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SO THAT'S WHY YOU ALWAYS HAD A BAD BACK, GRANDPA!
Brett Stevens writes on 19 September 2002:
As you may remember, my grandfather had quite a bit of trouble with his back after the war, and I always thought it was caused by some crash landings with 3 Squadron, but Grandma has recently sent me a copy of a letter from Grandpa which points to the original cause - a Spitfire, which was no doubt exacerbated by events after joining 3 Squadron, including another Spitfire crash landing in Australia.
There was no indication of who the letter was intended for, I assume something to do with his TPI pension, but I have reproduced it below. It may be of interest for the 3 Squadron website. Cheers ... Brett
S/Ldr Reg Steven's letter reads as follows:
19th May, 1981
The following is an account of how I consider my present spinal condition came about:
31.12.41 On the Isle of Man, whilst landing a Spitfire, the starboard tyre blew out - the aircraft slewed off the sealed runway on to the water sodden grass and somersaulted on to its back. As I was sitting high in the cockpit (normal procedure in landing a Spitfire as forward vision was greatly limited due to the large motor in front of the pilot) my head made violent contact with the ground and I finished up hanging head down in the safety straps. When assistance came, the tail was lifted and someone pulled the safety pin and I fell some 18" to 24" to the ground - again on my head. I was transported to the Base R.A.F. Hospital where I think X'rays were taken, but I am not sure of this. I was in hospital for a week under an Australian Doctor, Flight Lieutenant John Peat.
On the 15th February 1942 I was posted to the Middle East, flying American built Curtiss P40's (Kittyhawks).
12.6.42 My aircraft was hit by enemy 40mm groundfire and crash landed in the Desert.
29.6.42 Following hydraulic failure in the under-carriage, and being unable to get the wheels down, I crash landed on our desert strip.
23.8.42 I was shot down in flames by ME109 enemy fighter - crash landed (quickly) in the desert.
3.6.43 In Sicily I was shot down by enemy ground fire - crash landed in an olive tree near Mount Etna.
9.5.44 Back in Australia, whilst flying a Spitfire, the motor blew up and I crash landed on the road near Merbein (Mildura, Victoria).
After the cessation of hostilities, I returned to New Guinea to my pre-war post with the Administration and was retired from there on medical grounds due to my back complaint in 1952.
I have had a variety of treatment, including short wave therapy, surgical corsets and in September/October 1952 spent some months in Repatriation General Hospital, Concord, where I was encased in plaster from neck to waist for some months.
R.N.B. Stevens Sqd.Ldr.(Retired) Aus.404672.