E-MAILS FROM CHARLES KING
OF 39TH FIGHTER SQUADRON
35TH FIGHTER GROUP

Subject:    P-38's at Garbutt
Date:             Thu, 19 Aug 1999 16:08:20 -0500
From:            "Charles King" <aceking@gbonline.com>

Gidday to you mate.

As a member of the 39th squadron, I was one of the last to check out at Garbutt. Most of the squadron had checked out earlier down in the Brisbane area.

I have no memory of crashes in the Townsville area at the time I was there. I had earlier flown out of Woodstock in P-39's prior to June and after July flew some out of Anthill Plains. Remember visiting the RAAF at the Weir after their first return from New Guinea.

Will check you web site later but must be off now. Any planes with squadron numbers in triple digets did not belong to the 39th. Our numbers ranged from 10 to 39.

Charlie King.

PS If you have ever read Fork Tailed by Martin Caiden.  I contributed 2 1/2 chapters.

Subject:    Your Aug 20 msg
Date:             Tue, 24 Aug 1999 18:15:04 -0500
From:           "Charles King" <aceking@gbonline.com>

Hi Pete,

Just a partial answer, maybe more later when I have time to check some records. David Silverman a new pilot assigned to the 39th was killed landing on the center strip at Woodstock on 10 May 1942. It was probably a P-400. Plane was burnt and pilot thrown across the right wing also burnt leaving just a torso. Am not sure but believe he had taken off and made an almost immediate attempt to land.

Roger Warfield also a new pilot was killed in April of 1942 before we moved to Woodstock. Am not sure but think it was at Williamstown.

Book was published in the early seventies in paperback only. Later there were at least five new printings through the eighties and ninetys.

Another book by Caiden worth looking for is Samauri which tells the story of the Jap pilots we fought against in New Guinea.

Paperback published in the fifities. Also later printings.

Charlie K

Subject:    Silverman crash
Date:             Wed, 25 Aug 1999 09:37:06 -0500
From:           "Charles King" <aceking@gbonline.com>

Gidday Pete.

Date was 10 May 1942. No more info now on Warfield. Will research later.

For years I dated my cheques like 25 August 1999. Teller at bank remarked I must have been in the military. Thirty years retired I am getting used to doing it the civilian way.

I like the way you quote msg received and then put question in red.

Regards Charlie King

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 25 March 2000

This page last updated 21 February 2020