Bush, now retired back to Australia, was a great character on both 98 and 4 squadrons, and latterly on Jever Station Flight.

During the war he was a navigator.   On one trip he landed the aircraft after the rest of the crew bailed out.   As a result he was sent on a pilot's course.   A relation Stephen told me more detail about the story.   "John was awarded the AFC after he saved the life of another airmen in a Blenheim during his Training Rest Posting after leaving 113 RAF Squadron.   The aircraft they were in hit bad weather, and according to John, the pilot panicked and 'lost it', and abandoned the aircraft by parachute leaving a horrified Air Gunner and stunned John in the Blenheims nose.   John had been given some rudimentary flight training by his pilot on 113 in case he was ever wounded and needed to take over and fly back to base.   He was recommended for pilots training the next day.   He always had 'the hump' that the RAF said he fell out, rather then Jumped."

Later when flying Mustangs from Malta near the end of the war, he used to tell the story of flying supplies in to North Africa in modified drop tanks.   He would return to Malta with fresh vegetables in the tanks.   He once had a passenger who was so keen to get back to Malta that he agreed to be given lift in one of Bush's drop tanks.

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Doug and Val Adamson visited Bush and Bessie in February 1993
at Gawler, N of Adelaide, S. Australia

Bessie and Bush Barrey with Val Adamson 1 February 1993.  (Temp 41 deg C)
Enjoying the view at Muilders Heights looking across the Barossa Valley Nr Adelaide, S. Australia
Bush's house is in Gawler 1 hour north of Adelaide.

Bush and Bessie Barrey with Dougie Adamson 1 February 1993.  (Temp 41 deg C)
in the Barossa Valley at a Bavarian style hostelry.

Dougie Adamson with Bessie and Bush Barrey 1 February 1993.  (Temp 41 deg C)
at Glenelg the seaside end of the Tramline from Adelaide.

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Thanks to Robbie Lynn 93 Sqn, we have just heard the sad news that Bush passed out whilst
refueling his car early in May 06.   He died several times on the way to Adelaide hospital and
was in a coma for a month.   They operated on his heart but then found that it was not his heart
but he had pneumonia and he died in Intensive Care last Monday 29th May 2006.   His funeral was
31st May 2006.

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