It was on the evening of March 17, 1990, that I had the wonderful opportunity to spend several hours with Flynn's old Sirocco mate, Charlie Burt. We did so much talking but unfortunately he had turned down my request to record our conversations. I only wish I now had a transcript.
He was rather infirm; pale and somewhat overweight, but certainly glad to chat with someone who actually knew and recognized his unique background. He had read Beam Ends and was fairly supportive
of its veracity vis. the actual Sirocco adventure. The anecdote I found most entertaining was the one in which he described first meeting Flynn again, long after last seeing him in New Guinea in 1930/31. If I recall correctly, he had joined the armed forces and happened to be stationed in San Diego when Flynn was filming "Dive Bomber". He discovered where Flynn was staying and took along a couple of seriously doubtful friends. Burt announced himself to the guard and his friends rolled their eyes. To their astonishment, however, Flynn came bounding out and grabbed Burt in a bear hug~leaving the buddies with mouths agape! Burt then related to me that Flynn proceeded to show him the town in subsequent days and they both had a wonderful time reminiscing about the days a decade earlier in another world.
I don't remember if he told me of ever seeing Flynn again after that event. What questions he did answer assured this fan that the young Errol was indeed irrisistible to the ladies everywhere they sailed in those tropical locales.
Near the end of the evening, he went back to his apartment (we had met on neutral ground!) and brought a number of photos he had Xeroxed for me. Not very nicely copied, as you might imagine, but I was touched by the gesture which indicated he had been happy and comfortable with my genuine interest and knowledge of that storied past. He also gave me his business card and I thought often of calling on him again, but for some reason never did. If he is still with us, I'd be happily surprised.
I have attached for you here the old photo of the 1930 Sirocco crew that Charlie autographed for me, inscribing his real name: Charles "Chuck" Pilleau. I remember being amused by his insistence that he was, in fact, the man standing on the right in the photo, even though the caption and his current looks said otherwise!
I've rarely related this story, for as you fans know, few are familiar with Flynn's background, let alone his youthful adventures. But I will tell you that the whole while I sat with Charlie Burt, I was continually aware of my unique one~degree~of~separation from the Errol Flynn of those many years gone by, long before Hollywood, in a place and time that will soon no longer bear any living connection to him.
All the best,
Robert
