Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Steve Larkins mentioned in his story that, "Returning to civilian life, Alex married and had five children." The woman he married was Joan Langridge, one of Breton Langridge's three younger sisters, which made Alex and Bret brothers-in-law. All three attended Perth Modern School during the 1930's, with Joan and Alex coinciding there in 1936. Alex left in 1936 after completing his Junior Exam because his father had lost his job during the Depression. Joan was a prefect in her final year, completing her Leaving Exam in 1937 and becoming a teacher. Bret was killed at Brigade Hill on the Kokoda Track on 8 September 1942.

Sources: Perth Modern School archives.

I had the privilege of chatting with Alex at the RAAF Association some years ago.

Alex had just turned 19 years, when he enlisted to train as a Pilot in April 1940.

The Americans called that period the Phoney War. However, two weeks later that
period ended. Hitler attacked the West on 10 May 1940. Churchill became PM on
that date. The Battle of Britain raged while Alex was training to be a Pilot. He was
a member of first Empire Air Training Scheme Pilot’s course. Alex wanted to be a
Spitfire Pilot like many teenagers at that time. However, after getting his wings in
Canada, he was sent to England for his operational conversion. Alex had hoped to
be sent to Fighter Command OTU. There he had hoped to convert to Fighters in a
Operational Training Unit. However, much to his disappointment, Alex was sent
to an RAF Bomber Command OTU. Then he flew Bombers, not Fighters in combat.

I asked Alex how a UK Aircrew Reception Centre decided which E.A.T.S. Pilots
would be sent to Fighter Command plus who would get Bomber Command. I had
assumed that Pilots assessed as, above average - would get Fighter Command.

However, Alex said that method, was too complicated. The UK Reception Centre
had a Nominal List of fresh Pilots, arriving in Alex’s batch. A Nominal List was in
Alphabetical order. O.I.C. drew a horizontal line dividing the list. Those whose
last name was above this line, in Alphabetical order, went to Fighter Command. Those whose surname was below Alphabetically, went to Bomber Command OTU.

Hence Alex, much to his disappointment was sent to Bomber Command as his
surname did not begin with the letter A as in Adams or B as in Brown etc., but K for Kerr. This meant that he went to Bomber Command. If O.I.C. had used first
names, not last name, then A for Alex would mean that he goes to a Fighter OTU.

That was the story that Alex told me at the RAAF Association at Bull Creek in W.A.


Thanks Alex, for that chat.

R.I.P.

A59434 Maurice Kissane
Fighter Squadrons Branch
Air Force Association Inc.