大象传媒

After 60 years, memories of places become less certain but I am 99% sure that the following incident took place at Chittagong.
All armourers will recall that on the Hurriacnes and Spitfires the spent shell cases were ejected through a channel, under the wing, which after rearming was sealed by material. This material was fastened to the underside of the wing simply by painting it with dope. This was to maintain airworthiness on take off and when the guns were fired the spent cases burst through the newly fixed patch.
Inevitably the sides of the tin in which my dope was kept gradually thickened until the brush would only just get into the remaining liquid.
"Ah" I thought,next time the squadron is up on ops I will rectify the problem. So I chipped away at the sides and then attempted to light with a match, all to no avail. Now armourers being brilliant thinkers could always find an answer so on top of the smouldering chips I poured some fresh dope from another can.
That was a great success - the dope particles besides just smouldering suddenly burst into flame. Unfortunately so did the stream of fresh dope. I was suddenly left with a burning can, again being a quick thinker I flung the whole lot away.
As you have guessed it was not my day, the can landed on the roof of the "Basha" used by the instrument repairers and the palm fronded roof was ideal as extra accelerant.Within seconds the whole hut was well alight and quickly helped by exploding oxygen bottles!
Luckily at the time the "Quit India" wallahs were very active and by the time any NCO'S or officers arrived on the scene I had made myself scarce and I believe they were blamed for the incident.
Frankly I did'nt enquire too closely!!

Notes:
Basha - A hut made from palm material.
Wallah - slang for an individual.

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