Verna Joyce was a weapon. She was a Bristol Beaufort, but Australian from end to end, built by Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation at Fishermens Bend in Melbourne in 1942.

The Beaufort brought the Australian manufacturing industry together as it had never worked before. Just over 700 Beauforts rolled off the production lines in Melbourne and Sydney. She was designed in the 1930s as a torpedo bomber, the latest word in modernity and speed, but by 1942 the design was looking distinctly vulnerable. 

It was common practice to name your personal aircraft, and this one was named after the young wife of one of the Pilot Officers. Once she roamed the skies over New Guinea, based on Goodenough Island, serving with 6 Squadron RAAF. She belonged to, or was flown by a chap named Jack Russell who took her into battle against the Japanese. 

I visited Jack in 2007 to hear his recollections of those days, to see his logbook and record his photograph album. My dad had also served in 6 Squadron during the war as an air gunner and I had taken his logbook with me to show Jack. He reverentially went through dad’s book, pausing to make the occasional comment of recognition as he scanned the individual aircraft numbers and pilots.”

Knew him. Good pair of hands.” “Ah, that aircraft was from ‘B’ flight.” Suddenly he did a double take. “Hey - that’s my signature!” Jack had signed my dad’s logbook as commanding officer for the flight. It had made his day, and he realised the last time he had held it was more than 60 years ago. He became even more interested then, poring over the trips dad had done, describing the locations in vivid colours and terms, far more detail than my dad had ever mentioned; it was a sort of epiphany for both of us. You could see the memories flooding back. “I remember dad talking about the native belles” I commented. Jack opened a page in his photo album.”Thats what called them alright and I have some pictures of them here.”

A little later Jack’s wife, a friendly little old lady brought us in a cuppa. Her name?Verna Joyce. As I was leaving Jack commented: “You know, I don’t often have days as good as this.”

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