Adventures in Fiji in the 1959 to 60's - part 3

The airman’s club, our bar, had a magnificent collection of lifebuoys acquired from almost every service vessel that docked in Suva harbor since the base had been formed in 1942.

I remember one that was acquired in a devious manner.

A group of airmen were assisting a group of sailors back on board their ship, when one of the airmen ‘fell’ into the water between the ship and the wharf.

The first reaction of any sailor is to throw a lifebuoy and yell “Man Overboard.”

They did, the airman who fell into the water grabbed the lifebuoy, climbed onto the motorized dingy that conveniently appeared from under the wharf, and was raced back to base.

The lifebuoy was still dripping when it was added to the collection.

A couple of times the captain of the ship created such an uproar that we were forced to return his lifebuoy.

But we got the ship’s crew to paint one we had just liberated from the swimming pool in their colours and name.

This was added to the collection on the walls. There were about 350 lifebuoys on the walls when I left in 1960

Adventures in Fiji in the 1959 to 60's - part 1
Adventures in Fiji in the 1959 to 60's - part 2
Adventures in Fiji in the 1959 to 60's - part 3
Adventures in Fiji in the 1959 to 60's - part 4
Adventures in Fiji in the 1959 to 60's - part 5
Adventures in Fiji in the 1959 to 60's - part 6
Adventures in Fiji in the 1959 to 60's - part 7
Adventures in Fiji in the 1959 to 60's - part 8