Per Adura
My life as a pilot in World War II and with BSAA after the War
5th Edition
Published on 8. August 2025
Book
Hardback
96 pages
978-3-8197-9157-4 (ISBN)
Description
Why this Book
In 1972 Paul Wallner (Peter and Nunu's first cousin) and I emigrated to South Africa. We had no intention of permanently staying. We worked as waiters in Johannesburg and, with the money that we had saved, bought an old VW-bus and travelled through the South African countries. After a few months I had had enough, but Paul wanted to stay on. We decided to separate but meet up again at his cousin's place in Nassau. So, after a few weeks at home, I flew to Nassau. But Paul never arrived. He had been robbed in South-West Africa, lost all his savings, and was forced to work on a fishing boat to earn his way back home.
On arrival in Nassau, I slept a night on the beach and the next one in a terrible B and B. Finally, I found the Whiteheads telephone number and Peter, answered. At the time he was alone in Nassau (Johnny and Lori were skiing and Nunu was at University) and he picked me up and gave me a job in the Gunite Pools service team.
On my visits to Nassau, I often stayed with Lori and Johnny. I remember seeing Johnny in his little office by the door to the pool, typing away at his memoirs. When they were finished, I got a copy and was fascinated to read about his life as a pilot. I always thought these loose typewritten papers should be transferred into book format and be improved with the addition of a few photos and maps to better understand the geography.
Finally, I want to point out that I have marked on page 31a on the map showing the southern crossing over the Andes the place where flight 571 crashed. Years before this tragedy Johnny had crossed the same pass that flight 571 missed many times on his way to Santiago.
Georg Reutter, July 2025
In 1972 Paul Wallner (Peter and Nunu's first cousin) and I emigrated to South Africa. We had no intention of permanently staying. We worked as waiters in Johannesburg and, with the money that we had saved, bought an old VW-bus and travelled through the South African countries. After a few months I had had enough, but Paul wanted to stay on. We decided to separate but meet up again at his cousin's place in Nassau. So, after a few weeks at home, I flew to Nassau. But Paul never arrived. He had been robbed in South-West Africa, lost all his savings, and was forced to work on a fishing boat to earn his way back home.
On arrival in Nassau, I slept a night on the beach and the next one in a terrible B and B. Finally, I found the Whiteheads telephone number and Peter, answered. At the time he was alone in Nassau (Johnny and Lori were skiing and Nunu was at University) and he picked me up and gave me a job in the Gunite Pools service team.
On my visits to Nassau, I often stayed with Lori and Johnny. I remember seeing Johnny in his little office by the door to the pool, typing away at his memoirs. When they were finished, I got a copy and was fascinated to read about his life as a pilot. I always thought these loose typewritten papers should be transferred into book format and be improved with the addition of a few photos and maps to better understand the geography.
Finally, I want to point out that I have marked on page 31a on the map showing the southern crossing over the Andes the place where flight 571 crashed. Years before this tragedy Johnny had crossed the same pass that flight 571 missed many times on his way to Santiago.
Georg Reutter, July 2025