NZ416235 W/O Ernie Alexander (Navigator)
Part Two: Panama to New York & Toronto 1942.
These experiences are from extracts of letters that I wrote to my grandfather Mr. A. K. Alexander of 15 Oakley Avenue, Hamilton, when I did my aircrew training in Canada.
Back to sea again and the same old routine, but lots to talk about this time. Items on the notice board concerning ships sunk in the Carribean made us realise that there is a war on. Fortunately our boat was capable of 17 knots and too fast for subs, still the news we were receiving was disconcerting. Our watches became more real. One funny incident which happened in the mid Pacific just comes to mind. It concerned Jack Blank when he pushed the button of a six inch gun and a shell roared across the Pacific. The sea was calm, the sky as clear as a bell and all was quiet but the Americans were on action duty in no time.
Nearing New York we encountered considerable fog and this was just as well on the last day. A submarine sunk a boat quite close to us. We did wild evasive action during the last few hours. The first sight of New York was an imposing sight with the Statue of Liberty really beautiful. There was no mistaking New York with all its skyscrapers. The wharves were a collossal size and dwarfed our boat. Previously in Wellington it was the reverse, witht he 'John Ericsson' towering above the sheds.
After docking we boarded buses and went straight to Central Station to catch a train to Toronto. We saw little of New York but passed through Broadway, 5th Avenue and 42nd Street. We found the city a mass of neon signs, and a blaze of coloured lights. The skyscrapers were immense and appeared to block out the sun in the streets. The Empire State Building (102 storeys and 1200 feet) has to be seen to be believed. Traffic roars along at a tremendous rate, some of the boys unwisely tried to cross the street and were nearly killed. Taxis in New York are painted the gayest colours imagineable. After a few hours we left the Central Station for Toronto. A brief description is worth recording although it is called a station, it is really a small town, it being possible to purchase almost any commodity.
After pulling out, the train passed over sidings for ages, someone said it was 10 miles. Soon it was pushing along at 60 m.p.h. The lights of New York looked marvellous and gradually faded out as we dashed through the night. Daylight saw us over the Welland Canal, and soon after we passed through Hamilton. The countryside did not look the same quality as in New Zealand. Much of the area is devoted to growing Peaches, which are ripe.
At Toronto we were given a wonderful reception by the Canadians. Apparently New Zealanders are very popular here. They liked our version of the Haka, which we learnt on the boat. Formalities were completed in the morning, and in the afternoon we were given leave. In all we spent ten days in Toronto, and enjoyed it to the full. The locals gave us a wonderful time, one of the highlights being a trip to the Niagara Falls. The food is first class, much more like our own at home - a contrast to the meals on the John Ericsson, which were very sweet. My weight according to Canadian scales is 198 pounds (14 stone 2 pounds) a record for me.
The station in Toronto is known as a training pool, a place where aircrew assemble and are later sent to their flying stations. Every morning we attend a parade and march through some beautiful parks. Our instructor is very good, and makes it as easy as possible for us, realising no doubt that we have a tough time ahead. His favourite pastime is to ask us to sing popular war songs as we are on the march, "We are the boys from away down under", "Waltzing Matilda", etc, etc, with an odd Haka thrown in.
Continued by Part 3: "10 Air Observers School, New Brunswick".
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