Updated 13 November 2023
Pete Smith commented on the sequel…
In the stuff I had written about Sticky, told to me by Buddy Badley whom I miss enormouslyーhis cheerful disposition and good humour never failed to lift me, even when he was dying.
Sticky Murphy would take over as the COーand was beloved by the squadron, to a man.
It was while at Pomigiliano that the Squadron, such as it was, a single flight and support staff, had a party. No different to any other night that the squadron generally had off you might think. And so it was.
That was until Sticky leapt up in the midst of the proceedings and declared,
‘I’m going on an ‘op’!’
There were various cries of ‘What! What?’
‘Are you sure old boy?’ ‘We’ve been partying for hours!’
And a gentle chorus started,’ What’s Sticky doing?’ ‘What, going on an ‘op’?’
Followed by, ‘Well, we’ve all had a bit to drink!’ ‘Steady on Sir!’
Sticky however could not be placated, and as the seconds ticked by his enthusiasm grew, until he bounded into action.
He rushed into the ‘ops’ roomーwhich was actually a great wrecked Messerschmitt ME323 Gigant, (before they got an ‘op’s tent) a six-engine troop carrying transport, and proceeded to the operations board, and map. With great gusto, in a single motion, Sticky ripped off a large portion of the map which then accompanied him as he picked up a set of flying gear. With no more ado he rushed off to an aircraft with Pat Rapson as his nav.
Buddy Badley recalled, as they climbed into the aircraft possibly Norman Conquer said,
‘Hang on Sticky, you’ve got nothing to drink!’
He handed a bottle of Chianti to him through the hatch. The intrepid pair then took off in a somewhat enthusiastic state (Sticky was always full of enthusiasm) and disappeared into the night, actually to an Italian harbour where Sticky blasted away at everything before returning. It would be less than a year later when Jock Reid would remember this incident, and the fact that Sticky was gone for over three hours.
Happy New Year. And to Pats’ relative, another person blessed to have a relative in the fighting 23rd.
Pete Smith
Update
On 13 November 2023 Paul Rapson commented on this post…
Three Letters by Cherie Daniel
Dear Pierre, dear Cherie, Thank you for sharing these letters, and the photograph. I’m 99% sure that’s my Grandfather Patrick RAPSON on the photograph (top far left, standing), so they must have known each other. Unluckily I can’t ask him for any more information as he passed away in 2006.
Yours sincerely.
Paul RAPSON
RAF 23 Squadron 