Saviour of Ceylon Archives

Did Birchall really save Ceylon? – Capt Elmo Jayawardena Or was it another story like charge of the Light Brigade? I wrote few days back about the Japanese bombing of Ceylon in 1942. Many who read emailed me asking for more details. Some expressed nostalgic sentiments, remembering what their parents conveyed to them about the Easter Sunday bombing. Some gave additional information, such as the rare photo that is published here. All these made me write somewhat a sequel to the story, perhaps little bit more information for those who are interested in the bygone days and what may have taken place. There was a Japanese young man who came to learn to fly in Ratmalana as a ‘fun flier” in the late 1930s. It was said among the instructors and fellow ‘fun fliers’ that the said Japanese knew to fly and may have pretended he came to learn. It ...

“SAVIOUR OF CEYLON” – by Des Kelly Superb true story sent to us via Victor Melder and Keith Bennett. Remembrance day is now past, but, as I always say. Let us not pay homage to those who went to war, totally uncertain whether they would survive and go back to their families, FOR JUST ONE DAY !!!, These brave people should be remembered every single day of the week, in fact, they should never be forgotten. Desmond Kelly. (Editor-in-Chief) e’Lanka. Saviour of Ceylon – byJohn Boileau Source: Legion Magazine Patrolling over the Indian Ocean, pilot Leonard Birchall and his aircrew spotted an approaching Japanese fleet It had been a long, uneventful flight. After 12 hours of scanning the vast Indian Ocean without luck, the pilot of the Royal Canadian Air Force Catalina flying boat decided to return to base. Suddenly, the navigator cried out; he had seen something on the horizon. The pilot banked and headed toward ...