From Our Vintage Aviation Correspondent Nissen Hutte
The welcome re-appearance of Douglas de Havilland's Dancing on the Wings of War: The Irrepressible Roger Kite [originally published as Over and Out: The Curious Case of Squadron Leader Kite] is likely to surprise those, who think they know all there is to know about Squadron Leader Kite but who have yet to read the book, with its exposure of what contemporaries knew only too well: the famed aviator had - to say the least - a mischievous side. Again those with a passing acquaintence with the many stories surrounding him will immediately assume that this refers to his "off base" friendships and penchant for "boffing anything female provided it wasn't wearing a heavy fur coat". But no - not in this case - since author and historian Douglas de Havilland has chosen instead to document the several cases of Roger deciding - on the way back from a sortie and doubtless high on adrenalin* - to vacate his seat in the cockpit to dance an energetic foxtrot on the upper wing of his Gloster Gladiator.
* Some have suggested it might not have been adrenalin alone which raised the Squadron Leader's mood and that on at lkeastsome occasions "drink and other substances had been taken".
Evidence that Roger had some ability in the vertical dancing department comes from the many tales of his exploits at impromptu DRAF dances at any and all of the bases at which he was stationed during hostilities** and any such claims are lent further credence by the discovery amongst his possessions of a Bakelite Dancing Couple of the Year Award given to Roger and an unknown partner at DRAF Piddletrenthide in 1943.
** A reference to the 2nd World War not Roger's characteristic raids on the "human resources" of the local WI community [Ed]
That Roger was willing and able to transfer these terrestrial skills into more challenging airborne situtions was, believes dance historian - Gary Glitter-Ball - a testament to his courage, versatility and guile. "He seemed to remain fearless and totally at ease in situations where mere mortals might - with some justification - shit themselves and this was perhaps the defining characteristic which got him through the war".
Hopefully the timely appearance of Dancing on the Wings of War: The Irrepressible Roger Kite will do much to encourgae a new generation to get to know and - provided they can turn the occasional blind eye - even admire this multifaceted man who was very much of his own time [but possibly not of ours***]
*** Readers are advised that this edition of Dancing on the Wings of War: The Irrepressible Roger Kite carries a public safety warning in which the publisher advises: This book and the events it describes belong to an era in our history during which modern day concepts of fairness, equality, women's rights, colour blindness, anti-colonialism, winter-fuel abolitionism and children's welfare were not well-founded. Readers should be aware that it may contain langiuage and depict attitudes which are not wholly acceptable today. Hopefully you will have read this warning AFTER purchasing the book. In which case: Hard Cheese Old Boy. You're stuck with it.
Forgotten Pilots Historian M T Cocke-Pitte adds:
Roger - a veteran of more than 3 sorties - was a great one for chasing jerry [as well as a bit of skirt in his what he called his "down time"! and was known to be as at home in his kite as he was in the bar of the Dog and Duck in Guy's Marsh. Flying out of RDAF Guys Marsh from March 1944 until June 1944, he quickly gained the respect of his men alongside a reputation for flying and playing hard. Something of a character he was admired by sprog crew and old lags alike, not to mention the WAAFs! Such was his joie de vivre, he once boasted that he had enjoyed "three in one night, two of them simultaneously and all standing up". Whilst this gained him the admiration of many of his peers, it naturally vexed others - double whiskies being in short supply at this critical phase of the war.
Handy with the "beer-lever" and the survivor of at least one "dicey-do" (April 1944, behind the Dog and Duck), perhaps the most engaging of the many accounts of Roger's pranks involved a group of pongos and squaddies and a run-in with a mahogany spitfire* over a pranged kite. After taking a quick shufti, Roger, who had imbibed a fair few whallops, declared the whole thing tiggerty-boo (it was very far from such) and recommended his Wing Commander take it for a quick spin. Wing Commander Armstrong "Archie" Undercart - who had very recently returned to base on a goolie-chit - was not amused!
* a desk "flown" by "penguins" and "ground wallahs"
The son of a Chaldon Herring Master Butcher, Squadron Leader Kite had ready access to quality meat - a rare and much sought after commodity in those dark and distant days - and so was popular with the land girls who it was once said would do anything to get their hands on a good meaty sausage. "Roger", whose real name I discovered many years later was Melvyn - made the most of his opportunities in this and many other regards. He later recalled that he was so adept at a pre-flight quickie, that several of the local land girls nicknamed him as "over and out" - a moniker he was proud to retail.
Solutions to the puzzle regarding the attribution of the name Roger are a matter of conjecture and at this historical distance it is unlikely we will ever have a definitive answer. Some believe it was merely generic and might have alluded to radio transmissions he frequently made - "Roger, wilco" was a not uncommon way in which many airmen, not wishing to identify themselves to the Messerschmitt pilots chasing their tails, signed off a transmission and in "Roger's" case the name may have stuck. Alternatively, some believe it was a reference to his prowess in positions other than the airborne and seated - though occasionally that too** - which may be why he also acquired briefly the sobriquets "Todger" and "Shagger". He later recalled that he was so adept at the pre-flight quickie, that several of the local land girls nicknamed him "Over and Out" - a moniker he was proud to retail.
After the War, Squadron Leader Kite joined the RSCBE as a maintenance man, rising to the position of Commissionaire before retiring in 1978. He later featured in the Thrupini Stickers Collection: Famous Dorset Graves Edition (No 846)
**see Brenda Oats Snr (1958, reprinted 1995) "Always Available: A Tale of Heartbreak, Backache and Opportunity amongst Dorset's Landgirls" Threadbone WWII Reminiscences, The Threadbone Press
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