840
keith A is on a distinguished road
Re: Ken Charney - An anecdote on the Orkney Islands

He was born and raised in Argentina, with a short spell as a schoolboy in England. His father worked for the Anglo-Mexican Petroleum Company. Ken apparently mixed with Mermoz and Saint-Exupery when a boy. They all lived out of the same hotel. His father won the MC with the East Lancs Regiment in 1917. I am not sure when his father went to Argentina but most sites indicate he was there pre-war and returned when he left the army in 1921. Oddly enough Ken Charney was born in Argentina while his father was still in the army and therefore maybe his mother returned there before he was born. His mother's name was Margaret Ethel (Langley?), so definitely English, probably his parents married in England just after the war.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11th July 2019, 21:46
keith A keith A is offline
Alter Hase
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,840
keith A is on a distinguished road
Re: Ken Charney - An anecdote on the Orkney Islands

Ken Charney actually worked briefly for a refrigeration company which was involved in the meat trade before taking ship to enlist in the UK.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Ken Charney - training 1940-41 keith A Allied and Soviet Air Forces 11 2nd October 2019 01:27
Ken Charney keith A Allied and Soviet Air Forces 6 16th March 2007 13:24


All times are GMT +2. The time now is 02:37.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004 - 2018, 12oclockhigh.net