The Legend of Skr "Zozo" Bhatt
In a distant corner (Alrewas Arbo) of a distant land (jolly good England) lies a simple elegant stone memorial (RAF Assos) in the name of Skr "Zozo" Bhatt (Saravu Kukkemane Ramachandra Bhat). Who was he?
On 28th December 1917 a third and final son is born into a Havayak Brahmin (migrated from Ahichhatra near Bareilly, N.India centuries earlier) family in Puttur village Karnataka India. He leaves clutching a government school leaving certificate and leaving behind good friends and coffee rewards for fixing anything from vehicles to watches and electro mech devices. Working his way to the then Mecca of Madras, he even slept in the open with iron determination.
A wartime emergency pilot cadetship in the fledgling Indian Air Force, saw him chucking up his watch repair job. By 5th April 1942 he had earned his King's Commission as a young fighter pilot with 80 hours on the Tigermoth at No 1 Elementary Flying Training School at Begumpet Hyderabad India with Sqn Ldr P.Apellis as the C.O.
He then went to No 1 Service Flying Training School, Ambala where he flew the Hart and Audax till 26th September 1942 when he gained his wings with a total of 250 hours under Flt Lt J Woodroffe and CO Wg Cdr HP Simpson. He then moved onto Bhopal to the Armament Training Unit on the Audax for air to ground firing from 12th October 1942, followed by two sorties on 6th and 7th November on the Hart for air-to-air firing. Again, on 21st and 23rd January 1943 he flew two sorties on the Hart.
With 210 hours under his belt, he reported and started flying the Havard and Lysander in 151 Operational Training Unit, Risalpur from 21st February 1943. He probably went on leave in between before reporting to OTU.
He started maintaining a diary with accounts, mainly from 1st April 1943 then Air force day (IAF day is now on 8th October every year). By 5th April 1943 he had 250 hours under his belt. On 6th April he went to Delhi (HQ probably). On 12th April after buying a pistol case for 5 rupees, he left for Bombay, Pune,leave, Mangalore, Puttur and on 25th April went back to Bombay. On 7th May 1943 he, along with fellow 12th course Plt Offr D Subia (late Air Marshal) and 11th course IH Latif, boarded the SS Straithead "chocka block full as per Air Chief Latif for Durban, S Africa.
He was seasick. Years later his fighter pilot son would experience the same airsickness his dad had. (A vestibular system genetic interpretation?). They arrived at Durban on 18th May 1943. Lunch at Benny Singh's (father of African boxing) house on the 19th (Tea Room 12 Wills Road, tel 20625). Idris Latif sees evident aparthied in a chemist and barber shop forcing him to go underground to a giant black guy with a scary big chopper!! On the 21st lunch at Esther's place and a dance arranged by the mayor and departure on the 22nd by the Ile De France via Rio and Freetown to avoid German U Boats arriving finally at Greenock/Gurock in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland on 20th June 1943 to an extraordinarily warm welcome by the Brits as per ACM IH Latif. 22nd eve left ship for Helensburg (built on a love story) arriving at 7 personnel Reception Centre, Harrogate at 1 pm on the 23rd. On the 27th there was a picnic at Fountains Abbey and on the 29th to London, Sir Arcot Ramaswamy Mudalair's lunch at Shafi - a well known muslim hotel (Sir Arcot was Dewan of Mysore and in Churchill's war cabinet).
Back to Harrogate on the 2nd of July 1943. On 4th July to Fountains Abbey with Bill and Mrs K.S. Chaffer, 20 Hookstone Drive, Harrogate tel 83100 (Ursula's aunt). Visited Knaresborough (next door) and Leeds with four National Fire Service gals.
On 7th July 1943 promoted to Flying Officr and changed the stripe (co's nowadays slip 'em on). On 10th July visited Ursula Groth in Bedford (a mini German population there). Ursula later married Ludwig Chicken the Alpine Doc Mountaineer Dehra Doon POW whose escaped colleague was the Star of seven yrs in Tibet! On 12th July sailing with Barbara and Yetni in Knaresborough river. On the 18th dinner and saw their film in Lady Bommanji's house (seen with Zozo and Princess Mary (youtube.com/elsonicsanto). Lady Bomanji 2 no more house sold. A lot more outings with friends in the river, films, lunches and tea. 30th July at Bedford, Ursula fell into the river, he also got wet so spent the night at her parent's place. On 2nd August visit to York cathedral and tea with the mayor. On 20th August saw drama Othello in Harrogate. On 2nd September film at St James with Gerder followed by dinner and coffee at her place (repeat of 23rd August programme). 2 September good friends Ogdens Goldsmiths give case in silver for Goddess Saraswathi (goddess of Wisdom) idol. 6th September 1943, goodbye to everyone (the party is over!).
7th September 1943 left Harrogate at 0810 hrs and arrived at RAF Calvely (near Nantwich near Chester) at 1505 hrs to fly the Miles Master from 15th September 43.(Friends the Sutliffes and Allins who moved to Canada). 10th Oct 1943 bought Exelsior 250 NCV motorbike for 9 half pounds including license (lapse on 13th October 1944, he died on his self assembled 12 hp red indian chief on 14th October 1960). 2nd November nNntwich Rotary Club and his lecture (lecture not known, add 'Time Like This' poem by him). 3rd December to Blackpool for overnight, probably for sea survival course. 28th Ocotber commenced night flying.
All along in 17(P)Advanced Flying unit, 21 group RAF. Total 320 hours including 36 by night.
22nd January 1944 in 5(P)AFU Ternhill close to Market Drayton home of Robert Clive. (13th to 16th January in Burton On Trent hospital, near Alrewas, for throat ache). On 17th February replaced motorbike with a BSA for fifteen pounds. By 24th March 1944 completed 352 hours including 8 on the Hurricane 1.
On 27th March 1944 transferred to RAF Eshott, 57 OTU, Spitfires, Northumberland, near Morpeth (home of Peggy William Dixon). 18th May to Boulmer nearby on the coast (famed for Harry Potter's castle and used as a decoy airfield later in the war) where Peggy once looked gorgeous by the sea in a flowing white gown! D Day - 6th June 1944 back to Eshott, all op training on Spits done and total of 416 hrs with 48 hrs on the Spit. 7th June to Gourock. 10th boarded SS Muloga. 12th 5 pm Port Said, Egypt. 28th left Suez. 2nd July Aden. 10th July Bombay.
Onto War 9 Sqn IAF Hurricanes (wing break after Jap Boat strike, successful landing with 2 minutes' petrol - 'God saved me'). Then 8 RIAF Spits (30th August had narrow escape from Banzai Japs!) Looking for descendents of friends Allins, Sutcliffes, etc.
